I went back to where I left Kain and realized he's not there anymore. I wonder where he went now?
"Lady Aerra?" I turned and saw four unfamiliar faces of young men. "Good evening!" One by one they greeted.
"Good evening" I answered, quite confused by their sudden approaching.
"Is it true you're not officially engaged yet?" A guy that has a ash blonde hair asked.
"My father said the young Lord of Osteell hasn't prepared any acknowledgement party for your betrothal." Added another, this one has a chestnut colored hair.
"He's too busy for you, why not just choose from one of us?" says another with a squinty eyes.
One of the guys hit him on the head, "You're being rude to a Lady, Till! Pardon my rude friends, we simply mean if you want to make friends with us? I am Aromir."
"Umm..." I took a deep breath and took one step back. "I..." They took one step closer.
What the heck?
This is ambush.
"No... It's okay. Nice to meet you." I murmured unsure. They're not particularly being rude, they just want to be friendly. But they're being too aggressive that it starts to feel uncomfortable.
They moved closer again, cornering me by the wall.
"I am called Till." Says the guy with squinty eyes. "This is Orik" he points at the chestnut colored hair guy. "And this is Yunn" he points at the guy with ash blonde hair.
I curtsied a bit to respond.
"I hear the Duchess is very kind. She might allow you to choose your own betrothal. I'm confident to present myself as a prospect. My family is quite popular with the jewelry business. What do you say? I can give you all the jewelries you might want!" says Orik in a self contented grin.
"You're just scaring her, Orik. Move aside! Don't listen to him. Well, the land I own has many beautiful places to see. If you want, I can take you there some time!" Aromir insists.
"Well my father gave me an airship. If you want, you can use it to travel around the world, Lady Aerra!" Yunn interrupts.
"I appreciate your offers, m'Lords but..."
"But what? We can give you just as much as the young Lord of Osteell can!" Aromir says in a sneer. "We're all on equal grounds as his worth. Maybe much more"
"Worth?" I murmured
Why talk about worth?
"Well, he's powerless, isn't he? He's from a commoner blood. Even black market merchants won't accept any of his body parts if you cut them." They all laughed. "His stone faced expression won't even worth anything"
Body parts? Black market?
I suddenly remembered Cerguz and how Nora's sister died...
How dare him make a joke out of that!
"Levi is irreplaceable." I said simply. "Not even the slightest in comparison from you."
"What?" Aromir snickered.
"You might be confused, m'Lady! He—!"
"I won't stand to listen to you talking bad about Levi!" My voice raised higher than I expected. I can see people turning heads towards us. I pursed my lips and spoke calmer this time, "Now if you must excuse me. Have a nice evening, m'Lords." I walked away.
He grabbed my arm, "Now hold on just a minute" Aromir pulls me to stand back to the corner, "What are you trying to say here? That a commoner like him has more worth than nobles like us? Their title was just given to them by the High King. While my family's line goes way back from the beginning of time! We hail from nobility. Even you, m'Lady.
He should know his place. Without us nobles, they are nothing more than lowly merchants. Everyone knows our kinds are more worth than the life of a common peasant! We noblebloods protect this lands. They owe their life to the likes of us!"
I pulled my arm free, "That kind of thinking alone sets no grounds to compare you from Levi." I stared directly at his eyes.
"Aromir, that's enough." Yunn tried to pull his friend away but Aromir stood his ground.
"You're crazy. You actually believe that a commoner like him is greater than a true noblemen? Or is it just empathy since you haven't awakened your own powers yet?"
"You really want me to compare?" I challenged him.
He mockingly bowed and swayed his hands wide, "By all means, enlighten us!"
"Levi... he's a splendid individual. If he sets his heart on something, he goes all out to finish it. He never talks about worth of people, titles, or lands, especially not from his father's achievements. He creates his own. He sets his own goals and pursues them adamantly. And for that I respect him on the highest regards.
I know how busy he is from trying his best for his people and for the people who believes in him. He works day and night to finish paperworks just so that he can visit me and my brother. I know, even if he doesn't even mention it, he spends a day with us despite being sleepless for almost a week. And he never complains.
He may have been born from a commoner blood but his hard work and the love he has for his people, his empire, and the respect and pride they have for him is nothing compared to anything you've bragged about. He even extensively cross boundaries just to search for missing friends and you won't even hear him make a big deal out of it, instead he'll even apologize for not arriving sooner."
I remember how he jumped the decks from way above his airships down to the sands when he saw us from the deserts. That's when we just escaped Ouboros. He ran to us and almost cried seeing me and Aeron. I remember the look on his face that day. How his stoic expression broke into so many emotions. And then... he earnestly apologize for not finding us sooner. After that, he made sure to visit us as often as he could just to watch over us while spending the day even if we're not particularly doing anything.
