Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum
In the study room, I admit that the "little gremlin" that I found was not the one I expected. Kyle, the half elf servant from the original game, stood at attention in front of the table in the study room, having failed to notice my approach. Marie was nowhere in sight. I took a deep breath to calm myself before I tore the elf kid a new asshole, and then made myself known.
"Good evening, Kyle," I smiled pleasantly, taking a brief moment of satisfaction at making the boy flinch as I used a name that I had absolutely no way of knowing. "I take it that Marie has no intention of meeting with me, and sent you to deliver a message instead?"
"...Yes she did, Lord Bartfort," replied Kyle. "She said to tell you to 'stay in your own lane, and she'll let you scoop up the Protagonist and the Villainess afterwards', whatever that means."
"...Did she now?" I asked, smiling despite the seething rage I felt at such a blithe response. "And did she happen to specify what would happen if I didn't 'stay in my lane'?"
"She didn't say precisely what would happen, but she did imply that she would 'climb over whatever obstacles got in her way'," replied Kyle professionally.
I silently seethed at Marie for her short-sighted response. I told her what was at stake here, right?! Granted, I didn't mention anything about Fanoss, but I couldn't just leave that in a letter for anyone to read! We'd be in serious trouble if someone like the Prince read the note and took it seriously. We'd probably both be hanged as spies! But still, had she even considered the Endgame at all?!
I took a deep breath to calm myself. Kyle was very professional for his age, but he was still just a kid and was clearly unnerved by my rage that wasn't even directed at him. I gave him an honest apologetic smile before I continued.
"Look, it's not towards you, man," I began earnestly. "Have you ever had to watch someone do something you know is really stupid and you try and tell them not to but they won't listen?"
"I do, actually," replied Kyle, relaxing a little. "I presume that this is another one of those situations?"
"Very much so, I'm afraid," I grimaced, before being caught by a bolt of inspiration. "Can you take a return message for me?"
"I can, certainly," replied Kyle.
"Tell Marie this situation will get out of control and we will be lucky if we live through it, and so I'm seeking peace," I elaborated. "Tell her that I will meet her in the cafeteria tomorrow morning at eight, and I will not reach out again if she's not there."
"Anything else?" asked Kyle.
"Not right now," I replied as I turned away. "Anything else I would hope to say to her directly."
"Of course," bowed Kyle. "Have a good evening, Lord Bartfort."
I stepped out of the room without another word, walking a good distance away before activating my earpiece.
"You got all of that, right?" I asked without any preamble.
"Indeed, Master," replied Luxion. "It seems that Marie fancies herself to be an unstoppable force, and she's trying to get you to move aside."
"I hate to say it, but you're probably right, Lux," I grimaced. "We'll give her one more chance to do the smart thing, I'd say."
"And if she doesn't?" asked Lux.
"Then she's going to find us to be an Immovable Object, won't she?" I replied bitterly.
"Just so, Master," replied Luxion.
The next morning, I sat at the breakfast table, sipping my English Breakfast tea, or "Belmont Blend One" as it was known here. I'll admit, it felt weird to not be meeting Livia here this morning, and I had to say that I really didn't like the feeling. At least she'd been very understanding when I explained why I had to cancel. In fact, she'd been quite insistent that I meet with the gremlin as quickly as possible so that I could bring back news to Angelica and Clarice. It seemed that the three of them were quickly becoming fast friends, which was good. Angelica and Clarice still had plenty of loyal followers in their retinue, and a number of them were eligible bachelors as well. With the sudden ineligibility of the Five Idiots, it made finding Livia a lover that much easier to have a larger pool to pull from.
Still, I was worried about the prospect of Fanoss attacking before the end of our first year. Livia definitely had the fighting skill that was required for the Endgame event, but there would definitely be lives lost if we didn't get her a lover to activate her full powers. It was on this point of contention that Luxion and I were currently arguing.
"My main point, Master, is that there is a simple and perfectly reasonable solution to the matter," argued Luxion.
"And I've told you that the only way that I'll accept that solution is if Livia actually falls in love with me, knows exactly what I am, and still loves me in spite of my manipulations from the shadows," I shot back, concealing my words behind my teacup. "...Look, I want her to have the life she truly deserves, and there's no way that I can provide that for her."
"That may be so, but there is a world of a difference between 'deserve' and 'desire', Master," countered Luxion. "And before you question why she would desire you, I want you to consider that you were the one to swoop in as she sank into the depths of despair without a thought of anything in return and have been a steadfast constant in her life ever since that day."
"...Alright, when you phrase it like that, sure," I grumbled. "Still, that's taking a lot of the story out of context…"
"It's the context that Miss Livia would have," countered Luxion yet again. "You have stressed multiple times how important it is that Miss Livia unlocks her full potential and that it is imperative that she finds a lover in order to do so-"
"I would let the rest of the world be damned before I'd manipulate Livia!" I hissed before wincing. "...Well, manipulate her any more than I already have… Besides, we may not even have time even if we used manipulation, so we need to put the brakes on Marie as soon as we can. To that end, I want you to start looking into the Fanoss side of things. See where the current state of diplomacy stands. If we find that we can't slow Marie down, then we need to see where the timeline of the Fanoss invasion is at, and if we can slow it down at all."
"...Understood, Master," replied Luxion, clearly not liking my change of subject but still accepting it regardless. "I've already begun looking into the matter privately, and it seems that relations have deteriorated steadily over the past ten years in spite of the efforts of one Marquis Malcolm Fou Frampton."
"That definitely seems worth investigating, Lux," I replied. "Find out if his faction really is the sole point of contact between the Kingdom and the Principality. If it is, then that would be the perfect way to manipulate relations."
"You suspect an intentional plot as well?" asked Luxion.
"It's the way that I'd do it if I wanted to start a war," I shrugged. "Hell, even if they aren't responsible, I'd want to try and boost diplomatic ties through existing channels if possible."
"Certainly," replied Luxion. "As a side note, I find it fascinating how you are willing to upend the entire political stage without batting an eye, yet rightfully earning the affections of a very willing young woman is somehow a morally reprehensible act."
"As I said before, we'll discuss this when we've bought ourselves more time," I sighed in frustration. "I've never denied my attraction to Livia. What I'm saying is that she deserves to be with someone who she'll love and be loved by when this mess is long done."
"If you're suggesting that your feelings for her will suddenly stop when the war is over, I'm afraid that I'm incapable of the laughter that would be the only appropriate response," stated Luxion.
"Never said that it was me whose feelings would change," I replied.
"You believe that she would not choose you after learning the full truth?" asked Luxion.
"I wouldn't blame her if she didn't," I replied.
Luxion said nothing, but I could feel the disagreement in his silence. Maybe I was being overly cynical about the situation, but I'd had some pretty bitter experiences in my past life that had taught me to not get my hopes up. There was a reason why I had nothing better to do on a three-day weekend than play a poorly designed and written otome game to 100% completion. Looking back, maybe I'd had a particularly horrible run of luck in my first life's romantic endeavors, but people were people at the end of the day. I blinked as a familiar Half-Elf took a seat across from me, drawing me from my thoughts.
"...I take it by the fact that you're here, Kyle, that 'Miss Marie' refuses to meet with me," I stated with a smile that didn't reach my eyes.
"My apologies, Lord Bartfort," bowed Kyle, actually seeming to be truly apologetic about the situation. "Miss Marie does not seem to share your views on whatever this situation is that you are so worried about. Perhaps if you explain more, I could try to convince Miss Marie to meet with you?"
"No, I don't think there's anything that I can tell you without you assuming both Marie and myself to be completely insane and delusional," I replied ruefully. "Thank you, Kyle, and make sure you take good care of yourself."
"...You are most unusual, Lord Bartfort…" mused Kyle.
"Yeah, I get that a lot…" I chuckled. "Sadly, I'm afraid that there's nothing else I can be except myself."
"...Lord Bartfort, do you know what I am?" asked Kyle suddenly with a very pointed look.
"...Half-Elf," I replied carefully, suspecting that there was something deeper to the question.
"...Lord Bartfort, what exactly do you fear that Mistress Marie is going to mess up?" asked Kyle seriously. "No games, no tricks, just a clear explanation: What consequences can we expect if she's miscalculated?"
