Kapitel 45: Keeping up appearances

While the rumours of emperor's nice deed flowed around the castle, a lot where ofcourse skeptic.

Believing the girl to have made up the stories, what they couldn't discredit was her words of the emperor smelling like flowers because a lot of people knew of that fact.

When he would pass them on the way to meetings or such, the scent would engulf the area and stay there for quite a while. No one ever said anything in fear of getting themselves in trouble.

But seeing the new servant gloat and speak without care made their pride hurt as they were longer working servants and guards and soon they started whispering together.

It didn't stay with whispering as after a week of nothing happening they even began talking about it outside of the walls, it wouldn't take long after that the rumours would leave butterflies in young maiden's stomach as they envisioned the floral smell.

After all the emperor was considered a handsome ruler, beside his iron rule one could not discern what would be wrong with marrying him. But even with the pushing off the nobles, the emperor still refused.

Adrian flicked his tongue in excitement, this one step could either make or destroy his plan.

It had been just a week and beside battling the raising troubles of the kingdom he hadn't had much time for anything else.

While he would be able to make the empress his pawn with the Reprisal Of Minds he still needed more info, gather the materials and look for a way that would give him enough mana to actually use the technique.

The name was rather fitting as the spell took the mind, personality of a person and flipped it an entire 360 or just as much as he wanted.

He would get sick however, maybe so sick that this body couldn't handle it but Adrian couldn't worry about that yet.

He had already prepared stacks upon stacks of books, containing the knowledge of the kingdom's ritual and even a few from Sofie's kingdom.

Adrian still questioned why Acacius would go through the trouble of visiting his sister in law every week, personally he though it was to gain at least some resemblance towards normalcy.

Right now the body he was in was 28 eight years, so that meant that Acacius took over the kingdom at the age of eighteen, he had guts!

Even his brother was older when he arose to power, their age difference a shocking seventeen years. It didn't even make sense why they would want a child after so long but royals they never really make sense.

He was getting distracted, his fingers curling around his braided hair, hiding the silver streak in between the mediocre braid.

Opening the door highly aware of the watchful eyes he deliberately took his sword of in slow motion, placing it in the corner before vanishing behind the closing door.

In all means the room he came into was a normal room, where it not for the thick steel bars in the room and the magic seals preventing espionage on the insiders.

His side, in direct contact with the door, had a chair and right next to it a table with a suspiciously large amount of prepared snacks and tea. The wall behind it decorated with the royal signal, lacking in the other part of the room.

His sister in law's part.

Though it didn't really matter as it didn't look like she was missing something, in fact she didn't even look like she was a prisoner in the first place.

A huge bed with soft beddings, a table with multiple chairs and even a chest full of books. Adrian was almost jealous at the fact that she was having a better existence then he.

His muscles ached from practising sword moves to better fit in this world, they were so sore yet she looked as rested as one possible could be.

While his own brown eyes where tired and suspicious of all that was around, hers looked a stunning blue, sparked with live.

Not that there wasn't a cautious nature behind them, it didn't really matter for now.

The only real difference he could note, beside her being a prisoner, was the lesser material being used for her clothes. His were way more detailed and made from richer, softer materials.

If her followers where to know they would cry out in outrage as she shad been an empress of the kingdom and deserved respect.

What mostly surprised Adrian however was the fact that she was, from what he could tell in the short passing seconds, a strong willed beauty.

Rough hands from the usage of a sword didn't diminish her beauty, not even the scars that lingered on them. It merely enhanced her, way more then it should.

Coppery red, a hair colour that didn't appear much, had the same effect of enhancing. It brought out her eyes and considering her age Adrian hadn't really expected her to be so...beautiful.

It sure as hell would make things easier though.

Blueish eyes stared at him just as intently as he was at her, the slight turn of her head caused her shoulder length hair to lightly graze her shoulders.

Acacius had such long hair, to the point that it frustrated Adrian, especially when he needed to braid it to hide the silver streak. It took so long and caused his muscles to ache even more, she had it easy!

Grimacing in slight displeasure Adrian poured himself some tea, distractingly grabbing a book and flipping pages one by one.

The Magic Kingdom And Their Traditions

A title awfully familiar to him as he was sure it laid upon his desk, with other books of the same category.

Huffing in annoyance Adrian scanned the page, reading without much thought.

Eyes gazing over the sentences yet the words just went right over his head. Before he realised it he reached the end of the page and didn't remember a thing of what he supposedly had read.

Slamming the book close he groaned, letting it harmlessly lay on his lap.

One of the reasons of his annoyance was while he was in a new world was the food. It was lacking, maybe it was the fact his new body couldn't stomach or just his own mind that was still relaying on human food from his first life.

He would never known, Adrian only hoped the same thing wouldn't happen in Aurelia. It would be an immense sadness, after having waited for sixteen years, even longer if he were to count his trip in this new world.

"What are you staring at?"

She hadn't stopped staring and after a few seconds of absolute silence she merely displayed a smirk upon het sharp features.

"Is it me or do you grow even more handsome every week.''

Right back to silence as he felt his eyes open ridiculously wide as the words filtered over and over in his head.

Handsome?

That's so inappropriate.....then again it most likely wasn't in this world.

Despite the existence of magic ,very low magic at that, the world itself was quite old fashioned. Wich brought him to the next question. Did it always go like this?

''Have you finally gone stupid?'' Getting rid of all shock, he merely displayed coldness and disinterest at the other's words.

''You looked to be in a better mood.''

If that had looked linke a better mood, then Adrian was quite interested in how Acacius would act in a foul or bitter mood.

''You thought wrong.''

''I did, oh my.

It did get you flustered, didn't it?''

Seeing her face lighten up, made his darken.

She was clearly happy at her achievement, even going as far as winking as she peacefully sat in her chair and what a sight she made.

Fist lazily keeping up her head, legs crossed as she continued to stare.

"You took me by surprise.''

"Ah yes, surprise, ofcourse.

You where reading so attentively after all.''

Not what he had expected it.

Calming his rising nerves with a gulp of tea, Adrian wondered what to say. She already noticed that something was wrong but it wasn't like he couldn't have come today.

''Nothing to say, handsome?''

''It's a shame that I cannot return the compliment."

Pleased she hummed, while Adrian gave her a sideway glance rethinking his words.

What a lie, she was practically made off beauty, marble even.

''You haven't lost your wit.

Though I do have to say there are better uses for that tongue."

She was clearly inviting him, sighing he rubbed his forehead.

How does one handle a flirting sister in law?

Glancing between his fingers he watched her certain expression. The way her eyebrow arched in a suggestive manner made it all very clear.

Her eyes gleamed as he got up, approached the steel bars and waited her for her reaction. With a walk that looked as smooth as flying she approached, stilling to see what he would do.

Raising one hand he touched her hair, before going down and grazing soft cheeks and brushing pale pink lips.

Before realization crossed him and with flushed cheeks he left, book in hand as the door soon slammed closed behind him, laughter following him along.

Another step one in action, now with his sword back in his hand he rushed away.

Flushed cheeks still prominent against his pale cheeks as he left to go back to his study.