Dark Moon Second Arc (His Art of War) - 41. Liar (Patreon)

Second Arc (His Art of War) - 41. Liar

They spend the rest of their lunch in silence as they sink into their thoughts. King Gervis worried about Commander Irwin and his army while Ophelia thought of Angel's words earlier, and Angel thought of what he could do to accelerate establishing his power in Asteria. He must quickly return to Euphorion to prepare for a war on Draconis before they take the chance of his absence.
"After Asteria gets enough funds to solve this financial problem I must return to Euphorion immediately."

Ophelia glanced at him, although his rejection was clear she still wanted to take this opportunity to ask him directly.
"Why do you keep pushing me away? Can't you want to give me a chance?"

After they finished their lunch, the servants cleaned up the empty plates and utensils away. At the same time, a knocking sound came and a guard in Asteria's military uniform came to give a report to King Gervis. He bowed.
"Your Majesty, Commander Irwin's army has returned safely to the castle."

"Really? That's good," said King Gervis. His face looked brighter after hearing it, his worries that kept bothering him during lunch disappeared. He turned his gaze to Angel.
"Thank you for fulfilling my invitation. I'll excuse myself," he said again as he rose from his chair. He intends to examine Commander Irwin and his troops' conditions.

Angel answered with a slight nod and King Gervis stepped toward the exit. But after taking a few steps, he stopped and turned to Ophelia who still hadn't moved from her chair.
"Ophelia, why aren't you coming?" asked King Gervis.

"Since His Majesty King Angelus has ordered me to join him for lunch, I hope His Majesty can spend a few minutes to talk with me in return," Ophelia said. Her eyes remained fixed on Angel who was sitting in front of him, sipping his tea. 

He placed his cup on the table.
"Too bad I'm busy today." Then he got up from his chair and walked past Ophelia but she stopped him.
"Angel, how long do you intend to run away like that ?!"

Even though he stopped his steps, he did not answer.

"Ophelia ?!" snapped King Gervis.

But Ophelia ignored her father's words.
"I just want to ask you a few things. After I get the answer I won't bother you anymore," she added.

He sighed tiredly, he knew he could not keep avoiding her .
"Leave us," he ordered everyone around him.

"Angelus Raizel!" snapped King Gervis angrily as he gave him a sharp gaze.

"Calm down, I will keep my promise," he said to King Gervis. 

King Gervis clenched his fist a moment then unclenched it as a surrendered sigh came out of his mouth. Seeing Ophelia being so stubborn he couldn't do anything else. He turned and walked back to the exit which was followed by all the servants.

As soon as the door closed, Ophelia began their conversation.
"That hunter… are you right?"

"I don't know who do you mean ," he answered simply.

"Why do you deny it ?!" Ophelia said again. She was sure that hunter was him.

"Why should I admit it?"

Seeing him stubbornly refusing to admit it, she asked again.
"Then, why did you protect me in the hall?"

"Because you are still useful for controlling King Gervis and Ilex for me," he replied in a cold voice.

"Is it only because of that?" Her disappointment absorbed clearly in her tone.

"Yes."

Ophelia got up from her chair, turned and approached him with a displeased expression.
"How long do you want to pretend like that ?! Are you happy to see everyone hating you ?!" she said in an escalating voice.

He turned and gave her a serious look.
"Princess Ophelia, I am a person who has a power of darkness. Everyone hates me from the start," he said in a firm tone.

"But I do not!" she screamed. "I don't hate you ..." she repeated in a softer tone. She couldn't understand why he kept rejecting her only because of Ilex and her father.

"Do you love me?" he asked bluntly.

Ophelia bowed her head, hiding her reddened face and paused for a moment as she gathered her courage to answer his question. A few seconds later she answered.
"Yes, I love you."

"As your cousin or as a man?" he asked again.

"As a man."

"If I say I'm the real Angelus Raizel, your cousin. Do you believe me?"

Ophelia raised her head and looked at him deeply.
"That can't be ..." she said incredulously.

He sighed again after hearing her answer. Even though he had known it from their meeting before but he wanted to confirm it once again.
"Princess Ophelia, you also don't believe me. Basically, you only want to accept the words you want to hear, right?"

"No! I believe in you!" she insisted.

"Then you should know, you and I could not be together. We are cousins, our marriage will never be allowed under any kingdom's rule," he said, trying to make her understand.

"Angel ... I know you are not ---"

"You said you believe in me but now you said you didn't believe my identity," he interrupted.

Ophelia went silent for a while before she spoke again.
"The Reinheart family--"

"The Reinheart family is descended from the celestial tribe so they won't be able to have the power of darkness," he finished her words.

She fell silent again.

He looked at her in disappointment, even though he knew that his family would never believe him, but the words 'I believe in you', which ended with disbelief, sounded more painful for him.
"If you think of me as a liar from the beginning. You must find a man who is better than me. You shouldn't fall in love with a liar. I'll excuse myself." He turned just about to leave, but Ophelia called out his name again.
"Angel!"

He stopped in his tracks.
"There is no relationship that can work well without a trust. Not as a lover, not as a family," he added. His disappointment was sounded clearly from his tone. "Good afternoon, Princess Ophelia," he said as he closed their conversation and left.