"...If Marie screws this up, it's not an exaggeration to say that the Kingdom is at stake," I whispered, keeping my voice low. "I can't tell you how I know, but there's going to be an invasion of the Kingdom, and the power of the next Saintess will be needed to stop it. And in spite of her ambitions and the efforts of her own hard work, I know that she's not the next Saintess, as far as her abilities go. And while I know she's desperate, lives are on the line with this."
"...I will keep an eye on Mistress Marie and see if I can find any sort of clue to her motivations," offered Kyle. "I'll tell her that you've received her message quite clearly and that you'll no longer try to dissuade her with words…"
"It'll be actions now…" I grinned before frowning at Kyle. "I appreciate what you're doing for me, but…why are you trusting me so readily?"
"There are three reasons," replied Kyle. "First, you addressed me as something other than a 'lesser being'. There was no contempt in your eyes, not even for a moment when you addressed me. Second, you knew my name when there was no possible way for you to know it. Third, you knew my greatest secret, which only Miss Marie knew before meeting me. I am taking a risk in trusting you, but I don't feel that it will be a mistake to do so."
"...I thank you for your trust, Kyle," I nodded with a smile. "If you need to, leave a dead drop at Study Room Four and I can have Luxion make contact. In the meantime, I'd say just keep your head down for now."
"I would say that you should as well, but something tells me that you're already set on a course of action," replied Kyle with a smirk. "Best of luck, Lord Bartfort."
I watched the half-elf boy leave while I considered our next move. Things were turning for the worse, and it seemed like Marie was giving me no choice besides direct conflict.
"...Luxion, send word to Dan to meet us in my usual tea room," I ordered. "Let's also see about getting to the bottom of what happened with Miss Angelica's Followers as well. Go ahead and start looking into the Frampton faction, but put it on the back burner for now. And finally, let Livia know to gather the girls at my room after classes so I can give them an update."
"I take it that we are going to war, then?" asked Luxion gleefully.
"I told her that I was 'seeking peace'," I confirmed as I drained my cup of tea. "It's not my fault she doesn't know her Latin…"
"I see…" mused Angelica as I finished explaining what had happened. "...Well, I thank you, Leon, for everything that you've done, but I suppose-"
"-we now have to go to war, yep," I interrupted, stopping Angelica from saying that I'd done all I could. "I told you last night that I was in this for the long haul. I gave you my word, in fact, so I'm seeing this through to the end."
"Well, gotta give points for persistence," grinned Clarice before sobering up. "Still, I can't imagine there's a whole lot more that you can do."
"Not peacefully, no," I agreed grimly. "Hence why I wanted to talk to you three before I start taking actions, so let's head to my tea room to discuss details-"
At that moment, the door to my dormitory slammed open, and I became acutely aware that I'd neglected to keep a certain individual informed of recent events.
"Alright asshole!" shouted Jenna as she burst into my room. "You're going to explain what the hell is going on in your year, and you're going to do it right-...now…"
Jenna's righteous fury died an ignominious death the moment her eyes caught sight of the daughters of both Duke Redgrave and Minister Atlee in my personal quarters, and I could see the blood drain from her face. For her part, Angelica simply lifted an eyebrow at the peculiar spectacle, mildly amused yet dignified as ever. Clarice was decidedly less reserved in finding humor in the situation, barely holding her laughter in. Livia, on the other hand, hid behind me since she still had a mild phobia of angry noble ladies, but slowly peeked back out as curiosity took over.
"...Thank you for knocking, Dearest Sister," I drawled out. "Did you want me to explain everything right this instant, or shall I make introductions first while you surgically remove your foot from your mouth?"
"...Introductions, please…" croaked Jenna as she collapsed into a nearby chair.
"Ladies, allow me to introduce my older sister, Jenna Fou Bartfort," I grinned as my sister continued to have her existential crisis. "Jenna, meet Olivia, Angelica, and Clarice."
"...It's an honor, Your Grace," mumbled Jenna.
"Likewise, but I do have two requests, Jenna," replied Angelica.
"Of course!" yelped Jenna.
"First, I would like you to relax a little bit," explained Angelica gently. "Your brother has been a great help to me these past few weeks, and I consider him to be a dear friend, so there's no need to be so formal with me."
"...Oh.. Yes, of course," relaxed Jenna.
"Second, while I can understand a certain amount of tension between siblings, I would appreciate that you refrain from using such uncouth names to refer to the gentleman who has acted so graciously on the behalf of my friend and myself," requested Angelica firmly, but I could see a glimmer of amusement in her eyes.
"Even when said gentleman would call himself an asshole without any hesitation?" I grinned, to which Livia smacked my arm.
"Even then," confirmed Angelica, her expression inviting no argument even as she smiled fondly at me. "And I would ask that gentleman to cease his self-deprecating actions immediately."
"As you wish," I bowed with a teasing grin. "However, I cannot guarantee such thoughts will be stamped out as well…"
"...Again, you prove to be a most infuriating man, Leon…" sighed Angelica in exasperation even as a faint smile crossed her lips.
"An absolute scoundrel, to be sure," I grinned.
"Leon, behave yourself," scolded Livia with a pout. "You shouldn't tease Miss Angelica like that, plus you shouldn't speak so poorly of yourself either."
Before I could say a word, Jenna began to laugh, softly at first, but eventually turning to honest and unrestrained mirth. This in turn sent Clarice over the edge with her own laughter, and the two of them doubled over as they finally were able to express their amusement. Eventually, Jenna managed to get her giggles under control to address Livia, Angelica, and Clarice directly.
"I think I have a better understanding of what's going on now, but if I can borrow my brother for a few minutes just to confirm a few things?" asked Jenna, grinning at me.
"Of course," nodded Angelica with a smile. "We'll wait outside for you, Leon, as I presume we'll be having tea just as planned still?"
"Yeah, that's the plan," I replied. "It'll be a bit more of a war council than a tea party, though. Jenna and I will be with you shortly, and we'll go ahead and meet Dan there."
"Sounds like a plan," grinned Clarice.
I watched as Livia, Angelica, and Clarice stepped outside to wait for Jenna and I to finish speaking. I tried to ignore the shit-eating grin that Jenna kept on me as we waited for the door to shut. I could have predicted what my New World sister was going to say next almost word for word, and as the door clicked closed, I was not disappointed. Well… to be more accurate, my expectations were met, much to my displeasure.
"...So…" grinned Jenna. "You and the Protagonist, you and the Villainess, or you, the Protagonist, and the Villainess?"
"Jenna…" I growled warningly.
"So all four of you, then?" quipped Jenna.
"I swear by all that is Holy and Unholy I will end you if you start on that," I glared. "I already get enough of that from Lux, and besides, we don't have the time for that."
"Yeah, I gathered that something was screwed up when I walked into a room where the Protagonist and Villainess weren't at each other's throats," snorted Jenna. "So summarize what I need to know immediately, and I'll try to pick up the rest in context along the way."
"There's another Reincarnate trying to take Livia's place, said Reincarnate has tripped all the flags for the Duel Event to happen before the end of the First Semester, and attempts to reason with her have broken down," I explained quickly.
"...Well, shit…" swore Jenna.
"Yeah, we need to find another way to slow her down that doesn't involve throwing Angelica under the bus- no, you stop that!" I explained before protesting as Jenna gave me a knowing look. "It's not like that!"
"But you'd want it to be, right?" grinned Jenna. "Every time you look at her or that Olivia girl, you look like a younger version of Dad when he looks at Mom."
"...That's not important right now," I deflected.
"The hell it isn't!" argued Jenna, starting to get annoyed. "This is your happiness and future we're talking about! What could possibly be more-"
"Try Fanoss invading two years early and the Prince and his friends are all still at their starting levels," I interrupted, to which Jenna paled.
"...Okay, crisis first, payback teasing later," replied Jenna shakily. "Let's get going before I really start freaking out…"
"So… trying to reason with Marie went over as well as expected," I began. "The gremlin wouldn't even meet with me, and she even said through her proxy that she 'climb over whatever obstacles got in her way'."
We'd gathered in my usual tea room, where I quickly introduced my sister to Dan while I prepared tea and refreshments. I could see that Dan was not surprised in the slightest about the news in regards to Marie.
"So what's our plan, Lord Bartfort?" asked Dan. "You indicated that you believed she'd try to paint Lady Angelica or Lady Clarice as the villain in this matter, especially if we were to act directly. If we cannot reason with the Lafan girl and we cannot strike her directly, how do we move forward?"
