Claire's face turns completely red upon hearing Halvine throwin the cheating accusation at us, but I show little reaction, since I already know that
I've done nothing wrong, Claire stumbles over her words.
"w-what, t-that is ridiculous."
Halvine approaches Claire while wagging her finger at her.
"it is so typical of you to find ways, to make me angry."
she looks at me and asks agitated.
"care to explain yourself?"
I answer leaving out certain details about why she approached me.
"we were having an important conversation, and when I told her I was abandoned in an orphanage, she showed human compassion and hugged me."
Claire was shocked that I said that openly to Halvine, she sighs and said with an apologetic tone.
"I got caught up in my emotions for split second Lady Halvine, it was never my intention to overstep and to do what I did."
Halvine looks at me with an expression filled with guilt, and said trying to hide that the hug bothered her a lot.
"I'm your fiancée Darius, if you needed a hug to unload your burdens, you could've asked me instead."
I shake my head and respond.
"why would I do that? especially after you have shown me that you obviously dislike me because of my dark skin."
Claire looks like she is frozen in shock, about what is unfolding before her, Halvine looks like she is about to reply, but I interrupt.
"I also dislike you, so don't think just because you and me are engaged, that I'll come running into your arms and completely forget that?"
Claire stammers nervously.
"uh it seems like I'll just head on out, so that you two can resolve your problems privately."
Halvine lashes out at Claire.
"no you are staying there, and you will give me your opinion since you are also engaged!"
Claire laughs uncomfortably.
"sure Lady Halvine."
Halvine approaches me and grabs my hand.
"Darius, I know I came off very disrespectful, and I want you to know that I want us to start over, so that you can erase that terrible first impression you had of me."
Claire clears her throat and interjects.
"I'm sure that, Halvine has done something to offend, but as her fighting rival, I can attest that she is very pleasant individual to be around once you get to know her."
Halvine nods in agreement, but I question the validity since she is just agreeing with someone that is saying something positive about her, but I let it slide since she has been genuine about starting over, Halvine sighs.
"I know that those few times we got to hang out have been awkward, but I wanted to show you that I was at least trying."
I think to myself.
"yeah she has been trying at least, maybe I should just make things easier for us and not let her first impression dictate our relationship, since I'll be marrying her."
I sigh and then turn my attention to Claire and ask
trying to change the subject to make things less awkward.
"fighting rivals? so who is strongest between the two of you?"
they answer in unison.
"me."
they stare at each other and smile, but Claire breaks the silence.
"Lady Halvine did you forget our last encounter already?"
Halvine's eyebrow twitches, but doesn't break her smile.
"that didn't count, it was just a sparring session, I wasn't being serious, Lady Claire."
I chuckle and think to myself.
"they seem to have a healthy rivalry."
I then ask.
"okay let's say we count that last sparring session,
who has the most victories?"
they look at me and then answer in unison after looking at looking at each other.
"we are even."
Halvine sighs and surprisingly compliments Claire.
"she could be much stronger if she wasn't so stubborn about only training her swordsmanship."
Halvine stares daggers at me.
"she is stubborn like a certain someone I've recently have gotten to know."
Claire looks at me and then asks Halvine.
"how strong is your fiance? it is pretty rare for an outsider to marry into the Laconia Family."
Halvine stares at the ground and trembles a bit, almost like she was reliving that day, I used my bloodlust against her and her family and answers.
"yeah he is special."
Claire seems to be taken aback by Halvine's words and asks while looking at me.
"what can he do?"
just as it looks like she was about to tell her I jump in and said.
"it is a Laconia Family secret for now, but later on you will all find out, you'll just have to wait when that time comes just like the others."
I think to myself.
"I can't risk having to exposing bloodlust this soon to others, until I'm strong enough or I'll risk attracting Mistress Isabelle."
Halvine seems like she caught on with me trying to conceal my bloodlust and adds on.
"yeah, we don't want to reveal what he is capable of."
Claire smirks.
"now I'm intrigued."
Halvine responds while wearing a scowl on her face.
"you have a fiance already so don't get any funny ideas about mine."
her face turns completely red with embarrassment and shouts at her.
"I wasn't having funny ideas!"
I can't help but laugh.
"you to seem like really close friends, instead of rivals."
Halvine replies.
"okay I'll admit that me and Claire much closer than I would like to admit."
she clears her throat and wags her fingers at Claire.
"but that doesn't mean that our rivalry is done."
Claire smiles.
"I wouldn't dare to end my rivalry with you."
Claire then sighs.
"well bow that we are all good and have cleared up any misunderstandings, I should get going before my fiance."
she gets interrupted by a kid with spiky blonde hair and blue eyes, who looks much older than us.
"why would there be any misunderstandings here?"
Claire stammers a bit, but quickly composes herself and introduces him to me.
"this is my fiance Harold Wilson, and he is a fifth year."
he stares at me trying to intimidate me, but I just step up to him and approach him to shake his hand showimg no fear or hesitation.
