A Normal Life
I feel the sheets enveloping me completely, tempting me to succumb to the deep desire to stay in bed. I move my arms, noticing that Felix stayed over last night. It never used to bother me, but lately, his presence has made me a bit uncomfortable.
I rub my eyes, opening them slowly.
'It's cold today, looks like it's going to rain.' I get up, yawning deeply as I wake up.
"Good morning, Lady Crusch!" Felix gets up, yawning the same way, his ears twitching from side to side.
"Good morning, Felix." I smile slightly, trying to hide my discomfort.
I grab my arm, wondering if I should tell him I don't want to do this anymore. I know it's important to him, and I don't want to hurt him, but lately, I've felt uneasy. He smiles at me, so I decide not to say anything and head to the bathroom. Today, I'll use that new product he made for me.
A bottle containing an essence he created with ingredients we already had.
'It was made improvisationally, but I could distill it using flowers; the alcohol came from fermentation and distillation.' The essence is marvelous, a much stronger scent than the ones we usually use.
His world, which seems to have achieved everything thanks to human ingenuity, makes me see a future without limits.
I finish my bath and then change. I look at all my clothes, glancing at my usual uniform. I don't think it's necessary for me to wear anything different, although...
I look at that dress, the one I wore when he gave me courage.
'It doesn't matter.' I close my eyes and take my uniform, put it on and head to my office.
Today, Felix is supposed to implement the teachings from Marco's books into his magic. The knowledge they have about the human body is superior to anything I've seen. If Felix integrates it, he might reach a new level in his healing abilities. Felix is a true genius in healing magic, but the world Marco has expanded suggests there is still room for improvement.
I enter my office, greeted by a familiar smell. The aroma of warm bread with a bit of cheese fills my senses. Marco is eating, and with a piece of bread in his mouth, he extends his hand to greet me.
"I managed to make the cheese I told you about. I didn't know your lands had that method of preparation too." Marco devours his breakfast while pointing to my plate.
Normally, I let the chefs prepare any dish since I don't have any particular preference. Lately, he's been getting up early to cook something for himself, though sometimes he makes enough for everyone.
He's been experimenting with new flavors, even sharing recipes with the chefs for them to prepare.
There are many markets to dominate, not just the industrial ones. The food market is also important; opening chains of restaurants that prepare meals efficiently and affordably. Opening those supermarkets, he mentioned, or the shopping malls are key points to obtaining monetary resources.
If Marco had met Anastasia before me, they would have been almost impossible to defeat as opponents. Both have a knack for business: Anastasia with her natural talent and Marco with his vast knowledge.
'Just thinking about it gives me chills.'
There are many options to implement, but even I, a duchess, need more funds to integrate everything Marco proposes.
The absolute monopoly.
While the sages govern this kingdom, I've noticed that their movements have been strange for some years. With the death of the entire royal family, they have been seeking those who can make the contract with the dragon. But even before that, the royal family was only a front for their influence.
I don't want that; I want to govern on my own. The council of sages would certainly have to be under my command, but right now their knowledge and power make even a king wary.
"Thank you." I bite into the soft bread in front of me, then the cheese, hearing the sound it makes with each bite. I open my eyes in surprise, and Marco starts laughing.
'He hasn't said anything about my perfume.'
"The cheese isn't alive; it just has that chewy texture," Marco says with a smile. I glare at him for thinking I'm an idiot, but he just keeps laughing. "By the way..."
Wilhelm opens the door, and we both turn to look at him. He bows, greeting us politely. He holds a letter in his hand, and his expression doesn't suggest good news.
"Miss Crusch, we've received a letter from the capital." Wilhelm hands me the letter, and I open it immediately.
Before reading it, I glance at Marco, but he doesn't seem surprised.
"It's time," he says, and I understand it's about the elections.
We've been gathering funds and information, saving everything for this moment. I start reading, and I can't help but frown.
"The elections are delayed by two months due to sightings of the witch cult." Marco jumps up, sitting next to me and reading the letter with a grim expression. His hands tremble, and his legs fidget anxiously.
From the expression on his face, I can discern what is happening. 'This shouldn't be happening; something has changed the future.'
"If there are sightings of the cult, it will be necessary to allocate capital for the protection of the Karsten state," Wilhelm suggests, and we both nod.
"I'll entrust you with that task. Deploy squads to protect the city and hire mercenaries to guard the trade routes." At my words, Wilhelm nods and leaves immediately.
