AN: Not gonna lie, I tried to stretch this one out as much as I could but for the life of me I couldn't think of how to expand on it more. Like the last chapter I wouldn't fault anyone who skipped this one or found it unsatisfying. If you enjoy it, I'm glad.
Chapter 7: Luvia's Side
March 26
What to do. What to do.
It was night time, a time when most people prepare for sleep. But sleep felt impossible for a certain Finnish aristocrat. She barely got any sleep the night she was nearly killed in the car crash and could scarcely bear the thought of sleeping at the moment.
Luviagelita Edelfelt paced around in the confines of the room of her abode in a sporadic circle, biting her pedicured thumbnail. Contemplating the matter of her engagement to James—or Elric, as he was now calling himself—after putting the thought on hold for most of the day while she attended her classes. Just barely keeping the matter in the back of her mind all day.
The Edelfelt heir toyed with her jewelry. Feeling the trepidation stir in the burrows of her mind.
She always knew she would have to be married off to some aristocrat eventually, but had hoped a brief matter of years still remained before that day would reach her. She also imagined that her future husband would be a little more substantial to match her. The reality was an amalgamation of thus so and not so.
The occurrence was not as surprising as she made it to appear. There had been a similar attempt in the past to betroth her and him against their wishes, however Elric's abrupt departure from his family's affairs placed the arrangement on a prolonged stasis, and she had naturally forgotten about the possibility in the six years since they had last spoken to one-another.
However, the reemergence of the arrangement was what surprised her.
It was not as if she had anything against Elric personally—aside from him and his associates and the Knight of Treachery forcibly bringing her back to Clock Tower with Shirou, and her only competent or worthy opponent. They were close as children—or as close as Luviagelita Edelfelt was capable of being with someone without making everything into a competition—she and her sister were always capable of getting along with him greatly, despite his demeanor. But now he seemed different. In personality, at the very least.
She had imagined he would grow into a handsome fellow, and would look better without all the stubbles on his jaw, but he exceeded her imagination.
His attitude was different. It seemed so artificial. His smile, his attitude when talking to her, it all felt a tad contrived. As if he had been attempting to mask something. When conversing with the Knight of Treachery he seemed to loosen himself free from that facade for a moment—but only when they talked.
Additionally there was the complication of Shirou Emiya, but she attempted to push thoughts about him aside for the moment. Now she would have to worry about her sister, as well...as a whole, the situation felt asinine to the house Edelfelt's dignified heir.
There was also the unfortunate fact that Luvia's position as the new family heir was coming into question to contend with. She spoke with her father on the matter upon returning from her classes at Clock Tower, but he would not listen to reason—as he still was believing Rheon's lies about her intending to flee to Japan—and mainly attempted to win her over to the idea of marrying with stories about his exploits as a Freelancer working out of Arizona. Hoping a little swashbuckling background might sway her to their side—it did not and merely annoyed Luvia somewhat.
On the positive side there was the fact her father mentioned, after how her old friend had become a Freelancer and had been on some exploits—it was not intentional, but her father managed to intrigue her with something: her new fiance was something of a simple man. He also displayed some good character in defending Shirou from Somnus' petty vendetta. It was not sufficient to sway her but it did intrigue her enough to have the thought What does he think of this matter?
He obviously was not aware of his father's intentions; and appeared to be against the idea of resuming the arrangement, or, at the very least, was not fond of the idea. Then she had the thought to ask herself Is there something wrong with me? And began to look at herself in the mirror before shaking her head No, no, no; not the time to think about such things. Returning her thoughts back to the matter of Elric and his response to the arrangement. There was a chance he could be brought to her side—to be an ally in finding a way to circumvent this latest scheme concocted by Lord Rheon.
However...there was also the possibility he could take a liking to this arrangement between their families in the future. It was not easy to ascertain what his mindset would be these days. He could secretly be for it, he could be truly against it, he could be against it now and may change his mind later, or he could secretly for it and later come to join her in being against it. Again, the predicament felt asinine to Luvia. This was supposed to be an old friend, yet they were placed in the predicament that could put them in opposing or joining positions, and it stung to think of him as a possible opponent.
What sort of parent puts their children into a position such as this?
Luvia relaxed on her bed, reclining back, as she tried to calm herself from the growing anxiety that was developing in the midst of these thoughts that were bordering on driving her insane with the what-ifs and possibilities.
There was also the matter of Rheon's unknown intentions for Emiya and Tohsaka. He already took their Servants—so the reason as to why he still requires them to remain in London was a mystery to Luvia. She wondered if, perhaps, Elric might know himself. She could always inquire about the matter with him in person in the morning.
She could, perhaps, obtain several other answers from him as well.
The matter of his new name, Rheon's intentions for Emiya and Tohsaka, where he truly stood on the matter of this arranged marriage; all she would inquire about tomorrow, and hopefully he would have some answers for these questions eating away at Luvia.
For now she would have to wait; despite how much it nagged at her.
