"What's wrong, Sarrafort? Why you can't heal Sebastian?" I asked.
I don't want to put more pressure on him because I'm avoiding increasing his hatred towards me, but a little bit of provoking won't hurt, right?
Livius is looking at Sebastian when he answers me. "Perhaps my intuition is right," his voice was shaky. "If I can't use my herbs, I can't treat him!" He holds his stomach and bends forward slightly.
I cross my arms while observing him. I don't think the herb is the issue here. Livius used his magic oftentimes in the series to try to destroy Arventia, and it never involved herbs to make his plan work.
"If you don't use herbs, you can't treat him?" I asked him. "You can yield your magic even without herbs, why do you base your skill on it? I'm ordering you to try it again."
My skill, 'persuasion,' is still active, that's why I'm hoping my words will persuade him to try it again.
He shakes his head. "Without my herbs… my magic is useless," he muttered, his hands trembling as if trying to summon power he didn't believe in.
I stretched my hands out wide. "Are you seriously giving up now? We don't have all day, Sarrafort," I said. I relax my hands before speaking again. "Do something!" There is a tension in my voice.
I pinch my lips together when he doesn't move. I guess my skill of persuasion has its limits.
Great job, Ralph. Assume you know everything and watch it blow up in your face. Classic move.
Marcus approached me and bowed his head. "My lord, I guess this is all that he got."
I bare my teeth. "I can't believe this is harder than I imagined," I said without thinking.
Suddenly, two footmen enter the room. "Please excuse us, my lord," they said in unison as they bowed their head at me.
I didn't bother to say anything, I just stayed baring my teeth as I watched them approach Livius and grab his arms.
Livius' knees bend and then straighten while he opens and closes his mouth. He just lets the two guys take him outside.
As they walk through me, I place my arms behind my back and grip my wrist with the other hand. "Was this really necessary, Marcus?"
"My apologies, my lord. But the Duke ordered us that if he failed to treat Mister Murry, he would be punished for his failure," Marcus explained.
My eyes narrowed. "Failure?" I asked. "I'm not that stupid, Marcus. He just doesn't want me to get things done with my way."
He agreed to my suggestion, but it doesn't mean he trusts me.
The skill of 'persuasion' only makes the person agree with you or follow your suggestion, but it doesn't allow the user to have the assurance of success for the outcome.
Stopping the footmen from dragging Livius won't solve anything. Because if I meddle with Father's decision, I will be punished too. If that happens, I can't have a chance to save Livius from this.
I get out of the room and walk through the opposite hallway where they bring Livius. I need to think of something to come out of this mess.
I entered my study room, slammed the door, and locked it. I need time to think. I need to resolve this right away…
[NOTICE: Livius's hatred increases to 40%.]
I wiped the floating notification in front of me. I move back and forth in small and repetitive steps while I cross my arms and tap my finger.
Is failing to your quest normal?
I paused as I realized something. "CC only shows that Livius's hatred increased, but it didn't say that I failed a quest…" I cupped my elbow with one hand while tapping my lips with the other hand. "It means the quest is not over yet, all I need to do is to proceed…"
My gaze turns to the wall, and it doesn't leave until a slow smile builds on my lips. "The more Livius got in trouble, the more he would ask for my help. This is not a failure, but rather a way for me to have more connection to him…"
A playful grin appears on my lips. "I thought I wouldn't enjoy your game, Father. But I guess the only mistake I made was thinking of quitting your game…"
When I was a kid, our father always put me in a situation where I couldn't ask anybody for help. He said it is to learn that I should solve my problems on my own and I shouldn't ask someone to help me as I shouldn't indebted to them.
I remember when he made me come with him and some of his men to their hunting in a deep forest. He intentionally left me in the middle of that forest and waited for me if I could find my way back to where we set our camp.
When I got back, he gave me a big slice of roasted deer meat that he indicated as my reward for my bravery. Then he proudly says, "If you couldn't survive that, then so the world is."
The grin never leaves my lips. "Now I finally understand what you meant there, Father."
This game of yours is easier than what you gave me when I was a kid.
As soon as I finalize my plan, I leave my study room. I don't need to ask Marcus where the footmen bring Livius because I know very well where they bring him.
There is an underground cell in this mansion. That's where Father used to put me every time I did something he disliked or if I failed to win his game.
If my intuition is right, he is now in there interrogating Livius on how I make him follow my request to treat his subordinate. And of course, that's my father we're talking about. He would surely insult and mock Livius on the spot.
Before visiting the lovely cell that my father created for me, I visited the library first to get a medicine book that I would use for my plan to work.
After that, I went back to Sebastian's room because I also needed someone there.
"You," I pointed first to the maid who is holding the herbs that Livius brings. Then I look at the other maid beside her. "And you," I said as I pointed her out as well. "I want both of you to come with me to the cell."
"What is it for, my lord?" Marcus asked.
I smirked at him. "Don't worry, you will come with us too. I want all of you to be there when I talk to my father."
He didn't answer me, instead, he just bowed his head.
Then, before we could get out of the room, a footman arrived. "My lord, the duke wants you to meet him at the cell."
I smirked again. "Good. Tell him I'm on my way," I said to the footmen and when he left, I looked at Marcus again. "Now is the time. Come with me."
I know our servants are confused with my actions as they all have suspicious eyes on me. Or maybe, they are looking at me like that thinking I'm about to put inside the cell again.
But I didn't talk to any of them, we were all in silence on our way to the cell.
Finally, we arrived in the cell. All my life, I thought this place only existed so my father could torment me whenever he wanted. But seeing another man brought in here feels nostalgic.
"Father! What a good day to start having a secret meeting inside our playground!" I greeted him once I reached the bottom of the cell.
He was facing the opposite side when I arrived, so as he heard me speak, he turned around to see me.
He looked at me intensely. "Why you have Marcus and maids with you? I only want to talk to you, you don't need chaperone."
My shoulders are pulled slightly backward, my chest is out, and my chin is high. I also looked directly into his eyes with a playful grin on my lips. "Don't mind them, they are only here to bring what I needed to present you…" I said energetically.
He shakes his head. "You never learn from anything I taught you. You can't live without help of others…" he said.
I hold my hands loosely behind my back. "As far as I remember, you also taught me to use everything and anything I have in possession to survive in this cruel world, Father," my eyes never break my gaze on him. "Or rather, to win your nonsense game…"
He purses his lips. "You still think responsibility is just a game…" He clenched his teeth before he spoke again, "And because of your stupidity, you even dragged someone on what you call your own into your misfortune."
"Dragging someone into my misfortune, you say?" I said, throwing my head back in a booming laugh that echoed across the room. "Father, the game is not over yet…"
I walked with a wide step and finally came closer to him. "If you think imprisoning Livius will weaken me, you're wrong. Because we're just heading forward to the exciting part…"