"Well, there's the sticky bit, and it's one that I haven't completely figured out," I admitted. "Right now, we need to focus on damage control and keep our eyes open for an opportunity to strike back. I take it that you've spread the word to the rest of Clarice's Followers to keep Marie from being bullied?"
"Yes, to much discontent, but your reasoning for the task did help in overcoming most objections," replied Dan. "I've told them to be as discreet as possible, but I would say that between their efforts and the efforts of the Prince and his friends, Marie should be safe from bullying, at least from outside sources."
"Next step will be to plug the leak on the side of Angelica's Followers," I nodded before gesturing to Luxion. "Lux, if you could go ahead and pass a message to Carmen and Ariel to meet us here? Tell them that it concerns Marie."
"Of course, Master…" replied Luxion cheerfully. "I take it that you've come to the same conclusion, then?"
"Unfortunately, yes," I replied with a frown. "I'm still hoping to be wrong, though."
"Given your recent track record in regards to 'hoping to be incorrect', I regret to inform you that your hope is most likely in vain," quipped Luxion before zipping away to retrieve Angelica's closest Followers.
"Leon, have you already figured out who incited the bullying?" asked Angelica in surprise. "How? Ariel and Carmen questioned everyone in my group and they weren't able to find anything."
"I promise it'll make sense in a moment, but let's go ahead and finish up our discussion here first before they arrive," I replied. "After we've put out the proverbial fires on our side, we'll need to address how to strike back at Marie since we can't do so directly, and the best answer I can come up with is that we need more information. I've already enlisted the services of someone close to Marie to help with that, and I do have the potential to get closer to Greg to establish some ties there, so that's where we'll start."
"What sort of information are you looking for, Leon?" asked Clarice. "You've already figured out that she's trying to charm the Prince and his entire entourage, so what else do you need to know?"
"We need to know why she's doing this," I explained. "After taking some time to think about it, there's a lot that isn't adding up about Marie's actions. First off, why is she seducing all five heirs? Any one of them would have been sufficient to live comfortably for the rest of a normal life, and I'd say easier, so why go through the extra effort? More importantly, why is she seducing them all so quickly? We have three years here at the academy, so why try to seduce all of your targets within the first six months of school?"
"...You're absolutely right," frowned Angelica, considering the matter closer. "The Prince alone should be the only target that most normal noble girls would need, financially speaking. I take it that you already have your suspicions?"
"Yes, a few suspicions," I replied. "Granted, they're only suspicions and not confirmed in any way."
"Leon, I would bet my life on your suspicions over anyone else's facts," replied Angelica with an earnest smile. "Please don't keep us in suspense."
"...Of course," I cleared my throat, hoping that my burning face wasn't visible to the rest of the group. "Well, I suspect that Marie is acting this way for one of two reasons: She either wants to or she needs to."
"Why would anyone need to seduce the five wealthiest heirs in the kingdom?" asked Clarice, frowning.
"You know that I've suspected that Marie suffered deeply from malnourishment growing up, yes?" I asked, to which Clarice nodded grimly. "That suspicion is the main point supporting the idea that Marie feels she needs to do this, and has no other options."
"You suspect abuse on top of malnourishment?" frowned Angelica, appearing troubled at the thought in spite of her misgivings about Marie.
"I suspect that the Lafans are not good people, and that Marie is fleeing from them in whatever way she can," I nodded. "Granted, this is all conjecture, and could be completely wrong, but it's the only way we might be able to still talk this out with Marie without resorting to drastic action."
"...And what sort of drastic action do you mean?" asked Angelica quietly. "Would it be the kind where I dishonor myself and my family-"
"No," I interrupted, putting my hand on hers. "I'll throw myself on that grenade if it comes to that. I'll challenge the Prince or something crazy."
"Leon, you can't possibly challenge the Prince-" began Angelica.
"Sure I can, just like this," I interrupted with a grin before turning to Dan. "I challenge you to a duel, good sir! Baguettes at five paces!"
"I decline on the grounds of a crumby choice of weapons," grinned Dan, playing into the pun.
"See? Nothing to it," I grinned back at Angelica.
"And what about the fallout to the Bartfort Family name?" asked Jenna testily, clearly not liking the plan, but knowing it was hopeless to try and stop me.
"You guys will be fine," I replied. "I'm a separate branch after all."
"You really think that everyone is going to make that distinction?!" snapped Jenna, actually angry now. "Leon, you-"
"You already know what contingency plans I have in place to protect our family," I interrupted. "Even if things spiral out of control, you'll be fine."
"Besides, all of this will be unnecessary as long as Leon is able to succeed with his primary plan," added Angelica before glancing away. "...at least, as long as I can hold my temper…"
"And I told you not to worry about that," I replied gently. "Hold on as long as you can, and if you can't hold on any longer, I'll be there."
I could see Angelica's face burn, but she seemed transfixed by my expression. I could feel her searching for something in my eyes, but what thoughts she had beyond that were a mystery to me. Fortunately for both of us, Angelica was spared from responding by the arrival of her two Followers.
"Miss Carmen, Miss Ariel, thank you for joining us," I bowed to greet the pair of them with a grin that turned slightly mischievous. "Would you care for a cup of tea? Just a cup of tea, mind you…"
Ariel attempted to say something that turned into a wheezing squeak as her face turned bright red. Carmen blushed as well, but still laughed at my seemingly good-natured jibe. Angelica tried to give me a disapproving look, but she couldn't stop the laugh that slipped out in spite of her best efforts. Livia blushed heavily and smacked me in the arm, to which I continued to laugh harder.
"Leon, please behave yourself!" scolded Livia. "It's embarrassing!"
"It was adorable and hilarious, Livia," I smiled, to which Livia pouted.
"I sense a story here," grinned Clarice.
"Long story short, there was a misunderstanding when Livia was describing my passion for tea and these ladies assumed that Livia was describing my libido," I chuckled.
"I wish I could have heard that," laughed Clarice to which Livia whined in embarrassment.
"I've got the recording of it to show later if you want," I grinned, to which Livia melted into the couch, squeaking and blushing incoherently.
"Leon, please stop breaking Livia," chided Angelica gently even as she smiled warmly at the embarrassed girl. "Besides, we do have a purpose here, in case you'd forgotten."
"Right, of course," I nodded, preparing tea for our two newest guests. "Another time, Clarice."
I quickly prepared tea for Carmen and Ariel took my seat again. The two ladies nodded briefly as they accepted the tea, and I will admit a brief moment of pride as they hummed in satisfaction at the tea I prepared.
"So, let's get to brass tacks, shall we ladies?" I began, taking another sip of tea before my expression took on a hardened edge.
"You mentioned that you had word on that trollop, Marie, yes?" replied Carmen, stirring her tea carefully.
"Yes, we were just discussing how whoever bullied her played perfectly into her scheming gremlin hands," I replied gravely, taking satisfaction as Carmen paled and Ariel choked on her tea. "Honestly, I'm shocked that whoever did it was so blinded by hate to miss something so obvious."
"...I'm not sure what you mean, Lord Bartfort-" began Carmen hesitantly.
"No, I suppose not; you must be far too smart to comprehend such idiocy in its base form," I interrupted, satisfied to see a twitch on Carmen's face as she took offense to the insult. "I'm not surprised you weren't able to find the culprit, as only a complete numbskull would believe that their actions would help Miss Angelica in any way, shape, or form."
"...Well, I can confidently say that no one in Lady Angelica's Followers is a 'numbskull' as you put it," replied Carmen haughtily.
"My thoughts exactly, which is why another possibility occurred to me," I replied easily.
"Another possibility?" asked Ariel with a frown. "Why would anyone bother with Miss Lafan other than a personal vendetta, though? Her family is poor and not influential in the slightest. The only reason Miss Lafan is at all relevant is the fact she's hanging around the Prince."
"That assumes that Marie was the target and not simply collateral damage," I replied, taking another calculated sip from my tea.
"...Lord Bartfort, are you suggesting that someone was deliberately attacking Lady Angelica?" frowned Carmen, clearly unnerved. "That's preposterous! Miss Lafan wouldn't have the resources to-"
"Never said that this was Marie attacking Angelica," I replied, picking up a shortbread cookie and flourishing it between my fingers like an oversized coin. "Tell me: can you think of any rivals to the Redgrave family and its allies that would want to strike at Duke Redgrave in an indirect fashion?"
