Chapter 91: The Judgement of Solomon
More and more people came, congratulating, commending and complimenting me; This continued for another hour, until Raya pulled me away.
"I can't stand this, let's leave to somewhere else," she said and pushed through the crowd. The people, though reluctant, made way for us to go through.
"Why are we leaving," I asked Raya, in my hand another glass of wine. I had been raising my glass in honor the whole evening, since after the king left, I naturally was thrown into the limelight. I felt a little tipsy, but nothing that I could not handle. Still, was it all right for a 15 year old to drink this much?
Raya looked at me and sulked. "But aren't you mad?"
"Mad about what?"
"The whole time, when you had nothing these people admonished you. Now that you gained status, everyone suddenly flocks to you pretending to like you."
"You always say it yourself, isn't it what it's all about? Status. That is all it takes to seperate a commoner from nobility."
"No! I told you, it's always been about blood for me. My relationships, my perception and my magic. Those people just want you for your name. It's different."
"Hoh," I marveled at her statement, "I didn't know that."
"You didn't know, or you didn't care to know?"
I grabbed Rayas collar and pulled her face to mine. Our foreheads pressed against each other, and I smiled for her. "What do you think?"
Her cheeks reddened (was it the alcohol, I wonder) as she meekly looked at the ground. "Okay." She then shyly coiled her arms around my neck.
I grabbed her head. "Aren't you weirdly submissive today?"
"A-ah, ha," she stuttered, "I just thought maybe you aren't half bad to be with." She placed her chin on my shoulder. Oh, how I wished to see the expression she was making right now.
Suddenly, I felt her embrace leaving me. From her surprised twitch and afterward the puzzlement on her face, I understood that her action was not a voluntary one.
"Off ya' go," I heard Vera say, and then I saw her yanking Raya further away.
"Hey, you bitch, what are you doing? Let me go," Raya shouted loudly, but turned quieter when she realized how much attention she gathered.
Vera took the chance to stand between us, harrumphed and stared at Raya coldly. She hugged me and asked in a sweet voice, "Agnes, has the witch hurt you anywhere?"
"The hell's your problem, lady," Raya hissed.
"Hmph, the world may forgive you, but I won't. Don't think I haven't forgotten how you treated her in the mansion." Vera glared at her.
"This—" Raya shrank back. "Leave that for me and her to solve!"
"And watch you treat her like trash? No thanks," Vera rebutted and gently placed her hands on my cheeks. "The past few days must have been tough, traveling with that oppressive woman, but am here for you now."
"Thanks," I said and patted her head.
"Ah~ so cute!" She rubbed her face on mine. "Since you left your family, why don't you join mine? I will make sure to pamper you everyday."
"I'd love to, but I have to feeling I don't have enough energy to keep up with you."
Raya was quick to jump between us. "Who'd want to join your household? Obviously, as an Archduke, Agnes has higher goals. We will climb that ladder together and make our own family, something you can't do."
I had a feeling that she had just said something outrageous, but who was I to rebut her.
"Ugh." Vera bit her nail. "Who cares about that? Agnes, let's go meet my family." She pulled my left arm.
Raya reciprocated by pulling my right arm. "No, Agnes will stay by my side—." She pulled harder. "—forever," she whispered silently.
"You're mumbling some scary stuff over here," I interjected.
The two soon started a tug of war, with me as the rope. I felt like a small little radish, being pulled out the comfortable dirt. "You guys, according to the 'Judgement of Ooka', the first one to let go wins," I couldn't help comment, though they didn't listen. They held me tightly, squeezing my thin arms until red, neither of them relenting. Affection really was painful.
"Let go!"
"Get lost, I came here first!"
Maybe God decided to spare me of this medieval torture rack, as someone interrupted Vera by calling her name out.
She turned her head and searched for the voice. By doing so, she let my arm go, causing inertia to fling me on Raya, and Raya on the ground.
We all looked at the person, a youthful man, with long brown hair, tied together and fastened with a pin. "Vera, what are you doing here, mother is has been searching for you all this time."
