Chapter 198 I'm the victim of a round-table dispute?
(POV: Lumiere)
We gathered in the conference room at City Hall.
The new pyroapple plantation was still ongoing.
Seated around the large meeting table were Ophelia, Lucilia, and Grome. On the opposite side, Serena sat gracefully, while Stellaria lounged lazily in her chair, looking utterly bored.
With an exaggerated yawn, Stellaria spoke, "Why in the seven realms am I here?"
"Don't start this, Stellaria," I warned her, pleading for some semblance of order.
Arms folded, Ophelia raised an eyebrow at Stellaria's audacity.
"Lumiere... and just who exactly is this girl?" she inquired.
The look on her face was enough to tell me she wasn't impressed. It wasn't that Stellaria was annoying, not at all. She was just had an exotic personality that would get on the nerves of a number of people.
There was something called— "dere".
If I decided to use this to describe the ladies in the room, it'd be:
Isadora, Erodere— need I say more?
Serena, an Oujodere. She was gentle, calm and this somewhat linked with her name.
"Serena", "Serenity" hence— "Seren". Still, I didn't have that in mind when I gave her the name.
Then there was Stellaria. While she was frustratingly proud and had a god-complex of sorts, she was actually a goddess, so I suppose there was no reason to call her a Kamidere. The best classification for her was Darudere. No one, was lazier and more nonchalant than Stellaria.
I couldn't tell what Ophelia was, but we didn't see eye to eye.
It was hard to determine if she even liked me as a friend or not. Awfully confusing.
Stellaria adjusted herself slightly in the chair.
"You shouldn't address me so casually, whatever your name is."
"It's Ophelia, but I guess you're too dumb to get that into your head."
Ophelia?s glare never strayed from Stellaria's lackadaisical stare.
"Or maybe," Stellaria yawned again. "I just don't care."
"Whatever... someone as nonchalant as you isn't worth my respect," Ophelia sneered.
I let out a long sigh, trying to diffuse the brewing argument.
"Let's stay focused, shall we? We have important matters to discuss," I reminded everyone.
"Yeah... I'd be happy if we got to that." Lucilia calmly stated.
Grome rubbed his tummy, his armor clanking as he did. "I'm starving."
"Manners, Grome." Lucilia told him.
I smiled calmly, "It's fine, there'll be food soon."
"Great!" Grome grinned.
A small glare from Lucilia made Grome clear his throat before he sealed the hungry complaints spilling out from his mouth.
Serena chimed in. "Actually, Stellaria isn't a girl," she informed Ophelia.
Ahhnnn~ Serena, always an angel, even now, she was trying to resolve things between them.
Stellaria's smile widened, grateful for Serena's support.
"Thank you, little sister," she calmly replied.
Now we could move on.
Serena continued, her gaze shifting upwards as if divining some sacred knowledge. "Rather, she's a grandma," she stated matter-of-factly.
"Not you too, Serena." I sighed.
A vein throbbed on the delicate side of Stellaria's face as she shot Serena a lethal and somewhat forcefully calm glare.
"Serena?" her suppressed frustration called out her name.
With a knowing smile, she asked, "Yes, big sister?~~"
"I'm not sure... if I heard you correctly, but did you just call me a grandma?" her smile masked the boiling rage underneath.
Serena puckered her lips innocently, feigning ignorance.
"Whatever do you mean big sister?~~ I'm only complimenting your fossil of a body," she teased, her laughter bubbling forth.
"Ara~Ara, I'm quite sure Lumiere loves my body more than yours."
"Wait what—?!" Ophelia exclaimed.
Serena faced Stellaria, "Are you that desperate? You claim he loves your body and yet he's never had the interest in tasting it.."
"Oh?" Stellaria lifted one eyebrow. "I seem to remember him being as hard as a rock in Vito Heights."
"Still," Serena said with a sly grin, "you've never tasted my lord's glorious rod."
I sank to the bottom of my chair. "I'll die of embarrassment," I said, tired. Currently sighing uncomfortably under my desk, trying to focus on something else.
How could they freely discuss our sex life? There were people around.
Stellaria laughed. "Oh please, little sister. Sure, I haven't tasted his sweet, hot rod yet, but I've definitely felt the intense power of his juice on my face."
My eyes widened in shock, and I quickly stood up, knocking over my chair.
"Enough! We're not talking about this any further, please," I pleaded, my face burning with embarrassment.
They were behaving like... Fanatio...
The room fell silent, all eyes turned towards Ophelia, Lucilia, and Grome.
Their faces flushed a deep shade of crimson, mirroring my own embarrassment.
Ophelia couldn't resist her curiosity.
"Okay, spill it. What have you been up to with these ladies?!"
She was demanding. Gosh, I forgot how worked up Ophelia could get.
Stellaria let out a sultry laugh, flirting shamelessly with Ophelia.
"Oh sweetheart, believe me when I say he does things to me that he'd never dream of doing to you."
My frustration reached its peak, and I couldn't hold back any longer.
"Stellaria, there's really no need for that kind of talk," I protested.
But Ophelia wasn't about to let it slide.
With a fiery glare, she snapped at me, "Oh, shut up!"
Exasperated, I sighed deeply, running a hand through my hair.
As Ophelia turned back to Stellaria, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment, she couldn't hide her annoyance.
"Why on earth would you even care what he does to me?" she stammered.
"Oh I don't know~~" Stellaria tapped her chin gently. "Maybe because, deep down, you actually like him," she teased.
Steam practically oozed from Ophelia's ears. Her embarrassment was overwhelming.
But it was common knowledge Ophelia didn't like me.
She quickly retorted, stuttering with every word, "Th-that's... ridiculous! I don't lik... like him h— he's an idiot!"
Yep, like I said.
Grome and Lucilia exchanged knowing glances as Ophelia's gaze shifted to them.
"Shut. Up." Ophelia spoke.
Lucilia smiled mischievously, saying innocently, "Oh, I didn't say a word."
Grome cleared his throat awkwardly, feeling the need to interject, "I don't wanna be that guy, but didn't you promise us some food?"
Lucilia nudged him again.
"What?" said Grome. "I said I don't wanna be that guy."
"No it's fine," I nodded. "I'll call Um—"
To my surprise, Umbra materialized beside me with a flourish.
"No need for that, the food is ready," he announced with a confident smile.
"You're as fast as ever, Umbra," Serena commented.
Umbra gracefully bowed his head, his charismatic charm exuding from his every movement, as he replied, "I only strive to serve my esteemed master and all his beautiful companions."
Stellaria yawned theatrically. "I wish I had half the work ethic of Umbra."
Umbra chuckled lightly, brushing off the compliment, "Ah, Lady Stellaria, your flattery knows no bounds."
Serena nodded slowly, "It's true, she hasn't worked a day in her life."
Stellaria rolled her eyes. "I'm not interested in entering another argument with you," she retorted.
Ophelia, Grome, and Lucilia eagerly pointed at Umbra.
"How may I be of service?" Umbra gently offered.
"Is he a spirit?" Ophelia asked.
"Yeah, he is... there's six others like him." I told them.
"Eh?" they all said.
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