At this point, I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that Carmen and Ariel had orchestrated the bullying of Marie, but there was no way to prove it unless they slipped up. Thankfully, I didn't need to prove it, as long as I could prevent them from acting out again. I could see the fear in Carmen and Ariel's eyes as I posed my bogus theory to them. Childish antics at the academy were one thing, but a deliberate political attack, however indirect, would not be so easily dismissed. Angelica's father would become involved, and any perpetrators would be severely punished for their actions.
"There is a faction that's been growing in power under Marquis Frampton," mused Angelica before frowning. "Leon, do you really think that someone has concocted a plot so intricate in order to attack my father?"
"Well, it's either that or complete and total idiocy," I shrugged, internally taking pleasure in Carmen's irritation, but making note to talk with Luxion about this new information regarding Marquis Frampton. "You'll let him know about it, right?"
"Of course," nodded Angelica, to which Carmen and Ariel paled completely. "This has clearly moved beyond childish matters, and my father will want to be informed."
"Lady Angelica, I really must protest," began Carmen. "This is all conjecture and speculation of a single man-"
"As I told Leon earlier, I would bet my very life on his suspicions over anyone else's facts," replied Angelica curtly. "Please inform the others of this development and that any further harassment of Marie Fou Lafan will be dealt with harshly."
"...Of course, Lady Angelica," nodded Carmen, clearly shaken. "We'll go at once."
As they left, I could see a very troubled look on Ariel's face. It seemed that she truly believed that she would be helping Angelica with her actions. Still, only time would tell. I waited for the door to close and for Luxion to give me a silent "All Clear" before speaking.
"So, just to clarify for anyone else that may have missed the interplay there, Carmen and Ariel were actually the ringleaders for bullying Marie," I explained, taking a sip of my tea.
The collective expressions of shock nearly deafened me as clearly everyone in the room had bought into my bogus theory. Only Livia didn't seem completely shocked, but I figure that was because most of the intricacies of the nobility were still brand new and confusing to her already.
"Leon, what- how- why-" blurted Angelica in confusion. "If you knew it was them, then what was the point of that farce?!"
"I just gave them the perfect chance to own up to it and prove they may yet be trusted in the future, but only Ariel seemed to be reaching that point, and Carmen pulled her away before she could," I explained. "By this point, Carmen will have covered their tracks well enough that even if we questioned all of the Followers, we'd never uncover the truth, but thankfully that's unnecessary."
"...Leon, are you absolutely sure it was them?" asked Angelica quietly.
"...I can't prove it beyond a shadow of a doubt, but I'm sure of it, yes," I replied, unable to lie to Angelica. "What I know is that they're the ones with the best opportunity and motive to do, and if anyone else had tried it, they'd have found them when you asked them to find the culprits."
"...In a sick sort of way, that does make sense that they'd have to be involved," sighed Angelica. "So, what was the purpose of that convoluted theory that you posed? You could have easily stuck with your earlier goading tactics if you wanted to try and trip them into confessing."
"Mostly to scare them off from taking further action on their own," I explained. "While it would be a totally legitimate tactic of a rival faction looking to cause problems for your father, I don't believe that anyone is actively using such a tactic at the moment."
"...'At the moment'?" replied Angelica, picking up on the subtle implication. "You believe that someone may use it in the future?"
"It's the biggest vulnerability that I can see for your family and their faction," I replied. "I'm sure your father would already be aware of it, but I'd still let him know, just in case."
I could feel the stunned stares of every other pair of eyes in the room, the silence almost uncomfortable as the moment stretched on. Angelica stared at me carefully, silently appraising me just like she did before her Followers showed up.
"...Leon, you said that you want to live a quiet life in the countryside, yes?" asked Angelica suddenly.
"That was the plan, yes…" I replied hesitantly. "Always has been, in fact."
"I believe that may not have been an option for you…" murmured Angelica cryptically. "Extraordinary men seldom lead ordinary lives."
I glanced away sheepishly, completely at a loss for words as everyone in the room nodded readily at Angelica's statement. I tried to glare at Jenna for the smug look she was giving, but I just couldn't muster up the willpower.
"I'm flattered, Angelica, but most of the extraordinary feats that you speak of would not have been possible without Luxion's help-" I began to deflect.
"While I will grant that the majority of our achievements have been as a result of my labors, I would still attribute a full forty percent of our success to Master Leon's own effort and skill, which is shockingly high for an organic."
"...A full forty percent, you say? Where's that vaunted 'AI Superiority' that you claim to possess?" I attempted to snark, but in the end, I was rather touched by Luxion's assessment.
"I assure you that my superior AI nature is always in effect, which is why my assessment of forty percent should carry far more weight by default," quipped Luxion.
"...Clearly, 'AI' must stand for 'Asshole Intelligence'..." I sighed, letting it go for now. "At the very least, we've now taken measures to ensure that Marie doesn't have anything else to beat us over the head with, and unless I've severely miscalculated how dumb Carmen and Ariel are, we shouldn't need to take any others."
"So then what's our next move?" asked Dan.
"I'll be trying to make contact with the Prince and Jilk through my connection to Greg," I stated. "Meanwhile, let's start some-...well, maybe not 'rumors' since they'll all be true, but counter-gossip that will at least put doubt in people's heads about Angelica and Clarice being villains in this narrative."
"I can lend a hand with that," volunteered Jenna. "I'm in a few gossip circles among the second year students, and I've kept a reputation of being honest and accurate."
"That'd be great if you would, Jenna," I replied with a nod.
"And what can Clarice and I do to help, Leon?" asked Angelica.
"Forgive me, Angelica, but the task I have for the both of you will be the hardest of all, and I'm sure you won't like it one bit," I grimaced before letting the bombshell hit. "I need you to stay strong for as long as you possibly can regardless of what you see or hear and let me and Livia distract you from Julius and Jilk."
"...Leon, please be serious," frowned Angelica.
"I am being serious," I explained. "It's going to be the hardest task because we all want to fight against that little gremlin, and you two will be the only ones that can't without everything going the messy way. And she will try to provoke you when she realizes that we've taken away any natural opportunities to prompt a reaction."
"…Alright, Leon, if you believe that pampering me and Clarice will be the most effective way to fight that gremlin, then I will trust your judgment," sighed Angelica.
"Glad we could finally meet like this," I grinned as I chambered a round into my rifle.
"Hey, you're the one who was extremely busy after break," laughed Greg as he took a point in our formation. "Completely helpless to the whims of the Duke's daughter for the last few weeks, if the rumors are to be believed…"
We were back in the dungeon from Midterm now that the area had been deemed safe for students by the Guild. I'd invited Brad, Greg, Danny, and Raymond to come with, and after a bit of nervous tension, we'd managed to break the ice and both groups were getting along pretty well.
"I confirm nothing and deny even less," I deadpanned before laughing.
"And what of the rumors that you're Lady Redgrave's new lover?" snarked Danny.
"Those I will wholeheartedly deny as completely nonsensical," I replied with a laugh.
"Really?" asked Brad with a raised eyebrow. "With your behavior at the midterm, I would have thought there to be some kernel of truth to the stories."
"First of all, Angelica is irrevocably in love with the Prince, and so would never consider a lover as an option," I explained. "And even if Miss Angelica were the type to take a lover, there's no way that I would even make the top fifty candidates, much less her top pick."
"And this from the man who said that stealing a kiss from Lady Redgrave would be worth banishment from the Kingdom," laughed Danny.
"Oh really now…" grinned Greg as he turned to look at me.
"Am I wrong?" I shrugged in spite of my face burning beneath my helmet. "I mean, my words are a little out of context, but I'm sure I speak for most guys at the Academy."
"I mean, she's definitely hot, I'll agree with that," shrugged Greg. "Still, she's like most noble bitches, isn't she? I mean, she's a Duke's daughter after all."
"Not at all," I protested. "She may be a little bit of a stickler for the rules, but she cares deeply for her friends and has a truly kind heart. I saw how she took Livia under her wing right away, and the two girls are practically inseparable now."
"You mean Miss Olivia, the scholarship student, yes?" asked Brad. "I must admit, I would never have expected such a reaction out of Angelica, especially toward a commoner."
