CHAPTER XI.
After that first eventful day at Leon's territory things proceeded smoothly with young and enthusiastic people hard at labor under Angelica's efficient management and making use of the ten robots Luxion called spare bodies the new Branch of House Bartfort blossomed in just under three months with a medium sized estate built hastily by bots working day and night for the Baron's family while the villagers focused on their own town nearby with planned space for drinking water and even sewage in the future, Farm lands designated for various crops for food and others for industry, and once the bots finished with the estate they, under Angelica's suggestion and Leon's approval, the bots helped with the town 's infrastructure such as stone roads and even a central plaza with greenery that would make an excellent spot for celebrations.
Olivia's magic tutor had arrived within the first month they settled and lived with them in their estate, she was an old woman with thick glasses and stern character but she blended easily enough with her environment and was marveled with Olivia's potential as a Holy Magic user, she constantly attempted to steal her away to the temple but she was always politely but firmly refused by her, Angelica, Leon, Cordelia and Nicks.
Nicks dropped out of the academy to help his younger brother to settle with the blessing of his father who thought it was a wondrous idea to have Nicks officially there to learn from practice when they start a new settlement on their Main House territory, extra officially Balcus wanted his oldest to get to know his future bride.
Their supplies were holding well and soon every villager had a house for their families and a steady job.
Meanwhile Leon kept with his training as Duke Vince Redgrave wanted but he also made time to work the fields at least twice a week much to the delight and irritation of the farmers that got to know their lord much more closely.
In the evenings Leon hosted Tea parties for Angie and Livia as they insisted to be called, after a while of knowing each other and enjoying being pampered by Leon they did not grow jealous of each other but instead became fast friends, something Leon attributed to Olivias' protagonist charisma.
In truth, it was because Angelica didn't see Olivia as a threat, she noticed that Olivia was happy with being a concubine in name only.
In fact Olivia encouraged their relationship, even if Angelica could see that she was growing curious about the sexual aspect of their relationship, it was only natural, Olivia was a beautiful sixteen year old girl bonded to her husband and she was not allowed to seek a lover of her own.
Olivia was secretly anticipating her own turn in their Lord's bed, she knew, and if she was honest she was glad she was being patient, Angelica was raised knowing her husband would have other women, and that the best she could hope was to control his other lovers.
In that aspect Olivia was the ideal concubine from her point of view.
And with Cordelia trying her best to build her own relationship with Nicks the only other company she kept constantly was Olivia, and she was proving to be quite the conversationalist, their interest aligned for the most part, both of them were interested in uncharted dungeons, Angelica because of the possible treasures hidden inside and Olivia because her curiosity about how the ancient humans lived.
Livia grew fond of Leon too and privately accepted that she was happier here under his protection than any other time in her life.
One day, Angie announced in front of the whole village that she was pregnant, without warning Leon first which made him almost faint in front of all of his followers much to her delight.
Leon's Hot Springs, a project he had been working in secret with Luxion became a reality six months after building the settlement, the first one in the Estate as was known for the villagers, and a second larger but simpler one in the outskirts of the town.
At some point Livia became too curious to not ask for sex herself and with Angie's pregnancy confirmed and her explicit approval she became Leon's Mistress for real, although they took measures to avoid impregnating her so they wouldn't have two babies being born too close in age, that could be disastrous if both babies were males.
Angelica didn't want any doubts about her firstborn being the Heir of Leon's title and territory, and she desperately wanted to have a baby boy, that would be the ideal outcome, even her father would be pleased, Angelica's sister in law has yet to carry a pregnancy to term, and it frankly scared her, what if she was the same?
Sometimes she even dreamed about her brother failing to produce a Heir and having her son to be the new Redgrave Duke… it was silly, she loved her brother and she wanted him to finally have his Heir, but such ideas often came on their own.
Angie even said that she wouldn't mind giving the permission to allow Livia to become Leon's second wife, of course her exact words were sister-wife, however that would be only if Olivia's own firstborn was a girl, otherwise that would put her son's inheritance at risk.
Still, Angelica and Oliva got along so well that Leon sometimes joked about having them cheat on him with each other.
Livia was a beloved figure for the villagers, as a kind woman that would sometimes heal the wounded and treat the ill.
Many neighbors, vassals of Angie's father visited within the year, to "pay respects" they were impressed by their progress in such a short time.
The daughter of Count Atlee was one of the first visitors, she was quite depressed when she arrived, her fiance, Jilk, the Prince's foster brother had just annulled their engagement.
She was received with open arms by the ruling family, her father had sent gifts with her, some really fancy dresses for Angelica, and an airbike for Leon as well as a handsome sum of Dia to pay for her Daughter expenses.
