"Uuuuggggghhhhhh," I groaned, laying my hands on my lap and leaning back in my seat with a sour expression on my face. "I think the world is just out to get me, hahahah."
"I'm sure that the world thinks of you the same as it thinks of everyone else, M'Lord," Victor added sarcastically as Arwan tried to comfort me.
"E-Exactly! It just goes to show that there are people out there who really love you…I'm sorry," Arwan tried to reassure, but very poorly as my face turned even more sour and I turned towards him.
"Haa, well, no matter the case, even if Oryn has proposed marriage to counteract Llyr's engagement to me…I still cannot go back to the Quare Kingdom just yet," I reaffirmed, shaking my head.
"I see…Well, I am not going to try to persuade you; that is not my job. Instead, I am going to talk to you about what you planned regarding your marriage to Llyr," Victor continued, reminding me of something I'd forgotten about like an idiot.
"...Alright, then let's go discuss this in the library," I instructed, sitting up and turning to leave the living room with Victor following close behind, "Arwan, you should make yourself scarce, this isn't going to be a conversation you want to be a part of."
"Understood…It's still midday, so do you mind if I use the backyard to train for a bit?" Arwan asked, surprising me a little, "Or if you don't want me to accidentally tear up the lawn, I can just give myself a quick tour of the manor!"
"Hm, no, you can use the yard to train…but why so suddenly? When we were chatting with Lorenzo and Sephtis, you seemed to want to leave more than anything," I replied, theorizing that he may have just been uncomfortable with being in the presence of unfamiliar people.
"Ah, I have nothing against them, I just…feel a little uneasy around Mister Sephtis, that's all," Arwan explained, and Victor looked at him as if he were stupid.
'Well, ya don't need to give him that look, geez.'
"Odd…But alright, do as you please. Just don't go causing trouble for the other people living here," I ordered, finally properly leaving the room. "Oh, and if you see a demon wandering about, that's Praxis. Pay him no mind."
Arwan then wore an expression of stupidfied shock as I left the room, but I didn't want to entertain that anymore, so I left him as is. Following me to the main hall and up the stairs, Victor seemed like he wanted to ask something, but was debating whether to or not.
"It…You picked out a rather nice place. Do you plan to use this as a proper vacation home in the future?" Victor commented, pausing a little before he said so.
"If you want to scold me on something, then just do it, it's what you've done since you became my subordinate," I replied coldly, sighing and looking at him through the corner of my eye as we went down the hall to my office.
"Sorry, you just seem so distant lately that I wasn't sure if you were starting to get annoyed at me…" Victor said abruptly, pouting a little as I turned the doorknob to the office.
I don't know why, but it ticked me off quite a lot. Victor's comment and his sudden timidness were different from the Victor I'd seen during my time here. If I had to be brutally honest with myself, he was like a sort of anchor for me, reminding me that if I refused to act my part, I had a brutal hell waiting for me.
Though that hell would be of my own making, and Victor himself of sorts. 'I' was so angry that without thinking, 'I' swung the door open, dragged Victor in by the collar, slammed the door behind him, and slammed him against it by the collar.
"Why the hell would you ever dare to think that?" 'I' scolded, gritting 'my' teeth and looking at Victor with an expression full of hurt and shock.
"...My apologies, My Lord, I won't have thoughts like that ever again," Victor trailed off, looking away from me in shame.
"Hmph, good," I replied, letting go of him and walking over to the desk's chair, "Now then, I know you have certain thoughts on this marriage matter, so feel free to speak freely."
Victor seemed like he wanted to say more about me being distant to him, but couldn't since I told him to leave the matter be. Instead, he simply came and stood in front of my desk.
"Well, for starters, there is the matter of how he practically imprisoned you in the Alkmene kingdom," He started, his frown deepening, "And also the fact that he is so obsessed with you that he sexually harassed you and forced this engagement upon you."
As Victor laid out each and every reason, he seemed to get angrier and angrier just thinking about it. Not only did his expression shift, but also his body language. His shoulders and arms shook, and he balled his hands into fists.
"Yes, there are those factors…but there are also the pros and beneficial outcomes that could come from the marriage," I pointed out, sighing at my own comments, "His obsession is a sign that he could take care of me throughout the marriage, as well as the huge military and territorial benefits both our kingdoms would garner."
"Mmmm, yes, I suppose that is a good point…Oh, but the 'obsession sign' I don't agree with. His obsession could get so bad that he forbade you from ever stepping outside the palace, or even a single room, because he didn't want others to see you or potentially harm you," Victor argued, trying to make it so that I don't start to fall for my own defense when even I knew I was making things up.
"I…Suppose you have a point," I sighed, trailing off, "Alright then, what do you think of Oryn's proposal? While I can't just magically dissolve the engagement due to that mark Llyr left behind, I can make it so that we can't get married."
'Plus, I really don't get a good feeling from Oryn, nor do I like him. So there is the thought of mental distress coming from involving myself with him both politically and romantically.'
"That is true, except that Llyr could try to kill Oryn or wage war based on marriage. I wouldn't recommend risking that," Victor shook his head, sighing in defeat at the absurd situation.
