The sun was peeking through my curtains and there were birds chirping when I woke up the next morning. I felt groggy from all of the drama the day before, still, I dragged myself out of bed and into the bathroom, following my usual routine.
Though when I was washing my teeth and cleaning my hands afterward, my eyes were pulled back to the mark placed on my ring finger. In the middle it looked like a ripple in a pong made by a pebble being dropped into it, then slowly started to resemble a star shape where the side points went and connected on the back of my finger.
'Ah, right…Should I just cut it off?' I thought seriously for a moment, 'Ugh, I forgot that nobes view having ones ring finger cut off as a sign of infidelity…damn book setting!'
Sighing, more depressed than I was earlier, I went and got dressed into a white shirt that had a lace-up slit that went down to almost half of my abs, with bishop sleeves and one of those long frilly ties that i didn't bother trying to lie(Since Victor usually did it for me). The slipped on black dress pants, which wast part resembled a zipper corset, which was easy to zip up and down(most likely Llyr's choice). Then accessorized myself with black leather-like fingerless gloves and black boots that went half up my calve.
I contemplated for a bit on whether or not to put some chains hanging on my wist, kinda like a pirate, but decided on a pair, one plain the other one having medallions on it in rows of chains-medallion-chains and so on. Then I went over to my vanity, and pulled my hair into an over the shoulder ponytails, swished by bangs the side and spiking them a little with gel.
'Dang, I out did myself! Looking good Lev!' I thought, making a check mark with my fingers and putting it under my chin while smiling.
I paused for a moment, lowering my hand and wiping the smirk off of mt face. I started thinking about the conversation I had with Atlas last night, about the truth of my visit, not being here willingly, then I was reminded of all of the shit happening around me.
===
"You…Aren't here for international relations, are you?" Atlas questioned, a serious look on his face as he looked me directly in the eyes.
"...Heh, Now how exactly did you come to that conclusion?" I asked back, a mischievous smirk masking my face as i raised an eyebrow.
"I think it was quite obvious, considering the only time you went out of your quarters to see His Majesty," Atlas commented, pausing to sigh and then continuing, "Especially when your butler came, it was painfully obvious."
"..." I went silent for a bit, dropping my mischievous look, then sighing and looking at my lap, "Hm, well i suppose there is no point in denying it now, you are indeed right…but why exactly would Victor have given it away?" I looked at him and tilted my head.
"Pfft, if you saw his face too then you would've immediately understood. He had a look of pure rage and fury when he took hold of you, in fact, I was sure that if you weren't there, he probably would've cripled the poor man, at least…" Atlas cut himself off, but I knew what he was going to say.
'At least before he killed him. He was probably fuming, and would've hit him if Koren didn't.'
"Heh, yes. Victor is quite loyal, so much in fact that I feel as if I can trust him with anything. But…At the same time, it's why I can't get to close," I admitted to the Hero. For some odd reason, at the moment, it felt like I could just poor out my heart to him.
He felt…So familiar. Like a certain old friend of mine who would always bring me back to reality and tear me anew when i messed up after I was left alone in the military.
"...Yes, I've heard stories about nobles getting killed by their closest confident, thinking them to be like a best friend before being betrayed so cold heartedly," Atlas looked down and closed his eyes, perhaps thinking of a time where he was betrayed like that.
It was one that he didn't have to tell me for me to know, after all, his entire story, or at least what i know as his entire story, was explained in the god forsaken novel. The very one that I was put into to take care of this pitiful man's mess.
Parts of that scene in the novel flashed in my mind, someone who he thought of like family, turning out to work for the demon king and trying to kill him, then another scene. That time, a party member ending up being the boss of the real Lev…except I couldn't remember who it was.
"But, that is not why I am here!" Atlas finally said, a look of confidence took over his face.
"Ho? Then why are you here?" I questioned, scared it was because he figured out who Lev really was and was going to try and kill me.
"...It's because I want to help you leave," He finally admitted, looking all serious, "And before you say anything about pity, that isn't why!"
"...Then why is it?" I asked, suddenly making my tone colder.
'This fucker came in and made me all scared, and now he is offering to help me? Just what the hell is his problem?!'
"It's because I feel like i sort of owe you…" Atlas started blushing from embarrassment, making me very confused, "I saw the signs and figured you weren't here willingly, and whenever I saw you with His Majesty, you just looked so uncomfortable, even though you were trying to make it seem like you weren't…"
"Alright, i get it. I will take you up on your offer. But how exactly do you plan on helping me?" I dug some more, getting ticked off by the lack of explanations from this man.
"I have already discussed this with my party, the maid that serves you, and a bit with you knight/butler, and we put together a plan to get you out of the palace without being noticed, however…" He trailed off again.
'Haaa, so easily readable this kid is.'
"However, you don't know how you are going to get me out of the country, is that right?" I concluded, raising my eyebrow with a look of disbelief on my face.
"...Yeah…But I'm sure i can think it up soon!" He admitted with a smile full of embarrassment, his ears turning tomato red.
'Huuuu, this kid! Planning to help me, with a plan only to get me out of the palace!...To think i'm supposed to be the one getting help, though it seems more to me like i'll be helping them.'
I sighed, thinking for a moment, then formed my own plan off of after I leave the palace.
"How long till your ship is finished with repairs?" I asked, already making up my mind based on the novels plot, not wanting to drive the hero and his party to far from it, but also putting forth some of my own plans.
"Hm should be done in about two days, but we also have to get our stuff all back onto the ship and situated, so more closer to the end of the week."
