POV: Aron Brightcloud

I felt a little like I had awoken from sleep. Only now did I understand how far-reaching the influence of the boy’s soul had been. In hindsight, it became much clearer why I had succumbed so easily to Sephiroth. Luckily, the parts with which I had fused from that soul-eater were only memories and no emotions. It looked like I had severely underestimated the danger of fusing with other souls!

Had I tried that on another soul, my whole being would have been changed irreversibly. But thankfully I had only fused with a part of one and the boy had been weak from the beginning.

Forcing myself to calm down, I quickly checked my inner self. My mind felt much freer now. Most of the compassion and friendliness that had smothered my rational and target oriented thinking had been ripped apart, only a minor part remained and also that had been pushed back for this occasion.

But enough of that, I needed to focus on the situation at hand. Cleaning up my mental world could wait for later. I filtered through the memories about the Ravenhorsts until I had formed a picture of the situation at hand.

They were a small noble family that lived close to our barony. They were not rich but had ambitions to gain strength. Sadly, my former self had only limited knowledge about them.

Both of us had the same title. Yet I was clearly stronger. This was my barony. I couldn’t allow them to think they could push my family around. I had concluded that a direct course of action had to be implemented.

I ignored the guards directly and spoke in the carriage's direction.

“As stipulated by our great emperor, I happily welcome you into my barony, people of Ravenhorst. Even so, I will not stand for such impudence! If you don’t teach your servants better manners, I will have to take care of it! And I tell you, I won’t be kind! In addition, I demand that you leave my servant alone! She belongs to my guard retinue.”

Hearing my threatening voice, the guards instantly realized that they had made a mistake.

Before they could decide on how to react, the door of the carriage opened and the young master of Ravenhorst stepped out.

“Greetings to you too, fellow noble, I thank you for the warm welcome.”

He was a half a head taller and much broader than me. Only his mass didn’t come from muscles, but from fat. He was the typical noble that lived a life of indulgence and sloth.

Having stepped closer to me, he nodded at me with a seemingly amiable smile.

“It is nice to meet you. I am Ambros, young master of Ravenhorst. I am terribly sorry for the incompetence of my servants, I will take care of them later.”

Hearing his words, the guards stepped back immediately. That opened the way for Sephiroth to walk back to me. I didn’t turn my head to her. I needed to portrait strength and aloofness. Showing a possible enemy a weakness was a bad idea.

“Good, then I will be assured that they won’t do something like this again. My name is Aron Brightcloud, may you want to join me for an early afternoon snack?”

Having used the stick, it was now time to give him the carrot instead. I didn’t want to worsen the relation between our two baronies without a good reason. I was still new here and had only partial knowledge of how to act in this world. Nevertheless, if he crossed my bottom line, I would act without hesitation.

Ambros let his eyes glide over Sephiroth in her tight leather outfit. I could see the lust in his eyes intensify immediately.

“Thank you for the invitation, but sadly I am on a tight schedule. On another note, I have to say I am very interested in your servant, master Aron. I will be direct. How much do you want for her? How about two thousand gold?”

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POV Sephiroth

Hearing the high number, Sephiroth felt shocked. What had she done?! It should only have been a little fun, but now that leech of a noble wanted to buy her as a sex-toy.

Had she still been in the army, that wouldn’t have been a problem, but she had become a bodyguard for Aron, now officially part of his staff. It was Aron’s right to decide if he wanted to sell her or not.

She quickly glanced in his direction, trying to gauge if he would sell her for this much money.

Aron had still his “friendly” smile on his face as she looked at him.

“I am sorry, Sephiroth is a long time guard of our family. She is not for sale.”

Ambros’s smile got a little tighter at that.

“I have to be honest with you, even though I am interested in her, she wouldn’t be working for me. No, the young lord of Redwood is accompanying me to my barony, he has taken a liking to your guard.”

The young lord of Redwood was a Marquess. He was higher in rank than Aron. Sephiroth felt her stomach cramp. The situation was spiraling out of control!