It's a precaution worth taking, as it's known that cultists have no obvious attack patterns. We don't know exactly what has reactivated them, but it probably stems from a specific reason.
Felix comes in immediately, and behind him, I see a demihuman messenger.
Upon entering, he bows respectfully.
"I bring an urgent message," his voice is agitated, suggesting it's something critical. "The preliminary list of candidates for the throne has been leaked!"
Marco stands up immediately, rushing toward the young man. He grabs him by the shoulders and shouts,
"Who leaked it?!"
My eyes widen in surprise, understanding what this means. Now that the list has been leaked, everyone knows who the candidates are. If the cult is on the move, it can only be because of that future.
'There's going to be an attack on the Mathers mansion.' Normally, I wouldn't worry; we're talking about the strongest mage in the kingdom, along with two great spirits and a prodigy mage. Their camp is truly stronger in terms of individual power.
But fighting against the numbers is difficult. Besides, Roswaal L. Mathers won't help at all, the spirit girl won't leave the mansion, and Emilia, though strong, would have to fight practically alone.
"I don't know! I was just ordered to tell you this!" he exclaims in fear, trembling under Marco's pressure. "The wise man Bordeaux was the one who delivered the news."
If he was the one who delivered the news, then there should be no suspicion. Besides, they will be protected. Flynn, his best disciple, is something only those closest to the kingdom know about.
He is someone who is in charge of protecting people in power who are in danger. This was decided with the main disciples of each wise man. Flynn is just one of them. Each one was trained for a particular purpose. The one who really scares me the most is Iril, the disciple of the wise man Tristan.
I could feel a strange aura around her the last time I saw her.
The messenger leaves, leaving us alone in the office. Marco clenches his hands tightly, then stomps his foot hard.
"Damn it!" he exclaims, sitting on the sofa. He bites his thumb, looking out the window with a frown.
If there's an attack, we can prevent it. The problem is we don't know the time or the hour. We must try to protect them without knowing exactly how.
"I think it's time I went to the Mathers mansion. While you gather information, I'll try to create a strategy from there," Marco says, looking at Felix, who points at himself in surprise. "I need you to come with me."
Felix jumps, his ears and tail standing up. He points his finger at Marco, annoyed.
"I'm not listening to you, nya!" Felix turns his gaze, looking at me intently. I don't change my expression, and without doing so, I let him know he has to do it.
Felix stands up abruptly, looking at both of us.
"I won't leave!" Felix storms out, slamming the door, leaving the two of us alone.
Marco looks out the window, his legs moving with the anxiety of the moment. Me too; it really is a critical situation. We were counting on the meeting of the candidates to be able to create a formal alliance and thus act comfortably.
I stroke my legs, trying to calm this sense of urgency.
With the interactions, we could reinforce security under the excuse that they are commercial relations. If the attack happens earlier, it won't be easy.
He'll have to do it with the small force with which he's been working.
"Do you think those firearms will be enough?" I ask, and he shakes his head.
"I doubt it, that's why we'll need to be smarter," Marco says, clenching his hands and looking at me. "I'm going to kill Petelgeuse, the Archbishop of Sloth, with Emilia's help. I think I can do it, but I can't protect that town at the same time. Felix just needs to play a support role and will have to go in disguise."
Firearms, the invention that caught my attention the most. I saw a video of their use, and it was then that I feared; my blood ran cold at what I saw. A weapon designed to kill the maximum number of people in the fastest possible.
'Someday the sword will be replaced by these weapons.' I feel a lump in my throat because I saw their operation very well.
Small projectiles that pierce flesh and bone effortlessly, faster than an arrow and easy to use without extensive training. Slowly, we have been creating a force, gathering people with the goal of having a chance.
Marco has focused on creating a suitable weapon model for the situation, mixing gunpowder with lagmite crystals. His advances are supported by various mages under our command, which has allowed us to progress quickly.
As for those who will use the weapons: they are men and women who, after a test, have been joining us, but it is not something we have made public. Marco says he doesn't want to reveal the firearms until it's really necessary.
We planned to reveal them with a large army, but that won't be possible now.
"I guess there's no other way," he finally agrees, and I nod. It is a force that doesn't bear the name of the Karsten family. It is an unknown force that can easily be taken as simple mercenaries.
'Marco Luz's personal army.' However, in terms of power, no mercenary could withstand it. The power of the weapons made so far undoubtedly surpasses conventional swords.
