Chapter Forty: Welcome to Central.
1510 Words
“Do you swear to wholly and utterly dedicate your loyalty and sword to the Emperor and the crown?”
“I do.”
“Then, as the supreme authority in the Empire, aside from the gods, I bestow upon you the title of Countess. Henceforth, you shall be known as the Countess of the island of Clay. You will be its highest authority.”
‘Huh? Clay?’
‘Are you kidding me?’
“Do you accept?”
The Emperor quizzed as he lifted his sword, ready to anoint me in the position.
“I do.”
‘F*ck!’
‘Clay?’
The Emperor tapped his sword on both my shoulders, and everyone in the room clapped.
*DING!*
‘Huh?’
‘The system?’
{Achievement accomplished!}
{Host’s new title: Ruler of Clay}
{Stats: +20 Power, +30 charisma, +150 Status}
{Reward: Save game privilege.}
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“f**k!”
Were the first words out of my mouth as soon as I reached the privacy of the front gardens, where Kat and Breca decided to rest for reasons unknown to me rather than watch the ceremony.
“Why, what happened?”
Breca questioned, lowering the newspaper in hand.
“They gave me Clay.”
“Ohh…”
Both responded simultaneously.
“Well…look at the bright side, maybe you can finally….”
Breca moved her finger swiftly across her neck.
“I’m thinking about you, about both of you.”
“We can handle it.”
Kat said, clenching her fists in a show of determination.
“I guess I’ll just take up smoking again.”
“Har har!” I mocked Breca’s response, “Oh! Before I forget, the syste-.”
There was a low shuffling noise in the grass, so I halted my words.
Finally, as though sensing I would say no more, the culprit of the noise emerged to view as they cleared their throat.
I turned to face them.
‘Étienne?’
“I greet his highness the fo-,”
“After all this time, you still will not address me by my name. Am I not human before I am prince?”
“As your subject, you are noble before we are equal.”
He looked breathtaking.
His silver-white hair was longer, his eyes sharper and perhaps significantly colder.
So much so that I near shivered under his gaze.
‘Jeez, what the hell happened in the four years I was away?’
“Haha! You haven’t changed a bit.”
“You, on the contrary, have developed the frown lines of a true leader.”
“Is that a compliment?”
“It is.”
“Then I shall take it as such.”
Étienne turned to the two knights behind him.
“These are Sir Steve and Sir Gus; I would like to offer them to your companions for the day.”
“Why would your highness feel inclined to do so?”
“Because I would like to give the countess the long-delayed tour of the imperial gardens. Surely you will not deny me a second time.”
‘Aha…’
“Are you not going to ask my schedule beforehand?”
“We will be brief.”
Will he make me reject him twice?
Still, he has already met the female lead; there should not be an issue.
Plus, I am curious as to whether we can hold a proper conversation.
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“Congratulations, by the way. I suppose I may have you learn how to address you as Countess Alpensa.”
“Evergreen, Countess Evergreen, but ‘lady’ is fine, really…hardly any different than before.”
“It suits you better.”
“The name or title?”
“What do you think?”
“Hmm, that’s no fun. Why not tell me?”
“Is my opinion greater than your own?”
‘Well…alrighty then!’
‘I’d better say my gratitude, then change the conversation.’
“Oh..uh, thank you, your highness. Uhm...You as well, congratulations on your engagement.”
A civil conversation.
We are both grown-ups now, so we should at least-
“What?”
‘Huh?’
Was I not supposed to mention the engagement?
“Co-congratulations, you are engaged now, are you not?”
“I- I didn’t think that you would-,”
“Have access to the newspapers?”
I teased.
“No, that you would congratulate me.”
‘What?’
It was my turn to still.
The warm afternoon breeze billowed the loose tendrils of my tied up hair.
Only my dress stayed in place, but that might be because it was a size too small.
Is it really a coincidence that most of the boutiques did not have a white dress in my size?
‘I am probably just being paranoid.’
“Uhm…sorry? Why would I not congratulate you on your engagement?”
“Because of the way we left things.”
I turned my gaze behind us.
There were no leering eyes or even a person nearby.
Why would he say something so misleading when there was no audience to pander to?
“The way we left things?”
“Yes, we left matters poorly the last time we spoke. You disappeared before we could clarify matters.”
I should brush this off.
“Hah! The last time we spoke, we both came in tow with our issues; you are taller and more mature now, I am the same. Do you not see that my face has grown less pudgy?”
Étienne smiled.
“You were never pudgy, just beautiful.”
Something…something is off.
“Back then, I was to marry the viscount, and you and Regina were to start…was it an orphanage?”
“A clinic.”
“Right! A clinic, my point is, we are different people now.”
“Do you believe so?”
“Y-yes.”
This conversation isn’t going anywhere.
“H-how is it going, the clinic?”
The sound of rushing water filled my ears.
Were we perhaps nearing a fountain?
“Regina is the one in charge of the project. I think she is doing quite well. It was a revolutionary idea.”
‘Was?’
The path lead to a large fountain harbouring two birds bathing themselves in its waters.
One was chubby with blue feathers, while the other had a black mohawk, but its body’s feathers were yellow.
The plants in the vicinity were calm.
Daisies, posies, peonies, carnations…all manner of beautiful and vibrant flowers decorated the area.
I felt the growing need to shut my eyes and escape reality by losing myself in their atmosphere.
Indeed, the imperial gardens are magical.
If only my companion were different.
“We plan to invite an expert to …work with her. Perhaps, they will help us see where the mild hiccups lie.”
“Why not perform a survey?”
‘Sh*t!’
I lost myself too deeply in the atmosphere.’
Still, why does he keep pushing the project on to Regina?
“A survey…” he repeated, then rubbed his chin.
“It’s…it’s just an idea.”
Well, whatever…it should be fine.
“Hah! Gods, but I really missed you.”
‘What the hell?’
“Listen,”
He powered through as though he said nothing out of the ordinary.
“I wish to invite you to the party.”
“Party?”
“Yes.”
Which par-
‘Wait! Seriously?’
“Your engagement party?”
“Which other?”
He smiled.
Where fathe-, I mean the marquis will be?
“Wait, is your fiancée okay with you inviting me?”
“Surely, you are sisters. If you do not come to show support when all know you are in town, will that not reflect poorly on her?”
‘..I don’t care, though.’
“Plus,” He added. “You are one of the few I have invited personally.”
‘One of the few…huh?’
I stared at the letter he pulled from the coat of his jacket.
‘This…was planned.’
A laugh nearly escaped me.
He had changed thoroughly.
Étienne was no longer the clumsy, proud and predictable boy I left behind.
Or is this happening because leaving the capital dulled my claws and lowered my guard?
“You will come, won't you?”
“That, your highness, is not a good-,”
“You will not make me ask you twice, will you? Even after I took the trouble to ensure your friends had skilled escorts for the journey to their stay?”
‘Psycho...’
I guess we are switching hotels now.
“Fine.” I took the sealed invite from him, “but let me make this clear. My coming does not mean I support your campaign.”
The cold smile he wore turned into an ugly frown that mussed his beautiful face; however, this was only briefly as the fake smile returned.
“You do not support me?”
“I have a right to choose who I support. Will this be a problem?”
His smile grew a little too broad.
“None. None at all.”
- Writer
