DANGG!!!
"KYOKO, LET'S TAaaaaalllllkkkk....."
Subaru stood frozen in disbelief, his mouth agape as he took in the astonishing spectacle before him. His eyes widened as he watched his sister sit on top of—a strikingly handsome man—who actually kidnapped her before.
He was too speechless when his sister's lips were on Reinhard's neck, leaving several reddish hickeys, which were only available for those in a relationship.
Not only that, Rem, Ferris, and even Julius himself were flabbergasted by the scene in front of them. The Sword Saint, the man who is known as the most disciplined and responsible man in this world, Reinhard Van Astrea, can do such a face, with the sight of him caught in a moment of vulnerability, his usually warm and friendly expression transformed by surprise.
"A-Ah," Reinhard also lost his words and failed to respond quickly due to his shock as his face and ears turned into red tomatoes. He didn't expect that his friends would meet him this morning at the wrong time, at this embarrassing moment.
As if the situation couldn't get more complicated, he heard a distinct click of Kyoko's tongue around his neck. He watched Kyoko slowly get off himself with an annoying expression. She was really pissed off.
"S-Sis!!!" Subaru finally found his voice, raising his index finger and directing it at his sister, the disbelief in his tone impossible to miss., "WHAT THE HELL YOU DOING!!!?"
"That's also my question, idiot...." Kyoko stands up in front of Reinhard, covering the Sword Saint so he can soothe his clothes to hide the hickey on his neck.
"YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT IS KNOCK, DUMBASS!!!? KNOCK BEFORE ENTERING!!! DON'T YOU SEE I'M BUSY RIGHT NOW!!!?"
"EXCUSE ME!!? I DON'T THINK YOUR QUESTIONS RELATED TO MY QUESTION!!? JUST ANSWER MINE FIRST!! WHAT THE FUCK YOU DOING WITH REINHARD, ALONE IN THIS LIBRARY, WITH RED HICKEY ON HIS NECK!!?"
"IT'S MY PERSONAL BUSINESS!!! YOU DON'T NEED TO KNOW IT BECAUSE YOU JUST RUINED MY LOVELY TIME WITH MY REINHARD!!!"
Kyoko smiled and clenched her fist with a mix of hope and happiness. The memory of Reinhard's adorable and eager expression kept popping into her head as she declared passionately,
"It's not every day that I can see Reinhard being such a clingy person!! It's so cute that I want to keep him right now for myself and KICK ALL OF YOU OUT FROM HERE!!!"
"SISTER, STOP ASHAMED YOURSELF!!! I KNOW YOU LIKE YOUR HANDSOME BOY BUT THIS IS ANOTHER LEVEL!!! YOU CAN'T ATTACK REINHARD AGAINST HIS WILL!!"
"WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT!!? REINHARD IS CUTE!! MY REINHARD IS TOO CUTE!!! DO YOU THINK I CAN HOLD MYSELF WHEN HE BECOMES SO CUTE THAT I WANT TO EAT HIM!!!?"
"STOP USING CUTE FOR THAT GUY!!! YOU ALREADY SAY IT THREE TIMES!!!!"
Reinhard's hand was placed on Kyoko's shoulder to tell her to calm down. He tries to hide all his embarrassed expression behind that fake smile mask as if he doesn't care for those witnessing the previous scene. That's also included how tidily he covers his neck with his black shirt that coincidently can cover the marks.
"Milady, let's take a moment to breathe. They may have something crucial to discuss with us this morning." He said, give an eye sign to Ferris and Julius to not mention what happened before.
Woahhhhh... He is a really professional knight as if he's innocent...
Kyoko tilted her head slightly, her hair cascading elegantly as she turned around. Taking a seat on the couch, she crossed her legs and said firmly, "If Reinhard thinks that, then there's nothing more I can do about it."
"Sis, Are you his dog or what?"
"If your motive is to come here and insult me, you better pick your ass back to your elf."
"Wow, your tongue is as sharp as ever." Subaru strode confidently towards his sister, stopping in front of her with an unwavering gaze. All her insults remain untouched in his heart. If she said like to him that in the past, he probably snapped. But, it is better not to be childish too much towards someone who has the same bloodline as you.
"So, what are you doing here, idiot?"
He met her eyes with a steady and assured stare, "Actually, I'm here to apologize to you... For everything I said before...."
"Ah." Kyoko's mouth fell open, a clear testament to her shock at hearing something utterly unprecedented in her life. Her face looked at him, disbelief as she asked,
"Subaru, did you take the wrong medicine or what?"
"THIS IS WHY I NEVER APOLOGISE TO YOU!!! EVERY TIME I DO THIS, YOU NEVER BELIEVE ME!!! DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH I TRY TO ENCOURAGE MYSELF TO DO THIS!!!?"
"So, you're..... drunk?"
"I CAN'T DRINK, KYOKO!!! I'M UNDERAGE!!!"
"Yeah, yeah, yeah. Whatever. So, what's your other motive? I don't believe that is your only reason for ruining my time with Reinhard..."