Without steel, there is no chance of survival. And that will be until the steam engine is improved; soon, we will have the places to make steel. If we do it en masse, then we will have the monopoly of the industry in our hands.
The improved steam engine will be the tipping point that starts tilting the balance with no turning back.
We have gathered almost a hundred people, and although not all possess armaments due to the difficulties we have had in their creation, we expect half of them to have weapons by next week.
The problem is that we don't know when the attack will happen.
"I'll send you to deliver the news, it's a good excuse, and you'll go with Wilhelm, who will go to protect you. With that force, you can resist.
'If they stay a few days under the excuse that Marco is receiving training, then it can be valid.'
He is their benefactor after all. Wilhelm and Felix can stay in Irlam by paying a villager, but the problem is sending a group of mercenaries without it seeming suspicious.
It's complicated, we have the force, but we can't use it. Even if they come from Marco, it would be too conspicuous to avoid generating rumors. Without the possibility of establishing relationships, we have no choice but to do it ourselves.
We stay discussing possibilities, but every time we try to suggest something new, we end up at the same dead end.
"Let's go get some fresh air, I heard they opened a beautiful and luxurious restaurant in the city," Marco sighs, and I look at him doubtfully.
'Why go out if there are so many things to do?' Marco sees my expression and smiles, standing up from the table.
"If we want to think of a solution, we need an open mind," he stretches, while I stay looking at him, not understanding how going out will open our minds to recognize how to use the troops. "I've spent several weeks without seeing any landscape other than this one, I feel cornered."
He winks at me, and I look at him seriously. Recently, I've noticed him being different, a bit more open than before, but when we're alone, he becomes a different person.
"A nice meal will surely help us open our minds and find the solution." He smiles, and I look at him cautiously.
He thinks I haven't noticed, but on the contrary, I have remained alert.
I am not as I used to be. With more free time, I have been able to read certain books. That has made me open my eyes a little to the world around me. 'If I want to fulfill my purpose, I must know how to stay away from all distractions.'
"You just want to trick me into going out with you, I won't fall for that old trick." I cross my arms, glancing at his smile. "I am a duchess; you are someone from another world. My heart is set on my dream."
He walks to the door, opening it slowly and turning his body to look me straight in the eyes.
"I didn't say that we're just going to eat; we have a clear conscience." He closes the door carefully, leaving me alone.
I cross my arms, staring at the door for a few seconds. I don't understand his intentions; we're just two people using each other.
I get up, walk to my desk, and start drafting the letters for the process we need to follow. We have to advance our investment plans, so we'll begin with them immediately.
'The market is going to start bouncing back.' If the cult acts again, the prices of food and supplies will rise, peaking in a few months. If we want to create a protective bubble, we need to do something to ease the sense of danger.
'I should also consider the competitors' reactions.' I stroke my chin, thinking carefully.
With this information, Anastasia will start buying on a large scale, then sell when prices spike due to buying pressure. It's a good strategy, but what Marco explained to me some time ago made me realize we're like frogs in a well.
It's not that they're more advanced or different from us intellectually; we just haven't lived long enough to reach that point. Their need to grow and discover makes their collective progress faster than ours.
The human body on its own is weak and fragile, so they must become strong with their minds; their bodies won't always protect them.
While in this world many people focus on strength or magical power, in that world they focus on discovering ways to understand their own world; in that, they are hundreds of years ahead of us. Their world is magical, much more magical than ours.
Even without magic, they can perform magic, which is truly astonishing.
"Options." I look at the letters I'm writing, requesting farmers to purchase materials in the precise manner Marco explained to me.
His words opened up a world I didn't know, but one that will profoundly change the world by itself.
Buying securities is important. Although our world doesn't have anything as detailed as theirs, verbal agreements still move market prices. Fluctuations in prices lead to profits or losses. Fortunately, prices are managed by the kingdom, which prevents most frauds.
These prices vary with supply and demand and cannot be easily changed. The selling prices of supplies set by the kingdom are the standard everyone uses. It's the most accepted and truly utilized by all.
It was a proposal by Miklotov McHanon, the leader of the wise and the only person who makes me feel fear when facing him. I may have interacted with him, but if I want to overthrow the council and implement new measures, I have to face him.
That's why we won't buy securities, but options. We'll do it in different fields, including agriculture.
For example, with wheat, we'll agree with a local farmer to buy 100 sacks of wheat at a fixed price of 10 gold coins per sack in a month. If the market price of wheat rises to 12 gold coins per sack by then, we'll exercise the option and buy the sacks at 10 gold coins, saving 200 gold coins in total.