"Perhaps there may be more to Angelica than you previously thought?" I replied, perhaps a little pointedly.
"I suppose there is…" replied Brad, chagrined. "My apologies."
"Nothing to apologize to me for," I replied. "Angelica, on the other hand…"
"Of course, I will speak with her as soon as we get back," nodded Brad readily.
"You know, it's kind of surreal to see that the upper echelons of noble society aren't nearly as different as we thought," commented Raymond.
"You mean that we're not living Gods?" snarked Greg, to which Raymond nodded. "Yeah, don't let the old geezers hear you say that, but yeah we're still human as you are."
"That's comforting, I suppose," laughed Danny.
"People are people, at the end of the day," I remarked. "We laugh, we cry, we live, we breathe, we bleed, and we die. King and Pawn are both carved from the same materials, and they both end up in the same box at the end of the game."
"...Dude, with words like that, how are you not already engaged?" asked Greg with a blank look. "Seriously, you seem like you could charm any lady you'd want."
"Oh that's easy," I laughed. "Academy bitches only care about my lack of wealth and status, and I don't give a shit about them in return."
"So what's the deal with you and that Warrior Princess, Olivia?" asked Greg. "You were ready to throw down with me for her sake."
"I mean, I wouldn't exactly call Livia a Warrior Princess- wait, hang on, when did you see her fight?" I frowned. "I thought you didn't see her during the Midterm."
"Saw her in the practice arena a week ago," explained Greg. "She was fighting against six practice robots with a mix of marksmanship and magic casting and totally kicking ass."
"Wait, she was using a firearm in the practice arena?" asked Raymond. "How? The protective barriers have been down for the last two weeks."
"She was casting her own protective barrier while she was fighting…" replied Greg.
"...Gods above…" whispered Danny.
"Now do you see why I told you she could have taken that troll on her own?" I grinned, feeling a surge of pride on Livia's behalf.
"You were understating it, for sure," nodded Greg. "Seriously, how the hell did you meet a girl like that?"
"Well, I actually have Brad to thank for that," I smirked.
"I beg your pardon?" asked Brad in confusion.
"Your fangirls cornered her before your tea party, ripped up her invite, and told her to 'know her place' since you only invited her as a courtesy-" I began.
"I would never invite a woman as a mere courtesy!" exclaimed Brad before his expression darkened with regret. "...I wondered what had actually happened that day… The other girls told me they didn't know what had happened, but I knew something was off. I never got the chance to look into it because I met Marie the very next day. I suppose the shame I feel is well deserved, then. Thank you for helping her, Lord Bartfort-"
"Call me Leon," I interrupted gently. "Livia is doing quite well now, and if it weren't for those squawking gulls, she and I would never have met, but for your concern I thank you, Brad."
"Gulls?" grinned Greg.
"Because they shriek and squawk around you five like gulls at a fish market," I chuckled as Greg descended into snorting cackles.
"Dude, we should totally get Jilk to draw that," laughed Greg, not noticing the twitch in my eye as he mentioned the green-haired idiot. "Julius would totally crack up."
"A blunt, if apt, description," smiled Brad ruefully. "Still, I would say such associations are a necessary evil in my situation."
"Yeah, you really got the short end of the stick when you got engaged to Stephanie, dude," added Greg sympathetically.
"Worse than the 'typical Noble Bitch', then?" I guessed to which Greg nodded.
"Be thankful that you've never had the misfortune to cross paths with her, Leon," shuddered Brad. "I'm simply thankful that Marie came into my life when she did to give me the ability to break my engagement to that vile woman."
"...Right, breaking off engagements…" I sighed, looking away.
"...Yeah, I don't agree with how Jules is handling the issue, but I get that the situation is more complex since he's the Prince and Angelica's the Duke's daughter-" began Greg.
"I wasn't talking about Julius, but I will get to him later," I cut in, letting a bit of anger leak through. "I'm talking about Clarice Fia Atlee and the fact she had to find out that Jilk was involved with another woman through rumors and gossip."
"She what?!" exclaimed Greg, stumbling over his own feet.
"...You had no idea," I concluded as I took in Brad and Greg's stunned faces.
"...Not in the slightest," replied Brad, clearly shaken by the revelation. "We all agreed that those of us who could easily break our engagements would do so before the End of Term Gala. Jilk himself said that the matter was under control…"
"Clearly it's frigging not!" snapped Greg. "I swear I'm gonna kick that man's ass around his ears for that! Clarice is a total sweetheart!"
"To be fair, the deadline we set was the Gala," interjected Brad. "While I do agree that it is very bad form for Jilk to have taken this long, he hasn't broken his word yet."
"Small comfort there," growled Greg. "Seriously, 'under control' my ass! Did Clarice have any idea that Marie existed before the rumors started?"
"None," I replied bluntly. "Livia found her crying her eyes out in the girl's bathroom the other day, blaming herself for Jilk's distance."
"...I am going to kick his ass," hissed Greg.
"Let me know when and I'll hold him still for you," I replied with a firm nod.
"Uh… Shouldn't we be paying attention to the dungeon?" asked Raymond, to which Greg flinched.
"We're clear," I shrugged. "I've got Luxion scanning the road ahead for us, since I figured our conversation might get heated. Still, now that I've got my blood up, I kind of want to take on some hapless monsters, what say you?"
"Let's kick some ass…" grinned Greg.
"I thank you for hosting us this afternoon, Jenna," smiled Angelica as she sat down at the table. "I Imagine that it must have been an inconvenience at such short notice."
"It's fine, honestly," replied Jenna as her manservant Miauler poured tea for the group. "Didn't really interfere with my plans. Besides, I'm more interested in learning more about the ladies that my brother has surrounded himself with…"
Livia could definitely see the familial resemblance between Jenna and Leon as the older girl grinned widely. Today, Leon had gone into the dungeon in order to get Greg and Brad to try and put pressure on the Prince and Jilk, so his sister had volunteered to host the group in his stead. However, Livia suspected that it was more for the purpose of gathering gossip than any altruistic purpose. Still, it didn't seem to be for any malicious purposes, at least none besides normal sibling rivalry.
Since the previous week, Clarice had joined their tea sessions, to which the four of them had gotten along quite well. Livia especially enjoyed the fact that Clarice was able to flirt Leon to a stalemate, although Leon did return the favor ten-fold. When they weren't flirting each other into submission, Clarice loved discussing the intricacies of airbikes and airbike racing, to which Leon had a host of Old World insight.
"What do you mean, Miss Jenna?" asked Livia, even though she had a feeling she knew the answer.
"Well, for one thing, do I need to be concerned that my brother has taken a leaf out of Brad's book?" smirked Jenna.
"I can assure you that your brother has been nothing less than a perfect gentleman with us," replied Angelica with a raised eyebrow and half-smirk.
"Much to my frustration," smirked Clarice, but there did seem to be a hint of sadness in that smile.
"Oh dear…" murmured Jenna, her earlier grin fading to a grimace. "How badly do I need to smack my brother?"
"Not at all," replied Clarice resolutely. "I wasn't in a good place, and he did help me through it."
"...Okay, I think I'm lost," frowned Jenna. "He either turned you down or he helped you through it, unless I'm missing something here."
"I think I'm missing some context as well," added Livia. "Why would Leon being a good man be frustrating to Clarice, and why would being a good man preclude Leon helping her even still?"
"...You remember how much of a mess I was, right?" asked Clarice, to which Livia nodded. "Well… I'm not proud of this, but I was probably only days away from acquiring several demi-human servants in order to drown my sorrows."
"Why would demi-human servants help?" frowned Livia.
"...Livia, demi-human servants aren't just used for domestic labor," explained Angelica carefully. "There are certain… connotations… if an unmarried noble girl acquires a large number of servants-"
"She planned to have them bang her brains out," explained Jenna bluntly, to which Livia squeaked and Angelica sighed in exasperation. "No sense in dragging it out. The poor girl will find out what most noble ladies have servants for eventually."
"...Yeah, bluntness certainly runs in the family," chuckled Clarice wryly before addressing Livia again. "It's a questionable practice when married noble ladies indulge, but for someone who's unmarried it's a stain on one's honor. You helped me so much that day when you took my hand, Livia, and for that, I can't thank you enough."