"Oh, big brother." She waved her hands then pointed at me. "You come at just the right time. Here, this is the girl I have told you all about, Agnes Maria."
The man squinted his eyes, to ascertain who I am, and right after, they shot open. "Wait, isn't that the new Archduke of Humility?" He hurriedly bowed down, while giving me the occasional glance. He had puzzlement written all over his face.
"There's no need for excessive courtesy," I told him and smiled gently.
"You heard her," Vera added, "she doesn't care about these fickle things like etiquette, so quickly get up. You're embarrassing me."
The man, urged by me and Vera, stood up again, but he did not lose his nervousness. "I'm honored to have met you, my name is Oliver Clerebald, the second son of Duke Clerebald. I am also Veras' big brother," he paused, "pardon me, I am unsure of how I should refer to you."
"Agnes is fine."
"Lady Agnes it is then." He nodded slightly.
Seeing his stiff movements, I inadvertently laughed out. "Am I so scary?"
"No, no, not at all," Oliver said, and frantically shook his head, "it is only I have never talked to an Archduke before. Now, to have a to talk with one, I am filled with nervousness."
Vera rolled her eyes, hearing what he said.
"Hmm, I still struggle to see the importance of this title, so I don't mind if you talk casually with me. All these people before did so too."
"No, I would not dare! That previous flock are just the group of ignorant fools. They hope for quick success, all shameless people. Trust me, after they are gone, you won't find many like them, since most people possess a bit of self-respect. Just look around, all these nervous and expectant gazes, that is the power of an Archduke, my lady." He waved his hands around, encouraging me to look around, and certainly, countless eyes were glued tightly on me, analyzing my every move. Every time my gaze connected with another one, they shied away, talking ardently with their peers.
"She looked at me!"
"Our eyes met, is she not beautiful?"
"Oh what I would do to invite her for a cup of tea."
The relentless chatter resounded through the halls.
"Your reputation seems to precede you," Raya added.
"That's pretty weird." I felt like I had suddenly turned into a celebrity, a rather novel feeling. Even in my previous life, the only fame I had was infamy. However, not a bad feeling, I had to admit.
"Nope, that's normal, you are the weird one," said Vera, "Anyways, brother, what do you want? As you can see, we are pretty busy here."
"Ah that's right, I almost forgot." He then grabbed Veras' ear and with a stern tone, said, "You've spend all this time at another household, and now that we finally meet again, you keep running away. You should have seen the look on mothers face. It was like she had lost all hope in you."
"Ouch, ouch, don't pull so hard idiot," she grabbed his hands and scowled, "damn it, you are embarrassing me in front of my friends! If you don't let go I will never forgive you!"
"Enough, why are you so childish. Spend time with your family once in a while, or I fear that you might forget the name of your household."
"I hate you! I hate you!" She fought her brother. "Nobody there looks good, I don't want to hang out with these people."
Her brother, Oliver, only sighed.
"Ah, I know, Agnes come with me," Vera said and stretched her hand out.
However, as she was about to touch me, Raya came and swatted her hand away. "Come on, it's family time, no outsiders allowed," she gloated and stuck her tongue out. "Bleh."
Veras face turned black and pale alike, she glared at Raya in pure, unadulterated hatred. "Agnes, Agnes!"
I waved my hand. "If one of your hatreds consist of only having to meet your family, you live a relatively good life. You should enjoy it."
Due to my words, she lost all her strength and turned limp.
"See, I always told you, and even Lady Agnes agrees, but you still keep complaining, you problemless girl."
Her eyebrow suddenly shot up. "Do not dare call me that!"
I tilted my head. "Problemless girl?"
Vera quickly interjected, "Nothing, nothing at a—"
"Oh, that's just a nickname. Problemless girl, lady with no problems, that is what we call her, because for some reason, even though she has the least problems in life, she complains the most."
"Pfft, that's funny," I chuckled, "Problemless girl."
"Ah, you said said it, you really said it," Vera screamed, "even if it's you Agnes, I will get mad if you call me that."
