Chapter 25- Maid Get

Cael felt deeply conflicted from the bottom of his heart. Was he mad? Perhaps he felt only pity, all in all his sole impression was that he didn’t really know what to think.

For now though he said nothing at all almost wondering if by some miracle Lily would be able to read between the lines and speak first instead. Looking away from the girl with greenish silver hair towards her mother standing behind, the majority of those thoughts quickly vanished however.

In all the time Cael had known Ciara short as it may have been, she had this relaxed almost indifferent smile permanently pasted across her face. As if with the exception of her daughter all the people around her were no different from bugs crawling in the dirt; interesting to look at but ultimately unable to influence herself in any kind of way that mattered.

Now though …

『Hey Granny what do you know, I lived! Bet that one threw a curveball at ya huh.』

『…』

Silence through and through made the atmosphere soon turn awkward. Perhaps unable to stand the lack of progress their conversation was making Selene began to speak as well.

『Are you okay Granny, did something happen? I know Cael can be rude, but did he offend you somehow? If he did I’ll be sure to set him straight don’t worry.』

Shaking her head with a gentle smile Ciara turned to Selene to reassure her.

『No child everything is fine you need not concern yourself. You came to speak to Lily yes? I’ll make myself scarce so you can all talk.』

Following this line the nymph began retreating towards the trunk of the ancient tree. Looking at such actions it became clear she did not wish to stay and normally speaking it would be difficult to call out to such a person, alas Cael was not just anyone.

『It’s rude to turn your back on someone who’s still trying to talk y’know~』

That one got a reaction, though not the one he had hoped. Hearing Cael’s words Ciara flinched, hard and slowly turned to look over her shoulder her eyes slightly wide like a frog being stared at by a snake.

Curiously Lily also frowned at his words but quickly smoothed her face back to its impassive state. Of course Cael had already seen her so she was unable to hide her micro expression that bordered on the macro.

Just utterly confused by this point he did not call out again as Ciara soon turned back and continued to leave as if he had not spoken at all. Reaching the tree she fused back into the nearly metallic black bark of the Elder Wood without so much as a farewell escaping her lips.

Following on from a moments pause Lily faced Cael and spoke for the first time during their entire exchange. In keeping with tradition her words were short but impactful enough to knock the wind out of everyone present.

『You and I aren’t welcome here anymore.』

Taken aback Cael could only try to get more of an explanation from Lily.

『Why?』

『It’s personal.』

Unable to stand all the cryptic double speak going on around him he cut through all pretences and asked regardless.

『Tell me anyway.』

Lily though only tightened her expression in response.

『No.』

Digging her heels in the girl was the very embodiment of stubbornness. Cael though would not let himself be deterred even if it meant using despicable means.

『You know Lily I’ve already heard everything from Selene. She and I are going to be leaving the city soon and I don’t know when we’ll be back. Is this really how you want to let things be?』

Once again the placid mask of the girl slipped and sadness littered her face.

『So you knew everything already? In that case you’re still being very kind considering. But no, this isn’t how I want to leave things either. As I said we are not welcome here if you and Selene are leaving I, I wish to go with you.』

Despite putting on a slight face of surprise outside, inside his mind Cael was rejoicing that Lily was as simple to fool as he had hoped.

(Too easy~ First I call you Lily instead of Lillianne to give the impression we aren’t as close anymore and throw you off. Next I reveal what you did to me to make you suddenly feel guilty. Finally I offer you one last chance in the form of a hand extended. I knew you would ask so I made you want it even more but don’t you know Lillianne? Everything in this world has a price.)

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Dramatically sighing Cael turned away from her to stare at the passing clouds.

『It’s not impossible for you to come with us.』

Hearing that the first to react was not Lily but instead Selene.

『What?! After everything that happened you still want cousin to come with us!』

Turning his eyes to Selene with a smile Cael appreciated her quick wittedness. Indeed while Selene may seem like a silly child at first it is a fact she was raised as royalty, as such intrigue is not too far outside her wheelhouse.

The so called “surprise” she was expressing was only her way of showing her worth to him. Setting him up for his next words to come.

『Of course I said, “not impossible” there are conditions.』

『What conditions?』

It was only now that Lily was feeling the metaphorical rope snare clinging tightly around her ankle. She realised that in her current mental state no matter what he asked she did not have the confidence she would be able to refuse.

『As Selene just said you broke our trust once before so if you want to travel with us we need some way to remedy that. I’m new here so I can’t pretend to be the most versed in magic but surely there’s some way to make absolutely sure you won’t betray us again. Right Lillianne?』

In spite of the harshness of Cael’s words rather than finding offence at his proposal she seemed to have a face of understanding instead.

