Chapter 422 (Patreon)

“Hey man, who’s that girl?”

A noble youth asked his friend about a blonde girl in an off-shoulder blue gown. Her beauty and elegance were a touch above the other young ladies in the venue.

“Who?... Gosh, she’s gorgeous! Never seen her before. Let me ask around.”

“Go ahead. Might want to hurry though, wolves are already circling her.”

“So you say, but aren't you one of those wolves? Heheh. I’ll be back.”

The noble youth's friend went to talk to his other friends and was back in a few minutes.

“I got it. She’s Ciel Valentine, daughter of the current Duke of Valentine. She was in the Silver Legion and just got back recently.”

“Ah, so that’s why we’ve never seen her at any previous social gathering.”

“See that gem on her chest?”

“Yeah, pretty necklace. What about it?”

“Madam Blume the gossiper said it might be a Divine Weapon. And it’s not a necklace, the gem is embedded in her skin. It can transform into a sword.”

“For real!?”

“Well, who knows? I’m as surprised as you are. But Madam Blume’s gossip is more often true than false. What did I miss?”

“Earlier, young masters from various Schools, Knightly Orders, and noble family’s heirs came in droves. Now Theus is wooing the girl. Look.”

“Two scions from two dukedoms. A fitting couple, I suppose. We don't have a chance?”

“Perhaps we still might. Theus’ wooing isn't very effective it seems, Lady Ciel appears to have her attention somewhere else… Is she searching for someone?”

The youth straightened his collars, for he was about to make a move, “Lady Ciel must be looking for someone with something more than just status. She has good taste. Perhaps someone like me, hehehe.”

“Bah, you wish,” the other youth stifled a chuckle from the jest. “Go on then. I’ll savor your disgrace with a stiff drink.”

“Early bird catches the worm, in this case, the girl.”

But before the young man could approach, Ciel’s eyes landed on the entrance of the ballroom. She briskly left Theus who was in the middle of offering her a rare flower with both arms stretched, leaving him in a very awkward position.

Ciel grabbed a man by the arm, a bold display, and then they both went to the area reserved for the Level 5s and other VIPs. Ciel seems to be saying something to her parents.

The young lady of the Valentine House had many suitors aiming for her hand already. These young men and other interested parties strained their ears, some even using Artes to find out what was going on.

“-My boyfriend. We are in an extremely special relationship,” Ciel said intimately.

The duke and duchess were not the only ones that were surprised. The hopes and dreams of the young suitors shattered like glass meeting a wrecking ball. Among them, Theus was paralyzed as if struck by lightning; the flowers in his hands seemingly shed their petals from the disappointment.

“W-Who in blazes is he!?” One of the youths asked.

“Ah! He’s the guy that Theus made slap himself!”

“It is? It is! Oh, Theus must be burning so bad~”

The two youths could see it from their position. The eyes of Theus went from shock, to humiliation, to pure fury.

***

“C-Ciel dear, your mother must have misheard. You said he’s-”

“My sweetheart boyfriend,” Ciel said without missing a beat and adding a sweetheart.

“Oooh…” Duchess Camile staggered. Sounds of concern came from the servants.

“Enough of this farce!” The duke, Sterling Valentine, raised his voice. “You’ve taken your lies too far, young lady! If you think you can just bring some random guy of dubious origin-”

“Avel is an honorable man with steadfast determination in the face of overwhelming adversary!” Ciel strongly defended.

Viers, who was hearing Ciel’s praise from very close proximity because she wouldn't let go of his arm, racked his brain for the reason someone could call him honorable. Nothing came to mind. Was Ciel blatantly lying?

He liked to think he was a calm and reasonable person, but honorable? Hogwash.

“Cease this unseemingly behavior at once! He’s a commoner! His status and yours are nothing alike!”

“I can make my own judgment, Father. We met during a mission,” Ciel continued. “He saved me from the hands of death and nursed me to health, braving the dangerous wilderness to provide me with a cure. His tender care is something that I fondly remember to this day.”

The audience who heard Ciel’s tale had various expressions. Mostly curiosity, but Ciel’s father, a strict and firm man, was gnashing his teeth. The more Ciel spoke, the more damage she inflicted upon her reputation. Sterling pondered whether he should act more decisively.

The delay would be something he regretted for a long time, for Ciel brought out the bomb.

“Even though Avel has seen my unclothed skin, he kept his gentlemanly behavior and integrity, refraining from doing anything that would besmirch my honor,” Ciel said with a very red face and embarrassment but it made her look all the more cute. “As I said, Avel is an honorable man.”

