The well-awaited Astral Ball was coming within three days, and so was the end of Queen Lovushka’s shows in the Amphitheater.
Which also meant the end of the collaboration between the Artisans and Monks.
As they were wrapping up the final performance, a play about the day that the God of Light and Truth, Aurion met the Goddess of Love and Compassion, Seelie…
Marigold took it upon herself to approach Calla, who was talking to Lovushka about their duties as the host and hostess for the ball in three days’ time.
“Excuse me, Apprentice Naemhnaid.” The priestess said nervously, looking down and unable to look at her eyes directly. “I would like to speak with you.”
Calla Lily raised an eyebrow. “Can you not see that I am currently unavailable?”
Lovushka chuckled. “Hey, take it easy on the Monk, she must not be used to the prickly straightforwardness of us actors.”
Calla rolled her eyes. “Ah, whatever. We are done already, I guess I’ll entertain this nonsense for a while.”
Marigold shook her head. “It’s not nonsense. Just…..”
She took a deep breath, and grabbed Calla’s hand.
The actress became annoyed. “Where are you taking me?”
Marigold had taken her to the garden and delivered an endless string of words without even breathing. She was really hell-bent on having Calla come into an understanding with her, and if they can’t even be friends, then at least she’ll know her perspective.
By the time she was done, she was huffing and catching her breath, her face red.
Meanwhile, this may be one of the very few moments in Calla’s life that she was genuinely surprised and speechless.
She took a while to respond.
And in the end…..
All she could do was nod.
Romin overheard that very lengthy monologue by the priestess and couldn’t help but grin. She and that prince were really the same, maybe its a Gold Heartstone thing, or maybe its simply how ‘good’ people were when it comes to apologizing.
He only passed them by as he was bringing his new victims to his room. He didn’t dally longer to overhear how Calla would respond…..
But based from that reaction alone, there’s a chance that the priestess’ apology was successful.
“…. And it’s alright if you do not forgive what my father have done, or what our kind had done to yours, but know that I would never loathe you simply for what you are! I accept you and wishes to be your friend!”
It’s the same thing as what Cermin said that day, just worded better.
They were really ridiculous, these kind of people.
But Calla was not an ‘evi and cynical’ type like him and was simply a ‘good but with a brain’, so she’s bound to buy this kind of enthusiastic apologies.
Ronin was in a bad mood thinking about this and only took 50% Flame of his victims that day. As he got rid of them and made them forget…
He laid in his room, thinking about that image that flashed for a while over Cermin’s face when he said:
“I will never abandon you. I will always be your friend.”
And that’s true, because only because he have no one else. Because he needed him.
Once Ronin made a slip up and he suddenly regained interest in his harem again, or had new people show fondness for him…
Who’s to say he wouldn’t forget about this promise and abandon their friendship?
‘People may think that they simply do things out of ‘love’, but that is one big LIE. ‘
Ronin never forgot about this nihilistic and cynical philosophy:
‘The truth was that we cling onto people from the fear of being alone. We cannot stand to be by ourselves, and so we seek intimacy or compassion or all sorts of bullshit.’
‘Your parents take care of you because they’re expecting you to be good, filial children after that, and pay back all the hardships they went for taking after you. Your friends expect you to share things with them and help carry all the personal problems and worries. Your lover wanted physical satisfaction and someone to make a family with.’
‘It’s a transaction. All this ‘
“love” thing is purely a business transaction that people do not even notice.’
‘There’s no such thing as “True Love”—‘
Knock! Knock!
He rubbed his face. There could only be one person knocking on his door this late. Perfect timing as always.
“Yes, Your Highness?” Ronin asked sleepily.
“Hi. You’re not asleep yet?” Cermin seemed to be holding something behind his back excitedly.
Ronin suppressed a grumble. “I was almost about to. What is it?”
Cermin grinned and held out what he was hiding.
“Ta-da! I had this tailor-made for you!” He said proudly. “I know that your parents… Sorry, I mean your father, probably could not afford something, so I decided to keep it as a surprised gift.”
