JAY CADMIUM'S POV:
I watched as Alan slowly opened the door, his face blue from fear. I planned on apologizing later, but what stood on the other side of the entrance was something I couldn't let slip. They had decided to barge in on my sister's birthday, propose to a girl that had no intention of getting married, and had the audacity of insulting Alan just because of his race?
Three teenagers stood before me, all of them probably around the age of fourteen. So these guys were going to propose to a ten-year-old girl? I grimaced in disgust at the thought.
I immediately identified the leader, the other two behind him becoming irrelevant to me. His olive-green robes accentuated his rather long blond hair, his brown eyes filled with pride.
An opponent with a large sense of pride was easier to defeat than one without, considering you didn't even have to beat them to win. Shattering their pride, their image, was enough to break their will to fight.
If I could do this, I would avoid an all-out brawl, and potential diplomatic issues for my family later on. There was no way a noble family would file a complaint solely based on the pride of their son, or they would be humiliated.
The boys tensed up as I approached them, stick in hand. The leader took control, immediately boosting his ego with words and taunts.
You must be the butler. Please lead me to Princess Diana, who I heard was present at this house-"
I heard his voice weaken ever so slightly as I slowly neared him, not a single word coming out of my mouth. There was no need for oral communication, my aura already sending him a message.
Shut up.
Break their will without physically inflicting damage. To do this was quite simple: demonstrate how helpless the opponent is when faced against you.
I willed bind into my body, suddenly appearing behind him. He flinched, realizing that he was unable to keep track of my movements.
"I'm sorry. Who were you again?" I asked mockingly, the tone of my voice clearly offending him.
"Y-You little," he started, turning around to face me. I calmly met his furious eyes, showing no sign of backing away. I felt bind swirling into his body as he started dashing around me, attempting to disorientate me.
Wait, was he trying to do the same thing I was? If so, then this guy was smarter than he looked. I glanced to my right, meeting his eyes. His pupils widened as he understood the situation. I was tracking him with ease.
I sensed a fist approaching behind me, tilting my head to avoid the blow. I grabbed the arm as it passed the position my head was previously, noticing that the color of the robe was different.
So his goons weren't as smart as him?
I brought my own hand down, flipping the boy over me as he slammed into the ground, groaning in pain.
A second attack came from my left. I instinctively blocked with my current weapon, the stick coming into contact with another hand. The second henchman flinched as he came into direct contact with a branch imbued with bind, backing off.
A fourth presence suddenly emerged, but I smiled once I recognized it.
I watched as the only remaining henchman started getting assaulted by the wind around him, sharp whistles of wind tearing his shirt.
The noble realized he was outmatched, slowly backing up. I suddenly appeared right next to him, my eyes glowing from the bind around me.
"Stay away from this place," I warned him, his eyes shivering. I watched him struggle to find words, trying to defend the last bit of pride that he was desperately clinging to.
"This area is shitty anyway," he grumbled as he turned around, leaving his two unconscious guards on the ground.
I watched him leave, dissipating the bind around me.
"You really love trouble, don't you?" teased Katherine as she approached me, laughing.
"How did you even find me?" I asked.
"Hm," she said, thinking, "follow the path of destruction?"
"Shut up," I said, sighing at the attempted humor. The girl burst out laughing at her own joke.
"So, what's up?" I asked as we returned back inside, welcoming her in.
"I've been hired for a domain, but I'm not doing it without my partner," explained Katherine. I nodded.
"I'll come along, what rank?"
"A-rank, and no invader this time," said Katherine seriously, recalling Mike's death.
"When do we head out?"
"Tomorrow," she said, waiting at the door, "I have to go do some stuff in the city, I'll visit next time, okay?"
I smiled, nodding. I watched the girl run through the streets, waving at me as she turned the corner.
"Alan?" I called out, realizing the Fei was sitting against the door with a pale white face.
"Scary... this boy's scary..." he muttered endlessly. I hit the top of his head, bringing the man back to reality.
"Come on, Alan. Get up," I said, helping the Fei back up. He shook his head and smiled, snapping out of his trance.
"S-sorry about that," he said, laughing. I smiled.
"I'm sorry, too. Let's get back to the party, 'kay?"
The Fei nodded, leaving his post to go get a glass of lemonade that was available on one of the tables filled with endless delicacies that my sister adored.
I made my way back to the garden, Diana eyeing me suspiciously. I gave her an innocent smile, but I could tell she wasn't buying it. Did she see what happened?
DIANA IMANIA'S POV:
Boys were all the same. They approached me, attempting to marry me for the diplomatic and social position of being married to a princess. Looking for power, looking for wealth, looking for status, those were the motives behind the kindness I received every day.
And yet, this boy had none of those in mind. He didn't care about social status whatsoever, and he was nice to me for the sole sake of pleasing his sister.
It was a gentle reason. One that I had never seen before, one that I never wanted to let go of.
I wish I could've learned more about him. He was careful not to reveal anything about himself, wary of the conversation, and where it could lead to. Controlling the discussion was a required skill for a princess, obtaining what you want as efficiently as possible.
But it was all pointless against that boy. There was an invisible wall all around him, protecting himself and his interests. It wasn't a physical wall made of bind, but a mental one that repulsed all individuals who were trying to dig into his origins.
The thought of having a mental clash, a struggle of words between two people trying to divulge as less information as possible with every sentence, excited me.
I sighed, realizing that I wouldn't be able to partake in all of this. I was meant to stay at the castle for the next few days and prepare for the arrival of extremely special guests.
The arrival of a dragon girl.