"He may not be born into luxury like you but the milestones he has attained and the people who looks up to him without any consolation of fear nor bribery, is something you could never have easily just from being born into a noble house. I can't even fathom how your little mind manage to believe you're far better than him."
Aromir glared at me. "You're smitten with him." he uttered. "Now I get it... you're blinded by the idea of how great this guy is. You have forgotten what lineage ruled this land!"
"That's enough, let's just go." His friends kept tagging on him.
He stepped closer and stooped to my eye level, "He works hard because he's nothing. That's how it has always been for the people below us, m'Lady. And there's nothing in this world that he can do that we can't if we try; nothing he can offer that I can't!"
"How about fires that can burn your lands to the ground?" Levi stepped in beside me out of nowhere.
"Levi!" I gasped. His eyes laser focused at Aromir.
Aromir cleared his throat seeing Levi, "Fires?" He scoffs, "I don't think a Lady would like a fire as a gift"
"No, but the property title and ownership would do if I take over your lands, Lord Aromir Destan of the South. Your family's lands dwindle on our Eastern borders. It soon might become a problem."
I can see Till tagging Aromir's sleeves while whispering something. "Let's just go"
Aromir yanked his arm free from Till. "Is that a threat?" he raises his nose up high, acting tough despite the sweat running down from his forehead.
"Threat? I don't make threats. It's a notice. Consider it done first thing in the morning when the clock strikes nine. I'll be expecting to see you again by then." Levi's face is as expressionless as ever but his gaze were piercing. "Nobleblood or not, only a fool would walk into a dragon's den only to taunt it unarmed."
I watch the blood on Aromir's face drains.
"Invasion is part of the treaty of the Seven Kingdoms! It's forbidden to take other people's lands!"
"Not when they are situated at the borders of someone else's. There's no law to protect you, Lord Aromir. Not when you cross against the High King's own beloved niece. You're not even part of the Southern Kingdom Ak'hilheim" Levi's calm and reserved as ever. And I can see it somehow makes Aromir more edgy.
"Indeed not!" Ifrit stands beside me with arms crossed. "We have no responsibilities over lands that our domains doesn't own."
"Ifrit!" I looked at her as she just smiled at me.
"And who do you think you are?!" Aromir is just muttering now.
"I am Ifrit of House Rahn. Crowned princess of the Southern kingdom of Ak'hilheim. I am the Southern nation's next castellan. And also, Levi and Aerra are our good friends. Right, Maru?" she glances at Maru who stood just behind her. Maru nods vigorously. "Even our fathers are friends." Ifrit added.
"If you don't mind me prying, I heard you mentioning about worths in a black market? I don't think any of your body parts would worth something just because you're from nobility. You're mistaken, noblebloods like you are sold alive as slaves instead!" Eriol pops out from Aromir's behind. "If you must know, I know people who would love to sell you as a slave. After all, looks like you'll be homeless tomorrow!" He sneers.
Aromir almost jumps out of his skin seeing him. I think he knows about Eriol's background. Rumors, I take it? Even Till, Yunn and Orik already sprinted away, leaving Aromir on his own.
"That'll be no fun to give him out like that! He's a noble. You're welcome to stay and just play with me. We'll have lots of fun back in my castle." Kain appears from Aromir's behind. All of a sudden Aromir fell down the floor, more like shoved. "Oops, sorry! My hand slipped." Kain added with his malevolent blank stare fixed at Aromir while cracking his knuckles.
"S-stay back!" Aromir crawled away from Eriol and Kain.
"Guys, stay calm!" Aeron squeezes in. Aromir crawled towards my brother. "My Lord, this is all just a misunderstanding. Lady Aerra and I just was just having a friendly debate!"
Aeron glances at me,
"It's okay. Just let him be" I told him.
Aeron squats down and met Aromir's eye level. "Listen" he began, sparks of lightning emitting at his foot. "If I hear you talk trash about my friend Levi or even make a single eye contact with my sister ever again, I'll kill you."
I felt like my jaw dropped. Did I heard my brother right?! The Aeron I know is completely against the idea of killing people. He has strong sense of justice and such.
The hell... did he really threatened somebody just now?!?
Aromir scampered off his feet and ran across the halls and to the exit.
"Thanks for the help, guys." I murmured. "Although, I think that's overdoing it."
"Setting that mess aside, I believe it's time for you to get changed. The final dance is about to begin." Aeron says.
"Let's get over with this already so we can all rest! It's been a long day!" Eriol crosses his arms behind his head.
"Final dance?" I turned and looked at Levi. He just smiled at me. "I'll walk with you to the corridors, if you don't mind?"