"Was that your final line? Let's go then." Her brother dragged her away, vanishing in the crowds. I could only hear her faintly crying my name until her voice faded away too.
"She's finally gone." Raya wiped the sweat of her forehead and smiled, satisfied. Why was she pretending to have worked hard?
"I do wish the two of you could get along."
She immediately shook her head. "Impossible. Not even if hell froze over."
"Why?"
"There are several reasons, but most of all, I just don't like her attitude. There's no one I currently detest more than her," she abruptly stopped, "oh wait, there's someone."
"Who?"
"That one maid, what was her name again? Celestia? Yes, I like her even less."
I felt my eye twitching when she said that. "You seem to hate all my friends."
"Pure coincidence," she assured me.
I stared at her in suspicion. I thought about making her elaborate, but since she didn't explain, I didn't insist.
"Uhm, excuse me," another voice soon appeared.
Raya and I simultaneously turned our head to see who was speaking, and in my eyes, several men appeared. They were all tall and well built, further emphasized by their form-fitting clothes. they smiled softly.
"Oh, some more people that want to talk with you," Raya said and brushed them off.
I naturally stepped forward and gave my greetings.
The group bowed down in reverence and sang the usual praise, but soon they stopped talking and only stood in place, turning the conversation to a standstill. They looked at each other and whispered: "Say it,"; "No, you say it,"; "You promised to do it,"; "coward, can't even keep promises, how will you keep the dame?"
"Uhm, can I help you?"
The men stiffened. "I apologize for our rude behavior. Actually, we hoped to talk with the lady at your side."
"Huh, me," Raya blurted out, stunned, "why?"
"It was love at first sight. Ever since I saw you, I knew you would be the lady I wish to die with," one male said.
Another soon followed, "Your beautiful eyes enchanted me, and I couldn't help imagine my reflection in them."
"I brought you a bitter wine, to accompany the sweetness of yours," said a younger one and handed out a glass.
No one wished to be outdone, and gushed out their compliments.
"Your hair, your luscious hair, it was your hair."
"I fell for your beautiful lips, and could not bear imagine them with someone else."
Raya, overwhelmed by the many professions, looked at me for help.
I pushed her forward and gave her a thumbs up. "Go for it. Spread your pheromones."
"You—" She glared at me, but before she could complain, she was led away, and just like Vera, she disappeared, only her voice as she called my name rang out silently.
"Great, finally alone. Let's get something to eat, shall we?"
"Yᴏᴜ ᴀʀᴇ ᴏᴜᴛʀᴀɢᴇᴏᴜs."
Chapter 92: A Pure Girl
What greater joy was there, than eating without any care?
Ever since I entered this place, my eyes fell on the buffet in the hall. Though most of the desserts were probably too sweet for me, there were still many pastries (puff pastry, flaky pastry, choux pastry—ah! Without eating, my eyes had already feasted) on the table I could taste.
Since Vera and Raya were currently occupied, and nobody started a conversation with me, I could leisurely comb through the snacks.
I took what caught my eyes the most, a caramelized crêpe, something that looked like an eclair, a bowl full of croquembouche—and my favorite—a big slice of cherry pie.
"Dᴏɴ'ᴛ ᴄʜᴏᴋᴇ," Agnes advised me sarcastically.
I stuffed my face with the many pastries, and indeed, were it not for the wine, I might have choked. My cheeks swelled up, and I felt like a chipmunk collecting various nuts for the coming winter. Chewing the dry, flaky pastry was hard, but the taste of sweetness made it bearable. As no one else stood at the buffet, I could work my way through without any care.
"Umph," I coughed, and hit my chest. I felt the lump in my throat and chewed vigorously, before swallowing down. "I might have gone too fast," i said, after gulping some fresh air.
"I ᴛᴏʟᴅ ʏᴏᴜ sᴏ."
"Can't say you did." I innocuously tilted my head. Agnes in response rolled her eyes.
I continued my quest for food.
The next moment, at the opposite side of the table, I saw a small shadow peeking through. I could only the top of that persons head, as a big sugar statue (or maybe it was salt, I didn't care to find out) had skillfully hidden her.