"Stop being obsessed with him, sis." Subaru sighed, placing his right palm on the right waist, "I want Reinhard to stay at home for today, but these guys behind me want to steal him from you."
"Ferris and Julius? What are you two doing here?" Reinhard who realized their presence, immediately asked in confusion. Not every day he saw his friends come to his home, especially this morning.
Ferris responds nervously as he plays with his fingers, "That... Reinhard, I actually need your help. This is about... Countess Diane."
"Countess Diane? Is she already in the capital——"
Kyoko's eyes became sharp, and her expression from annoyance immediately dropped. Her forehead frowns as her eyes become dead, emptying without soul. Her current expression shows how terrifying she is than anyone, more than any witch.
"Countess... Diane?"
Her voice was so deep, filled with jealousy and envy. It's too cold, too cold that anyone who hears those voices will crumble and tremble for fear. As if it's not humans who stand there, talking and asking in front of them, but anonymous entities created from darkness that will plant fear inside of them.
A dragon.
"Mi-Milady—!?" Reinhard called her with concerns before something happened. His Divine Protection of Sword Saint screams, the unpleasant voice shouting inside his head when he hears Kyoko's words.
It's too loud.
Too loud that he can feel the pain inside his heart and his head.
The scream filled with fear and pain like a deep wound was forced to open.
The sound of a woman's scream.
The sound of madness.
For instance, he remembers memories that he was once told by his grandmother, the previous Sword Saint, about the voice of the Sword God, the unknown entity in legends who blessed the Dragon Sword Reid, the Dragon Sword that is currently wielded by Reinhard.
Could it be that voice is... Sword God?
"Reinhard."
"Yes, milady."
She smiled.
She smiled to mask her anger.
"Who is.... Countess Diane?"
*
*
*
Reinhard knows this will eventually happen. In the past, when Kyoko stayed in his manor before the Royal Selection, he was caught meeting someone.
That's Countess Diane.
The beauty of Lugunica and the Queen of Society.
She confidently earned her own titles by seducing a relative of the royal family. While the details of how she accomplished this remain unclear, it's clearly a topic that has sparked much speculation and intrigue among the people.
And that woman always clings to Reinhard every time she has a chance.
Whenever The Sword Saint attended a social event, she was the first one who greeted him and dragged him everywhere later. She will never ever let him go once she catches his arm.
Her personality constantly draws the spotlight onto herself, with heavy perfumes that nearly give Reinhard a headache. And then there's her choice of dress color—it's far too vibrant, almost overwhelming in its boldness.
Reinhard couldn't stand against her.
Throughout his life, Count Reinhard viewed Countess Diane as a curious enigma—an audacious spirit who danced on the edge of rudeness, effortlessly embodying a playful jester—a clown.
And she is also the reason why Reinhard almost lost his virginity to Kyoko out of jealousy.
Thankfully, he successfully persuaded and explained the reason to Kyoko despite hiding the identity of Countess Diane. If Kyoko knows about her...
Reinhard doesn't want to think about that.
Ferris taking one step forward. His cat tail swung around as he explained, "Countess Diane is known as the Queen of Society. People said that she was the beauty of Lugunica born with pure talent. I don't know the details but she comes to Capital sometimes and right now, she requested Reinhard's presence—"
Thud!!
The loud sound of shoes stomping on the table with force drives all the attention to Kyoko. Everyone in this room can see how tightly she is biting her bottom lips, which could bleed anytime, gazing her hatred into Ferris.
"Why would that woman want Reinhard?"
Ferris flinched in fear. The woman in front of him is much scarier than his master, Lady Crusch, and other Royal Selection Candidates, "T-That... She wants Reinhard to escort her back to her territory."
"Huh?"
"EKKK!!? I-I..."
"She requested Reinhard to escort her back to her room. She's an important figure in Lugunica, so we can't ignore her request." Said Julius, taking his friend's spot to continue the explanations.
Subaru sighed annoyed, asking to represent his sister's emotions, "Why does she need Reinhard when you two can escort her?"
"She requested Reinhard——"
"I know that, but you two are already strong enough to escort her back. No need to asking Reinhard's help—"
"Natsuki Subaru, this matter is about Lady Kyoko and Reinhard. You don't relate—"
"My sister's matter is also my matter."
Both of them glare at each other coldly as if they're ready to kill until one of them is dead. Subaru holds hostility against Julius for hurting his pride and breaking his relationship with Emilia. He blames Julius for everything—
"Stop, you two. If you want bickering, do it outside. " Kyoko stepped on, massaging her forehead as she sighed hopelessly.
"My mood is ruined now. I don't know what Countess Diane wants from Reinhard nor why she needs him exactly, but I will not give him. Tell that woman that my Reinhard isn't available right now. Get out."
"But—"
Before Ferris can protest, Kyoko raises her index finger towards him and Julius. Her golden eyes glowing under her dark hair, showing her inhumanly horizontal pupils like a reptile as she firmly stated,
"I said, get out."
*
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