"Aerra!" Kain was about to charge towards me. "Heeey kiddo, let's go over there!" Eriol grabs him even before he could get away.
"I suddenly remembered Papa wants to talk with you about something!" Aeron grabs Kain's other shoulder.
"What?! Nooooo! I'll go with Aerra!" He squirms around but I watch him get dragged away like a rag doll by my brother and Eriol.
"I better go now too! You hurry up now! I can't wait for the final dance to begin!" Ifrit says beaming. She then rans with Maru towards the crowd where I lost sight of them.
"Shall we?" Levi holds out a hand over.
"Yes, of course!" I took his hand and we began to head towards the waiting room where I left the box that held the gown Levi gave me.
It's actually feels kind of awkward. Being left alone with Levi just after talking big and saying so many glittery stuff about him. I can't even turn and look at him in the eyes. But his calmness is contagious.
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I watch my reflection from the mirrors as the chambermaids places the few more pins to hold the hair braids in place. I already am wearing the gown Levi gave me. It's a majestic red and black dress with no apparent emblems of sort. It even goes with a matching choker.
I stepped outside the fitting room and found Levi perching near the door, patiently waiting for me.
He studied me head to toe, flushes, and abruptly looks away. "Ahem. So do you feel comfortable in it? I'll call my men to get you another one if you're not."
"It's very comfortable, Levi. Thank you!"
He sighs in relief and smiled, "I'm glad to hear that. Don't hesitate to tell me if it feels restrictive or the like."
I spun in place, "No, I can actually move around more freely with this gown!"
He beams watching me.
"Aerra" he calls out. I focused my attention on him and realized he's holding out a small box on the palm of his hand. "The truth is... I've been really preoccupied the past few weeks so I... I haven't prepared a worthy gift for you."
Just to clear his schedule for today, I know he worked extra hard again.
"I hope you like this." He hands the red box over to me.
I felt like all my blood drained to the bottom of my feet. My heart began to pick up its pace as I took the small elegant box from his hands.
I opened it.
Surprisingly, it's a hair clip.
A very familiar hair clip.
When we went to Ak'hilheim, we passed by a stall by the streets and I saw this hairclip. Aeron was busy asking around for directions by then.
I wanted to buy it but I didn't bring any money with me at that time.
Does this mean Levi saw me staring at this?
"Thank you!" I beamed at him. "I love this!"
I quickly put it on and grinned at him.
"It suits you" he says in a smile.
I watch my reflection from the windows' glass.
"Back there, I'm really happy to hear what you said." He suddenly changed topic.
I almost froze hearing him.
Gosh, it feels so awkward talking about that now! Why now!? I whimpered inside my thoughts.
"It's actually my fault that we're not officially engaged yet. I wanted to prove something to my father and the State Lords that their decision for having me as their next castellan falls not in vain. I wanted to be worth it as a man for the title not just because you saved me back then. It's because of you they ever considered me at all so I want to earn their favor rightfully.
But I know now that it's just my pride. I'm sorry for being foolish. I should've held that engagement party once and for all"
"It's okay, Levi! It's okay!" I murmured trying to pacify the situation.
"If you want, we can just get married next week or tomorrow. I can have everything prepared for you."
WHAT?!? (((( ;°Д°))))
"I know you're still too young but I won't do anything to you until you're ready. You can trust me."
It's not just a matter of trust here, buddy!
"N-no need to be in a hurry, Levi! I mean, if there are still things you need to do then go ahead and work on them first. I'm not worried about being officially engaged or what. Let people talk. It doesn't affect me." (o_o) 💧
I can see his fists clenching, "It just... annoys the hell out of me when other guys...
Forget what I said. You're right. All in due time." He sighed in defeat.
"Right right! Hah..hah...ha. No haste at all." I blew a sigh of relief inside my head. "Let's go back for the party, shall we?" I asked in a smile to change the mood. He nods and subtly smiled back. He turned around and I saw his shoulders drop, rubbing his temples as he began to lead the way while muttering something but I can clearly hear it, "...the numbers of rivals are increasing as time passes. I need to work harder."
Rivals? Is he talking about his work?
Levi sure is diligent. Even in here he still think about Osteell in between. Such an admirable hardworking Lord!
I took a deep breath and followed after him.
Hm.
Marriage? I though, trying to comprehend the situation. Levi is kind enough to worry about what other people say behind us that's why he nearly rushed things for the sake of shutting the rumors to an end. He really is a good friend. Nevertheless, I'm not ready with those kind of stuff. I can't get attach more than I am now.
I need to focus on my goals. But...
I barely found any leads in learning more about what I'm dealing with!
Ah. Wait.
There's that one person.
Princess Isera of that theocratic nation.
I need to talk to her soon and ask her what she saw.
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