The person jumped up, and I saw it was a little girl, red-haired, and wearing a dress too big and too extravagant for a a child barely reaching the height of the buffet table. The girl seemed to be looking for something. She vigilantly looked around, to see if any eyes were on her. Fortunately, no one—except for me, but what she didn't know won't hurt her—seemed to pay her any attention. She turned her head once more, just to be extra sure—her big, pearly eyes darting around—and then sneakily took a small muffin, before swiftly running away.
Though not very fast, the girl gave it her best to run with her little legs; she even lifted a dress, an utmost uncourteous action for a lady to do.
I curiously followed her with my eyes. "Who is that," I asked Agnes.
"Uʜʜ, I ᴀᴄᴛᴜᴀʟʟʏ ᴅᴏɴ'ᴛ ᴋɴᴏᴡ," Agnes answered, surprised by her own reply, "sᴇᴇɪɴɢ ʜᴇʀ ʀᴇᴅ ʜᴀɪʀ, I ᴀssᴜᴍᴇ ᴛʜᴀᴛ sʜᴇ ɪs ᴀ ᴄʜɪʟᴅ ᴏꜰ ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴏʏᴀʟ ꜰᴀᴍɪʟʏ, ʙᴜᴛ ʜᴇʀ ɴᴀᴍᴇ ᴇsᴄᴀᴘᴇs ᴍᴇ. Tʜᴀᴛ I ᴅᴏɴ'ᴛ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ᴛʜᴇ ɴᴀᴍᴇ ᴏꜰ ᴀ ᴘʀɪɴᴄᴇss ɪs ʀᴀᴛʜᴇʀ ᴀʙsᴜʀᴅ, ʏᴇᴛ ʜᴇʀᴇ ᴡᴇ ᴀʀᴇ."
I counted in my head. "Then this would be the fourth member of the royal family, excluding the king, that I have met."
Suddenly, the girl stepped on her too-long dress, and she stumbled to the ground, her hard-earned muffin following right after, laying a trail of crumbs just like in Hansel and Gretel. The girl lifted her head and stared at the fallen muffin, her eyes slowly moistening. She remained on the ground and sulked.
"Ah, she's too cute!" I shouted. "I want to keep her."
"I ᴅᴏɴ'ᴛ ᴛʜɪɴᴋ ᴀ ᴄʜɪʟᴅ ᴡɪᴛʜ ʀᴏʏᴀʟ ʙʟᴏᴏᴅ ɪs ᴜᴘ ꜰᴏʀ ᴀᴅᴏᴘᴛɪᴏɴ."
The girl slowly got up, and patted her dress. The surrounding people seemed to not have noticed her, as no one stepped forward to help. She straightened any wrinkles and walked to her muffin. She squatted down and sighed dejectedly.
With my hands full of pastry, I walked to the girl and knelt down in front of her. "Are you all right?"
Startled, the girl jumped up. She looked at me, it felt like she was analyzing me, before she nodded slowly. Her head delightfully bobbed up and down.
"Ah, so cute!" I shouted again, and for just a moment, I could understand Vera's feelings. "Agnes, do you think it would be conspicuous if I kidnapped her right now?"
"I ᴛʜɪɴᴋ ɪᴛ ᴡɪʟʟ ᴄᴀᴜsᴇ ɴᴀᴛɪᴏɴᴡɪᴅᴇ ʜʏsᴛᴇʀɪᴀ, ᴇɴᴅɪɴɢ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴜs ʙᴇɪɴɢ ᴅʀᴀᴡɴ ᴀɴᴅ ǫᴜᴀʀᴛᴇʀᴇᴅ, ꜰᴏʀ ᴄᴏɴᴛᴇᴍᴘᴛ ᴏꜰ ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴏʏᴀʟ ʙʟᴏᴏᴅ. Wᴇ ᴍɪɢʜᴛ ɢᴏ ᴅᴏᴡɴ ᴀs ʜɪsᴛᴏʀʏ's ꜰɪʀsᴛ Aʀᴄʜᴅᴜᴋᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴅɪᴇ sᴏ ᴘᴀᴛʜᴇᴛɪᴄᴀʟʟʏ, ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜ, ɪꜰ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ɪs ᴡʜᴀᴛ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴀɴᴛ."
