Currently at the guest room of the Nerus house, forced to stay by Ciallana with no way of excusing himself to leave. He still remembers how helpless he was towards her after making so much excuse and still got force to stay.
Brooding myself at balcony under the moonless skies unable to separate from it. I regain bit of my calmness after a maid had inform that someone wishes to meet him, a girl around of his age appeared beside the door with a radiating blissful face while wearing a emerald-colored dress.
I, who still have not yet met all the Nerus household, guesses that this person right in front of me might be my fiancée, and willingly to be my bride with no regards of her personal feelings.
“Good Evening, I am Angelina Qiunzheal, cousin of your Fiancee.”
As I glazed a look of her face carefully, I immediately remembered that I’ve met this girl a week before paying a visit to the Nerus family for the first time, the girl who got helplessly trapped amongst the crowded busy marketplace and were separated from her group.
So right now she had an expression of both anxiousness and gleefulness of meeting me. Though it’s a problem if she remains unmoving from where she stands, the maid already had left a minute ago so I had to break the ice.
“Zenlocke Rudlith. Be at ease Lina, I haven’t forgotten you.”
I showed a tender smile after introducing myself once more and calling out her name.
“Sir Zenlocke, I’m bliss that you haven’t forgotten me. Let me thank you once more for helping me back then.”
My plan to make her calm was a success.
Although the person whom I expect to come to introduce of herself weren’t my fiancée but her cousin who took the role of meeting me, substituting for her cousin to meet the person of interest is also rude for that person.
“I didn’t expect that you were related to this family, a noble family in fact. I thought that you were on a trip with your family back then but actually hiding your identity as a commoner.”
“Uuu… I don’t want to remember what happened that day. Vivian really gave me an earful of sermon that day.”
This girl’s word gave of a suspicious feeling, she might be smiling alike an angel but her grinning is like a devil.
“I believe you, but I just want to clarify something… did you REALLY reflect of what you had done?”
“Yes, I REALLY reflected on it.”
“REALLY?”
“REALLY…”
“REALLY, REALLY reflect on what you did?”
“REALLY, REALLY, REALLY reflected on it… Mmm, maybe a little bit…”
This girl showed a smile with a hint of mischievousness, the corner of her smile had a twisted crookedness along with it. –Although I too had a personality of mischievousness and were almost showed a crooked smile myself but I somehow suppress it from happening.
“Oh, so you got pardon of your deeds. Eh… Oh, VIVIAN!”
I called to her attendant, who was waiting outside, and gave Lina a mischievous smile after she looked at me after call. Immediately Lina went to block Vivian’s view from seeing me and tried to make a silly excuse.
“Vivian, please bring us some tea. It seems that Sir Zenlocke is pouch from our long talk.”
“—One more thing…”
“Please wait for me once you had left the tray inside, thank you.”
Vivian left to fulfill her mistress’s command and went to fetch us some tea to drink while it was doubled to prevent Vivian from listening to what I was about to say. Lina, who is at the door, leers towards me as her face were pouting.
“I would hate you if you tell on me…”
“Seems that you had learned your lesson.”
The night continues gleefully with us chatting before we went to sleep, although it was fun while it last I still haven’t met the person whom I got forced to marry.
The next morning, I looked for Ciallana to say my farewell before leaving unannounced but couldn’t find her anywhere and later was told that she had left, Dinfar also couldn’t be found anywhere since yesterday and still haven’t made his appearance. So I left and was given a ride back home using their carriage.
§ § §
It became chaotic when he told of the discussion of having forcefully arranged a fiancée for him by the first candidate of the Nerus house, Ciallana Tressa Nerus.
Everyone was shocked of the news of what I had told to them excluding Sybil who knew of the contents of the discussion, it seems that she still haven't announced the news and had me announce it myself.
Zyneste weren’t happy of the news and felt insulted of the other side’s action at that time, not showing her face to her future husband is surely rude but it took some time for her to calmed down to listen further of her circumstances. Although she calmed down, she still hasn’t accepted him getting engaged to someone.
Lynessa weren’t against him getting engage in such a young age but a bit worried that his fiancée might not be capable of taking care of Zenlocke, Sheila thought about it as well.
If it's about getting engaged, I already experienced it from my past life and neither of us had no special feeling to each other, only to strengthen the bonds between the two family businesses.
At the end of the day, the best thing we could do is to see how it would turn out and decide whether to accept the engagement or not. And with all that, the final decision is decided by me.
Because of this turn of events, we somehow had gotten ourselves a connection with the Nerus family.
The following day weren't any special but neither normal, at the border between the forests, where the magical creatures roamed freely, reported that the magical creatures were acting strangely and would attack outside of their territory.
Normally they would only attack if or when their territory where been trespassed by humans but wouldn't attack outside of their own, so the security near the village became wary of the forest and had all combat capable to help guard the border till the problem were to be resolved.
But the matter had turned to worst after news of the group of three men never returned after they were to investigate the reason what is making the magical creatures acted strangely.
