I didn't prepare for this one. I did think I might run into someone from the family while at the garden, but not into the owner of the place, and I even ended up ignoring him.
"Eugene?"
As he called me again, I rushed over to my father and smiled.
"My seek your forgiveness, my lord,"
I could have made an excuse for not noticing him, but that would just be prolonging the matter. I hoped he wanted something from me so that the topic would change and it did.
"Don't fret it," he said, showing the middle finger to all teachers that bothered with teaching another eloquence. "It has been forever, you been well?"
"By your grace, my lord."
This ignorant buffoon! At my ear jab which directly translated to 'who are you to ask you child abandoning son of a bitch?' this man merely nodded as if it didn't concern him. His daughter would have figured it out in an instant.
"Well, you're here at the perfect time."
The Marquis of Hall, Ban Ket Hall said that and turned away from me, leaving me bowing as he talked to the other guest, the young girl.
I wasn't sure of the Marquis' personality while at Apollo, but now I had determined that this guy needed to be fucked over. I wasn't going to let him be for all the pain he caused me. If things had continued as they were, I would've turned into a minor villain in an eroge by the time I was supposed to join the academy.
"Lady Sophia," he said. "I understand that you would like to travel around the city since you're here early, but it would be too shameful of me to let my old friend's daughter travel my city alone."
The bastard had completely forgotten that my head was still down. I had lesser power here so I tried to act my level, but it was impossible if he was going to be like this. I ignored them and raised my head without caring about it. The strong wasn't to be suppressed so easily.
That said, their conversation was confusing. This girl was likely the daughter of Mirza here to attend the coming-of-age celebration of my eldest sister, so why did he call her the daughter of his 'friend?' i was sure that Keith said the Margrave and the Marquis are bitter enemies, it didn't make sense.
"So," the Marquis continued. "Why don't you take my son Eugene along with you? He won't serve well as a guide since he's new here too, but he'll be a great guard."
What?
Was i hearing things right?
"As you saw just now, he's good at getting along with others too, so you won't have to worry. Please use him however you want when you go outside."
"E-excuse me?" I couldn't help but mutter. Did this oaf just tie me down to some noble daughter for no reason at all? Was I just reduced to a convenient man?
No way was I going to let this happen.
"I-I understand, lord Marquis," even the girl seemed flustered at how casually I was thrown on her. She turned to me and gave me a light nod. "I'll look forward to it, lord Eugene."
He had done it now.
Many things were cleared out for me. The Mirxa child wasn't here to complain about me, and this Marquis didn't really care much about my territory either.
As casual as they may act, they were still calculative nobles. If things were that way they wouldn't have let this happen. There could still be the possibility of this girl being stuck to me as a spy, but that was a needless worry since I was nothing but a flea in front of their statuses.
So, I could push their buttons too.
A smile crept up on my face.
"You're absolutely correct, O Father!" Spreading my hands as exaggeratedly as I could, I turned to my father. I tried suppressing it, but I couldn't hold back the most sadistic face filling my facial muscles. "Your friend's daughter is here, you should definitely send me with her. But that said, don't you think a guide will be helpful too?!"
"Ah, no! I am fine, really." Mirxa girl panicked and started swinging her hands around frantically. That was what I wanted to see! We're not stopping here.
"No, I insist, my lady. It is only natural that we do so. And a very strong one at that, I may be strong for my age and this place is safe, but our precious guest needs to be treated accordingly! Isn't. That. So. Fatheeerrrr!"
Do you think you can treat me like a son whenever you want? Do it! Just be ready for payback!
The Marquis flinched at my way of calling him father.
"I-I'll assign the vice-captain of the knight brigade. He knows the place well..."
The two butlers behind the Marquis had their jaws agape while the girl seemed to be shocked as well. It wasn't over yet!
I clasped my hands together and shifted my gaze to the man again, pushing out my chin at him.
"Da.ddy. Dear.Est!"
The Marquis took a step back.
"Don't you think..." I whispered in a low voice and made as much eye contact as I could. After practicing for ages, I knew when I was staring at someone's nose or when I wasn't! "You should also give some money to the Lady as some allowance, yes? It's only natural, yes? How about a thousand gold coins?"
"T-thousand!" Mirxa girl gasped.
All of our heads turned to her.
For some reason, she was looking at me and shaking her head. But I just couldn't hold my sadistic smile from growing even larger.
"SHE THINKS IT IS TOO LOW! MARQUIS!"
"AH! Alright! I'll give you guys more than enough money, alright? Just stop now!"
I could see the Marquis gasping while taking another step away from me. I looked behind him, and the two butlers stepped away as well, then I looked at Mirxa girl, who also backed off.
"I better get going now," the Marquis said. "I have to finish up some work."
I wanted to bully him more, but I didn't want him to pick up the matter of Apollon if he was going to forget it. From what I had seen and heard from the rest, this man was more than petty enough to do so with a smile on his face.
"You guys rest for today since you've had a long journey, alright?"
"Yes, my lord," the Mirxa girl bowed her head before I could. I and the Marquis looked at each other in that fleeting moment. He seemed ready to shoot some of his mana my way, but I was ready to dodge all the same.
I bowed too and said. "Thank you for your consideration, Faaather."
The Marquis nodded and left, leaving just the two of us alone.
Since he was gone, I turned to the Mirxa girl again and bowed.
"I greet you again, my lady."
"You too, my lord."
How kind.
This girl was an angel compared to the sister I just saw.
Her voice seemed nice too, I guess, I can't tell.
As I raised my head and looked at the red hair of this angel fluttering slightly in the wind, I thought she must be very beautiful. I had to ask her here and now.
"My lady, if it won't be too rude."
"What is it, my lord?"
"Do you lift?"