'Ugh, fuck this cinderella ass situation, why can't I just live a quiet life like a background character? I get that Hunapo placed me here as a backup, but come on! Let me just live peacefully!'
"That is true…and I just don't really like the guy, so I don't want to marry him either…" I added, ending with a sound of defeat and slouching in my chair.
"...M'Lord, I have a question," Victor stated, looking at me with curiosity. I motioned to him to go on, "Why exactly don't you like Duke Casilda? I mean, yes, you two had a one-night stand, but that shouldn't be all there is to it…and why does he seem so possessive over you?"
"Haaa, I wish I had an answer to give you, but not even I know," I replied, massaging my temples, "But on why I don't like him…It's hard to say. Yes, his possessiveness is a part of it, but I also just get this odd feeling from him…I don't even know anymore, just call it a leader's intuition."
"Alright…but your decision? His majesty needs a reply, otherwise he'll have the two of you married under court orders," Victor reminded, looking at me with his usual stoic face again.
"Mmm, tell him I will give it some thought…As for the Llyr part, well, I'll come to a decision soon. If that is all, then you may leave. Tell Arwan to come see me," I ordered, waving him away and turning to face the window behind the chair.
Victor bowed and left, the door latching behind him. The sun was now slowly starting to set, which left me surprised. I didn't think my conversation with Victor lasted that long, but I suppose time flies by with the people you feel comfortable with.
Arwan came in only a moment later; he smelled clean, his hair was also damp and let down; perhaps he had recently taken a shower.
"You called for me, My liege," Arwan said, cutting through the silence in the room. I exhaled the smoke from my cigarette and extinguished it, then turned to face him completely.
'Hm? He looks kinda cute with his hair down…It's unfortunate that he's a bit lacking in the muscle department, though.'
"Yes, before you go back to the estate, I need you to look into something for me," I announced, Arwan put his hand on his sword in attention.
"Whatever you need of me, my liege, I shall fulfill to the fullest!" He beamed, smiling with pride at being useful to me.
"Good," I smiled, a genuine smile. I was satisfied that he was the obedient type, to the point where he wouldn't question my orders: "I need you to look for a temple to the god of fate."
"Understood, consider it done!" Arwan exclaimed, as he was about to head out, he stopped for a moment, "Um, my liege, there is something I would like to enquire for a moment…"
"...Okay, go ahead and ask away," I nodded, my eyebrow raised as I was rather curious about what he would ask.
"It's about that Praxis guy…I don't get a good feeling from him. Don't get me wrong, I think it was kind of you to help him in time of need! But his energy…it's just off. Kind of how I felt when I met Duke Casilda," Arwan explained, genuinely worried.
'Hmmm, I can get how he'd feel this way. After all, Praxis is a demon, and both he and Oryn are now variables to the current story.'
"Arwan, when did you interact with Praxis?" I questioned, now leaning my elbow on the desk.
"Huh? Well, I was looking around the manor. I thought the front room, halls, and back yard looked nice, so I wanted to see the rest of the place. When I was admiring the front garden, I ran into him, and we both introduced ourselves."
"I see…Thank you for sharing your worries, I'll be sure to be cautious," I replied, dismissing it. "If that is all, then you may go. I expect to see results tomorrow."
"...Is-Is that really all you needed from me?" Arwan commented, frowning and looking disappointed.
"Hm? What, do you need some motivation?" I chuckled, sitting up and starting to walk over to Arwan.
"Huh?! That's not what I meant at all, I just-!" Arwan started to refute, waving his arms in front of him. But I cut him off with a kiss, wanting to get this interaction over with.
"Huu, well, there. That should be enough, so you'd better come back with good news the next time I see you," I poked him in the middle of the chest, a smirk on my face.
"R-Right, understood!" Arwan stammered with a flushed face before he turned around and practically zoomed out of the room. He was holding his hand to his mouth.
'...Was that the right move to make? I just hope he doesn't get any wrong ideas from that.'
Tired from all of the extracurriculars of today, I sat down on the couch in front of my desk. Then, I lit another cigarette, hung it from my mouth, and spread my hands on both sides of me, putting my back's weight on the couch.
'All of this marriage talk has drained me. I just hope that Hunapo will finally give me some proper advice and answers.'
Suddenly, a sharp knock came from the door. It startled me a bit, but I relaxed myself.
"Come in," I said, leaning forward and taking my cigarette from my mouth, "ho? Hello Sephtis, what do you need?"
Sephtis came into the room, looking nervous and out of place. This was only the second time I'd smoked in front of him, so perhaps he wasn't used to it yet.
"U-Um, Lev…There was something I want to discuss with you," He announced with a serious expression, his tail swishing slowly behind him.
"Okay, go ahead, what is it you wish to discuss with me?" I asked, smiling and extinguishing my cigarette - the second time I'd have to put one out early today.
"..." Sephtis walked closer to me, his tail slowly swishing behind him, his face flushing and getting more serious, "I…I want you to start paying more attention to me!"
"...huh?!"