52 Levi and the Merchant King 3 (1/2)

A flash of confusion made its way into Levi's dainty features. Why was Luke suddenly all worked up that he even barged into his room bearing all this angst? He was pretty sure he didn't do anything these past few days. Levi has been so behaved he could almost rival a saint, alright?

'Okay. I might be exaggerating. Is this about that cake I smuggled into my room last night? Oh no, did Luke find out I took it?' Levi sat upright in panic and started twiddling his fingers like a kid caught red-handed.

However, even before he could utter a single word of defence Luke had grabbed unto his collar. Being a bit deprived in the height department while Luke had been blessed by the heavens, Levi could only look on helplessly at the raging man.

”You're in here hiding like a rat and causing your Lady, the master you're supposed to serve whole-heartedly, all sorts of problems. Chalice is about to sacrifice the best course of action for her plans and for the fief for a coward like you! And I dare say you were too caught up in your own world that you didn't even notice it or think about it. Say Levi; are you really a knight or masquerading just as one?”

The scathing tone of Luke's every syllable made Levi even more puzzled.

'What is Luke saying? So, this isn't about the cake...what then?' Levi was confounded. He gaped at the striking, more often than not calm and gentlemanly man that was about to spit fire at him. It seems Luke has a fiery side to him as well. And his reverse scale was none other than their mistress.

”Let me down, first. I really don't get what you're saying alright? I'm long-winded like that.” Levi chose, and quite wisely too, not to fight fire with fire. After all, he really was clueless as to what Luke was furious about.

Luke haphazardly released him causing Levi to hit the marbled floor painfully. But he dared not say a single word of complaint for fear of infuriating the former even more.

”I thought so. You really weren't aware. I'm not surprised since you just up and left the moment you heard the words Merchant King. And you never showed yourself afterwards. How stupid of you. If you had just been conscientious enough and curbed whatever demons it was that you were hiding, and actually asked Chalice what she needed the Merchant King for then maybe your dim-witted head would finally understand.”

He loosened his tie as Luke glared disdainfully at the knight. He has gone back to his usual, calm self. Although, his anger has subsided it didn't mean that he wasn't still annoyed with Levi. The man was usually bright on most days. Though most of it he spends unhealthily admiring himself. (William and most of the maids were witness to this.)

Has his unusual reaction triggered something in those brilliant cogs of her mind?

'I say! That woman and her over thinking.'

Luke sighed resignedly as he headed for the door. He tilted his head pointedly at Levi with a neutral expression masking his face.

”Collaboration for the opening of the first ever Auction House in the fief; its aim is to open up a new commercial centre and a trade route for the Eashen jade. The lady has stumbled upon a jade vein and it has opened up an industry with high economic potentials. One that can catapult Amaranth into unimaginable heights.”

He paused and turned his back to the knight. Luke knew it was easy for him to ruminate on the possible results of the said collaboration. He didn't need to explain to Levi its overall impact to the Lady and the fief's future prospects.

”Unfortunately, my lady has assumed that the Merchant King has somehow done her precious knight wrong. She'd rather suffer setbacks than cooperate with a probable foe.”

With one last glance at the dazed knight, Luke walked away in a manner far from that of how he came.