And every now and then, magical creatures began to attack occasionally. Many news of the villages that surrounded the forest has been reporting that many of their people went missing after this had happened and it gradually began to pile up.
The Captain of the guards, Mr. Anderson, came to our house to inform us to be vigilant whenever we are close to the forest and be watchful of the surrounding area.
".... It's because your house is too close to the forest, I advise you to be on a watchful eyes out for magical creatures. They've becoming more dangerous day by day and might would attack any time sooner, so you must protect your family in your father's stead."
It is true that their house is much closer than the other neighborhood and he already had seen how frightening they could be when it comes to a large group of magical creatures, but with his ability with his sister is capable enough to repel the large group on their own.
After saying all those he needed to say, he left the house back to guard tower where he is posted at this time. Everyone knew of the history of Mr. Anderson as an adventurer before he retired to marry his wife, and knew that he is a B-ranked Adventurer but the danger of fighting a number of enemies isn't a big joke.
A week has passed since they were warned, the forest became more quiet all of a sudden and the sighting of magical creatures became less and less, it's been three days since then and there was still no report of a villagers went missing but the people near the forest became more anxious of any beast might attack at night.
Although the danger has calmed down, the securities were kept on high alert at all times. We've hired some Adventurers to investigate the forest but they reported that there's no "out of the ordinary” and there were only few D-ranked magical creatures and other more below it, it was a shock to us that there were only fewer D-rank outnumbered by the lower ranked magical creatures.
It felt like the numbers of powerful C-ranked magical creatures were just a figure of imagination, or maybe an effect of killing the magical creatures that Zenlocke had killed were maybe their Boss or something.
And time pass and the village turned to their daily lifestyle like always but didn't lax on the security since then. More guard were also employed by the village heads to prevent any dangerous incidents may accord.
§ § §
"--Zenlocke, I challenge you to another duel..."
Dinfar once again kept challenging me to a duel after he had returned, the reason why he didn't appeared in a month since I got engaged was because he was on a strict training to surpass me of my skills. And when he heard the news of me getting engaged made him force to stop his training and defeat me to annulled the engagement, and up till now he got himself whoop by me.
But this time the condition were different, rather than nullify the engagement he set the condition of have me not attend the party that I been exclusively invited in, and he was really desperate in defeating me even with the use of dirty tricks to prevent me from winning.
"Hah... hah, hah... Hah..."
"Just give it up will 'ya... You already use all your tricks, and here you are dead in exhaustion."
The fight had already ended with 6 rounds in Dinfar's defeat and totalled of with all the recent dual.
A score of 47-0.
His stubbornness never know it's limits, clearly he knew that he had a huge disadvantage even with me using almost half of my ability and still losses ever match we took. I already had enough of his stubbornness and it would most likely get himself in trouble by it.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.
Watching him stood up staggeringly made me feel like a Bad guy that kept bullying him.
Sooner than later, a servant of theirs came just in time to escort him back to their mansion after I apply a healing magic for him to be presentable for tonight’s party.
We, me and Zyneste, came tonight’s party on a presentable suit that were provided by Olivia, wife of the current head of the Nerus House, including the invitation that were handed of over by Bein.
Both of us were the center of attention at the party for our appearance looked marvelous, although we’re the only one who’s different from everyone else in the party because we are neither a human nor an elf, but a hybrid if both.
Human and Magic race(Dwarven, Elven, Wildia, Orcen, Hobbits) had never been in a friendly nor hostile relationship with one another, because most of the Humans sees the Magic Races as a Demon, a Diablo, that had been terrorising them 200 years ago before the great war.
Regardless of our mixed blood, we're still have an elf's blood run stronger in our vain which is still part of a Magic race. And Elven races had never been in a good relationship with the humans and only few among them elves had kept neutral to those human, and we are among them.
Suddenly a familiar face suddenly appears before us, it was Olivia alongside with her daughter, Ciallana, who looked gorgeous on her dress. At a few distant from them was Dinfar entertaining the guest that surrounds him.
"I am glad you had accepted my invitation, I'm beginning to wonder if you arrive later."
"I apologize for worrying you."
"Oh, it's alright. At least you are here... I wanted to introduce to you your fiancée but she is not here because of the family tradition, so please understand."
"I see, after being forced to be engaged and--"
"Please don't mind my sister, she not like this all the time."
I apologize to Olivia after I interrupt Zyneste's complaints. But it seems that she weren't offended by what my sister had said and instead asked forgiveness from not explaining after it was announced to me.
"I am very sorry if we were rude, it was our fault for not telling about our family tradition. But please understand, even I couldn't break this longed tradition."
"Please don't, I understand completely. So there is no need for you to ask forgiveness, and I know there's a rational reason why it was made to be a traditional thing."
Olivia gave mediocre expression before taking a leave to greet the other guests that had arrived just now and only leaving Ciallana to continue the conversation.
"I am Ciallana Tressa Nerus, please to meet you Zyneste. I'm sorry if I took away your brother from you, but please understand this is a benefit for both parties."