"I see. So you are saying there's a chance."
"Nᴏ, ɴᴏᴛ ᴀᴛ ᴀʟʟ. Pʟᴇᴀsᴇ ɢᴇᴛ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴏᴡɴ ʙᴏᴅʏ ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡɪsʜ ᴛᴏ ᴅɪᴇ sᴏ ᴇᴀɢᴇʀʟʏ."
The girl stayed silent, as if mute. But I noticed her eyes focused on my hands—on the pastries in my hand. She did not try to hide her glare, at all, as if she and the pastries were the only thing in my hand.
"Do you want this," I asked her before she was about to start drooling.
Shen nodded silently.
"Which one?" I gave her my croquembouche, but she shook her head. "Then do you wan't a crêpe?" She did not, shaking her head once more. I sorted through my pastries one by one, but she was a lot more picky than I thought. "Uhh. Wait. It couldn't be," I took out the cherry pie, "you couldn't possibly want this, right?"
Suddenly, she moved her head up and down, giving me a bright smile. Evidently, she came for the main dish.
I rubbed my brows. Ah, I sighed. I was a firm believer of saving the best thing for last, thus I hadn't even gotten the chance to take a bite out of it yet. Seeing the glistening red color, I did feel reluctant—but that glistening of the cherries could never compare with the glistening of that girls eyes. She held her thumbs in anticipation, eagerly awaiting my answer.
"Fine, you can have it," I squeezed out my mouth and gave her the slice of cherry pie. "I can get more anyway."
She gasped in happiness and took my pie and the napkin. Since it was so big, she had to use both of her tiny hands and carefully grab it, almost hug it, to not let the muffin tragedy to repeat itself. The girl looked at me and smiled. She promptly embraced me, rubbing her face against my dress. Afterward she hopped away.
"Ah, it was worth it for this moment," I exclaimed and held my head proud to the sky.
"Iᴛ's ᴊᴜsᴛ ᴘɪᴇ."
"It's a circular goodness filled with love," I corrected her, "I should get some more."
I returned to the buffet and looked for the pie. I walked in circles, and I passed many different desserts—pudding, pancake, wafers, just plain sugar—but I did not see any pie at all. Not even the plate of which I got mine. Strange.
I pulled the closest servant and asked her, "hey, where's the pie?"
The servant tilted her head, "Mistress Agnes, I apologize, but they have just run out."
"Huh? Run out? What do you mean run out?"
"Yes, there are none, since it is so late and the party is about to finish, us servants decided to take some plates away," the servant answered meekly, "maybe next time, we will have more. If you like, I can task the chefs with creating more for the next banquet?"
My shoulders slumped down. "Ah, it's fine." I dejectedly strolled away.
Agnes followed me around as always, she floated high up in the air and stared at the many people. She said she liked that spot, since it allowed her to look down on all the people. "Wᴇʟʟ, sᴜᴄᴋs ꜰᴏʀ ʏᴏᴜ, ᴅᴏᴇsɴ'ᴛ ɪᴛ?"
"It's fine," I muttered.
"Raya calls herself a good cook. Maybe you can command her to bake a pie for you." She laughed. "It isn't like she has any choice. Who knows, maybe you'd come to—" Agnes suddenly stopped talking.
I lifted my head to look at Agnes, and i saw her staring into the distance with wide eyes. She floated on the spot without any explanation why so.
"Agnes, you all right?"
She lifted her hand and pointed her finger straight. "Lᴏᴏᴋ ᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛᴀʙʟᴇ ᴏᴠᴇʀ ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ!"
Bewildered, I followed her hand.