"You needed help, that's all…" blushed Livia before frowning. "Then how did- …Oh…"
"...Taking a lover of a noble rank, albeit a lower one, would be much more acceptable," explained Angelica. "That's why I-"
"-Why you and I left earlier a few days ago, so that Clarice could…" finished Livia, giving a reassuring glance to Clarice. "I'm guessing that's why you asked me privately how I really felt about Leon?"
"...Yeah…" sighed Clarice. "I should have found someone else, but-"
"I'd have still told you to go for it," smiled Livia gently. "As long as it was what you wanted… Still, Leon turned you down?"
"Not precisely…" replied Clarice with a wistful look as she thought back on that night.
"I seriously believe that you're just making things up now, Leon!" laughed Clarice.
"I'm absolutely serious!" replied Leon with a laugh. "They used to ride ground-based, motorized bikes in races just like airbike races. The term 'bike' is actually derived from the Old World term 'bicycle', so called for the two wheels that made up the design."
It had gotten late, by any stretch of the imagination. They'd been talking for hours already, about the history of Old World racing machines and the intricacies of airbike technology. Thankfully, Angie had understood her nonverbal request to have time alone with Leon, otherwise Clarice didn't think she'd have had the nerve to try what she planned to do tonight.
"And these machines ran on controlled-explosions instead of magic?" asked Clarice. "Even if they managed to contain the explosions, the forces from the explosion must have traveled throughout the entire vehicle!"
"Oh yes, they certainly did, and it was often considered to be a sign of quality," confirmed Leon. "The more powerful the engine, the heavier the vibration."
"Well…I can't imagine that they had many women riding these machines," grinned Clarice as she decided to try teasing Leon yet again. "I imagine that something like that would be rather…stimulating…"
"...Well, it was considered to be a selling point, and the Old Humans as a whole were a much more… liberated society, in some ways," grinned Leon in return, not even blushing for a moment. "I'll admit that I've considered having Lux manufacture one for me to test out, just to get a feel for it."
"That sounds like it'd be a lot of fun," smiled Clarice teasingly. "Maybe we could ride together…"
"I thought you still owed me an airbike lesson, 'Miss Clarice"..." smirked Leon.
"Well, I'll show you mine when you show me yours…" giggled Clarice.
"Sounds like a date…" countered Leon, only able to hold the look for a moment before they both broke into genuine laughter.
The two of them fell back into a comfortable silence, as they usually did. He never really backed down with her flirting, mostly just taking it in stride, but sometimes he flirted right back in return and it just felt… right. It felt natural, unlike her interactions with her Followers or…Jilk. And then, she'd leave his tearoom for the day, and all the feelings of emptiness and sorrow at Jilk would come rushing back. But this time, maybe it could be different, as long as she could get a hold of herself. She took a deep breath, exhaling shakily as she made her next move.
"...Thank you again, Leon…" sighed Clarice, trying to gather her courage to take the next step. "This past week…I cannot thank you and Livia enough for what you've done for me."
"Of course, Clarice," replied Leon instantly, perhaps slightly confused. "I've told you before, there's no need to thank me-"
"Leon, I would have dishonored my family and my Followers if you'd not convinced me to burn those servant contracts," interrupted Clarice. "Furthermore, you've given me someplace to go, not only to feel something other than sorrow, but feel something more than that."
"...I only wish I could do more," sighed Leon as he looked aside.
"...Actually, there's one thing that you can do…" began Clarice hesitantly. "You've been truly wonderful here, Leon, warm and inviting like a roaring fire in a hearth. Still, every time that I leave, I feel like I'm stepping back into a cold winter's night. I don't want to do that again. I can't do that again…So, while I know it's selfish to ask, I would have one request of you, Leon…"
With that, Clarice stood up and walked to Leon. As she moved, she shrugged out of her Academy blazer, letting the unwanted garment fall to the floor. Leon blinked in confusion for a moment, as though he were trying to process what she was doing. Her hands went to her school ribbon next, untying the knot with a deft pull as she let it fall to the floor. She then reached for the buttons of her shirt, watching as Leon's mind finally caught up with her actions. It wasn't until she reached the fourth button that he managed to find his voice again.
"Whoa, hey! Let me buy you dinner first-" joked Leon nervously before coming up short when he looked into her eyes and saw the emotions there.
"...Leon, I know you have feelings for Angie and Livia that have yet to be resolved, but…" continued Clarice as she unbuttoned the last button. "...Please? I don't want to feel so empty anymore…"
Leon said nothing, his face unreadable. For a moment, Clarice felt her heart break again as she teetered on the edge of rejection. Leon truly was her last and only hope to feel something more meaningful than simply hedonistic carnal pleasure. For however loyal her Followers were, all they saw was their Noble Lady, and not the woman that she was. Leon, however, was different. He certainly didn't mindlessly worship the ground she walked; in fact, he simply talked to her, even returning her teasing three-fold, teasing that she'd begun to simply feel desirable again. In an instant, Clarice felt her heart soar as the man stepped toward her.
"...As you wish, Clarice…" replied Leon as he wrapped his arms around her.
Clarice moved quickly to try and capture his lips, but Leon was faster. In an instant, he'd pulled her into an embrace that was not at all passionate, but was somehow all the more loving for it. She tried to resist his misplaced honor, tried to remove her now open shirt, tried to claim his lips with her own in order to feel something other than a dull ache, but his arms held her fast to his chest, keeping her passions from flaring into an inferno that would consume her. Instead, they smoldered into a gentle warmth, a low flame that thawed the icy grip on her heart that Jilk had left behind. And then Leon started to sing.
The words were in a language she didn't understand, but they were soft and kind, like the gentle caress of a velvet glove. It was an Old World song, clearly, and Clarice couldn't tell if it was a romantic love song or if it was simply a lovingly gentle lullaby, but the melody could serve as either. One phrase was repeated in the song; a "Lah vee on rose" or something like it, but whatever the words meant, the gentle tone of his voice and the sweet melody it carried brought familiar damp lines across her cheeks. The tears surprised Clarice, as she didn't think that she still had any left. As he finished the song, Leon held her close for a moment before gently whispering into her ear.
"It's ok," whispered Leon. "I'm right here, and I'm not going anywhere…"
The last vestiges of her resolve crumbled in an instant. Clarice sobbed uncontrollably into Leon's shoulder as she clung to him as though she might drown. In a single smooth motion, Leon lifted her into a princess carry and moved her to the sofa in the room, maintaining a comforting touch as he sat next to her and rested her head against his chest. Her sobs regained strength as Leon sang to her again, once again in the strange language, once again soft and low and sweet. He sang one more song as her sobs finally began to subside, the lyrics in Common yet still unfamiliar.
"Smile, though your heart is aching," sang Leon softly. "Smile, even though it's breaking. When there are clouds in the sky, you'll get by, if you smile through your fear and sorrow. Smile, and maybe tomorrow, you'll see the sun come shining through…For you…"
Clarice winced at the lyrics, feeling the sting of them ever more keenly than any blade, her tears still flowing even as she gained control of her sobs again. Whatever this song was, it spoke to her and the ache in her chest as she thought of that cad, Jilk, but it didn't drive her further into despair. No, Clarice was finally able to feel some hope as Leon continued to sing softly to her.
"Light up your face with gladness," continued Leon. "Hide every trace of sadness. Although a tear may be ever so near, that's the time you must keep on trying. Smile; what's the use of crying? You'll find that life is still worthwhile if you just… Smile…"
She had no idea when she drifted off; all she knew in those sweet moments were the warmth of Leon's embrace, the soothing sound of his voice, and the scent of bergamot oil that followed him. When Clarice woke again, she felt Leon settling her down in a bed, and for a brief moment she hoped that he would take her as a lover. As she became more aware of her surroundings, she realized that she was still dressed in her Academy uniform and Leon was simply tucking her in, her shirt even buttoned back up again from when she'd unbuttoned it. The disappointment that she felt was immeasurably frustrating, even more so as she realized that she actually appreciated his efforts. The loving care that he'd given freely to her, with no expectations in return, made her want him all the more, but she knew that he'd never act in a way that he'd consider "taking advantage". A notion, of course, that was completely ridiculous: she had no idea how someone could take advantage of the enthusiastically willing.