Knowing that an attack by the cult is coming, thanks to future information, it's certain that prices will rise within that period. The cult's attacks are systematic, and the destruction of lands and dangers on trade routes will drive prices up.
This allows us to secure our supply at a lower price than we'd pay in the open market.
But not everything is rosy. If an unusually abundant harvest causes the price of wheat to drop to just five gold coins per sack, we'll lose money if we exercise the option. In this scenario, we'd be obliged to buy one hundred sacks at 10 gold coins per sack, resulting in a total loss of five hundred gold coins.
This is because we'd be paying more than double the current market price.
However, options have a wonderful benefit. Since they don't exist in this world, we assign value to the options. We'll negotiate with service owners the price per unit of their supply. For example, we'll set a price of two gold coins per unit for those one hundred sacks.
We'll spend two hundred gold coins so that in a month, we can buy them at 10 gold coins per unit.
This means that if the price drops, we've only lost the two hundred it cost to exercise the option, so to make a real profit, the price needs to exceed twelve gold coins.
I smile, seeing that it's an incredibly smart way to do business. I must be grateful for their appearance. I don't lack money, but I did fear the commercial power of Anastasia Hoshin.
No one will refuse to gain that benefit since no one thinks prices will rise sharply out of nowhere. That's why we gather information from the future while preparing for the price hike that will come with the elections.
When different trade guilds see our strategy, they'll start replicating it, but we'll have enough advantage to build a trade guild dedicated to buying and selling options.
Otto Suwen will be appointed to that position. Marco says his talent is quite significant, that he's really someone to trust.
His whereabouts were discovered recently; I'll see him in person soon. The sad thing is Marco won't be there, so I'll have to manage it myself.
"I won't see him for a while." Seeing it's already late, I get up and head to my room.
I look at my clothes again, wondering if I should go. I'd really rather focus on what I need to do. However, he's going to fight the witch's cult.
It's unknown if he'll return…
I place my hand on my chest, feeling anxiety grip my heart.
'Am I worried about that liar?' I look at my hands, then let out a big sigh.
"I suppose I can go accompany him." I look at all the clothes, and to decide, I do something I've never done before.
I'll leave it to fate.
I close my eyes and grab the first garment my hands touch. When I open them, I sigh, seeing that fate can be funny sometimes.
I change and look at myself in the mirror. A black lace dress, the one I usually wear to formal banquets. I'm not embarrassed to wear it, but it doesn't feel worth it now.
'I could choose something else, but I guess I'll wear it for today.' Once dressed, I do my hair and put on some more perfume.
"Lady Crusch!" Felix bursts through the door, and upon seeing me, covers his mouth with his hands. "Nya! What Marco said was true!"
Felix leaps at me, looking at me with a playful expression, his mischievous smile getting on my nerves.
"You and Marco are going on a date, nya?" He leans slightly, with his hand on his mouth and quick batting eyelashes that assess my patience.
"A date, I guess it could be described as such. The difference is that there's nothing like that between us, so it can't really be called a date. Although I want to tell him, the best is to just get it over with.
"Well, you could say that." I feel those words weighing like stones in my throat. Felix opens his eyes, and in a few seconds, he's on me.
"You must prepare better!" he exclaims, and now I'm the one surprised. He starts fixing me, combing my hair, and adjusting my dress.
What took me moments has taken him more than twenty minutes. I didn't want to take too long to get there quickly, but he seems really excited.
"Men must wait for the lady, that's a rule." He smiles, but I look at him surprised. Normally, he doesn't like it when I interact with other men; for him to accept Marco, he must have a reason.
"It's not a big deal, really, it's just to relieve stress." When I say those words, Felix looks me in the eyes.
"Then can I go?" His question takes me by surprise, and I look away.
He really could, but that would be breaking my word to Marco. If Marco told Felix and didn't invite him, it's because he doesn't want him there. Maybe we'll talk about what's going to happen, so it's best to be alone. Even if it's just to relieve stress, we're still in the same situation, and taking advantage of any opportunity is only fair.
"No…" My refusal makes him smile.
"Nya, if it had been earlier, I would have refused." Felix finishes fixing me, giving me a proud look. "It's a bit weird, nyan, but thanks to him, you've been smiling and looking calmer."
"Calmer?" I look at him in doubt, and he just smiles back at me. I've been with him for a long time, so it's not surprising that he can see things in me that I don't see. What surprises me is that he uses the word "calm."