My eyes fell on a small table, with nobody around. The people seemed to walk a big circle around that place, avoiding any unnecessary contact. No, there was someone, the girl I had just given my food to, but I hadn't seen her since she was so tiny. She had in her hands the pie, and placed it on the table—and on it I saw something for which words failed me: a wide assortment of pie, from apple, peach to apricot, gathered like a collection. The girl grabbed for a fork (she held it like she was about to stab someone) and tasted every pie with relish.
I touched my eye and felt it twitching from the sight it witnessed. Agnes similarly was at a loss for words.
"Dᴏᴇsɴ'ᴛ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴋɪɴᴅ ᴏꜰ ʟᴏᴏᴋ ʟɪᴋᴇ sʜᴇ ᴡᴀs ᴏᴜᴛ ᴛᴏ ɢᴇᴛ ᴘɪᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡʜᴏʟᴇ ᴛɪᴍᴇ?"
I gently smiled at Agnes. "Now, why don't you elaborate on that?"
She faltered, and floated a few steps back. "I'ᴍ ᴊᴜsᴛ sᴀʏɪɴɢ, ɪᴛ ᴋɪɴᴅ ᴏꜰ ʟᴏᴏᴋs ʟɪᴋᴇ sʜᴇ ʜᴀs ᴛʀɪᴄᴋᴇᴅ ʏᴏᴜ ᴏʀ sᴏᴍᴇᴛʜɪɴɢ. As ɪꜰ sʜᴇ ᴜsᴇᴅ ʏᴏᴜʀ ʟɪᴛᴛʟᴇ ᴇᴍᴘᴀᴛʜʏ ᴀɢᴀɪɴsᴛ ʏᴏᴜ."
Mʏ ᴀɴsᴡᴇʀ ᴄᴀᴍᴇ ᴄᴀsᴜᴀʟʟʏ, ᴡɪᴛʜᴏᴜᴛ ᴍᴜᴄʜ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛ, ᴀs ᴀʟʟ ᴍʏ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛs ᴜsᴜᴀʟʟʏ ᴡᴇʀᴇ. Bᴜᴛ ᴡʜᴇɴ I ʟᴏᴏᴋᴇᴅ ᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴜɴʜᴏʟʏ sᴍɪʟᴇ ᴏꜰ ʜɪs, I ᴡɪsʜᴇᴅ ꜰᴏʀ ᴀ ᴍᴏᴍᴇɴᴛ I ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅ ᴛᴀᴋᴇ ɪᴛ ʙᴀᴄᴋ. Hᴇ ʀᴇᴍᴀɪɴᴇᴅ sɪʟᴇɴᴛ, ʀᴇᴍᴀɪɴᴇᴅ ᴀs I sʜɪᴠᴇʀᴇᴅ. Hᴇ sʜᴏᴡᴇᴅ ᴀ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ʙᴇɴɪɢɴ ᴄᴏᴜɴᴛᴇɴᴀɴᴄᴇ ᴛʜᴀɴ ʜᴇ ᴜsᴜᴀʟʟʏ ᴅɪᴅ, ʏᴇᴛ, ɪᴛ sᴄᴀʀᴇᴅ ᴍᴇ ɪɴ ᴀ ᴅɪꜰꜰᴇʀᴇɴᴛ ᴡᴀʏ ᴀɴᴅ I ᴅɪᴅ ᴡʜᴀᴛ I ᴀʟᴡᴀʏs ᴅɪᴅ ɪꜰ ʜɪs sᴄᴀʀʏ sɪᴅᴇ ʙʀᴏᴋᴇ ᴛʜʀᴏᴜɢʜ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ɪɴɴᴏᴄᴇɴᴛ ᴄʀᴜsᴛ ᴏꜰ ʜɪs.
