11 Public Display of Affection (1/2)

TILLY let the Belington Siblings join her table. Now, the two were enjoying their hot tea while she was having her third glass of iced tea. So far, the siblings offering small talk with her. But she could feel it in her bones that they weren't there to talk about boring stuff like the state of her father's business.

But she was playing along with the Belington Siblings because even if her father was a duke and theirs was a marquis, the House Prescott and House Belington were equal in terms of wealth and power in the social circle.

[In short, I just can't pick a fight with them.]

But luckily, all her jewelries had spirit stones. After all, their family had been producing the highest quality of spirit stones ever since her ancestor's time.

Anyway, one of the spirit tones in her bracelet had the magical ability to record voices. During her time in the modern world, she learned that the best way to ”burn” an enemy was to keep ”receipts” or evidence. If the situation called for it, she would record her conversation with the Belington Siblings.

”Lady Prescott, I heard you're now officially engaged to Captain Kiho,” Lady Belington said with a not-so-trusty smile. ”Congratulations.”

Tilly smiled politely. ”Thank you, Lady Belington.”

”Are you really going to marry the captain of the Black Serpents?” Sir Belington asked in a somewhat condescending tone. ”What would you get if you marry a commoner like him? I can't believe that Duke Prescott allowed Kiho to be his heir.”

[Okay, they're starting.]

Tilly discreetly touched the yellow topaz stone embedded on her bracelet. All she had to do to activate its recording function was to press the stone.

[I'm so prepared.]

”Brother, haven't you heard about the High Priest's prophecy?” Lady Belington asked her brother. ”According to His Eminency, the future child of Sir Kiho and Lady Prescott is going to be a special existence to the empire. Because Lady Prescott was personally picked by His Majesty, the duke was forced to accept the captain as his daughter's husband and his heir.” Then, the lady turned to her and gave her a look full of pity. ”I feel bad for you, Lady Prescott. If you need a friend to talk to, don't hesitate to send me a letter.”

”Thank you for the offer but I'm fine,” Tilly said with a smile. ”First of all, my father wasn't forced to accept Sir Kiho as my husband. He accepted the captain because he believes that it's our noble duty to contribute to our empire by fulfilling the prophecy. But most of all, it's my personal choice to marry Sir Kiho.”

”But why would you marry a monster like Kiho?” Sir Belington asked. ”Lady Prescott, if you're afraid of breaking off the engagement because of the captain, just say so. I will help you.”

Tilly already expected that because in her past life, Michael Belington also expressed his intention to steal her away from Kiho. She turned him down then because she wanted to gain the emperor's trust. But right now, she would not only refuse this asshole. She would also stand up for her fiancé. ”Why would you do that when I wasn't even asking for your help?”

The siblings looked shocked by her retort.

Tilly knew that the siblings would now show their true intentions so she pretended to fix her bracelet, then secretly pressed the yellow topaz stone. [Bring it on, evil siblings.]

”Excuse me?” Sir Belington asked, obviously offended. ”Lady Prescott, I'm willing to go to His Majesty and convince him to stop your marriage with Kiho. We grew up together so I don't want to see you suffer just because of a stupid prophecy.”

”My brother and I were only concerned about you, Lady Prescott,” Lady Belington told her with a scowl. ”How dare you stomp on our good will?”

Tilly sipped her iced tea before she spoke. ”It seems like you won't get it unless I spell it out for you so please excuse my being straightforward: Lady Belington, Sir Belington, please mind your own business. My upcoming union with Captain Kiho has nothing to do with you. Your concern is appreciated but not necessary.”

Once again, the siblings looked shocked.

”Aren't you being a little too rude, Lady Prescott?” Sir Belington asked in a loud voice. Thanks to his yelling, now they got the attention of everyone around them. Even the customers from inside the café were watching them even though they couldn't probably hear them. ”Is Kiho's lack of proper manners rubbing off on you?”

[Okay, I can't let that slide!]

”That's 'Captain Kiho' to you, Sir Belington,” Tilly corrected him in a stern voice. ”I'm trying to be patient because I don't want to make a scene. But I can no longer endure the way you disrespect Sir Kiho. You may have your bias, but it won't change the fact that Sir Kiho is the captain of one of the Orders in the empire. I'm disappointed that a member of the Golden Tiger Knights can't even show basic manners to a captain. I'll make sure that Sir Dustin Ainsworth will be informed of this.”

Sir Dustin Ainsworth was the heir of Duke Ainsworth and the captain of the Golden Tiger Knights. Sir Ainsworth was known for his intolerance to knights who abused their power.

No wonder Sir Belington suddenly went pale.

”Take that back,” Lady Belington threatened her. ”If you ruin my brother's honor as a knight, I will make sure that the social circle will never accept you or your monster of a husband until I'm alive.”

”Do you know that House Prescott produces the best spirit stones in the empire?” Tilly asked with a smirk. Then, she put her elbow on the table to show the siblings her beautiful and very useful bracelet. ”I have a recording of everything you said a while ago– including the one where you said that the High Priest's prophecy is ”stupid.” If this recording spread in the empire, who do you think between us would be kicked out from the high society?” She smirked when Lady Belington's face turned as pale as her brother's. ”Definitely not me, right?”

Like Tilly expected, Sir Belington grabbed her by the wrist to probably snatch away her bracelet.

[Hah! I knew you'd do that.]

As soon as Sir Belington touched Tilly, she commanded her Mana to burn. When her magical ability was activated, her body temperature began to rise until she was literally hot.

Sir Belington stood up and screamed in pain. When he let go of her wrist, he looked shocked when he realized that his hand was burnt. Upon realizing that it was her Mana that hurt him, he scowled and tried to attack her.

But Lady Belington stood up and grabbed her brother by the arm to stop him. Then, she turned to the knights that happened to pass by. Based on the knights' crest, they were from the Golden Tiger troop. No wonder the stupid siblings suddenly looked relieved.

”Golden Tiger Knights, help us,” Lady Belington said to the knights. ”Lady Prescott attacked my brother!”

”She did!” Sir Belington added while pointing a finger at her. ”She burnt my hand!”

Tilly rolled her eyes at the jerk before she stood up with her head held high. [Aren't you a knight yourself? Why are you complaining to your fellow knights?]

Tilly was about to put Sir Belington in place when she felt a sudden chill.

Then, her eyes widened when she saw a faint of ice blue, thin smoke around Sir Belington's finger– the one that was pointing at her. It seemed like the guy hadn't noticed yet that his finger was now starting to get covered in ice.

[That's Kiho's Mana!]

***

Tilly couldn't see Kiho yet but she could feel his presence.

She didn't want Kiho to be accused of attacking another knight so she grabbed Sir Belington's finger. Using her Mana, she thwarted the ice around his finger discreetly. Poor Sir Belington once again screamed in pain. ”Don't point your finger at me,” she hissed at him, then she let go of his finger when she was sure that the ice around it already melted.

”Did you see that?” Lady Belington screamed at the Golden Tiger Knights. ”Lady Prescott attacked my brother again!”