Roswaal L. Mathers, the noble holding the title of a margrave was the lord of this domain and Hedin's host for as long as he was at the mansion. And considering the things he had heard from Emilia and looking at the state of everyone else here, he couldn't be told to look forward to the meeting.
He wasn't. In all honesty, he wasn't.
But perhaps he still held hope that however eccentric the Margrave might be, he would at least be emotionally sound. That was the only thing he hoped.
And as he moved towards the dinning room, raven at his shoulder, led by Ram and accompanied by Emilia, he wasn't quite sure anymore.
These people are bound to cause trouble... Sigh! And yet, I can't bring myself to leave here. As much as Hedin wanted to leave, his conscience wouldn't allow him to. He was a good person at heart. He wanted to help anyone he could. And he had never regretted being a good person. Not now, not ever.
"Hey, Emilia." Hedin whispered to Emilia.
"Yes?" Emilia whispered back.
"I know we've already went over this but... The Margrave is of a sound mind correct?"
"Um. I guess?" Emilia said, though she didn't sound too sure herself.
"That's reassuring." Hedin said and quieted down. The raven softly pecked at his head to offer it's condolences.
Not too long after, they arrived at the dining room and Ram opened the door. And instantly, the first impression Hedin got of the Margrave was of a clown. No, quite literally.
The Margrave was a tall man, as tall as Hedin for that matter and he was exquisitely dressed. He wore a dark suit that had a hanging tailcoat with dark purple and grey mix of colours. On his head rested a full length top hat and his hands were covered by gloves. And as he stood there, right before the dining table, his face turned to them; Hedin could not help but disregard his proper clothing entirely.
Why?
His face was covered with paint. His entire face was pale white, with his eyes covered in yellow and green. In all honesty, he looked like a clown. Perhaps that was the intent; and if it was, it was working. Regardless, Hedin didn't feel all too hopeful at this moment.
At the end of the room, right behind the seat of honour where the lord of the house would be seated, stood the blue haired maid, Rem. The table was already full with various dishes.
"Myyyyy~" The clown, the man Hedin presumed was Roswaal L. Mathers, began in a peculiar tone. "What a woooonderful occaaaaaasion! I welcome you to my estate, Heeeeeediin."
"Ahem!" Hedin coughed and smiled. He walked forward, bowed a bit and introduced himself.
"Hedin Haverill. A humble traveller." He said. Raven flapped his wings and croaked, introducing himself as well. "And this is Raven." Hedin chuckled.
"My~ What mannnneers! Myself Roswaal L. Mathers~" Roswaal mimicked his smile and extended his hand. Hedin took his hand into a hand shake and Roswaal smiled at the raven. Then, he referred the Elf in the room. "Greetings, Lady Emilia. I doooooo apologiiiiize. I was too busy with stateeeee affaaaairs that I couldn't greeet you yesterday."
"It's alright." Emilia smiled at the man.
"Then, let us eat." Roswaal moved towards the table, followed by Hedin and Emilia.
Just as they began to be seated, the door opened once again.
With all the grandeur of a princess, Beatrice strolled into the room, her drill shaped hair hung behind her and the hem of her dress dragging along the floor.
"Hmm? Everyone is here, I see."
"Beatriiiice~ What a pleasure that you could joiiiin us todayyyy." No sooner did she step inside did Roswaal jump to greet her.
Beatrice, ever the cold individual, turned her head. "Hmph! Spare me your facade, I suppose."
"Myyyy~ How cooold~"
"Yo!" Puck appeared above Emilia in a burst of blue light. He held out his paw above his head and winked at Beatrice. "How are you Betty? Have you been prim and proper lately?"
"Bubby!" Instantly, her cold demeanour vanished into the air and she sprang forward, taking the floating cat into her arms and rubbing her face all over his fur. "Will you stay with Betty for today, I suppose?" She asked, her excitement unconcealed.
"Of course!"
"Isn't that something." Hedin muttered to himself.
"Beatrice changes completely when Puck is around." Emilia chuckled at hearing Hedin's comment. "They get along with each other well."
The raven, standing at the table croaked, and Hedin couldn't help but chuckle. His raven was a sarcastic one, that was for sure.
"Weeeellll theeeen~ Let us get to the foooood~" Roswaal said and Beatrice took a seat on the table.
...
"I must say, Lord Mathers; the food is incredible." Hedin complimented.
"Just Roswaal is fiiiiine. And Rem is quiiiiite adeeept at all household chooooress. Cooking happens to be oneeee of her specialties." The clown explained. Rem, who stood behind him alongside Ram, bowed to him.
"Thank you for the compliments, dear guest."
The food was delicious, just like Hedin had tasted yesterday; but his attention wasn't garnered by the food. Roswaal, the clown, talked a lot. Basically, he was interrogating Hedin, as was Puck earlier in the courtyard.
"Sooooo, Hedin. Where is it that you cooooommmeee from?"
