Chapter 182: Overprotectiveness

"Let us join forces to combat these evils together." I say as I extend my hand towards him.

This is the first time I'm meeting the famous Claude Normann face to face. I've had Nu occasionally keep watch on him ever since Shadow called him a friend.

His swordsmanship is unorthodox, almost like Shadow's… and the fact that Shadow wants him as an ally while Necromancer avoids dealing with him directly suggests that there's more to him than meets the eye. And tonight's event proved that he is a worthy ally.

I've heard nothing but good things about him. And now that I've finally met him…

Why…

Why does his eyes give me such unpleasant feeling? It's almost like…

"Is that so? How funny. Just few minutes ago I got the same offer from Fenrir himself." He says as he didn't return the handshake. I'm aware that Fenrir tried to entice him into joining the Rounds earlier, something I cannot allow to happen.

"Fenrir cannot be trusted. He may be enemies with Necromancer now but in the end they are the same."

"And what of Shadow Garden? Are you not the same as the Cult?" He asks with a scrutinizing gaze. Did he hear about what happened to Rose? Is that why he's… reluctant to trust us now? If so, how? That isn't public information… yet. How curious.

"I admit that… we may not have the best track record of trustworthiness. But we share a common enemy. It is in our best interest to work together."

"How do I know that you do not have ulterior motives like what you did to Rose, which led her to becoming the Necromancer's pawn? How do I know that you won't lead me and Midgar astray?" He says with a frown. As I feared… He knows.

"Yes… we made a severe mistake in our treatment of her. But rest assured that we won't make the same mistake twice."

"Really? What is my sister's number?" Ah… so he knows that much… of our degrading treatment of Rose which led her astray.

"We didn't assign her a number and she didn't formally join Shadow Garden. She merely helped us as an ally. Do not worry."

"Is that so? Still… the last time I asked for your help, I didn't say you could involve her in all of this."

"That is the result of her own choices."

"A choice she made willingly? Or one that you coaxed her into making?"

I cannot answer that question. Even if we didn't actually try to coax her into collaborating with us, the fact that we benefitted from her efforts may say otherwise. Her assistance has been so useful that it would be unbelievable to say that we didn't want her on our side.

"Hmph. You are untrustworthy and you have proven yourselves to be so… However I'm willing to work with you… on two conditions." He holds two fingers up as he makes his offer.

"And what would those conditions be?"

"Firstly, Shadow Garden will not be treated as an equal to Midgar Kingdom. I do acknowledge your military power and influence which could rival countries… which is exactly why I cannot trust you as I would an allied country given that you are still a dubious shadowy organization of the Cult's caliber. The role of Shadow Garden will be as mere mercenaries. Nothing more."

Hm… Smart man. As mercenaries, we won't have a say in their country's politics… Which is to be expected I suppose. While the lack of political influence is a shame, at least it will take some burdens off our shoulders. I hope they can carry the burden of Midgar's fate on their own.

"I see. And the second one?"

"Shadow Garden shall stay away from my sister. Make no contact with her whatsoever, be it for business, a mere casual or even coincidental encounter, during and after our collaboration ended." So he wants us to actually actively distance ourselves from her. I knew it will come to this. He does not want us to exert our influence through her anymore. The loss of Charlotte's assistance is a great shame but…

"I understand. I will agree to those terms, Lord Claude." I reply as I extend my hand towards him again for a handshake, which he finally accepts.

The return of Claude Normann was a celebrated affair throughout the whole kingdom. Although it wasn't him who dispatched the Thirteen Night Blades, it was still him who drew them out of hiding for Jack the Ripper to slay them. Even without the deaths of his opposition, his return alone would raise the spirits of every citizen of the kingdom, giving them hope.

The identity of the mysterious Jack the Ripper was never found as he disappeared after his last kill, never to make any appearance again, mirroring his London counterpart.

After the death of the Thirteen Night Blades, Claude personally led the army of Midgar to quickly dispatch the remaining rebels and retake all the territories taken by the Thirteen Night Blades, earning him even greater fame and glory.

