"Seriously, what were you thinking?!" I shouted at Llyr through the bathroom door, "I told you that this was your last chance so long as you didn't do anything stupid!"
I swung the door open, having just put my hair half-up and switched into a short-sleeved button-up and dress pants. Llyr was standing on the other side of the room, biting his lip with furrowed brows.
"I'm sorry, Lev! I just…I thought that things were going well and that you'd be okay if I went a little over the line," Llyr replied, looking up at me with pleading eyes. "Please just let it go, even if only this time!"
"Haaa, I don't know," I sighed, being honest with him for once. I crossed my arms and took a deep breath. "Llyr, listen when I say this and take it with a grain of salt. After everything you have done to me, it has made me scared of you. Well, not that I actually fear you, just being alone in the same room and within certain proximity."
Llyr's pupils enlarged, shaking as his mouth opened and closed a few times. He put his hands forward a little, taking them back as he noticed me flinch back just a smidge. Then he nodded with understanding, looking away with a sorrowful expression.
"I see now. And I am so sorry that I didn't realize it sooner. I suppose I ought to do some repentance then," Llyr managed to say, surprising me with his outcome.
"...Good. Yes, I also think that is best," I shook my head, then took a pouch out of my pocket and tossed it to him, "Here. Use this to hire a mage and take a trip back to the Alkmene Kingdom. Get things in order there and take a while to think. Come back when it is time for the banquet."
Llyr nodded, going over to the closet to gather his things. As for me, well, I didn't feel like entertaining the fool any longer and just merely left the room. Walking down the stairs, Sephtis was looking up, his ears drooping with a frown.
"Um, is everything alright? It sounded like you and Llyr were fighting just now," He stammered, not wanting to overstep but still curious.
"Everything is fine," I replied, walking by and motioning for him to follow. "Llyr will be going back to his homeland for a while, so we'll have some time to ourselves for a bit."
"Oh, really? Hmm, then I suppose that means that you, Praxis and I will have some time to hang out just the three of us," while Sephtis said that with a rather monotone voice, his tail betrayed him by swaying.
"...Sephtis, you aren't very good at hiding your emotions, now are you?" I asked, chuckling when he jolted a little and swerved to find his tail moving as he disliked, "hehe, I am just kidding. It is cute that way, but do try to be better at doing it around others."
"Oh! O-Okay," Sephtis smiled and looked down as he messed with his hands, his tail wagging behind him and blush creeping on his face, his crimson eyes glowing in contrast.
'Heh, I was upset earlier but talking to him has made it all better. Good job Sephtis, you really are making an impression on me.'
***
Walking into the tearoom on the first floor by the entrance, Praxis was setting down the snacks, his tail swaying behind him as he seemed completely distracted.
"Those look good," I commented, coming up behind him to look over his shoulder," What kind are those?"
"Oh, good afternoon, Master," Praxis greeted, turning around with the usual unmoving expression. "They are whipped shortbread cookies, paired with orange tea. I hope it is to your liking."
"Well, it most certainly smells good, so I am sure the taste will be just as excellent," I nodded and smiled, then motioned to the seats behind me, "You'll join me, won't you?"
I didn'tnecessarilyy like enjoying drinks and food alone; I was more accustomed to doing it with others, usually Yasuo and Akihito, sometimes it being one-on-one with Keiji. Having others around made me feel more comfortable and less out of place, especially if it was friends.
"If that is what you wish, then alright," Praxis replied, nodding once more and sitting down, Sephtis following suit with a smile and tail thrash.
As if the two had foreseen my request, three teacups were waiting at each chair. Praxis poured them, each cup filled precisely the same amount, as if he had done it over and over again just to make sure he got it right every time.
"You know, if I didn't know it before, if I saw your mannerisms like this, I definitely would have suspected you were a noble or something!" Sephtis commented with a smile as he watched Praxis put the pot down.
"Why of course," He replied, turning towards the young hound, "As my sister is the one who is to inherit the family status, I am to marry someone of significantly similar stature, so I am held responsible for my actions and mannerisms."
"Huh? Sorry, I don't quite get it," Sephtis admitted, looking over at me and scratching his neck.
"He is insinuating that as he is to be married off, he needs to make sure he doesn't do anything damaging to the family and especially his own value as a person and marriage partner," I explained, swirling my tea.
'Something I know all too well; who knows just what Praxis has put himself through. In the book, his sister always seemed to care so much for him even after he was gone, so I can only imagine the amount of pressure he's put himself through.'
"Oh. Noble life seems…stressful. To say the least," Sephtis pointed out, thinking about the needless drama between Oryn, Llyr and I as well as Praxis' own self-value.
"It is, so you ought not become one, or at least think about it," I exclaimed with a sigh, tipping my teacup to my lips and taking a sip.
Sephtis didn't reply; he merely looked down at his lap and munched on a cookie, his eyes seeming to look somewhere I couldn't see. Praxis turned his gaze towards me, letting it linger before gazing at his teacup.
I didn't know what was going through Praxis' mind at the time, but maybe I ought to have asked or said something. In my mind, Praxis was a slave, so he was already free from his duties of marriage. Little did I know that that didn't matter to him at all.
***
Sounds of pen on paper were heard as I was in my office alone, working on some of the work I missed while in hiding. It was late at night, so my office was quite dim as I had closed the curtains and lit but a single lamp.
The atmosphere was quite nice if anyone were to ask me. I was letting a cigarette hang from my mouth, and a glass of wine sat on the desk, out of the way of the papers in case I spilled it.