Viers was about to cough blood, figuratively. He recalled the circumstances that Ciel painted romantically. The truth was, he was about to soul search her. And he really would have done it, if her meddling friends hadn't come to her rescue. Honorable? Gentlemanly? Integrity?

What were those? Could he eat them?

While Viers was dealing with his inner emotions, the reaction from the audience was massive.

“My Lady!”

Ciel’s mom swooned, caught by a maid with a big physique.

“My Lord!? Compose yourself!”

Ciel’s dad grabbed his chest as if he was in pain. He dropped to one knee with a racing breath.

“Oh dear, how awful. Everyone, my parents aren't well, please tend to them immediately,” Ciel said.

“Y-yes! Forgive my rudeness, Lord Duke,” a vassal hurriedly helped the duke out while the duchess was already even farther out.

“S-stop! You ungrateful daughter, you, you-”

The duke was unable to resist being carried out of the venue by his vassal. The duke's condition was not faked. Viers thought the duke might have suffered a heart attack.

“Ah, how dreadful,” Ciel had the back of her hand on her forehead. “I hope both my parents are okay. It seems the revelation is too much for them. Master Avel, I feel unwell. I need some fresh air. Might I ask you to accompany me?”

Ciel might have said that like a delicate young girl, but she pulled Viers without giving him the chance to reject it.

The audience opened the path for the couple like the parting of the Red Sea.

***

“...Fu. Fufuhu… Ahahahaha! Did you see their faces? Ha.”

It was the second time Viers came to a secluded, private place this night, in fact, he just got back from one. Earlier, it was with Boram on a veranda. This time, Ciel brought him to a flower garden. The area was illuminated by fairy lights. The illumination was just enough to be bright enough to see the enchanting flowers at night without disrupting the nightly atmosphere.

In short, a romantic place. Viers suspect Ciel brought him here on purpose, no doubt the many guests that saw them coming here and some paparazzi observers from afar would have no lack of oil to smoothen their gossiping tongues.

After arriving here, Ciel soon burst into laughter.

“You know, I think your father had a heart attack. Shouldn't you be more worried?” Viers said.

“He will be fine. There are many skilled healers here standing by for accidents. Besides, my father is as tough as a Devaran Elephant. Nothing will happen to him.”

“Your mother fainted. Even though she’s a Level 5. I didn't think that was possible until I saw it with my own eyes.”

“A sensitive soul, my mother. But she’ll be fine too. Are you worried about my parents? How kind of you.”

Ciel turned to meet Viers’ eyes properly for the first time that night. She put up a privacy barrier enclosing them before speaking more. 

Viers approved.

“We meet again, Viers. It’s been four years since Valkut, hasn't it? Or, should I say, a few days?”

Ciel moved her hand in front of her face, when it passed, her face changed to Mary’s, from Celedony.

“Gasp!? You’re Mary!? Oh no. How could it be?” Viers said in an exaggerated manner. He also put another layer of privacy barrier inside Ciel’s.

Ciel observed him carefully.

“...You’re not surprised. So you realized it was me back then.”

“And you me,” Viers removed his Impersonator Mask and showed his true face.

“How did you know it’s me?” Ciel asked.

“I’ll tell you if you tell me. How do you know Avel was Viers?”

Ciel took a moment to make her choice.

“It’s not me, but this thing,” Ciel pointed at the diamond-like gem on the middle of her chest. ‘It reacted, pulsed. At you, in the venue. That’s how I knew it was you. You are its former owner after all. Well, not in a good way. The pulses were a warning.”

“Fu, still hate me, huh?” Viers chuckled at the Divine Weapon. He was relieved. If his Mystic Star Shroud had a flaw, or the Impersonator Mask’s disguise could be seen though, he had to know so he could adjust his future plans. Turned out it was a specific thing for Ciel.

This revelation relaxed Viers a little better because at this moment his disguise was still holding strong. However, a new worry concerning the face-changing mask emerged. The item was improved by Aletro at the end of the Book World but he was worried his disguise wouldn't work against Level 5 or Level 4 with extraordinary senses.

He’d simply outgrew his equipment.

Since Ciel had held her end of the bargain, it was his turn.

“Your disguise is perfect. Even my eye Arte couldn't see any flaw, but there’s a soul contract between us. A strong one at that. That, I can clearly sense from you.”

“So we both use unconventional methods to sense each other… Kind of like a special couple, don't you think?” Ciel smiled mischievously.

“Riiiight,” Viers’ skepticism was firm. “Now let's discuss the stint you just pulled and how you sucked me into the sandpit together with you.”

“What, do you not like it?” Ciel playfully teased. “This pretty girl is throwing herself into your arms you know.”

Viers’ face was the epitome of seriousness.