『You and “Her” you’re both the same type, I couldn’t see it before but now it’s clear to me. Fine, I have something give me a moment to grab it and the rest of my things as well.』

Without elaborating further Lily went around the back of the old tree’s base and descended the ladder to her house leaving only Selene and Cael alone together.

『Are you one of those guys who likes to collect pretty girls or something?』

Broken from the silence by Selene’s strange question Cael was perhaps not as quick to deny it as he should have.

『Well … that could be said to be half right I suppose. All interactions between people are like a game y’see the one who can build up the most power in their social dynamic is the winner. When it comes to girls my approach has always been thinly veiled seduction because if they are infatuated with me then my words are more influential upon their actions.』

Nodding her head Selene’s response was scathing.

『I see, you’re not a pickup artist you’re a sociopath.』

『They’re not mutually exclusive concepts. Though to answer your question I would say I definitely enjoy the company of beautiful women but I’m more of a quality over quantity guy honestly speaking. Why jealous?』

『Yes.』

『Wha..?!』

Smiling brightly at the way she managed to ruin Cael’s near unbreakable composure she kept talking.

『I guess you could call me old fashioned but from a young age I had resigned myself to one day having an arranged marriage. For me love is something that can be cultivated later on in a relationship but when I lost my purity there was only two options before me. The first to become engaged to you with the intention of marriage. The second to kill myself to rid my disgrace from the family.』

Giving Selene the side eye Cael was equally scathing in his assessment of her words.

『That’s all together pretty dumb. Where I come from losing your virginity can even be considered a status symbol to some extent, for both men and women.』

『How strange.』

『I think you’re the strange one. Despite your innocent nice girl look you say some pretty scary things sometimes. Let me see, threatening to cut off hands, erasing people’s memories and killing yourself yeah you’re plenty scary now that I think about it.』

Giggling lightly Selene brushed a strand of hair out of her eyes.

『I like our current relationship more than our old one. While we could get to know one another there was always the line we couldn’t cross, the things we couldn’t say. Now though we are tied to the same chariot there are no truths either of us could say that would scare off the other. I can tell you would never have answered that question seriously if it was before but now there is no mask, it’s quite refreshing really.』

Before the two’s conversation could go any further Lily had returned from her small trip. On her person was a number of articles not previously present such as a filled rucksack, what Cael could only imagine was a staff and lastly in her right hand a stylised silver choker with a blue jewel imbedded in its centre.

When Selene saw the choker though she quickly put two and two together and explained so that Cael would understand.

『That’s a slavery collar. A type of magic tool that makes use of a nasty type of order spell . Lily why do you have something like that?』

Casually handing the means of her enslavement to Cael with an almost unnatural ease she smiled slyly to Selene before replying.

『One day I wanted to travel around and maybe even visit Eldenbloom some time. I am a kindred though despite my presence in the castle being tolerated if I were to casually walk into a city or town it wouldn’t be unnatural at all for me to be “subjugated”.』

『So it was to make you look like a slave so you could freely slip in and out of population centres?』

Shrugging like it was no big deal she added onto her words something unexpected though.

『Well I also think it looks good on me that’s why I went for the most expensive design. Together with my maid outfit don’t you think it would trigger the more bestial side of men? You know like wanting to dominate me or something?』

After saying that last line she subtly winked at Cael from an angle Selene couldn’t see. Lowering her staff and backpack onto the ground she licked her lips in a way reminiscent of her mother as she walked towards the teenage boy with an exaggerated sway of her hips.

Standing right in front of Cael she turned giving him her back before raising any loose strands of hair from her neck.

『Go on then. “The wearer must obey any and all orders asked of them by the one who puts it on” is the contract embedded in the spell matrix of the choker.』

While her voice carried its usual monotone air the maidenly face she was making as Cael’s fingers ran over her collarbone was something only Selene who was in front of her could make out. In the princess’ humble opinion she felt Lily was getting more out of the situation than even Cael was.

Making eye contact the two girls faced off in an invisible battle men had no part involving themselves in. Silently moving her lips Lily mouthed the word “mine” with mirth filled eyes while Selene merely grit her teeth in quiet frustration.

Done putting on the collar Selene turned around none of the various expressions she showed before visible on her face.

『So what will your first order be “Master”?』

Trademark grin covering his face Cael was more than happy to share.

『I order you … to tell me what Aria said.』

『… What?』

Dumbfounded Lily couldn’t believe what she had just heard only thinking (Impossible!) over and over much to her dismay. Nevertheless her lips moved smoothly forming words uncaring of her mind’s violent protest.