"England." Hedin said, taking a bite out of the honeyed bread. "You wouldn't know of it." He continued in a matter of fact tone.
"Hmm?" Roswaal's eyes glimmered. "Why is that?"
"Even I don't know where it is." Hedin met his eyes. "I am.. Hm, how to say? An illegal immigrant."
A pregnant silence descended into the room. Emilia choked on her food and Ram suddenly sneezed.
"That's..." Puck was the first to break the silence. "Even though we already knew about that, hearing it out loud is something else." He chuckled.
"Isn't it the truth?" Hedin shook his head and looked to the seat of honour. "Basically, I was transported here. Even I have no idea how. One moment I was roaming the streets if Mulberry and then I was there, right at the centre of Lugunica."
"Well, isn't that a pecuuuuliar happening?" The clown mused. His heterochromia eyes bore into him as if he wanted to look through his soul. "But isn't that tooooo much of a happenstance? You just so haaaapened to be transported into the capital on the same day and Emilia's insiiignia was stooolen? What are the chances?"
Hedin's eyes narrowed.
"What are you insinuating?"
"I'm not insinuating anything." Roswaal chuckled. "But isn't it straaaange? A small hint is enough for the sharp miiind."
"Roswaal!" Emilia suddenly yelled, slamming her hand on the table. "Hedin wasn't the one to steal my insignia! He was just helping me! However ordered to steal it was associated with the bowel hunter!"
Before Roswaal could reply, Puck spoke.
"It's the truth, Roswaal." His eyes scanned the man. "I was the one who personally confirmed Hedin's intent. When he fought the bowel hunter, there wasn't any doubt in his heart when he went for the kill. Or are you calling me a liar?"
The air suddenly chilled and the tension turned palpable. Hedin saw sweat beginning to form on the maids' foreheads as an oppressive air descended into the room. Even
Beatrice, the spirit that had so far been quiet turned to look at the clown, her pink eyes blinking methodically.
"Of course nooooot~" Suddenly, he laughed. The tension dispersed as he continued on with his words. "I have full confidence in any oooone you have personally confiiirmed to be truthworthy!" He took a bite.
"Let me be clear." Hedin suddenly spoke, drawing the attention. "I have no desire to be treated as some sort of criminal or be under scrutiny for it. I saw her in trouble and so, I provided my help. Simple as that. Even I am confused by my current circumstance and would like nothing more than to sort it out. Now." His eyes found the clown's.
"If I may inquire, what is the actual value of the thing I helped recover?" He asked.
Roswaal's smile widened. A smile that made Hedin uncomfortable. It didn't help that, for some reason, Hedin couldn't sense his emotions. He chalked that up to Roswaal's mastery of magic — he was after all, the court magician of Lugunica.
"It seeeems to me that you're indeed terribly uninformed about the graviiiity of what you have dooooone." He said. "What Lady Emilia lost yesterday and whaaaat you helped in recovering is the insigniaaaa that legitimizes her being choooosen as one of the candidates to the throne of Lugunica."
Again, silence overtook the room. The raven croaked.
Hedin looked at Emilia with a strange expression.
She's... one of the candidates? Doesn't she seem... terribly unequipped for the task? He did not vocalize his thoughts but addressed the matter at hand. "Something of such importance and... you lost it?"
"I didn't lose it! It was stolen!" Emilia fumed, a healthy blush travelling up her face.
No wonder she was so worried about recovering it. I'd be plenty worried too if I lost my claim to the throne...
Hedin felt a bit speechless.
"Sooooo now you understand. The insignia's importance is not only personal. It iiiiis more than that. If she haaaadn't been able to recover it, sheee would have been deemed unfit to handleee a nation and hence, disqualified from the royal selection."
"I... see."
Roswaal's eyes smiled. "Speeeaking of, Hedin. Aren't you very weeell informed for someone that arrived a 2 days ago?"
Hedin shook his head.
"I have excellent information gathering skills."
"Hmm. Then let us leave it at that." The clown chuckled. Then, his expression tightened. "Then ask awaaaay. Whatever reward you wish to receive for your service, I will do my best to proviiiide it."
All eyes turned to Hedin.
Now that the weight of the insignia had been revealed, he felt the true value of his escapade. What are the chances I stumble upon a random lady who just so happens to be the next in line to rule the kingdom and just so happens to be missing the very thing that legitimizes her claim? Not to mention the entire thing is orchestrated by an unknown person from the shadows. That person hired Elsa and tried to silence all loose ends too... Is it because she's a half-elf? The nobility doesn't want her getting onto the throne and so, they're trying to play by dirty tactics?
He scanned everyone in the room. I should think my choices through. I cannot, no, I must not rush this decision. It might spell the difference between being able to return and not.
"I'll take some time to think it over."
"Then pleeease do not take toooo long."
Ram sneezed, once again.
The rest of the breakfast passed along without too much hassle. Roswaal asked some more questions pertaining to Hedin's home country and what he did before coming here. Some questions were answered, others were cleverly evaded.
