Aki turns around, smiling gently at his candour. She returns and lays a hand on his shoulder. "Thank you, both of you, for trying. I really appreciate your efforts even if it was just to humour me."
"I would never!" Verityu's eyes widen as he tries to reassure Aki of his high opinion of her.
She thanks him and turns her attention to Viscount Estril who looks down at the table with a serious look. "Besides, you found lots of secret things since the Dead pushed those to the surface, right?"
"Many horrid, several good. To think my ancestors committed such heinous acts…" Viscount Estril brushes back his hair with a gloved hand, not because it's in the way but more as a way of calming himself based on the flow of emotions stemming from him. "Can I truly be called a noble when my history is built upon cruelty? How could I ever return all that was taken?"
Viscount Estril flinches. Just as he was sinking into feelings of despair, a gentle touch upon his head as if he were a child to be comforted brings him pause. Aki pats his head easily and without restraint, her fingers sinking into his hair gently as she moves her hand.
For nobility, there is little that is dishonourable as being treated as a lesser individual, even from those they hold in high regard. Yet, Viscount Estril, no, Decimas, is unable to bring himself to shake her. Looking up at Aki, she appears to glow even in the well-lit room, as if all light converged on her.
He can tell there is nothing but goodwill in her actions. She aims to comfort him simply because she wants to, not to belittle him.
"You're a good leader, Lord Estril. You've shown everyone that just by trying to rebuild even when you could barely stand." Aki hides a grimace as memories of Earth flash through her mind. Vague images depicting natural disasters and leaders on a screen before ending on the shadow of a person. "But don't burden yourself with a past you had nothing to do with. You can't save those already gone so focus on what you can do now and what you want for the future."
"Such simple words," Verityu interjects, a grin spreading across his face. "Yet nonetheless wise."
Aki chuckles, retracting her hands from them both. "Thank you, but they aren't mine. I'm not good at comforting anyone so I… Well, I'm borrowing some words that used to make me feel better."
Viscount Estril nods, a lightness in his movements as he waves her away. Meanwhile Verityu shuffles in place, looking from Viscount Estril to Aki's hand.
"Now we really have kept you here far too long," Viscount Estril tells her. Already his eye bags seem to have faded and the exhaustion that painted him is faded. "Please be safe and let us know if there is no one present. I would be honoured to offer assistance to your next move in any way I can."
Aki smiles and nods, swiftly reaching the door. "I'll think about it."
With that said, Aki departs properly this time, leaving the cousins alone.
"Did you feel it, Verityu?" Viscount Estril asks seriously, waving for him to take a seat. "That presence of hers… I regret not having focused on my historical studies as seriously during my youth."
Verityu carefully follows instructions and agrees. "I did, Lord Estril."
"Ah! What did I say you should behave as when it's just us, little cousin?" Decimas Estril wags a scolding finger. "To live by decorum is the noble way, but to be stifled in such manners at all times would crush the soul. We are men as much as we are nobles."
"R-right. I believe so too." Verityu awkwardly agrees, even with Decimas nodding in approval. "Okay… um, Decimas. I… well I am humbled and also ashamed. Her power made me crave to show how much good I can do as well as realise once again what a sham of a noble I was before."
He balls his fists together and smacks them against his head. "To be a true noble, there is much to be accountable for…"
Decimas strokes his beard thoughtfully. "I am glad you have been able to reflect well on yourself. I admit, had none of this happened, I was planning on beating your selfishness out of you had you arrived that same spoiled brat that clung to my cloak as a child by wit or by grit."
"You -you wouldn't!"
"Ah but I would!" Decimas cracks a smile, laughing at Verityu's shocked and horrified expression. "Even when the Lady Acolyte told me to offer the position of Chief Judge in the interim, I was sceptical of placing an immature boy on the High Seat."
"Not you but her?" Verityu's eyes widened in surprise. "But why accept it if you thought me immature?"
"That I do not know. Still, I trusted her and was rewarded." His eyes twinkle as he speaks. "I'm no replacement for your parents but allow me to say this on their behalf."
He stands, taking Verityu's left hand in his own and gripping the forearm firmly. A sign of respect and acknowledgement the world over.
"You've grown up into a fine young man, Verityu."
Verityu feels heat grip his eyes but he pushes it back and stands, returning the handshake. "Such sudden sentimentality. Is this the power of a Crown of Salvation?"
"I will still beat you to a pulp should you sully the Estril name with more rumours of debauchery that reach my ears, Verityu. There is already too much to pay forward. Be it magic or sword, I'll kick your ass."
"Y-yes sir!" Verityu salutes in a panic, placing his right hand balled into a fist against his heart and snapping his left arm at an angle to rest his fingertips against his brow.
Decimas laughs heartily, clapping a hand on his younger cousin's shoulder as the two head out to attend their duties, just as proper nobles should.
"Still your cheer or else the healers will put you under forced rest once more, Decimas!"