With so many things and everything we have to do, I'm anything but calm.
"If you weren't calm, you wouldn't have accepted to go out, Nya." I open my eyes and see that his words are true. Before, I would never have accepted going out in such a critical situation.
I close my eyes for a few seconds, and then Felix claps.
"You look beautiful, Lady Crusch. Your brave knight will take care of sending the letters on your behalf." Felix bows and then smiles. "Have fun as well, not as a duchess, but as Crusch Karsten."
My hair is styled in delicate waves, giving it a natural look. The lace fabric subtly adorns the neckline and sleeves, adding a touch of elegance I haven't seen in a while. The skirt, with a simple yet flattering cut, falls smoothly to my ankles, providing freedom of movement and a feeling of lightness. As for the details, a thin leather belt, decorated with a discreet golden Karsten-style buckle, lightly marks my waist, enhancing the silhouette in a delicate way.
To protect myself from the night chill, I cover myself with a light coat I like to wear when I go out.
"Is this what women like these days?" I ask, unable to understand what they see in it. They can't move much because the skirt lifts up, I wouldn't be able to fight comfortably in this. I know how to be elegant when I need to be, but… I've never understood it, but I guess I have to accept it.
I lean, seeing my sides in the mirror, feeling a warm sensation in my heart, as if allowing myself to see myself like this was a desire of my hidden self.
"I guess it's not bad…" I remember that time at the banquet when I danced with Fourier. Back then, I thought being Crusch Karsten would be better, but all that ended when I saw the vile lie of the world.
I leave the room, heading toward the mansion's exit. I walk slowly, each step sinking me into the thought of leaving this and getting to work.
I turn a corner and find him standing, his gaze fixed on me. He's wearing a suit he designed himself, which he has named "Vintage." This suit enhances his shoulders, giving him an imposing and elegant stature.
The suit fits his figure perfectly, highlighting his secure and distinguished bearing. The black jacket, with its classic yet modern cut, accentuates his broad shoulders and upright posture, while the pants fall elegantly, completing the ensemble with sufficient style and sophistication.
Seeing him in front of me, with that suit that enhances his presence, I can't help but feel impressed by his elegance.
It's evident he's put meticulous care into every aspect of his appearance, and the result is an image of refinement and distinction that perfectly complements my own attire.
We're just going out to eat, even if it's a luxurious place, it shouldn't be important. Why does it feel like a real date?
"You look beautiful," are his first words, followed by a wide smile. "You really look beautiful."
His eyes shine, and I stand beside him, looking into his eyes with a smile.
"You look good too, that suit suits you well."
With those words, we depart, taking the carriage to the city. Once we arrive, we start walking, both of us calmly looking at all the places.
"Have you read the book I gave you?" he asks, and I nod.
Marco is a person avid in reading; in his spare time, he likes to read books he orders from the capital. Apparently, there's an author he likes a lot.
Helena Grandheart.
He has bought several of her books and says he sees a future talent that will help us make a lot of money. Helena might not know it yet, but she has stumbled upon a swindler.
I smile slightly, seeing his firm posture and the calm sensation he exudes. Despite being in a critical situation, we're here, walking through the city streets.
"I didn't think he would take his own life in the end." I watch the people move with joy and energy.
Little by little, it will change, that's how society progresses. We will create new things; new businesses will be born.
"Yes! I really hadn't read the story, which ending surprised me." He leans slightly towards me. "Did you like it?"
I nod, looking at him with a slight smile.
"She really has talent; I don't understand her lack of popularity." I shrug, recognizing life's injustices.
I don't know her, but I would like to fully finance her works and take them to the entire world. And I did, but she rejected it, saying she wanted to live with her grandfather for a while.
"Lack of connections," he says, and I nod immediately.
The world is governed by the connections you have, which is why we must improve our relationships. Little by little, I'll introduce Marco to the world; I've taught him perfect etiquette, so he won't suffer with whomever he meets.
Managing relationships in this era.
I'll have to take him to meetings, introduce him to different nobles who are allies. I mustn't let him stay hidden. He belongs to this world, keeping him locked up won't do him any good. His refusal to know this world is just proof that he hasn't accepted it; rejecting the reality you live in doesn't do the body and mind any good.
"About the press..." I look at him with curiosity, as he had mentioned it before but hadn't explained.
"Look." He points to the sky for a second.