Now nobody would contest him being crowned king. His place on the throne is secure.

After the civil war ended, the preparation for his wedding with Iris and his coronation is underway, with no one to stop it… except for one person who suddenly barges into the wedding ceremony.

"I object to this marriage." Says a man clad in black. Although the jet black hood he wears obscures his face, everyone knows him by his outfit and his aura alone.

"Shadow." Claude speaks his name… the name of the man whose might is the closest to the dreaded Necromancer. A name that shakes the hearts of everyone who heard every syllable.

"What is the meaning of this?" Asks Claude with a frown. His hand reaching close to the sword strapped in his hips.

"As I said. I object to this marriage." The man clad in black answers his usual arrogant voice.

"Did your servant Alpha not tell you of our agreement? Of the terms she accepted on your behalf? That Shadow Garden would work with Midgar as mere mercenaries and not interfere with this kingdom's politics? This is a grave violation of said agreement, Shadow." Answers Claude with his hand already drawing his blade from its hilt, letting out sparks of golden electricity.

"If you want to become king, then defeat me." Says Shadow with a grin as he manifests his obsidian blade with a swing of his hand.

"I need no permission from you." Answers Claude defiantly, acting like he's irritated by the disturbance but is actually excited internally.

The two mighty individuals glare at each other. Their mighty auras seem to clash against each other, giving pressure to everyone in the church, making some of them faint in response.

"Claude! I can fight too!" Says Iris, desperate to help. But Claude stops her.

"No. You and the knights should evacuate the people. This is my fight."

Claude orders his would be wife and his knights to evacuate the people out of the church and they obey immediately, clearing the place for the two titans.

Then the two move at high speed and their weapons clash, creating shockwaves that shatters all windows in the church while also shaking the whole building and the area around it.

Many who witness this scene wonder… how did this happen? Isn't Shadow Garden supposed to be contracted under Midgar as mercenaries now? Aren't they supposed to be working together with Claude in preparation for the upcoming war against Oriana and the Necromancer's forces?

Then why did Shadow suddenly appear at such a crucial time to oppose Claude's marriage and coronation?

Few weeks before the incident…

"What is the meaning of this, brother!? You're making a deal with Shadow Garden… and yet you're telling me to stay away from them!?" Shouts a frustrated Charlotte inside her brother's office room inside the royal palace a day after they escaped from the White Estate. The knights of the Crimson Order has been dismissed so as to not allow any leak of information. The only ones who stayed in the room are Iris and Alexia, who could only watch the quarrelling siblings with mixed feelings.

"I meant what I said. From now on, you're forbidden from making any contact with them, coincidental or not. They will also do the same. That's our agreement." Replies her brother coldly while returning his sister's glare with a glare of his own, which intimidates her as she has never seen him glaring at her that way before.

"Wh-What… Why?"

"When I asked them to help you, I didn't mean they could exploit you the way they did Princess Rose."

"What does Princess Rose has anything to do with this!?"

"Everything. You're both saved from a terrible fate and thus were conditioned to trust them as they exploit you to gain political influence in both Midgar and Oriana."

"They didn't! I was the one who offered my assistance willingly!"

"Or so they would like to make you believe. Either way, I cannot trust them anymore and neither should you."

"I disagree, brother! Distancing ourselves from them will only make us vulnerable against Necromancer!"

"Perhaps so. But it certainly will make us vulnerable against them."

"What are you even saying, brother!?"

"Make no illusion that Shadow Garden are the saviours that we need. They're not, for they are the same as the Cult. That's why they operate in the shadows the way the Cult does. When the Cult is destroyed, they will simply take the Cult's place."

"You're wrong, brother! Don't you forget that they saved me!"

"In order to manipulate you for their own purposes! Princess Rose realized this and rebelled against them, which led her to be exploited by the Necromancer instead!"

"Why would she defy them if they saved her from Possession!?"