"Darius Edwards, it a pleasure to make your acquaintance."
he smacks my hand away.
"I don't plan to be friendly with a plebian like yourself."
Claire replies.
"easy Harold honey, he is Halvine's fiance and we were just getting to know each other."
he scoffs.
"don't honey me bitch, I didn't want to be engaged with first a year Tromair, but unfortunately my father made me, if I want to be someone important."
Claire looks down at the ground dejected by his words, but I think to myself.
"this isn't my problem, so I should just stay out of it."
Harold notices that I didn't say anything about the way he's speaking to her, and smiles.
"at least you know your place."
but Halvine had other ideas and shouts at Harold.
"you do not talk to her in that manner! she is a Tromair and you will treat her with respect."
I sigh and think to myself.
"damn it Halvine, why did you have to say something."
seeing as Harold is staring at her silenty, I think to myself.
"well it seems like he is going to hold his tongue from Halvine."
he points his finger at her and said with confidence.
"listen you little brat, if it weren't for your family name, I would smacked you for your arrogance."
I roll my eyes and said in my thoughts.
"geez this guy has anger issues."
Halvine glances at me, like I should step in to say something, but I shake my head and think to myself disinterested.
"he's just shit talking, so unless he actually does something physical I'll just not say a thing."
Halvine notices my lack of reaction and looks down in disappointment, while Harold laughs.
"what a great fiance you got there Halvine, a cowardly man who won't even step in to defend your honor."
he spits on the floor in front of my feet.
"he probably wouldn't even defend the honor of his own mother!"
my upper lip twitches a bit, but I hold on my anger,
as he continues.
"he must have an I'll mannered commoner mother who has no right to raise a dumb dark skinned man like himself."
I think back about all the kindness my mom has given me, when she took me and treated me like a real son, and the times she looked after me when I was at the orphanage, I give in to my anger and clench my fists.
"what was that about my mother, I couldn't quite hear you."
Halvine takes notice of the look in my eyes, and tries to prevent my anger from rising.
"Harold is just pushing your buttons he didn't mean nothing by it."
I glare at Halvine and said with a no nonsense tone.
"he insulted someone precious to me, so stay out of it."
I think to myself.
"I've never been so easily worked up, the only times I would, were when it involved any disrespectf for Mistress Isabelle."
Harold grins.
"well it looks like the little pup is finally bearing his fangs, so he isn't a complete coward."
I finally let go of all of my inhibitions and let the anger that triggers my bloodlust to rise.
"I've had enough of this shit."
Harold mischievous grin suddenly turns sour and immediately gets serious when my eyes change color.
"so you had a monstrous ability hidden within you."
he shallows nervously, and said trying to keep brave face.
"that's not enough to shake me."
as the power flows through I slowly breathe in and out and respond with my speech slowed due to the bloodlust.
"false bravado won't save you here Harold."
I start releasing the fear aura, hoping that it is enough to make Harold back down.
"do you want to go down this road Harold? if not then you better apologize for disrespecting my mom."
He clutches his chest and groans as he falls to one knee gritting his teeth.
"what is this pressure?"
Claire stares at me with a look filled with fear, while Halvine had the same pleading look when I used my fear aura on her and her family, I then slowly approach Harold.
"I'm still not hearing an apology."
he replies while gritting his teeth.
"you may have gotten me on my knees with whatever silly magic spell your using, but you aren't strong enough to hurt me."
I answer him in mind.
"without using my sword, and bloodlust I would agree that my twelve year old body wouldn't be to hurt you much, but bloodlust increase my physical strength."
I grab by the neck and lift him up in the air while squeezing.
"what was that about not baing to hurt you."
he chokes in my strong grip, unable to respond, but I smirk.
"what was that, I couldn't understand you."
I then hear Halvine beg to me.
"Darius, please that is enough, complications between the Laconia and Tromair Family will arise if you kill him."
I click my tongue in disappointment and let go of him and relax so that I can switch off Bloodlust.
"fine."
I glare at Harold.
"lucky you."
he replies while breathing heavily.
"you fucking psychopath, you could have killed me."
I respond.
"yeah, such a shame that it had to be that way."
I then threaten him.
"next time, nobody will stop me from snapping that neck of yours."
Claire apologizes in his stead.
"we are sorry for offending you Darius, I'll make sure my family properly punishes him for this."
I sigh.
"alright I'll accept your apology, I'll see you next time, and hopefully it will be much more pleasant than what we experienced today."
she nods.
"see you next time."
Halvine grabs my arm gently.
"you are very scary when you do that."
she then asks.
"will our children have that same scary abilty you have."
I nod and then I think to myself.
"I see, she wants the bloodlust power in the Laconia bloodline."
I slap my forehead and think to myself.
"if I don't want to become obsolete in the future for this family, I need to stop Mistress Isabelle since she was the one who brought back the forgotten Demi-Human ceremony."