For Clarice, it was bittersweet to see the woman who already dealt with what she was going through right now to be so happy, she could see that love was slowly growing among the Baron's family, and that gave her hope for the future, that and the good company of the women of House Bartfort was a calming balm for her ailing heart.
Soon their Fancy outdoor baths had become popular with the surrounding lord's concubines who visited them as often as twice a month and even a couple of wives came from the capital to see what all the fuss was about and left impressed with them.
There were rumors that the baths had properties that made one's hair silkier and skin fairer, it was of course Leon who started said rumors, and they were true to a certain extent because the local woman who were exposed to the thermal waters often enough were living proof of that, but the true treasure was the hot springs in the Estate, hence why the Baron's family exhibited the most results, even Livia's old bat magic instructor had less wrinkles!
With the tourists came small time merchants and more people soliciting residence in the territory.
When Clarice had to leave she was in a better place emotionally than when she arrived, she was on her way to make a full recovery.
Once she was gone Luxion modified the Airbike the Count gifted his master, it was now an accessory for Arroganz that would increase it's speed and power by quite a bit, but it increased the stress of the pilot so it would be used as a last resort…
All in all people were saying that they did the work of fifteen years in less than one and with Angie's pregnancy showing they decided to take a trip in the Partner.
0x0x0
One of the traditions of Holfort academy is a field trip to various locations within the kingdom, all of them were far from each other and you could never go to all of them because you are only three years in the academy-
The royal entourage all wanted to take the woman they loved to the place of their choice and brought the matter to her attention thinking that was the perfect way to invite her to go with them, instead, Marie proposed to not tell her the place they had chosen but to let fate determine who she would be going with.
And Jilk was in heaven, or he would be if only had not lost Lovely in the middle of this festival, it was just his luck to have won the fate lottery and he ended up in the same ship as Marie, but his good luck ran out once they started to explore the Island's town.
He was worried for her safety, she had no followers with her, and even her personal servant lost sight of her in the sea of people that disembarked from their luxury ship.
He was wandering the festival trying to find his beloved when he saw a girl that caught his attention, not because of her beauty, but because of who she is.
Lately the Duke has been speaking openly against Julius, calling him an immature fool who thinks with his lower head, and even declared he was unfit to rule, even though his words were clearly just a way to get back at his Highness for the crime of daring to follow his heart some people still listened!
Was Julius supposed to accept to live tied to such a harpy for the sake of politics?
He has seen what following that path leads to, and he doesn't want that for his Highness.
As he got closer to her he felt his rage grow inside of him, not only Angelica never apologized for insulting Marie, she was also the one behind her father's maneuvering to block Julius from ascending to the throne!
And here she was, enjoying her life in a festival with a smile on her face while Julius was suffering the attacks from her father.
When he was just a few meters away from her he noticed her swollen belly and he knew that she was pregnant.
This was too good an opportunity to pass up, and in the current circumstances, he could take her in to pressure her father into compliance, and if he was wrong about the Duke caring for herm, it wouldn't be that much of a loss.
He would do anything for Julius.
Anything.
0x0x0
Angelica walked alongside her family, her Husband and sister-wife, her future brother in law and her loyal friend.
This place was so different from the rest of the kingdom, the architecture, the people, the clothes.
This yukata looked nice but was uncomfortable for her at least.
She felt tired often and her ankles ache, but she would be lying if she said it wasn't nice to have Leon and Livia doting on her.
Besides she'll soon be a mother, she was so curious about the gender of her baby but there was no reliable way to know.
People liked to guess anyway, everyone back home says: it's a girl, even Livia's tutor said it was a girl… as if she was the authority in such matters.
The streets of this town had beautiful trees with pink leaves that gave the town such a lively feeling. Perhaps they could get a few saplings to take back home and plant them in the central plaza? They would look lovely!
Leon and Nicks were looking for a wandering vendor that supposedly has some really potent amulets for sale, the official motive of this whole trip, Leon could be really superstitious sometimes.
Cordelia was looking for some food at her behest and Livia was helping a lost little girl to find her parents and she was alone enjoying her seat and the sights of the town and people going around in their business and generally having fun.
She was content with resting her feet and besides, even if she can't see him, there was an avatar of Luxion with her at all times to make sure she is safe.
When someone noticed her resting in a public bench they smiled at her, there were people her age going around, some familiar faces here and there, she was sure those were students of the Holtfort Academy that had come here on a school trip, probably came here in a luxury cruiser as was standard for them.
Angelica found that she didn't envied them in the least, she was here as well, with her family, that stumble was not the end of his life, merely the start of a new chapter.
"Angelica!" hearing her name she looked for the person who called her, that was not a voice she was familiar with, but it wasn't the voice of a stranger either.