It's true that this marriage would benefit both the Nerus and the Rudlith family, an advance investment for the future events. Although its what it looked like from the third-party but in truth they only wanted to invest only to my abilities while we're not tied to something.
I may still cancel the engagement, no I could cancel the engagement. But, I don't wish to right now. –So I gave a certain smile to Zyneste where she is the only one who knows what it means.
"I'm very sorry that I showed you something unpleasant, if we had knowledge of your tradition this wouldn't have happened... Please forgive me for my rudeness that I've shown."
"You're quite a modest young girl, I know you'll be a good friend to my little sister... Please take care of her, Zyneste."
It seems that they are somehow getting along nicely, at first I thought that Zyneste wouldn't try to associate closely with the Nerus family but it seems that I was mistaken.
The other fellow guests slowly tried to initiate a conversation with us and the chain reaction from the other join in to chat, mostly about the rumors about me and my achievements. Most of the rumours they heard were been exaggerated quite a bit and the other were fictional stories, even after I corrected their misunderstanding they became even more amazed about it.
I am very knowledgeable on how to turn the tide of the conversation to my favor but because on their eyes I'm but a mere child, I could only gather limited info such as what the capital is like and other stuffs that kids like me should know.
I can't even find myself a reliable ally because of my appearance and occasionally dodge my question about it and would change the subject matter quickly.
"Seems you're having quite a complicated conversation this evening, mind if you take this girl's hand for a dance?"
Lina who came out of nowhere, interrupts the conversation and asked of me for a dance.
Although she weren't being rude, but still weren't polite either as well. She might just want me to not get involved in any sort of political matters or maybe stop me from being overly socialize with the adults, either way I excuse myself and took her hand for a dance.
The dance in this world weren't any different from the previous life, so both of us were the center of attraction and everyone were able to follow my rhythm. Even Lina weren't having a hard time following my steps.
"You're surprisingly light on your feet, Lina."
"Hmph... I am not that easy to defeat with your unique moves."
To the audiences, dancing is nothing but socializing and flattery. But to the dancers, rhythms and moves are attack patterns to their partner and the person who leads the dance is the winner of the attraction.
So the two of us were in the middle of the battle, equally both good in rhythm and dance move.
Now that we're about to reach the ending of the song, both tried hard to gasp the opportunity at hand.
In that instant the partner suddenly lagged the movement of the body, opening up an opportunity to the takings.
The person who lagged out was Zenlocke.
"Looks like I've won the dance."
Zenlocke facial expression hasn’t changed from him losing, but somehow he showed a slyfulness from the sudden change of his rhythm.
"Certainly, you're the one who grabbed hold of the timing... But the dance haven't done yet, let me show how it's done."
Zenlocke was able to pull Lina to his trap and finally show majestic move which had captivated the crowds, a loud round of applause were heard even across another room.
Lina had already accepted her defeat as soon as she realizes that she was lured into a trap in the end, and even if she was able get free from this invisible trap, Zenlocke would change his pace and his rhythm.
The applause continued for a minute before the next song could start.
"What a wonderful performance you had granted us today, I never expect to see such a unique dancing in all my life. It's seems my image of you fit perfectly."
"May I ask, what sorts of images were those?"
It was Ciallana who just came out of the group of crowdes and walked towards us as she said those words. She kept quiet and made a teasing smile, which I had seen when she first introduced herself to me.
Zyneste also appeared behind Ciallana, elegantly walks towards my sides.
"You were marvelous out there, Dear Brother. I am so proud to be your sister... If I may ask, who might she be?"
"Let me introduce, Angelina Quinzheal, a cousin and representing of my fiance."
"I became acquaintance of Sir Zenlocke before he got engaged with my cousin. But this is the first time I met this person's lovely sister, it’s like I had been smitten by your beauty."
"Please, don't flatter me so much. It's kinda embarrassing."
Lina in an instant became an acquainted of my sister.
She may be small, but her ways with people are largely different from other. Getting close with Zyneste isn't an easy as it may seem, but to get her on the good side... Not bad.
It was a good night and the party weren't haft bad at all, I even saw Dinfar dancing with my sister and he wasn't the one whose leading the dance at all. But, surprisingly he didn't even made fuss about it and just happily chatting with her.
The crowds that kept bothering were taken care of by Ciallana, though I wasn't completely bothered by it but still I was thankful about it.
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Ah... Finally.. It's all done, now... I can finally rest....
(/ω＼)
Reminder:
-Update for new chapters may take time for now on.
-Pattern in naming will begin to change to Japanese Style. (Example: Teacher Thison - Thison-sensie, Master Makoto - Makoto-sama)
In the next chapter.
Spoiler :
Chapter 06: Thidolom Academy
"--we finally arrived."
...
"--please pay more attention those around you."
...
Two figures began clashing inside of the dinning room...
...
"I am sorry for the late introduction, I am..."
...
"This got to be a joke, right?"
This is just for today and I won't do this to the other next chapter. Ehehehe... Sorry, can't resist the temptation.
(๑´ڡ`๑)♡
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