'The answer I gave could change my life forever....'
"I...."
Tension filled the air as Vera's smile got wider and wider, anticipating my response.
"....I refuse."
"...."
It was quiet.
An uncomfortable quiet.
A dangerous quiet.
"You....refuse?" Her tone turned ice cold as the smile on her face disappeared
"May I ask why?" Her speech was still elegant but her true emotions peaked through the mask.
I thought about my response for a moment before answering.
"You were correct. I'm distrusting, cunning and deceptive. And I also hunger for strength..."
"So why are you no-"
"Because joining you will be trouble." My words echoed throughout the quiet office.
"If I were to join you, I'm sure I will gain power. I'm sure I will reach heights I would've never reached before. But it would also come with issues." Not giving her time to respond, I continued.
"Being the personal attendant of the Heiress of a Duke could—no, WILL bring a lot of trouble. Whether its assassination attempts, political struggles, I want no part in that." I listed out my reasoning to her.
"..."
She remained quiet.
"Haaah, I somehow expected this. You're a cautious person there's no way you would want to take this deal," she said after releasing a quiet sigh.
I could feel the tension leaving my body after her words. I might have stated my words confidently but I was nervous the entire time.
During my relief, I thought about the final reason for not accepting the deal.
"Kayla Vayne."
Suddenly my heart started to drop as I heard Vera speak again.
She lifted her head and what revealed itself was a dark smile.
"You know, the guildhall is still not aware of what really happened during your hunt." I had a bad premonition as I heard her speak.
"According to witnesses, you and Henry were spotted without your hunt party. What do you think they'll suspect?"
My face remained passive but I could feel my knuckles whiten due to the pressure.
"As the daughter of a duke, my words have quite a lot of sway, you know. All I have to say is that You truly DID murder your team members, and you'll be a convict." Her voice turned taunting as the dark expression from earlier was replaced by a smile.
I felt my eyes burn with fury. I misjudged this woman.
Severely.
She suddenly smiled brighter as she asked me an innocent question.
"Know that I think about it. When was the last time you saw your sister?"
Her malicious question echoed through my mind pierced my soul like an speeding arrow.
Ever since my encounter with Aiden, I've been thinking about her. About Kayla. After finding out 4 days have passed I got even more worried. What happened to her? Is she okay? But I had to push through my concern due to the false knights and the meeting with Vera.
And since the start of this talk I made sure to not mention her, or even allude to her existence for her safety.
"Ever since your return from the hunt, you've never had the chance to check up on her right?"
It was obvious to understand what she was alluding to....
"Oh yes, I am indeed blackmailing you." With an innocent chuckle she announced a horrifying truth to me.
'She has Kayla...'
I've never felt so stupid.
'It all makes sense.'
This woman was willing to put Henry at risk just to test my responses. I should have known she would do something like this.
Even if I were to escape this mansion somehow and become a convict, Kayla's life would still be at risk.
It was a dirty move but...
"So what will it be, Mr. Crow?" Her voice turned playful, as if she knew she had won.
I could hear my molars grind against one another in anger.
"I...accept." In a low voice I admitted my loss.
"Hmm? What was that? Don't you know there is a better way for announcing your loyalty?" Like a child playing with their food she was enjoying my torment completely.
Pushing down my upcoming anger, I fell to one knee.
"I, Kaelith Vayne, resolve to become your sword and shield in whatever happens." I kept my head down while accepting my fate.
I heard footsteps approaching me along with the sound of a sword unsheathing.
"Raise your head."
When I looked up, I saw my soon-to-be master move her sword towards each of my shoulders before declaring, "As of this day forth, you, Kaelith Vayne, are my knight and personal attendant. You will always put me first and be my blade whenever I need it. Is that understood." Her smile disappeared as she seemed to take this ritual seriously.
"Yes, I accept." With my hands tied I accepted the deal.
"Great!" After the short ritual was over, she beamed with unnatural excitement.
"So how does it feel to officially become the personal attendant of the Radiant Star?" She asked, her natural grin reappearing.
Though I'm not so sure whether this smile of hers is even real...
I felt my annoyance rise at the question. When I was about to answer, the door suddenly burst open.
Bang!
Me and Vera both turned the door. What appeared there was a young girl, shoulders heaving up and down.
