"My plans? Why?" Morvain questioned, glancing at the undeniably beautiful Lady Lumiere. Beautiful as Lavender? He couldn't say. Yet, she was undoubtedly a beauty.
Unfortunately, she and that buffoonish Lord Emberfall were entangled in a conspiracy that, if not handled carefully, could jeopardize Morvain's entire plan and life.
"Just asking," she shrugged. "I mean, you obviously want to meet your family, but... I just wonder what else do you have in mind."
Morvain scrutinized her. Truly looked at her and wondered, 'Is she really trying to kill me?'
"I suppose then I live with them," he replied. "That's how it should end, right?"
He strolled away to the table, the crystal-clear water tempting him. Pouring a glass, he glanced over his shoulder and offered, "Thirsty?" She declined with a subtle shake of her head, so he took a refreshing sip.
"You do realize, once you're back in the bosom of your family, all their enemies become your enemies too, right?" she casually strolled over, standing beside him with a glint of mischief in her eyes, watching him savor the water.
Morvain knew that. He knew it like the lyrics of his favorite song.
"Of course, that's how families work, right?" He chuckled, finishing the last drop of water, his eyes twinkling with a mischievous glint. "But, that's family business. Besides, I've heard that Stormwatch is like the mysterious loner in a small town – isolated and not into politics."
'And that's the best part.'
Lady Lumiere smiled at him. It wasn't the innocent smile of a girl but the sly, knowing grin of a cunning woman.
"Yes, they don't do politics," she leaned provocatively against the table, her bosoms teasingly peeking through the collar of her shirt. "But they do deals."
Morvain gulped.
"And family deals are always business, my lord."
'What is she trying to say? Is she trying to rope me into their deal, or is she warning me?'
"Are you threatening me, my lady? If that's the case, you should know that I don't have anything to resist or offer you," he smiled, keeping his tone light.
Lady Lumiere tilted her head, her piercing eyes scanning through Morvain's head and body like a hawk.
"Threatening you?" she giggled, a beautiful sound that echoed through the room. "Why would I do that, my lord? I thought we had a special bond. Or is it just me who thought that?" she gasped, her expression morphing into one of betrayal.
'This girl is not playing.' Morvain sensed a depth to her words that went beyond mere banter.
Morvain took a deep, steadying breath, turning towards the girl. Slowly, he reached out, taking her hand in his, and guided her towards the bed.
"Sit," he uttered, settling onto the bed himself. She glanced at him with a momentary indifference.
"I'm not going to try anything, if that's how you see me," he spoke softly, "and besides, you're infinitely stronger than me."
With a sigh, he withdrew his hand, sitting back as a weighty silence filled the room, laden with unspoken emotions.
Morvain felt a twinge of hurt at the look she gave him. Unsure if it was because she was plotting some war crime or genuinely contemplating his well-being.
'I'm not a degenerate,' he reassured himself.
"I'm not thinking about you hurting me, my lord," she spoke, sitting on the bed. Reaching out, she attempted to take his hand, but he quickly evaded, scratching his nape and avoiding eye contact. She sat there, her hand suspended midway, gazing at him.
"I didn't mean to--"
"What do you want?" Morvain interjected, cutting her off.
"I...uh..." she stammered, retracting her hand with a forlorn expression. Once again, he felt a pang of pain at the sight of her face.
'Lavender would never...' he thought, acknowledging it as a deceptive fabrication of his mind. Lavender would have straightforwardly told him not to touch her. Yet, if it were Eldric, she would have melted.
'Why am I even thinking about her?'
"Lord Eldric, I didn't mean to offend you, and I swear I wasn't thinki--"
"Lady Lumiere, say what you came for," he rebuked, his voice cutting through the air. "The faster we can get off this ship, the quicker you can meet your darling prince."
"We are not doing that, Lord Eldric," she flared with anger, her words laced with intensity. "We're not dragging him into this." Rising to her feet, she pointed an accusatory finger at him, the tension in the room escalating.
"Oh, what? Did your heart ache mentioning your future husband? Oh, my poor lady's heart is breaking up," Morvain teased, doing a dramatic sigh and clutching his chest.
"Shut up!" She screamed, and Morvain felt a wave of mana crash against his senses, causing him pain. "You shut up, or I'm going to throw you into the sea. Do you understand?"
Morvain was taken aback. He didn't expect her to lash out at him with such intensity.
"You are a petty man, Lord Eldric," she proclaimed, her words heavy with disdain.
"Perhaps it's because I was raised in a slum," he rebuked, bitterness seeping into his tone. "Forgive this lowlife slum dweller, my lady. I cannot amount to what you nobles can."
"That has nothing to do with being a slum or a noble. It's your pathetic heart." She spat out the accusation, the intensity of her words lingering in the charged atmosphere.
Morvain chuckled. 'Pathetic heart, huh?'
"And what is my pathetic heart, my lady? Do enlighten me," he stood up, facing her. He could see a tear rolling down her cheek.
"You're afraid," she said, her finger pointing at him accusatorily. "You're afraid that someone has something you can't have."
"Afraid of what?" he asked, laughing.
"Afraid that if your family would accept you? Afraid that you yourself would accept your true self?" she retorted, her words lingering with an unsettling weight.
In the charged silence that followed, Morvain couldn't help but wonder if her accusations struck closer to the truth than he cared to admit.