“Oh, the young Marquess has taken a liking to my guard, that is an honor for her. Even so, if she is unwilling to switch her allegiance, I can’t let her go. It is my duty as her liege to protect my servant’s interests.”

Sephiroth immediately answered,” Thank you young Lord Redwood for your interest, I am honored. But I want to remain by my master’s side.”

Following her quick answer, a silence spread throughout the square. She had refused a Marquess. Everybody was holding their breaths.

“You dare to refuse me, girl?! Know what is good for you and give in! Otherwise you will regret it! Master Brightcloud, I order you to agree to the deal!”

Sephiroth cursed Marquess Redwood in her mind. Fuck, now she was in big trouble. She had no rights compared to him. Her only chance was Aron. As a baron it was his right to protect his servants, but who would go directly against a Marquess for a measly servant. Yes, they had gotten to know each other well, and she knew that he liked her. But at the end of the day she was only a servant. She wasn’t worth to anger a Marquess.

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She couldn’t believe that everything was going down the drain. Exactly now when she had found the one person who didn’t hate her race.

And everything had been her fault.

Should she kill them and flee? She could do it, but if she did that she would become wanted, they would hunt her down. Nobody touched the nobility without repercussion!

No, first she would wait. Maybe she would be able to flee later. That way she wouldn’t implicate Aron.

He had remained silent until now, but his reply would come any second now. He would have no other choice than to agree.

“Young Marquess, I have decided. I won’t sell my servant as long as she doesn’t want to. It is my given right by the great emperor to decide to whom I will sell my servants and to whom not.” With finality, Arons voice rung through the square, silencing the area once more.

“You would anger a Marquess to protect a worthless servant?” The voice that sounded out of the carriage took on a dangerous tone.

Aron straightened and peered unblinkingly in the carriage's direction.

“Yes, I would. And I will. You don’t have the right to give orders in this regard.”

Sephiroth couldn’t believe her ears. He had stood up for her. He had chosen her over the possible retribution of a higher noble. At that moment the scene of a few days prior resurfaced in her mind. He had peered with the same iron will into her eyes and had sworn to protect her from harm as long as she stood loyally at his side. He had abided by his word.

“I will remember that! Ambros, we are going! I don’t want to stay in this shabby barony any longer!”

“Yes, young Master, we will depart immediately! Guards!”

That the whole group of guards filled in behind the carriage and they departed. Leaving her and Aron standing alone in the street.

Sephiroth looked disbelievingly at Aron.

“You stood up for me?”

He looked at her with a half smile, “I protect my people. As a noble I not only have privileges but duties as well. You give your lives into my hands and follow me willingly. It is my duty to protect and watch over you as your master, regardless of how much of a pain in the ass you can be. Now come, we should go back home. I have to talk to my mother.”

With that he turned, walking back towards Brightcloud manor.

Sephiroth watched his back as he slowly trotted home. It somehow appeared much broader.

He had protected her. He had stood up for her even though he knew that he would make a powerful enemy because of that. Sephiroth suddenly felt warm in her heart.

It was right that nobles had the duty to protect their entourage theoretically, but nowadays nobody cared about that detail anymore. It was funny, the one person who didn’t think himself a noble, lived the appertaining traits much stronger than the real nobles! Without her realizing, she started to look at him differently.

Sephiroth quickly closed the distance, following her master home.

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POV Aron Brightcloud

“You did what?!”

My mother looked at me incredulously. I had told her the complete story about the young Marquess of Redwood.

She took a deep breath to calm herself and studied the situation from an analytical point of view. She slowly shook her head.

“Son, I am not sure if I should be proud of you or hit you on the head. From the standpoint of a noble you had the right and the duty to protect your servant, but you have made us a powerful enemy. If the young lord of Redwood is like his father, he will be vindictive and sly. We have to prepare for a lot of trouble coming our way. I want you to pay even more attention while outside of the manor from now on.”

Having said that, she turned herself to Sephiroth.