And finally, the short exchange came to an end.
...
"You are monstrously tall, dear guest." Ram spoke with a monotonous voice as she measured his torso. The two sisters were all over him with measuring tapes, taking note of his measurements to make more clothes for him. Of course, as a guest of the mansion for the foreseeable future, they could not allow a single pair of clothes for him.
"I'm actually average height when it comes to my people." Hedin said absently.
"Your people?"
"Hunters, like me." Hedin explained. "Our unique powers impact our physical traits. There's no member of our group that's shorter than 5 feet 10 inches and all are invariably well built. A result of training and amplification of the natural through the light of dawn. In fact, some people might even be as tall as 8 feet."
"I understand. It seems your people are fine warriors." Ram nodded. "And do they all come with the same casual disregard for others?"
"Sister sister. It seems our guest really likes boasting about his culture."
"Okay... this is getting hectic." Hedin, again, felt a bit speechless. He was not quite sure how to deal with the maids. Should he reprimand them? Or should he shoot back? None of the options seemed viable for a fine gentleman like himself.
"Dear guest, are we also supposed to remake this?" Rem asked, holding an arm bracelet in her hand.
"Yes please." Hedin nodded. "It's an old tradition. As per the folktales, when the second hunter betrayed the first, he stabbed the left arm from where blasphemy began to take it's root. The second strike was aimed at the heart and the third at the genitalia. Because the arm it is believed that the blasphemous demons crawl up into the heart through the left arm."
He did not need to explain it, but he felt that giving out such information would only help him further. It would, after all, facilitate his relationship with the maids.
"First Hunter? Second Hunter?" Ram asked.
"They were as it sounds. The first and the second hunter." Hedin had a rare smile on his face as he talked about them. "That's an entire story. I might tell you guys someday. For now, it seems that we're almost done."
"Indeed we are." Ram replied, taking a measure of his arms while Rem measured his shin.
No one talked for a few heartbeats before Hedin felt his eyes narrow.
"Hey, if you don't mind me asking." Ram and Rem turned their eyes to look at him. "You two aren't human, are you?"
Instantly, there was a shift in the air. The maids visibly froze in their tracks, the measuring tapes held tight. He felt the mana in the air surge towards Rem, gathering at her forehead.
"Why... do you ask? Dear guest?" Ram was the one to break the ice.
"Hm? I can hear the heartbeat of others." Hedin explained. "Every human has roughly the same sound. Emilia had a bit different because she is a half-elf. Same does for the demi-humans. You two also have a distinct sound from the human heartbeat."
The air seemed to return to the right temperature as the maids resumed their work, albeit with a tiny bit of awkwardness.
It seems I'm not as good at maneuvering through tough situations as I'd like to believe....
"That's correct, dear guest." Ram confirmed and said no more.
The rest of the process continued in silence.
...
By noon, Hedin had nothing to do. Emilia had to study, Rem and Ram were too awkward with him and there was only so much training her could do in a day. And so, he began to think. What was the ideal reward he could hope for at his level?
After half an hour, he had his answer. And so, he opened his door and walked outside. The hallways were as oppressively long as always and he chose a random direction to go in, hoping to find one of the maids.
How do they take care of such a large estate by themselves? I guess that's one of the advantages of being non-human. He thought. Suddenly, the door to his right shifted. No, he felt it shift.
He looked at it strangely before deciding to open it.
The door swung open, and instantly, he saw a the library... and a bed kept right in the middle with Beatrice cuddling with Puck.
"Oh! Bubby! Your fur is so soft! I co-" She froze and stared at the open door. Puck too stared at him.
Without a word, he backed away and closed the door.
Ladies and their infatuation with animals... I guess cats are indeed quite cute animals. Nodding to himself, he headed further in.
It was not long before he found Ram and she led him to Roswaal's office.
Ram opened the door and there he sat, the clown.
Hedin strolled in like he owned the place and smiled at him.
"I've decided on my reward."
"Pleeease go oooon."
"I wish to be taught how to read and write the language here and to be treated as a guest for the remainder of the time in which I figure out how to get back. Alongside that, I wish to be appropriately taught magic and it's applications and full access to the forbidden library." He finished.
Roswaal's smile didn't waver.
"Myyyyy, isn't that quiiite greedy, Hedin? The forbidden library is forbidden for a reeaaason." He chuckled.
"Is that a problem? Isn't that an appropriate reward for the task?"
"Indeeed, it might be. But the authority to provide that seeeervice does not belong solely to meeeee. It must be talked over with Beatrice as weeell." He said.
"And what of the rest?"
"That can be arrrrraaanged." Roswaal showed a toothy grin. "Then, welcome to my estate. Hedin Haverill."
...
Throw some stones.
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(Image Here)
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A/N: Read upto 10 advanced chapters on my patreon: patreon . c o m/Yesnth Just remove the spaces from between.
Cheers~