She appeared to be younger than me. She had long black hair that reached up to her back. She was wearing a black dress that seemed to be too big. She had pale skin and a set of radiant silver eyes. Below her right eye she had a familiar mole. The same one I had.
I knew this person.
'It can't be...'
My body started shaking as I realized who the girl was.
The young girl ran up to me and jumped into my embrace.
"Kael!" This person, my sister called out my name as I stood there in shock.
"K-Kayla?" Confusion seeped into my voice as I looked at my sister, who I assumed was held captive by that vixen.
"What, are you—how are you here? Fine?" I posed the question while suspiciously looking at Vera
Seemingly remembering something important, Kayla looked at the blond haired woman with spite. "Don't accept any deal from this woman! This witch is lying to you."
As she said that full of anger I inspected her some more.
She looked....good. Way to good for a captive or bargaining chip. Hell, I could even say she looked amazing in that dress.
I turned to look at Vera, who was suspiciously looking at the ceiling as if nothing happened.
"My lady." I didn't even hide the suspicion in my voice as I questioned the oblivious acting noble.
"Hmm, is there something wrong?" She replied, still acting ignorant.
"What's going on here." As I posed the question, someone else walked into the room.
It was Adrian, the old attendant who looked quiet apologetic and embarrassed.
"I apologize for the inconvenience my lady. As we instructed, I tried to keep her quiet during the entire exchange but she..... Threatened to scream that I was 'assaulting' her." The butler bowed deeply towards his master.
"Haaah, it's fine. I already completed the knighting ritual." With nonchalance, Vera excused the the old butler.
She then turned to me.
"As for your question...I lied." While innocently smiling she confessed.
I could feel a vein pop on my forehead.
"We already informed the higher ups at the Rift hunters about what happened. We did in fact bring your sister here but that was for a different reason."
I felt so....confused.
Despite my confusion she continued.
"While we were investigating the party's disappearance, we stumbled upon a 16 year old girl investigating it as well." I turned to look towards Kayla. She had her arms crossed and looked towards Vera with a mean look.
"Due to our prior investigation, I realized she was your sister. We took her back toward the Dawn Mansion so could be save. Who knows, Umbra might just go after her, due to their suspicions." She explained everything.
"After realizing, your true potential, I decided that I really wanted you to be my knight. So, I told Adrian to keep Kayla in her room and then bring her up to my office after our talk." She finished the entire order of events.
But that means...
"She was never in any danger, nor was I actually planning to do anything to her. It was all just a massssive bluff." Glee flashed in her eyes as revealed her deception to me.
So..... She tricked me? From start to finish I was being played?
Ever since the moment I stepped into the office, she predicted everything that was going to happen. Even that I would refuse the offer.
I felt a chill run down my spine.
'She read me like a book.'
Reading my expression, she chuckled. She walked right in front of me again. I didn't realize it before, but I was quite a bit taller than her. She seemed to be about 173 cm in contrast to me being about 180 after my awakening.
"So, I'm glad to have you, my knight." Giggling like a normal teenager, she emphasized the last two words.
I truly hate this woman.
***
'That vixen tricked me.'
I clenched my teeth after recalling the events that happened a few days ago.
She might look innocent and perfect on the outside but she's nothing but a manipulative woman.
"Haaaah" I let out a sigh and released my frustration.
'I suppose it isn't all bad.'
She might have tricked me, but this is an opportunity. She wasn't lying about me getting power and resources.
If an awakened wants to grow, they need a lot of resources and money. Which is why most become part of an organization like a knight order, or a mages association. Not a lot of people get the chance to improve under the a ducal household.
And now, I don't have to worry about Kayla either. She was accepted as a guest in the Dawn household. She can finally live a life outside of poverty and pain for as long as I stay Vera's knight. Though she did curse at the noble lady after her scheme....
All things considered, this is a good outcome. I still hate it and would have rather not been in this position.
But there is nothing I can do about it now. If I want leave this place, I need to get stronger.
'Stronger than her.'
I glanced back to the mirror again before I turned to the door.
After opening the door I stood still for a moment.
'I guess this is where my new life starts...'
I stepped out of my room and into the bright hallway.
'.....As a Knight of Dawn.'