Being alone in the room like this made me think back to my life as Saito Anzhong; Keiji, Akihito, and Yasuo would always invite themselves in when I was working, bringing alcohol and snacks. They weren't supposed to do that, but it was inside my office so no one knew.
'Ah, those were good days. I hate to say it, but I really do miss those guys…even though at least one of them is here.'
Putting down my pen, I leaned back and took the cigarette out of my mouth. The amount that I missed hanging out with those fools really started to influence my thoughts on giving Oryn a chance.
While I was unhappy at what he did, and knew it was me, Saito, without revealing himself, really hurt me, I also wanted to forgive him. Not because he apologized, but because it was Keiji.
'I hate that those two are now starting to overlap. Yes, they are the same person, but it couldn't be so much more different.'
As I was busy thinking about Keiji, I didn't notice my cigarette going out, nor someone approaching my room. I put the but that I was holding into the ashtray by my wine glass, then took a sip of the wine and lit another cig.
I took a long drag, finally removing it from my mouth and breathing the smoke out as I rested my chin on my hand, leaning on the desk and looking at the paperwork I was working on. Soon a knock was heard, and before they could announce themself I let them in.
"Come in," I announced, putting the cigarette to my lips again and taking another long drag, "Hm? Hello Praxis, what can I do for you?"
He was in his lounge wear, chest and abs showing for all to see, hair down and cascading over his face and shoulders quite lazily. He cringed at the smell of smoke as he came in.
"Pardon my intrusion, Master. I merely had a request I wanted to make," He replied, stepping over to the front of my desk, tail swaying beside him.
"A request, huh? Let me guess, you want to send a letter to your sister to report what all has happened and how you are doing. Did I get that right?" I questioned, leaning back and putting the cigarette in my mouth.
"I- Yes, I did…But how did you know?" Praxis stumbled on his words, his eyebrow raised and furrowed with doubt in his eyes. His nose wrinkled once more at the smell of smoke.
'Have I really smoked so much that it is even bothering him?' I thought to myself, looking over at the almost full ashtray and smoke-filled room, 'Huh, no wonder Sephtis hasn't come by.'
"While you may think you do a good job at hiding your expression, you are still quite easy to read," I pointed out, then stood up and grabbed an empty glass of wine, filling it with the bottle I opened earlier. I gave the glass to Praxis. "Sit, and let's talk."
Praxis hesitated for a minute, the glass in his hand. I stood there, waiting for him to sit, then sighed, accidentally blowing the smoke right into his face.
"If you don't want to sit, then here. Take a drag," I instructed, taking the cigarette, or what was left of it, out of my mouth and handing it over to Praxis. The smoke from my mouth snaked over to his face, coming out like venomous gas from a monster.
"I'll sit," Praxis sighed, walking over to one of the couches and taking a drink of the wine. I followed him, butting the but in the ashtray and grabbing my own glass before sitting across from him.
"Alright. Now then, what are you hoping to do by sending your sister a letter?" I asked, it being an honest question.
"I merely wish to let her know how I am doing and what has happened…as well as where I am and to have her thank you for all of the help you have done," Praxis replied, his doll-like expression returning. Though his eyes betrayed him.
"You say that, but both you and I know that you deliberately left something out. After all, you merely see yourself as a pawn, and don't want to diminish your value," I finished, leaving Praxis stunned as I took a sip of the wine.
"I have no idea what you are talking about. I tell my sister everything without fail; if I have to diminish my own value, so be it," Praxis spat out, his free hand forming into a fist.
"I believe you. Not in this though," I shot back, my face as blank as can be, "You are a slave now and have even admitted that you see me as your master, yet you have also said that as the one in your family who has to get married off, you can't let your value diminish."
"What? I don't get what you are pointing towards. This is all pointless, just let me send the letter-!" Praxis started, getting up but getting cut off.
"Sit your ass down," I commanded. Praxis followed suit almost immediately, though his facade did not break. "Praxis, I didn't want it to go this far. I did truly intend to let you send a letter to your sister, but after recent events, I had to reconsider."
I thought back to when the demon king visited, then when I came back to the estate, Llyr was there. As Hunapo said, I am to be the backup if things go wrong for Atlas; my safety is both his and mine utmost priority.
"Praxis, my safety is the most important thing to me. I am a noble and am selfish; I thought you, of all people, would be aware of that. Unfortunately, I have come to the conclusion that if your sister comes to know of my whereabouts, I could also be in danger. So I want her to find you on her own, no letters or anything," I reasoned, finishing my wine and getting up.
"...Understood. But I really thought you and I were alike and could get along. I thought you were like me but clearly not," I looked over at Praxis, who was looking down at me with tears coming down his face, "Lev, I merely want to let my home know that I am safe so that I know they are. Is that too much to ask?"
'Ah, I see now. He was trying so hard to hold it in, but it seems like I finally broke him…Why does it have to feel so good?'
"No, it isn't. You and I are the same, even when it comes to that. The only difference is that I have already lost my home, so now I only have myself to think of," I admitted, having never said those words of truth to anyone else.
Looking at Praxis, who was left speechless with his mouth hanging open, pity filling his eyes, I understood something. It wasn't his own value that he had to protect, but his family.
He had to make sure his sister didn't do something irrational, putting herself and their people in danger. Perhaps he too knew that making sure she knew he was okay was a way to make sure that didn't happen, but upon hearing my words, he also understood that protecting the people with you now is so much more important.