Soon an academy student with long green hair approached her with a glare, it was Jilk FIa Marmoria, one of the prince's friends and foster brother… discreetly she signaled to Luxion to call for help.
With reinforcements coming even if he was glaring at her she maintained her composure, there was no reason to panic so she greeted him "Lord Marmoria" without standing, concessions had to be made when one was with a child, even Highlords agreed on that.
"You have some nerve!" she looked at him not really comprehending what she did to gain his contempt, she hasn't seen him in months after all.
"I'm afraid I don't know what you are talking about" truly she had no idea what the lordling was saying.
"Are you going to pretend you are not behind all the opposition his Highness Prince Julius is facing!" Jilk said even more enraged than before.
Sighing she put the tip of her fingers on her forehead and said "I've been exiled from the capital, I have no power to inconvenience the prince anymore" honestly? It was probably her dads doing, Julius lost his biggest supporter when he rejected her, and there was no going back, not now, not ever. She touched her swollen belly and smiled thinking of her first child. It was Livia's turn next and she wanted to see her all bothered because of her weight. She liked fatty things, not when she was the fatty.
"After seeing you smile like that there is no way I would ever believe you!" He got uncomfortably close to her after saying that.
"Don't get any closer!" She warned, she had a handgun in her person, but in her current condition she would prefer to avoid any physical conflict.
"You are coming with me!" He said in a serene tone of voice that betrayed his intentions to kidnap her.
"And why exactly would you do with me?" She tried stalling for time, she hoped Leon was close by.
"I would make the Duke stop his foolishness of course" This person was dangerous, saying such a thing with a serene smile, he grabbed her arm and gently tried to get her to her feet.
Of course she resisted, loudly.
"UNHAND ME!" every person on the street turned around curious and immediately glared at Jilk, she hoped it was enough to spook him.
A few men started walking towards her, with determined faces. She knew that they wouldn't be able to get him to go away because he was a noble, but she needed time.
"Go away, she's my concubine!" Jilk lied knowing that was the easiest way to make these people lose interest. And it worked once he used his magic to summon his family's crest and that was enough to disperse the crowd much to her dismay. Even denying it wouldn't help her.
She glared at him though, the nerve he had calling her his concubine!
"That's a bold claim you just made you stupid Lordling!" When Jilk got distracted by the sudden shout she freed herself and ran towards the voice.
Soon she was in Leon's arms, while Nicks stepped forward covering her with his body, there was a masked man with a wooden box strapped on back standing behind them as well.
"You call me, Jilk Fia Marmoria, a Liar then?!" Jilk refused to drop the act, probably not knowing who they were and still thinking he could use his name to intimidate them.
She had to push Leon back before he could run towards Jilk, a physical conflict would do them no good in the long run.
"How else should I call the man that claims my wife as his concubine?!" that finally cracked Jilk's mask, the crowd that hadn't dispersed all rallied behind Leon and nicks after seeing her reaction it was clear who was lying.
"So, you are the ugly Baron they married her off to?" That filth dared to insult her Leon?
"Tell me Lordling, why shouldn't I just kill you for trying to kidnap my wife?" Asked Leon with a cold rage she had never seen before. It was sexy.
"As if you could" Jilk drew a hidden weapon from behind his pants and aimed it at them.
Angelica was getting worried, this could end with a fight and a stray bullet… her baby!
"Just let´s go, my Lord, he isn't worth it!" she told Leon out loud, but she was telling everyone there, the bastard was ranked high enough as the future assistant to the king to get away with it, and they weren't ready for a war just yet.
CLICK
The sound of another firearm getting ready to be fired made Jilk froze and them to smile.
Behind Jilk was Cornelia holding him at gunpoint.
"Should I pull the trigger, my Lord?!" she has never seen her friend so mad before! She could see her finger ready to pull the trigger the second anyone gave her the order, it didn't matter if it was Leon, Nicks or someone from the crowd watching us, she would kill Jilk if ordered too.
"You've heard Angie, he is not worth it…" she sighed in relief, Leon was listening to her "You, green! Put your weapon on the floor and kick it here, I don't trust you to not shoot me in the back!" she smiled at him, that was a wise thing to do. "Slowly, If he makes any sudden movement kill him!"
Angelica watched her husband with interest, his intuition was something to fear, he was an expert swordsman but he was an even better marksman, he worked hard everyday to cover his flaws. Perhaps he's thought what he'd do if he was ever caught in a situation like this?
"Lordling, give me an excuse please!" Cordelia's voice was seething with anger, she would really do it and she could see that this time Jilk was really cowed and moved painfully slow to avoid giving his unknown assailant such excuse, then once his weapon was in the floor he kicked it towards us and Nicks picked it up, checked it and then finally handed it over to her.