"You should know their system since you've worked with them for a time. I even thought they would degrade you the way they did her by giving you a number that replaces your name and identity as a way to condition yourself into believing that you're nothing more than their pawn. If they did, I would've declared war on them before we go to war against Oriana." Claude explains Rose's past relationship with Shadow Garden, which made Alexia, who considers her a friend, grimace at what Rose endured under the management of the Cult's rival organization.

"But they didn't!"

"And do you know why they didn't do that to you even though they did it to Rose, who is a princess?"

"Pray tell, brother!"

"Because she was alone. She had no ally, and thus they were able to do whatever they wished to her by presenting themselves as her only ally. You still have me standing behind you at all times, which is why they hesitated to do more than they did."

Claude's words made sense and Charlotte is unable to refute, though she still disagrees with his decision. A few seconds of silence passes before Charlotte opens her mouth again.

"Brother. I know you did all this to protect me… but I'm not a little girl who needs protecting anymore! I can help you! And while I acknowledge that working with such shadowy organization is risky, I can handle it! Please believe in me! Don't let your overprotectiveness be our downfall!"

"My decision is final, Charlotte." His words cut deep into her heart, not just because of his distrust but also… because he didn't call her "Charl" the way he usually does, which made Charlotte feel like the distance between them is growing.

"Why are you… being so cold to me, brother?" Charlotte asks with tears growing in her eyes.

"Are you not the one who started this?" Claude answers coldly. His words shocks her to the core.

"What did you mea-" Charlotte was about to question his words before she realizes that she is indeed the one who started distancing herself from him ever since the Bushing Festival.

"I just… I just…" She wants to reason that she intentionally distanced herself from him because of her Possession, and yet even after being cured of Possession, she still kept a distance from him, only meeting him on Shadow Garden's behalf during the incident with the MCA and Don Jon. She let her head down after realizing her mistake, which likely hurt her brother without her realizing. The tears she'

"I… understand, brother. I will not pursue this matter anymore… Just… tell me something. Why did you—No. It's nothing. Good day to you, brother." She bows and leaves the room without finishing her inquiry, which Claude ignores.

"Claude. That was cold, even for you!" Alexia calls out his behaviour, which irritates her because she can relate to Charlotte's predicament.

"This is a family matter."

"Oh? Playing the family card now, eh? Even though we're about to become siblings in law!"

"Alexia. That's enough." Scolds Iris.

"No! I've had enough of you guys treating us like with distrust!"

"Alexia!"

"That goes for you too, sister! You received Jack the Ripper's message too, didn't you!? That's why you arrived at the White Estate before us! Why didn't you tell me!?"

"If I told you, you would insist on coming."

"Because I have to! I want to help!"

"You're already helping with the management of the kingdom."

"Oh, so I'm just here to cover for your weaknesses, eh, sister!?"

Those words earn her a slap from Iris, who is absolutely furious now. Alexia is stunned after receiving said slap.

"Alexia. I think it's time for you to leave us." Claude commands, which Alexia wordlessly obeys as she is too shocked to think of anything.

"Dear me. These little sisters of ours." Complains Iris after her sister left the office room.

"They are a handful for sure. I'm even considering putting them under house arrest." Claude replies.

"That would be a little excessive, don't you think?"

"If they continue to be defiant, I shall do it. Do you object to that, Iris?"

"No. I won't. But more importantly… Claude." Iris says with a frustrated glint in her eyes, which Claude notices.

"What is it, Iris?"

"Claude… I… How far have you gone with Eliza?" Iris asks the question that has been gnawing her ever since Claude disappeared from her life a few weeks back.

"I did nothing to her except putting her to sleep with the Artifact she tried to use to control me with. Don't be jealous. I find that whore snot attractive to me at all."

"Then…"

Iris' breath gets more and more labored as her nervousness grows. She slowly approaches Claude with her face flushed red, almost as red as her hair.

"Please… take me… tonight." She whispers as she leans her voluptuous but muscular body against his.