Ronin blinked.
It was a suit. A shiny purple suit with black accents and red accouterments. It was fitting for a prince, but unlike most of the overbearing and puffy clothes of the medieval setting, it was a little skin-tight enough to show the body shape of the wearer.
It must cost an arm and leg, and not to mention all the lace and filigree must be made by the masters themselves. There was no way this was created in just a few week’s time.
“Since when did you have this made, Your Highness?” Ronin examined the outfit.
“Since I first learned about the Astral Ball!” He grinned. “You’d be a heartstopper once you wear this! At first I thought it could bring girls to you, but I think it can attract boys too—“
“I’m not going to the ball.” Ronin said.
‘And especially not to stop the hearts of men. Well, maybe I would literally.’
Cermin blinked. “B-But….. This only happens every 16 years! And this is also our last years in the Academy! Who would join me there then, I have no one else to hang out with—“
“I see.” Ronin sneered.
This proves his point earlier perfectly. This gift, this suit….. It’s not out of goodwill from Cermin’s heart.
It’s a string. Baiting Ronin, making him feel indebted to his kindness. All because he was scared of attending this ball alone.
Cermin remembered his gege from that sneer, that mocking smile. He faltered for a moment, feeling like he did something wrong again.
“O-Oh….. But if you really don’t want to, I won’t force you. I’m sorry, I knew you were antisocial since the start.” He looked down. “But still, I just… I wanted to make happy memories with you before I…..”
(Before I have to go back to the kingdom and have my coronation as the next in line to be king, and be engaged to someone, be busy fighting villains and monsters.)
(Before that happens, I want to forget all my worries for the past and the future. Just be happy in the present with you.)
He didn’t say all that and kept it to himself, looking like a poor kid who didn’t get the toy he wanted as he shifted from foot to foot. He shook his head and tried to be chipper.
“Nevermind. Sorry for bothering you so late. I’ll go back before the patrol guard catches me breaking curfew again—“
Ronin grabbed him inside in annoyance. “Fine, fine. Just stop making that face already.”
Cermin’s eyes widened like two large saucers. “Eh?”
“Stay here for the night. I’ll try it on and join you so you won’t be upset.” Ronin said with a scowl, taking the suit from him.
‘I can also use it as an opportunity to feed on people’s Flames anyway.’ He reasoned to himself.
Who said good people cannot be manipulative? This was a form of manipulation and Cermin didn’t even realize it, this constant apologizing and acting upset and shit.
His eyes lit up once again like a blinding sunbeam, and smacked Ronin’s back happily. “Yes! Thank you! You will rock this outfit, I know it! Then we’ll have so much fun and have the best party of our lives!”
Ronin fought the urge to smack him back until he puked blood, and just forced a smile. “Yes…. Yes… Wait here.”
He went to the bathroom to try the suit on.
It really does fit him perfectly. How did the prince even got his measurements precisely?
The padding made his shoulders even broader and he looked like some kind of dashing noble despite his dull black skin. Ronin had grown tall and large over the years due to his constant Flane-feeding, and he was half-way that humongous and intimidating 8 feet build of Ronin Dreadborne in Level 100.
Once he was done examining himself in the mirror, he could not help but think…
That this could be what he would have looked like if he chose to be a hero.
If somehow Ronin Willowe chose to be a Diamond Heartstone to protect the innocent and defeat evil.
And it was honestly not that bad on him.
But it was also very much fake. Looking like a hero was like wearing a disguise for him. It doesn’t suit his cold black heart and soul on the inside.
“I’m done.” He said, opening the door.
Cermin immediately stood up once he saw him, dazed for a while. Ronin sensed that his heart must have stopped for just a millisecond.
Then, he clapped and praised him so much.
“WOW! I knew you would look amazing in it! Very nice!”
But these claps and praises were actually hiding the true reason why he looked so surprised.
(He look so much like gege on our prom night.)
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