"We are going to go back home, don't even bother trying to follow us Green clown or I'll kill you!" That said, Cordelia jogged towards the Bartfort group and they all walked away leaving a furious and unarmed Jilk Fia Marmoria.
"I know who you are, Leon Fou Bartfort! you haven't heard the last of me!" Angelica turned around and smiled at the threats, he wouldn't survive if Leon decided to retaliate!
"Luxion, Contac Livia, we will meet back at the Inn, Brother, we need to prepare a decoy, that dog will try to follow the first ship that goes out of the island!" even though there was no reply from the familiar she knows it has already complied.
"Shouldn't be too hard to bribe a transportist to move their ship for a day or two" Cordelia said for her fiance's benefit.
"I'll do just that, see you all back at the Inn"
"We are not leaving then?" Angelica asked, with a smirk at the thought of having Jilk chasing a decoy only to return and wonder if they took the chance to shake him off? Partner is a mobile fortress anyway. Would Jilk give up or try to chase?
"You are quite the cunning noble!" The masked man that arrived with Leon and Nicks was following them for some reason, she glared at the man not knowing if he was trustworthy.
"Why are you following us?" Leon questioned absentmindedly as if not regarding the man as a threat.
"Well… you do have a pregnant wife, this maid has an engagement ring… and there is someone named Livia that will reunite with you in your lodgings…" was the man collecting information to sell? Or was he asking for a bribe to not run and tell Jilk?
"What's your point?" Leon's voice tensed considerably.
"You were telling me the truth, I won't sell you all my stock, there are too many people who want one of my grandmother's amulets, but your brother made for a convincing argument, I'll sell you five, one for every person in your family!" the man said cheerfully as if doing us a favor.
"No deal!" Leon rejected harshly.
"Are you really going to pass up this deal after you harassed me all night!?" the vendor's reply was just as harsh.
"You counted wrong, there aren't five of us, there are six!" Leon said lovingly as he gently caressed her belly, she couldn't help the blush on her face. "And since we are counting I want one for Livia's baby as well, I don't want my children fighting over a trinket!" He had two faces, one for their family and another for the rest of the world, the loving husband and doting father and the ruthless noble, but he just used an unborn baby to get a better deal so that was a gray area as well… and a baby they might have in the future… he just was the worst sometimes!
"Tsk, I guess I can't argue with that, it would be wrong to show favoritism. Here" the vendor handed seven small bags and Leon paid him quite handsomely for them and then he just said goodby and walked away.
Leon smiled greedily at the amulets and was about to open one when she decided to play with him "Not here, we will open them together as a family!" she scolded him and his face said he wanted to open them all and wanted to argue but finally he gave up and accepted.
0x0
Marie shouldn't have seen that, it was a scene out of the script again.
Probably something that always happened out but was never shown and she just accidentally saw it?
She was scared, not because of the out of scrip, she had come to expect it now and then, and they were becoming more frequent as well.
What scared her was that kind and reliable Jilk dared to attempt to kidnap Angelica.
The villainess appeared serene and happy as she sat in the public bench just enjoying the atmosphere of the festival, a hand on her belly as if caressing her unborn baby.
This was the woman who lost it all to her, had managed to find happiness again and was enjoying her life again, maybe even more so than when she was Julius' fiancee.
She could almost hear that little voice calling for her, that voice she had left behind when… her parents took her because she wouldn't be able to raise her adequately.
Then Jilk tried to capture her to pressure the Duke to stop his opposition to Julius' rise to the throne. She was about to intervene when the villainess husband arrived and took her back by force.
She had never expected Angelica's husband to be able to stand up to Jilk, but he was decisive. Clever and intimidating even.
Thanks to Jilk she now knew his name and she wouldn't be forgotten any time soon.
Truth to be told she was done with Angelica, she had no more relevance to the script so she was fine with the Redgrave being happy, it was a weight off her shoulders if she was honest with herself.
She would need to speak with her boys to make it clear that any actions against Angelica while she was pregnant was a big no no!
She would have to scold Jilk for this, and he was the most reliable one of the five and he was doing such a good job in keeping her family at bay. Without him she feared she would still be indebted to some shark loans.
But she wanted to know more about this Leon… he had given her the vives of an optional boss!
His whole party acted as a stage mini-bosses you would have to defeat to get to him.
But in respect to Angelica's baby she'll leave them alone, that child had done nothing wrong…
A/N: The first half is mostly an exposition chapter, so please forgive me for not going deeper into how the relationships between the three got to this point, in the future I'll have a scene with Olivia's PoV on the matter to explain it better.
As for the second ,that was one of the first scenes I imagined for this fic, hope you enjoyed it :)