Ciel's playful expression turned somber over the next few seconds.

“I’m truly sorry,” Ciel said while clasping her hands and bowing her head. “I did not mean to be a manipulative tramp but I’m afraid I really have no choice. In desperation, I took advantage of you. I deeply apologize for my offense.”

Ciel sounded sincere and at the end of her ropes. Viers sensed she was being truthful. It was hard to be mad at someone who was truly admitting her wrongs and apologizing.

Viers let out a long sigh. “Well, I can more or less guess your circumstances. Marriage problems?”

Ciel nodded.

“Shouldn't you be in the Silver Legion? I thought you were being independent. What happened?”

“To receive permission to join the Legion, I made a promise to my family. When I become a Level 4, I must return to the house and marry. I held off becoming Level 4 as long as I could, but I broke through.”

“During the Fae problem at Celedony, I know. Why did you make a promise like that? Idiots that can't stop helping people like you won't be able to keep that promise. Not if becoming stronger means more people are saved.”

“I was thirteen and naive when I made that promise, alright? Give me a break!”

A brief silence from them both.

“So that’s why you’re a little weak despite being a Latias duke’s daughter and the rumors I heard about your talents. I sensed it back at Valkut. You're walking the Path of Power half-assed.”

“Ugh… I have no excuses,” Ciel replied.

“...What do you plan to do now? Let me hear your plan.”

“Yeah… I, umm…” Ciel was fidgeting.

Viers gave her the thousand-yard stare.

“You have no plan!?”

“I do! I do now!” Ciel corrected her course. “We continue to pretend couple. For my parents, for those wolves that see me like a doe to hunt.”

“Thought as much. For how long, until what end? Do you not plan to marry, ever?” Viers asked. He had seen many mangas with similar premises.

“...I do, I think,” Ciel said slowly as she touched a red flower in the garden. “But not now. If possible, to someone I love. Do you know in Latias it is normal for a girl’s marriage to be arranged by their parents? On the outside, a love match. In reality, feh.”

“And you think the men your parents chose are not good enough for you? Are they the type that marries daughters for political or the house’s benefits?”

“They wish the best for me, I’m sure… but they think they know better, who is best for my husband. I don't like that. If I’m a man, I can choose who I marry but I’m not. It feels unfair.”

“I agree and sympathize. But by pretending we’re a couple, you’re thinning your marriage prospects. You realize that, don't you? I'm just a commoner. Your reputation, compromised. Your purity will come under scrutiny. Plus, I’m not sure your parents are so easily convinced.”

“...What I need most is time, keeping those pesky marriage proposals out. My parents plan to marry me before the moon's turn. I’m a Level 4, my lifespan is well over a hundred. I’m just twenty-four! What’s wrong with taking a bit more time before marrying?”

“Social pressure, I guess… Look, I know this development. I can tell you it’s not a good idea.”

“Why?”

Viers grimaced.

“Because this usually ends in one way,” Viers said. “You don't want us to be together for real, aren't you?”

“What do you mean?”

Ciel needed a few seconds before she realized what Viers implied.

“O-oh… Do… Do you see me that way?” Ciel asked a bit bashfully.

“No. My love right now is solely on the Path of Power. Marriage and relationships in general are off the table for me.”

“That’s great! Oh, not saying there’s anything wrong with you, mind. You’re great, and thinner now, more handsome, yeah,” Ciel's voice a touch too hurried. ”Just, you’re not my type. No offense, but I do not love you.”

“None taken,” Viers said naturally without falsehood.

“Then be my boyfriend! For now! If you do not wish to marry me and I you, whatever do you have to lose?”

Ciel made a request from the heart. Viers could already see the ending of this story.

“...Do not say I did not warn you.”

“Does that mean-” Ciel sounded hopeful.

“Not so fast. What’s in it for me? You still have a couple of heavy debts and promises from Valkut.”

“Of course, I did not forget, neither do I come here empty-handed.”

There, at the garden of flowers, Ciel made yet another contract with the villain.

Avel and Ciel returned to the ballroom arm in arm.

The people’s eyes followed their every step.

They walked straight to the dance area, just in time for the beginning of a new music piece.

“Stare into my eyes,” Viers said to Ciel.

Viers bowed to his dance partner, Ciel did the same.

“Closer,” Viers brought Ciel’s body near and whispered. “If this is to work, we must appear madly in love.”

The two shared a dance, a romantic one. Viers surprised Ciel with his leading action and familiarity with etiquette and dancing steps. The gap between his usual roguish and the current gentlemanly behavior…

It made a throb in her chest. So brief and so soft the lady didn't even notice it.

But it happened.

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Chapter 422 - Valenton