She shivered delightfully as Leon leaned down to speak to her, and it was all she could do to restrain herself from attempting to wrap her arms around him and pull him into her bed. As eager as she was to take Leon as a lover now, she knew it wasn't the right moment yet. Emotionally, neither of them were ready for something that would last, which she now wanted quite desperately, and besides that, Clarice was well and truly drained: When the moment actually came, she wanted to enjoy it and participate to the fullest extent that she was capable of.
"...I know this may not have been what you wanted, but I think this is what you needed, Clarice…" whispered Leon, hesitating a moment before kissing her on the forehead.
"…you missed…" murmured Clarice.
"…Tell you what, Clarice," replied Leon, amused. "When you are more conscious to appreciate it, I promise that I won't miss next time."
"…you promise?" asked Clarice quietly.
"I swear to you," replied Leon sincerely. "For now, sleep well, Clarice…"
"…Kiss me again?" asked Clarice hopefully.
"…As you wish…" whispered Leon as he gently kissed her forehead once more, allowing her to breathe in the comforting aroma of bergamot she'd come to associate with him.
The next moment, he was gone, but the scent of bergamot still lingered. She'd not been much of a fan of Belmont Blend Four, not like Angie had been at the start of the year, but she'd definitely developed a liking to it over the last week. The fact that the main flavorant of the blend was also the primary ingredient in whatever cologne or soap or aftershave or whatever Leon used was certainly not a coincidence. The sound of voices outside her door brought Clarice out of her internal musings as she listened in on the conversation.
"Thank you for helping her when we could not, Leon," she heard Dan say.
"And why couldn't you help her like that?" argued Leon, a tinge of irritation coloring his tone. "I've done nothing more than give her a shoulder to cry on and a pair of gentle arms to hold her and tell her that someone was there for her. None of that was improper or beyond what a friend would do."
"Lady Clarice is one of the most wonderful heiresses of the Upper Nobility, and we've sworn as her Followers to see that she has nothing less than what she deserves," argued Dan. "Having spent time with her for the last week or so, surely you can see that there's not a single man at this Academy worthy of her, yes?"
"You want to know what I see?" asked Leon sharply. "I see a lonely girl on a lonely pedestal, surrounded by those who worship her as a goddess but won't give her the care and comfort she needs. She's a woman, not a goddess; a truly wonderful woman, sure, but still mortal as you or I, and with all the same needs and desires."
"...I think I'll need to amend my earlier statement, Leon," chuckled Dan. "There may in fact be a man worthy of Lady Clarice's affections, and I'd say that I'm looking at him…"
"The hell with worthiness, Dan," argued Leon. "I know for a fact that I'm not worthy, but that doesn't matter. All that matters is what she desires, and she desires to be loved and comforted, not as a goddess, but as simply a woman. That's all I did."
"And I say that's what makes you worthy," countered Dan. "Have a good evening, Leon."
As the footfalls drew away, Clarice sighed in the darkness of her room, her mind racing as her heart fluttered. She knew it was foolish to make any decisions while she was still hung up over Jilk, but after tonight, it was impossible to deny: She loved Leon. He was crass, crude, and cocky, but he was kind, insightful, and honestly funny. He cared in a way that she'd never seen before, outside of the way her father cared about her mother.
Yes, she did still need to get over Jilk, in spite of how Leon's actions tonight had driven nearly every trace of the man from her soul. Yes, Leon still had unresolved feelings toward Angie and Livia, and they felt the same way toward him. Yes, there were countless other obstacles regarding status differences and reputations, but Clarice didn't give a damn about any of it: She loved Leon, and she wanted to be with him. With a sigh, she hugged her pillow to her chest and pictured a dark-haired man with mischief in his eyes and warmth in his lopsided grin holding her close.
"...Leon can sing?" asked Angelica in surprise. "How was his voice?"
"It was lovely," sighed Clarice with a smile. "I didn't recognize any of the songs, but I figured they must be Old World songs he discovered in his travels."
"I must admit that I envy you, Clarice, but I'm pleased that Leon was able to help you the way that he did," smiled Angelica.
"...That smooth bastard…" swore Jenna with a smile. "Well, I guess I can see how he helped while still leaving you frustrated."
"Seriously, I'm shocked that he isn't engaged already," replied Clarice earnestly. "Whatever girl he marries better treat him right, or there will be a reckoning from me."
"I'll be right there with you, Clarice," nodded Angelica.
"Same," agreed Livia firmly.
"And this perfectly illustrates the point of why I wanted to meet with you three today," grinned Jenna, at which the rest of the girls blushed. "I can see why Clarice would go so far, but it makes me wonder what my brother did for the two of you that would prompt such a reaction?"
"He's… he's been the one constant I've been able to rely on here at the academy, from the moment I met him," smiled Livia. "I've learned so much from him, and he helped me without a second thought even when there was no benefit in doing so."
"I bet he said something sappy like 'Your smile is all the benefit I need', right?" teased Jenna.
"No, he hasn't said anything like that," laughed Livia. "It does certainly sound like something he might say, though."
"It does, but he'd have a touch more mischief in his tone," added Angelica with a long-suffering smile. "He may be one of the greatest men I've ever met, but he can be truly exasperating when he wants to be."
"You're talking about the Midterm Incident, right?" asked Jenna curiously. "What really happened that day? I highly doubt that my brother declared his undying love and devotion to you right in the middle of the dungeon, but he had to have done something?"
"Publicly, he made a spectacle of himself to stop me from doing something rash, even going so far as to ask Prince Julius if he might 'steal' me for the exam," explained Angelica before blushing heavily. "...Privately, he made a vow to 'help me find the happiness I deserve'..."
"...Well, we can be sure that no one overheard that little declaration, because the rumor mill only suggests that he may be in love with you," laughed Jenna nervously.
"You're suggesting that he is in love with me?" scoffed Angelica, though her blush betrayed her true feelings.
"I'm suggesting that he's falling in love with all three of you," replied Jenna firmly.
"...How can you be sure of that?" asked Livia hesitantly.
"Well, it's not like I've talked to him about it, but I do know three things," argued Jenna. "First, my brother isn't the type to speak meaningless platitudes. I'm sure you've all noticed he's blunt as a hammer. He'd never have spent as much time with you all if you didn't actually mean something to him, and he certainly means every word he's said so far."
To this, the three other ladies nodded. For as wonderful as he was, there was no denying that he was brutally honest. Still, that alone was not an indication of romance, was it?
"Second, with the exception of his friend Eliza Fou Melton, who is currently smitten with his friend Danny, you three are the only ladies he associates with," continued Jenna. "And that's including me, his 'dearest older sister'."
Well, that certainly was a little harder to dismiss. Noble boys were expected to find a wife while they were at the academy, so for Leon to not meet with any other girls was a point in favor of Jenna's argument. Still, that was simply because Leon was honor-bound by his promises and he wasn' the sort to fulfill a promise halfway, right?
"Third, I've seen the way that he looks at you three, when he thinks that no one else is looking," finished Jenna with a smile. "It's that same sort of starry-eyed, faraway look that our father gives our mother when he thinks she isn't looking. I'm sure it goes without saying that our father is absolutely in love with our mother…"
…Perhaps there might be some truth to Jenna's words. Still, why had Leon not said anything to them yet? Wasn't the first point of Jenna's argument about how Leon was brutally honest and ready to speak his mind at the drop of a hat?
"I don't think he's fully realized the way that he feels yet," explained Jenna with an exasperated smile. "And even if he has realized it, he's not going to act in such a way that would, in his mind, hurt any of you in the long run. It's stupid, I know. Sweet and endearing, but still totally stupid."
"I wouldn't go that far," replied Angelica with a sad smile. "It would be frustrating if we were ready to reciprocate such feelings, but…"
"...You're still in love with your fiance?" guessed Jenna with an understanding look.
"...In some ways, yes, but in others, no," explained Angelica. "I'm still in love with the facade that Prince Julius displayed to the rest of the world. It's not really who he is, but that idea shares his name and face, and it's still hard to separate the two from each other without knowing Julius Holfort instead of Prince Julius."
"...That sounds like a 'Leon' explanation…" squinted Jenna.
"I imagine that it would, since he's the one that described how my idea of Prince Julius was very different from who Prince Julius actually was, but the rest of it would be my own conclusions," replied Angelica with a faint smile before turning somber. "There's a large part of me that doesn't want to let go of the past ten years yet. Any advances toward Leon would not be fair to him until I am ready to let them go."
