"And who's this?" the woman said with narrowing eyes towards Kailey. "I don't think she's an elite, or I would have known about her." Considering this the heiress of the neighboring country gasped in exaggerated shock drawing the attention of everybody in the great hall.
"William," she said in a loud tone of voice so everybody could hear her speak, "have you sunken so low that you're parading around a filthy little sexslave?"
This accusation caused murmurs to spread around the hall.
"Don't tell me you've fallen for her. Is that why you refuse my offer? What a shameful display."
Lea had been nervous and fidgety the entire time she had been standing beside William, but most of the time the passing elites didn't even glance at her. This was the first time one of them laid their eye on her and pointed her out. The woman even went as far as calling her a filthy sexslave. How embarrassing!
Kailey's entire face was heating up at the unwanted attention and she moved a little bit behind William to hide from all the elites that were looking at her. Why had she insisted on coming again? Boredom was better than this humiliation. How will she ever overcome this shame?
William glared at the woman. He had already expected someone would cause trouble because of Kailey, but he had expected them to do it behind his back. This woman really had some guts to insult the person in who's house she was going to stay.
"It seems you are mistaken, lady, Kailey is not a sexslave, she is my friend," he said just as loud as the woman so everybody could hear his declaration. "And even if she is a toy, and even if I would've fallen for her in this highly hypothetical situation, frankly, it would be none of your business."
"A friend?" the woman said incredulous. "Are you saying you consider a peasant to be your friend?" She glanced around looking at the other elites to see if they heard William Wright say it also. It seemed they had, since their faces showed a disapproving look. Who in their right mind would even think of befriending a commoner?
"Yes," William said in a final voice.
"You can't be serious," the woman's voice sounded more shocked with every second that passed.
"Mason," William said ignoring the woman's nagging, "would you please make this lady leave my sight. I don't need drama on a day that's supposed to be meant for mourning my father."
Mason nodded, coming out of his daze. He was as shocked as all the elites. He already knew William had an abnormal interest in Kailey, but Mason hadn't expected him to let her attend this day, and he certainly hadn't expected William to defend Kailey in front of all these elites, to choose her side. That was just not done. Maybe he really shouldn't be so suspicious of him.
Mason walked towards the woman, with a couple of other servants and surrounded her, making sure she couldn't cause any more trouble. "Lady Elizabeth Erstwhile, if you'd please come with me."
Lady Elizabeth huffed and while she was being escorted away she yelled in an angry fit: "When Father and Mother get here, they'll hear about this!"
Once she had finally left the great hall William gave Kailey a small smile before turning back to the rest of his stunned guests.
***
To Lea's relieve the funeral passed without any further hiccups, but it was just as boring – if not even more boring – than sitting quietly in her room. She had to listen the driest speeches ever; speeches that weren't even really about President Wayne Wright, but indirect ways for the speaker to praise their own country. Not only did she have to listen to this self-centered egoistical crap of tyrannical rulers, but she also had to feel their gazes burning holes into her pitiful commoner body while sitting on a very uncomfortable chair that had to be designed to torture people for hours on end.
That was not even all, her grim fantasy of looking a spectacularly fancy casket descent in the ground was just that, a fantasy. This stupid boring and freedom hating country had the tradition of cremating their leaders (Lea suspected it had something to do with making sure nobody could find evidence of foul play). A cremation that happened beforehand! And the ashes where not even distributed in the air so that the deceased could find peace in their country or something. The ashes would just be kept on display in a small but richly decorated side building. There was nothing exciting to see at all – something she probably wouldn't have thought before Dwyl came into her life, but how could one be excited about a small building when you've been imprisoned in the real palace of the sun goddess? Lea had simply had it with gold and palaces and riches and tyrannical rulers who don't care about your feelings.
She deeply regretted not having listened to Dwyl, something she would feel even more strongly later on in the evening.
The other world leaders hadn't mentioned the presence of the peasant girl during the service out of respect for President Wayne Wright, but now that that part was over, they would certainly express their discontent with the way William Wright was running his palace at the memorial ball that followed right after dinner.
Some elites were more displeased than others, and the ones who had the most animosity were the Erstwhile's, leaders of country Y. They were determined to give William a hard time for treating their daughter lower than a peasant. How could he? They had to show this new president that they weren't to be messed with. Otherwise, all the other elites would think they were complete pushovers. The horror of even thinking it! If they showed even one ounce of weakness the others would take over their country. They could not let that happen.
While people were moving toward the dining hall Kailey tucked at William's shirt. "You were right. I shouldn't be here. I'm only causing you trouble," she whispered.