“And you, Sephiroth. I hope you understand the significance of Aron’s action in protecting you. I expect nothing but your full attention while on duty and when you teach him, is that clear?”

“Yes, Mistress, I will do everything in my power to keep young master Aron safe!”

Sephiroth bowed in acknowledgment.

“Good, now go you two troublemakers. I have to write to your father.”

We walked out of the room. That went better than I had thought it would.

I turned to Sephiroth. Knowing her behavioral patterns from the last weeks, I was sure that she had had her hands in this whole cluster-fuck somewhere.

“Do I even want to know what you did? No, don’t try to deny it! I know you better than that.”

She looked so pitiful. Yet this time it didn’t matter. My old thought processes had recovered to a certain degree. It was liberating to have full control over myself. Only now could I understand how much of an emotional impact the boy’s soul had on me. I had been weak. But that had come to an end, I was back. Logic and strategy reigned supreme, at least to a certain degree.

A part of me had considered selling her to the marquess. It would have made everything much easier. But in the end, I didn’t do it. Leaving out all her kinks and problems, she had helped me and had improved my life. Sephiroth had earned my protection.

Nevertheless, a clear word of reproach was needed. I had time to think of my and her actions during the way back to the manor. I realized that I had made a mistake as well. I was the young master of this family, nobility. With that came a certain requirement in attitude. Until now, I had clung to my old views. That was a mistake. One day I would be the baron of these lands, or more. I couldn’t stay my old self. It was time to own up to the mantle that hung around my shoulders and act like the young future baron I was. She had hurt this family with her actions. The real repercussions were still unclear. It was time to show her my darker side.

“I am really sorry, I didn’t know they were part of the baron’s forces, I only wanted to make your life a little more interesting.”

I already could think what had happened. It didn’t matter what she had done exactly. I looked into her eyes and spoke in a deceptively quiet tone.

“Enriching my life is one thing, but doing it at the possible risk of hurting my family is unacceptable. I expected more of you. You know my baseline. Do not hurt my family.” I stepped closer to her. Lifting my hand, I caressed her cheek lightly.

“As I said before, I protect my own and give a lot of freedom. That includes you as long as you serve me. But do not make the mistake of thinking that I am weak. You hurt this family and I will punish you. Now you might be stronger than me, but that won’t always be the case. Does the need arise, I will find a way to discipline you, if necessary, also with blood.”

My hand tenderly moved down her check until it laid around her neck. The pressure slowly mounting. Not yet fully chocking her, but being uncomfortable to bear.

“I have always been lenient on you, giving you freedom that a normal servant shouldn’t posses nor deserve. I enjoy your shenanigans, but be completely certain, all this things can be taken from you. You have this because I will it so. I might look to you like a kind master, but know I can and will be different if the situations requires. So don’t overstretch my patience. Never ever do something like this again. Is that clear?”

I released my hold on her neck and stepped back.

During my speech Sephiroth’s face had turned to a rosy one, the blood not having any way to drain. Her eyes had also changed, having gotten a certain glossy sheen to it.

She quickly nodded her head, “Yes, I won’t do that ever again.”

I sighted and waved her away, ”Go you walking disaster, I have to study now.”

Finished with her, I walked to the couch and seated myself. I needed to prepare.

Following my order, she walked away. Suddenly Sephiroth turned and closed the distance between us. Not giving me any time to react, she jumped onto my lap and gripped my head with both hands. What?! What was her intention- Her lips pressed against mine. Forcefully invading my mouth.

I lost it for a moment. It felt like fireworks exploded in my head. Her lips were so smooth and warm, I felt a heat rising in my body. My arms automatically went around her slim waist. I needed-

Sephiroth stopped the kiss and moved back, leaving one of her hands caressing my cheek and the other on the back of my head. She gazed deeply into my eyes “Thank you Aron. No, my young master. I won’t ever forget this, I will never let something like this happen again. I promise!”

Finished, she slunk out of my arms and vanished out the door, leaving myself to tend to my little meltdown.