"I'm inclined to agree with Angie," nodded Clarice. "Sure, it is frustrating for him to restrain himself around us, but he's not wrong to say that we wouldn't be ready for something like that. Anything we'd do would be overshadowed by the sorrow we feel, and it wouldn't last. Ten years of loving Jilk with all my heart isn't something that's going to go away overnight, after all."
"So what about you?" asked Jenna, turning to Livia. "Any reason why you aren't going to pursue my brother yet?"
"Mostly just not feeling that I'm ready to take that step yet," replied Livia, smiling in spite of the blush that continued to build on her face. "I've never been romantically involved before, so honestly the idea is a little frightening, even with Leon."
"So you're saying that you're comfortable with Leon?" grinned Jenna, to which Livia blushed harder even as she smiled and nodded. "Well, I can understand why you're taking things slowly. Still, if you need someone to kick him in the ass when the time comes, just let me know…"
"AHH-HAUGH!" I sneezed loudly, doubling over for the fifth time in fifteen minutes.
"Are you sure you're alright, man?" asked Greg seriously. "I'm not sure if that last one was a sneeze or an escape attempt by your lungs…"
"Yeah, I'm fine, but why don't we go ahead and take a break," I replied, sitting down on a rock. "I need to wipe the monster blood from my visor anyhow."
"Yeah, why the hell do you keep getting splashed all the damn time?" asked Greg with a contemplative frown. "Monsters generally burst into smoke when they die, so what's up with the blood bath?"
"Moreover, why does it always seem to only affect you?" asked Brad. "If we were all affected, I could have simply attributed it to a unique property of this dungeon, but it has been you and you alone that has been affected by the arterial spray of the monsters we've slain."
"Beats me," I shrugged with a grin as I cleaned my visor. "Maybe you guys just have Main Character Energy?"
We all laughed for a moment at my ridiculous statement, but I had to wonder if there was an element of truth to it. I knew this world wasn't actually a game, but with that kind of phenomenon, it wasn't hard to see why Marie might think it was.
"...I'm sure that you've already handled the issue as best as you can, but… how is Clarice now?" asked Brad suddenly.
"...Better," I replied after a deep breath. "Considering that she was maybe a day away from drowning her sorrows in a lust-filled haze, she's definitely been doing better."
"...Oh…" articulated Greg, filling in the blanks that I'd left behind. "...Did you-"
"-Become her lover like she asked me to?" I finished for Greg. "...No, because that's not what she needed, even if it's what she said she wanted. She needed a kind word, a comforting embrace, and a shoulder to cry on. That's what I provided to her, but I know that won't be enough."
"She's gonna need closure," nodded Greg. "Which means that we need to kick Jilk's ass into gear…"
"I'd appreciate the assistance," I nodded. "Honestly, I was just hoping that you guys would just help make the introduction so I could talk to Jilk myself-"
"The hell with that," interrupted Greg, shaking his head. "The man needs his ass kicked around his ears, and we'll help you."
"I'm glad you agree," I nodded. "Still, she's not the only one…"
"Right, Miss Angelica," agreed Brad grimly. "As much as I sympathize with her, Greg wasn't wrong when he said the situation was a great deal more complex."
"I know," I scowled. "Still, even though they may have more hurdles to jump through politically, it doesn't mean that they couldn't simply talk things out behind closed doors, just the two of them."
"They've never been that close," sighed Brad. "For as long as I've known Julius, his engagement has only ever been strictly political, and I must admit that I foolishly assumed that Lady Redgrave's desires were purely political as well."
"Then that's something that Julius should have taken the time to fix," I argued. "Unless he always planned to throw away Angelica like garbage?"
"Julius would never be that cruel!" protested Brad, but then winced as he relented a bit. "...At least not intentionally."
"The problem is that the guy just doesn't know what exactly to say," explained Greg. "When he does finally boil over to say something, he usually ends up saying something rather harsh to Angelica and regrets it later, and so after he apologizes he resolves to keep a tighter lid on his emotions."
"And so he lets his frustration and resentment fester until it boils over again," I replied. "As far as what to say, he should have just spoken to Angelica honestly. Maybe not bared his full heart to her at once, but even just opening up like he did when he met each of you would have been a decent start."
"Leon, are you suggesting that the Prince should have treated the Duke's daughter like 'one of the guys'?!" asked Raymond in shock.
"Counterpoint to that; do you think it's right for a man to have a better relationship with a friend than the woman who will potentially bear his children?" I argued. "I don't mean what's 'normal', but what's 'right'. Do you honestly feel that's the way society should be?"
"...No, I really don't…" replied Raymond. "Certainly not after talking with you, but what other choice do we have? We're expected by society to get married-"
"-Then get married, but be sure that the woman you marry is someone that you can trust and rely upon with your life, because that is what you'll be doing when you marry someone," I interrupted. "Love may be a luxury for us as nobility, but- and I cannot stress this enough- trust and communication should be mandatory… And I don't care if you're a lowly baronet or the Crown Prince himself, my words apply equally to all."
"Yeah, I see your point, for sure, but what good will it do now?" asked Greg. "Julius and Angelica have never been close and he's not going to change his mind about Marie, so what's left to say at that point? I mean, it'll give Angelica closure, of course, but it's not going to make breaking the engagement any less messy, nor will it stop the engagement from being broken, so why tear each other up emotionally over something that's going to happen anyways?"
"Greg, sometimes inaction is the worst action that a man can take, and it'll become something that you'll regret to your grave," I replied. "It may not be a large regret, but you'll always wonder if you could have done something more, something better. Can you honestly say that Julius wouldn't have a doubt in his mind later on if he didn't speak to Angelica now?"
"...Yeah, maybe not at first, but you definitely have a point," replied Greg. "The trick will be getting Julius to see it the same way."
"Greg's right," agreed Brad. "While Julius will take advice on many subjects, his relationship with Angelica is not one of them. I fear that not even you'd be able to convince him otherwise, even for all that he trusts and respects your wisdom."
"Wait, hang on, 'not even' me?" I asked in confusion. "I've barely spent more than an hour with the guy over the last few months, and you're saying that he trusts me more than his four best friends that he's known for years?!"
"Yeah, pretty much," grinned Greg. "You've given the man the best advice he's had in years, so of course he'd trust your word more than anyone else's."
"Maybe we can warm him up to the idea?" suggested Brad. "It is something that he's going to have to do, but with everything that's happened, it might be best to make the attempt after the Gala."
"Sure, we can do that," I smiled before putting my helmet back on and letting my expression fall.
…Well, so much for trying to get Greg and Brad to help me convince Julius. Granted, it wasn't all bad news, since I now knew that I had Julius's trust more than any other individual besides Marie, even if it wasn't enough to convince him to do the right thing. A new plan would be needed, and at this point it seemed inevitable that I'd need to do things the messy way since I knew that Marie would do everything in her power to force the Duel event to happen.
"Lux, prepare the Arroganz for combat," I ordered on my private channel. "Make the changes we discussed and have it ready to deploy by the time of the Gala. Marie has given us no choice and no other alternative."
"Understood Master," replied Luxion. "I take it that you agree that Angelica will not be able to hold back from confronting Marie?"
"I promised that I would clean up this mess no matter what it took, and I would be a fool to not be prepared now," I explained. "I doubt that anyone would be able to hold their temper against whatever that loli gremlin has planned, and I'll be issuing the challenge whether Angelica holds out or not."
"I shall have the improvements ready ahead of schedule, then," replied Luxion. "I must admit, I find myself quite eager to see how the pinnacles of Old and New Human technology stack up against each other."
"Well, I'm glad you're pleased about this outcome," I grumbled.
"Giving the New Humans the proverbial 'middle finger' is always an excellent experience," quipped Luxion. "Of course, if you wanted to make things simpler, you could grab your three women, your friends, and family while I burn the world so humanity may restart?"
"Easy Lux!" I chided. "The Geneva Convention is not a checklist!"
"It is also no longer followed in any way, shape, or form," argued Luxion.
"Touche, but that still doesn't diminish my point."
"It diminishes my amusement," sulked Luxion.
"I'm sure you'll survive somehow," I smirked, even as I resolved myself to do what needed to be done.