Capítulo 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."
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