"Haaah. To think even she would behave like that whore Eliza. How unexpected." Complains Claude after he put Iris to sleep on his bed with hypnosis in order to stop her sexual advances.

"She even smiles in her sleep like that whore did. Is she having a naughty dream right now?" He continues his complaint after seeing the expression that the princess makes whilst sleeping on his bed.

"I didn't expect this too, main body. I swear I didn't seduce her or anything." Replies his doppelganger who is in the same room watching the sleeping beauty.

"Still. Nice performance back in the arena, main body." The doppelganger changes the subject while clapping.

"Hmph. Just like what the killer clown did to the Thirteen Night Blades, I killed it." Replies Claude, clearly proud of his performance.

"Now that the Thirteen Night Blades are gone, what is your next plan, main body?"

"Our next target is obviously Fenrir. I want to obtain the hand of Diablos that he possesses."

"Shouldn't it be easier to obtain if you accepted his offer rather than Shadow Garden's? In fact, it would be funny if the same person occupies two seats among the Rounds."

"Hmph. I know he is merely offering the seat of the Rounds as an incentive for me, as Claude, to join his alliance. He has no intention of actually giving me and the killer clown said seat, not that he alone has the authority to. Besides, I already have information about his faction through our collaborative past. Infiltrating Shadow Garden is a more interesting option."

"Is that so? Then I will watch your work and admire." The doppeganger grins in anticipation, which he returns with a grin of his own.

"Anyway, the memories you gave me are incomplete. Where's the rest of it?" Asks Claude.

"I left the memory crystals in the desk drawer over there." Says the clone while pointing at the desk drawer he mentioned.

But when Claude opens it, he found it empty. He glares at his doppelganger, who freezes after being exposed to his killing intent.

That night, the clone was punished.

Author's Note:

Jack the Ripper arc ends. Things are getting more and more chaotic as older siblings decided not to trust their younger sisters. What happens next? Find out in the next episode of The Quarrelling Siblings in Shadow!

EightEyedOne: You're getting faster with updates now huh?I hope that will remain the case I'm excited for the future of this fic. Yep I'm a no life within a few minutes of this chapter being posted I'm already making a review.

Answer: I'm happy to receive reviews anytime! Also, I try to be as quick as I can but sometimes I do need some rest so I hope you can bear with me.

DerTrap: Ok now this is what I am talking about! Claude and Alpha finally meet for the first time in this story. Well if he takes her offer, then I really hope that it won't turn out to be the worst mistake in Alpha's entire life! Would be a shame if he abused this to get even more intel on Shadow Garden or use it as an opportunity to corrupt members of Shadow Garden with his new Soul based abilities to make them join his cause instead.

Answer: That's the plan. And there's someone who's already receptive to him among Shadow Garden, isn't there?

Guest: Prediction time: Claude will accept all the offers (he technically doesn't need to with Marie since he just indirectly revealed his identity to her) and play them against each other. Truely a Palpatine moment! In fact, if Shadow Garden discovers his true identity and attempts to stop him, he can use this opportunity to ruin their reputation the same way Palpatine ruined the Jedi Order's reputation.

Answer: Would be hard to keep the image of good boy Claude if he plays both ways.

Guest: Claude has three offers, will he chooses one or perhaps all three and it looks like Marie will be part of necromancers harem, first Sherry then Iris and Yukime and Marie, now that she now's the man she loves is alive. The only ones left are Nu and Cristina to join in

Answer: They may like him but it's no harem. As he said, his lips is rated S for Sherry.

Guest: Is this Claude or clone Claude

Answer: As revealed in this chapter, it's real Claude.

TheVirtualPug: Why is Claude hurting Imouto.

Answer: You will find out the answer soon. :)

Guest: Could we be seeing a shadow garden civil war soon if Claude manages to infiltrate the organization and is able to influence some members to join him like Nu

Answer: The Shadow Garden civil war is… already kinda happening.