I ʟᴀᴜɢʜᴇᴅ ᴏᴜᴛ ʟᴏᴜᴅ. "Wʜᴀᴛ," I sʜᴏᴜᴛᴇᴅ, "ᴡᴀɪᴛ, ᴅᴏɴ'ᴛ ᴛᴇʟʟ ᴍᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ʀᴇᴀʟʟʏ ɢᴏᴛ ᴛʀɪᴄᴋᴇᴅ. Oʜ, ᴍʏ Lᴏʀᴅ, ᴛʜᴀᴛ ɪs ᴛᴏᴏ ꜰᴜɴɴʏ. Tʜᴇ ɢʀᴇᴀᴛ ᴛʀɪᴄᴋsᴛᴇʀ ɢᴇᴛᴛɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴏᴏʟ ᴘᴜʟʟᴇᴅ ᴏᴠᴇʀ ʜɪs ᴇʏᴇs ʙʏ ᴀ ᴋɪᴅ. Dᴏɴ'ᴛ ʏᴏᴜ ꜰɪɴᴅ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʜʏsᴛᴇʀɪᴄᴀʟ?" Tʜᴇ ʟᴀᴜɢʜᴛᴇʀ ᴅɪᴅ ɴᴏᴛ sᴇᴇᴍ ᴛᴏ ᴀʙɪᴅᴇ. "Nᴏᴛ ᴇᴠᴇɴ ᴛʜᴇ ɢʀᴇᴀᴛ ᴀᴜᴛʜᴏʀs ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ Lᴀɴᴅ ᴏꜰ Wɪsᴅᴏᴍ ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅ ᴡʀɪᴛᴇ sᴜᴄʜ ʙᴇᴀᴜᴛɪꜰᴜʟ sᴛᴏʀɪᴇs."
Nᴇxᴛ, I sᴀᴡ ʜɪᴍ—I sᴀᴡ ᴍʏsᴇʟꜰ—ᴀᴘᴘʀᴏᴀᴄʜɪɴɢ ᴍᴇ, sᴛɪʟʟ ᴄᴀʀʀʏɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴀꜰꜰᴇᴄᴛɪᴏɴᴀᴛᴇ sᴍɪʟᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ʀᴇᴀᴄʜᴇᴅ ᴏᴜᴛ ꜰᴏʀ ᴍʏ ʜᴇᴀᴅ. I ᴛʀɪᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴅᴏᴅɢᴇ, ʙᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴛʜɪɴɢ ꜰᴏʟʟᴏᴡᴇᴅ ᴍᴇ ᴛᴇɴᴀᴄɪᴏᴜsʟʏ, ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴀɴ ᴇᴇʀɪᴇ sɴᴀᴋᴇ, ᴀɴᴅ ʜᴇ ꜰɪʀᴍʟʏ ᴄʟᴀsᴘᴇᴅ ᴍʏ ꜰᴀᴄᴇ, ᴄᴏᴠᴇʀɪɴɢ ᴍʏ ᴇʏᴇs ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴅᴀʀᴋɴᴇss.
"I have no idea what you are talking about," ʜᴇ sᴀɪᴅ; Wɪᴛʜ ᴍʏ ᴏᴡɴ ᴠᴏɪᴄᴇ, ʙᴜᴛ ɪᴛ sᴏᴜɴᴅᴇʀ sᴡᴇᴇᴛᴇʀ ᴡʜᴇɴ ʜᴇ ᴅɪᴅ.
I ʙᴇʟɪᴇᴠᴇᴅ ᴏɴᴇ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴊᴇsᴛ ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅɴ'ᴛ ʜᴜʀᴛ. "Rᴇᴀʟʟʏ, ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ʏᴏᴜ ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴍᴇ ᴛᴏ ʀᴇɪᴛᴇʀᴀᴛᴇ? Tʜᴀᴛ ᴋɪᴅ ɢᴏᴛ ʏᴏᴜ ɢ—ᴀʜ, I ᴛʜɪɴᴋ ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ɢʀɪᴘ ᴀɴʏ ʜᴀʀᴅᴇʀ, ʏᴏᴜ'ʟʟ ʟᴇᴀᴠᴇ ᴍʏ ʜᴇᴀᴅ ᴡɪᴛʜ ʜᴏʟᴇs." Hᴇ ʙᴜʀɪᴇᴅ ʜɪs ꜰɪɴɢᴇʀs ɪɴᴛᴏ ᴍʏ sᴋᴜʟʟ; ɪᴛ ᴅɪᴅ ɴᴏᴛ ʜᴜʀᴛ, ʙᴜᴛ ɪᴛ ᴡᴀs sᴛɪʟʟ sᴏᴍᴇᴛʜɪɴɢ I ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ᴀᴠᴏɪᴅ ɪꜰ ᴘᴏssɪʙʟᴇ.
