71 The Woman Who Sold the World (2/2)
He looked at Reed and said, ”Son, your clever little disguise almost duped me, I must admit. Very impressive technique, might I add.”
Reed popped out his ball and said, ”W-What? But how... I thought it was perfect. It was supposed to have fooled everyone.”
Lacrima whispered, ”To think that I'd been duped, of all people. I guess some of the insects in this place aren't half-bad for what they are…”
”You were close, but there were a couple of imperfections in how you masked your aura. I detected extremely small, yet abnormal surges of Anima in your sleep that could not have been possible for a measly contender.”
”You what, now? From me, in my sleep?! That's the first I've ever heard about something like this!”
Velvund shrugged his shoulders and said, ”It was the spirit automaton that informed about it. She detected a massive spike in Anima density a couple nights ago in your own room. I went to check on you after that and could not find any trace of a foreign intrusion so the only conclusion was… that it came from you.”
”...Son of a bitch!” muttered Lacrima under her breath in frustration. ”Sorry, boy, that one's on me, not you… I messed up.”
”In any case, I've come to pick him before he causes anymore trouble for you and the East, Your Highness. On behalf of the North, I apologize for any inconvenience that he might have caused and assure you that if he has broken anything, I have complete authority to forward that bill to the Kingscrown family,” said Lu'um.
Velvund warmly smiled and said, ”I'm sorry, dear, but I'm afraid that's not going to be possible anymore. The decision's already been written in stone since yesterday — he's joined my clan through a blood oath, not a written or verbal contract.”
He flicked his hands and a fancy white document popped out of thin air. It was a royal document that had a single red splotch on it in the shape of a thumbprint.
”You see, we, the Avunians, are a race, a family united by the blood we share. And yesterday, Reed signed this document — formally submitting his blood, his lineage into the Goldentree family tree. By law, all who carry his blood henceforth, are by birthright, part of the Goldentree Clan.”
Velvund chuckled dryly and said, ”He's already a prince, dear. Today's coronation is simply a little formality for the empire and nothing else. Reed is already part of East and there's nothing that can be done about it anymore.”
Lu'um calmly turned towards Reed and sighed in annoyance. ”You knew about this and still signed it? Everyday you seem to find another, novel way to amaze me...”
”I thought it was just another boring document I had to sign! I didn't know what I saw signing was something like that…” said Reed in a low tone.
He nervously laughed and said, ”Hey, why don't you sign one, too? M-Might as well, right, haha...”
Lu'um eyes gleamed dangerously and Reed immediately took the hint. He quickly shut up and twiddled his fingers as he looked down at the ground in fear.
”That's actually not a bad idea, son! Why not do that? We could have you both wed here, if you so wish as Avunian royalty instead of nobility in the North! I'm sure the two of wouldn't want to get married out in some frozen tundra anyways, right?” said Velvund, nodding in agreement.
”...…” Lu'um suddenly went quiet and quickly caught Reed's attention.
He peeked at her face and saw the slightest touch of crimson on her face as she stared at Reed with an expression that shocked the living hell out him. He'd never seen like that.
It was a wavering, indecisive expression. One of heightened stress, the kind one made during an important, life-changing decision.
W-Wait, she's... not actually considering it, right? Right?!
T-There's no way that she could be bought so easily like that, right?!!
N-No way.....
Lu'um closed her eyes for a moment and then said...