"Good, then after its finished, we are going to have to take a bit of a detour from your parties original destination!" I smiled mischievously once again, but this time meaning it.
===
A commotion outside my doors brought me back to reality, snapping me out of my flash back.
'Ughhhhh, I really wish i wasn't half elf right now!' I thought, hearing exactly who it was out side of my door and immediately wanting to jump out of my window.
'I really wish this room had a balcony!' I thought, going over to the window farthest from the doors, opening the curtains, and lighting a cigarette, 'I could really go for a nice can of cold beer and some jerky right now!'
***
A few moments prior, Llyr was lying on his bed, kicking his feat and giggling like a girl who just got asked out by her crush.
'Hahaha! Oh, Lev! I knew he didn't hate me! Especially the way he came in like a prince saving his princess, he was so cool!' Llyr thought, giggling to himself some more.
He kept giggling to himself, rolling around and kicking his feet, before stopping and sighing like a high schooler in love. The began drooling as he thought of the scene where he burst into his room and defended him from the assassin.
'Ooooohhhhh, he was so sexy then! I wanted to take him then and there!'
He thought, thinking of his smell from all of their intimate times, thinking of all of the erotica fairy tales he read in the past and putting him and Lev in those scenes.
"Ahhh, I want to go see him!...But that stupid guard dog of his will get in my way…Though he is my fiance now, so maybe I could use that as leverage to get him to let me at least talk to him!" He spoke out loud, springing out of bed and getting changed quickly before setting off to Lev's room.
The servants he passed greeted him as he made his way there in long strides, though they didn't get a response since his mind was currently full of the desire to hug Lev and keep him in his embrace.
He soon felt the air whooshing from cliff next to him and smelt clean ocean air, reminding him of the underwater palace, though it also reminded him of how close he was to Lev's chambers and his Dog-like butler.
As Llyr was closing in on his destination, a frown formed at his face. Sir. Gwyneira was stationed at his door, right in between the two of them, his hands behind his back and a cold expression of anger forming on his upon seeing the love-driven King.
"Good morning, Sir Gwyneira," Llyr greeted, a fake smile drawn on his face but knives in his words.
"Yes, good morning, your Majesty. To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit this early in the morining?" Victor questioned, resting his hand of the hilt of his sword and restraining himself from wearing a scowl and curing the insane king out.
"Hm~, nothing in particular, I just wanted to be there when my fiance wakes up, thats all!" He said happily, smiling even more at the word 'fiance' not just because he knew it would anger the vampire, but also because it reminded him that Lev is his now.
"...Haaaaa," Victor in turn sighed, then glared at him slightly, before angling his head up slightly, "Do you not remember what happened the night before? You are forbiden from seeing the Viscount unless he himself wants to see you or if His Majesty King Roman approves of a formal visit."
'This dog is smarter than i gave him credit for,' Llyr thought to himself, creating scenarios of getting rid of Victor in his head.
"And? He is still my Fiance, i should be able to see him when i please, no?" Llyr shot back, his smile twitching.
"While that is true, His lordship is a noble of the Quare Kingdom, and our customs say that other wise it is a planned formal visit, two fiance's may not just see each other willy nilly, even if they are visiting each others estate," Victor said, glaring even more and his words feeling like thorns to Llyr.
"WHY YOU!....Huuuu, fine. Then, I suppose i'll have to come back some other time," Llyr sighed, admitting defeat and walking away, his shoulders slumped and dreams of hugging Lev while he is sleeping withering away.
Meanwhile, Victor smiled as he watched the love-crazed king walk away.
"As if there will ever be a next time," The vampire knight snickered, smiling curtly.
Luckily, he said it quietly enough for the Finfolk King not to hear. Picking himself back together and into a suitable enough expression to greet his master, he turned to the door and knocked.
"M"Lord, are you awake?" He called, unsure of whether Lev had heard it or not.
"Mmm, Yes, come in Victor," The half-dark elf noble called from inside.
Victor then opened the door, closing it behind him, then pausing at a sight that had shocked him and he'd never seen since the noble obtained his first divine power.
Lev, the Viscount he serves oh-so diligently, was leaning against the window sill, his back turned to the door and cigarette smoke wafting up from in front of him.
"Heh, good morning Victor, did you have a good rest?" Lev asked, smiling and looking at Victor. The sun light coming from behind him made it look as if an angel descended upon the man, which made his heart pound for a moment.
'...Why must there feelings haunt me.'
"Haaa, My Lord, what did I say about smoking?" Victor sighed, walking towards Lev and taking the cigarette from his hand before throwing it out the window into the ocean.
"I know, I know…It just makes it better sometimes, you know?" Lev said turning back to the window, an expression full of longing on his face.
Victor felt a pang in his heart upon seeing an expression like that on the one he swore to guard for the rest of his long life. He then brushed some hair then fell out of place behind Lev's long elf ears, making the confused man turn towards him.
"Please, try to get some more rest. We have a full day tomorrow, with the Heroes plan and all," Victor commented, handing out his hand for the rest of his Masters cigarettes.
"Yeah, yeah. Make sure you wake me up early tomorrow, i'd like to take some of the clothes here with me. Despite being here against my will due to someones obsessiveness, the clothes are quite nice," Lev admitted, handing Victor the two packs of cigarettes that were in his pockets.
"Of course, if that is what you wish…Just, remind me to check them for any tracking spells of enchantments, I don't want him to track you to wherever you plan on hiding till things settle," Victor added, shoving the cigarettes into his pockets to dispose of later, then going back out the doors to find Araluen and ask her to bring the luggage the heroes party brought for Lev.