William raised an eyebrow. "Isn't it a bit too late to realize this?"
Honestly, Dwyl would really like it if Lea got out of his hairs immediately. It would be very helpful to prevent Lea of developing a trauma of what was about to occur, but… he was super annoyed by her fickle nature! She wanted to be there, so she should stay to the end! How would he ever get energy from a host who can't decide what they would really like to do? Doing what you want requires determination! Something Lea clearly lacked. The stronger Lea's want, and the more she achieved what it was she wanted, the more energy Dwyl would get. But how will he ever get energy if Lea's wants and achievements were so weak? The only strong want she seemed to have in this world was for him to get together with Mason and confess his feelings or something. A wish that he couldn't fulfil, because like hell he will let himself be played by some annoying inconsiderate human!
"I know, but I'm really uncomfortable. I hate how they are all staring at me, whispering about me."
"Aren't you a bit too cocky?" William snarled. "Isn't it obvious that the main focus of their looks and whispers is me? If I weren't next to you, nobody would look twice at you."
Lea glared back at Dwyl. That system really knew how to throw punches. "I don't think you have the right to call me cocky, mister arrogant."
"It's not arrogance when it's true. I am the new president of country X after all."
"That's… I'll give you that, but I really don't want to dine with people like this."
[Besides…] Lea sent to Dwyl telepathically [I find it really annoying hearing everybody talk about country B, C, D, E etc. You say Writer is so great, then why can't they even come up with some decent country names?! That's just the alphabet. How lazy are they?]
[Dwyl: I can forgive you not seeing how awesome I am, but how dare you slander Writer?! You don't even know them! You don't know how hard they work. Who even cares about small details like that? What's most important is that the plot is good!]
[If wouldn't read a novel like this.] Lea muttered in her mind. Not unless it has some boy love in it, anyway. Then she can read anything.
[Dwyl: That just shows how unsophisticated you are.]
Dwyl really didn't understand Writer. Had it missed the part it's crush was clearly a masochist who liked to be insulted?! Maybe instead of clinging to Writer like its life depended on it, Dwyl should've just been like the rest of the Authors and systems. Should he have been rude to Writer? But nothing indicated Writer liked anyone, rude or not. Obviously Dwyl was the one closest to Writer! If only Lea hadn't caught the attention of Writer, then Dwyl would've had a chance with them. But then again, without Lea Writer would've never agreed to use Dwyl as a system, and then it would've been doubtful that any Author would've used it and then he would've probably died within a couple of years after he had become an adult due to lack of energy. Dwyl really hated the fact that he realized he should be grateful for Lea's existence. She probably saved its life.
Anyway, before Lea could go any further with this ridiculous conversation that seemed to slander Writer's geniality, William distracted her by giving in to Kailey's request.
"If you really hate it, I won't force you to. You can leave. I never wanted you there anyway."
"Although I'm glad you're letting me go, couldn't you say some nice words to comfort me?"
"Why should I be comforting you? It's my father who's dead," William rebuked with a grin on his face that showed he wasn't in need of comforting at all.
'A father you murdered with your own hands!' Lea thought, but instead she said in a sarcastic tone of voice: "You're right, I'm sorry. You must be heartbroken."
William nodded unconvincingly. "I am."
Kailey decided to play along with this farce and roughly started patting Williams silkily soft hair.
"Well then, since both of us don't want me around, I'll go to my room."
A look of disgust appeared on William's face at the touch.
[Dwyl: Don't touch me!]
[You're to uptight. It's just a pad on the head. My best friend back in my world does it all the time. It's a friendly gesture.]
[Dwyl: I'm not a dog!]
[I agree. You're more like a cat.]
[Dwyl: I'm not an animal!]
[You are fluffy in your original form though.] Lea said thinking back on the black fluffy round creature with starlike spots.
[Dwyl: Nonsense! You've not seen me in my original form.]
[I haven't?] Lea asked doubtfully. If that furball wasn't his true form, then what was?
Dwyl shut its mouth. He had said to much. What if Lea demanded to know his true appearance? He would be in trouble then.
William slapped away Kailey's hands from his head. "Go then. You're bothering me."
Lea realized Dwyl didn't want to talk about the subject anymore. She smiled and said: "Be a good boy, and don't let yourself be bullied."
Then Lea walked off towards her room. If she knew the truth of what would happen she wouldn't have said those words at all, but then again even if she knew, there was nothing she could've done to stop Dwyl's plan that had already been said in motion.