"Nothing happened. It was only pie."
"Yᴇs, ʏᴇs."
I released my grip, since I realized she understood. She massaged her face to correct any dents and scowled at me; I wasn't that strong, relax. My attention returned to the girl. "Ah, I really want to have her now."
Suddenly, I saw the girl looked at me. She had noticed my gaze and she waved enthusiastically.
"Sʜᴇ's ɢʟᴏᴀᴛɪɴɢ."
"She's not." I paused. "I think I might know what she is. She is a pure person."
"Nᴏ, sʜᴇ ᴄʟᴇᴀʀʟʏ ɪs ɴᴏᴛ ɪɴɴᴏᴄᴇɴᴛ. Mᴏʀᴇ ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴀɴ ɪᴍᴘ, ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ᴀsᴋ ᴍᴇ."
"You should refer to young girls as nymphets. Ah, no, that is besides the point." I felt my heart beat faster. "I didn't mean innocent. I mean she is untainted. Incredible. I never met someone like her. She is probably a girl not influenced by anything. No morals, no society, no law."
"A ᴘᴜʀᴇ ᴘᴇʀsᴏɴ? Wʜᴀᴛ ɪs sᴏ sᴘᴇᴄɪᴀʟ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴀᴛ? Aʀᴇɴ'ᴛ ʏᴏᴜ ᴏɴᴇ ᴛᴏᴏ ᴛʜᴇɴ?"
I shook my head. "I am not. I am a being with no contrast, I am light, dark, none and both. I hate as I love and kill as I save. Evil or good holds no meaning to me, but I am not pure. At least not completely anymore. I too, hold a bias in me."
"I ᴅᴏɴ'ᴛ ɢᴇᴛ ɪᴛ."
"I will give you an example then." I reached for her wrist, and while she remained inattentive, I seized the back of her head, her hair, and pushed her face to mine. I gave her a kiss, my lips sinking deep; our second one, but on my terms, and this time, she had no time to close her eyes.
She yanked herself off me and viciously chopped at my head.
I fell back and screamed in pain. A few seconds were needed for me to recompose myself. I then asked her: "See?"
"Oʜ, ʏᴇs, I sᴀᴡ, ᴀʟʟ ʀɪɢʜᴛ," she said in a low tone. "I sᴇᴇ ʏᴏᴜ'ʀᴇ sɪᴍᴘʟʏ ᴍᴇssɪɴɢ ᴀʀᴏᴜɴᴅ."
"No, why did you hit me?"
"Wʜʏ ᴅᴏ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛʜɪɴᴋ?" Her tone lowered more.
"But what went through your head in that instance?"
"Nᴏᴛʜɪɴɢ, ɪᴛ ᴡᴀs ᴀ ʀᴇꜰʟᴇx."
"Yes, it was a pure action. Neither malice nor benevolence was in it, sprouted only from your primal desire to hit me. Like defending yourself. Now imagine a person like that, guided by nothing, everything they do is only a reflex, that is a pure person. An ideal, every human should strive to be."
"What's the point of such a being?"
"Well, those people know themselves the best. Every man gets influenced by their peers. But not them. They trust themselves to make the best decision. They are the most ornate people, but sometimes also the scariest." My heart beat faster again and a rare genuine smile escaped me. "That is why I want that kid. She herself doesn't realize what she has done. Ah, but she's already occupied. What a shame."
"I see," Agnes muttered, "but why can't I shake the feeling that you are only trying to find an excuse for being tricked?"
I decisively ignored her statement. "I think it is time to meet the king!"
CREATORS' THOUGHTS
Hyowha
Hyowha
It's been 84 years.
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