Without realizing it, we've reached a bridge, and the sunset seems to be approaching. He stops, looking at me intently. It seems he cut his hair for this; he definitely prepared.
'I guess I should thank Félix for getting me ready.'
I've been noticing the looks people give us for a while, so being alone on this bridge calms me a bit.
"First, we need to find the right paper. The machinery isn't complex to make, and while it would be faster with a steam engine, we can do it without one." He looks toward the horizon, placing his hands on the bridge's wall. "Beatrice has given me several ideas to improve the steam engine. I could see how to enhance it when I go to the Mathers mansion. The mage group too, without their support, it wouldn't be as efficient as it is now."
Their relationship has been improving little by little. Initially, Marco would send Miss Emilia letters weekly. However, to the Great Spirit, he sent them daily. He'd tell her about his day, ask about hers, talk about his experiments or work, but she never responded. After a month of sending daily letters, he finally received the first reply just a week ago.
"Stop bothering me!" Those were the only words in the Great Spirit's letter. At first, I was a bit annoyed because I appreciated Marco's effort to make her happy.
But then, I saw his eyes water for a second.
'How sweet...'
I can still remember the joy on his face when he received that letter: jumping and celebrating as if it were his deepest love. His weakness is solitary people; he can't help it, something in him drives him to do everything possible to get people out of their loneliness.
"Maybe I could make a contract with her, who knows..." He closes his eyes, and at this moment, even though the sunset must be beautiful, I decide to look at his face a bit more. "She's been trapped by fate for four hundred years, so I want to free her, but I really don't know how to do it."
It's complicated, from what I've understood, I don't think it's as easy as asking her; especially because they haven't interacted enough.
"What she desires is clear, but I can't reach it." Marco opens his eyes, and his gaze meets mine. "Even though I know her and her story, I don't want to deceive her with attitudes unworthy of me."
I look away, annoyed by his arrogant words. He thinks he can understand everyone, assuming that what he knows from that book is set in stone.
'That annoys me.'
"Sometimes desires are things we can't understand." Desires vary for each person, but the susceptibility to that desire is what makes it difficult or easy to achieve. If she feels a hint of hope and Marco manages to grasp it, then he can help her, but it's not as easy as saying he understands her desire and everything about her.
Assuming those things seems irresponsible to me.
"Can you tell what my desire is right now?" I ask, and he thinks for a few seconds before responding with a smile. I don't doubt he'll guess, it's not really difficult, but I'm sure he won't go beyond that. After all, a woman's heart is not easy to understand.
"You want to be working." He points to the sky with his finger while smiling at me. "I suppose I shouldn't have invited you."
I shake my head at his words. As I suspected, he really didn't get it.
"Your smile reflects mine," I add, a hint of emotion in my words, while taking a barely perceptible breath. "It's a dilemma; I want to continue with my work, but being here with you is also something I want at this moment."
He looks at me with a confused expression, as if I had just told him a riddle. He crosses his arms, and I involuntarily laugh. I place my hand over my mouth while watching the sun set, giving way to the moon's shine.
'As I thought, he acts all smart and arrogant, but he's just another man.'
"Come on, I'm hungry." I walk ahead of him, and he takes a small leap to get by my side.
"Understanding a woman completely is something impossible for a man." He puffs out his chest while looking ahead. "I understand what you meant, sorry for assuming things that way. I also know that desires are unique to each person, that Beatrice is not the same as in the book."
As he says this, I feel a warm touch on my hand, a firm yet gentle grip that takes me by surprise. I can't hear what he's saying anymore, but he keeps acting as if nothing happened.
'He said that just to take advantage of me!' I keep looking at his hand holding mine as we walk through the city. The moon and stars shine while it's just the two of us. He looks ahead, and I see he's slightly blushing.
I feel my face starting to heat up, finding myself unable to say anything.
"Do you think I can reach Beatrice's heart?" he asks, and I look at him doubtfully.
"You're a swindler who takes advantage of the slightest opportunity." I look away, and he chuckles softly.
Without letting go of my hand, we continue walking, each acting as if it were the most normal thing in the world. I don't know much about dates, but I really don't understand why holding my hand would help.
"I want to do it from the bottom of my heart, to make her truly smile." His words come with a breeze of truth. I smile, seeing that his truth aligns with his emotions.
"But not a certain duchess, right?" Trying to tease him, he raises our hands, smiling while squeezing more firmly.
He smiles at me, and then I see his eyes shine without the usual darkness they carry. For a brief moment, I saw Marco hidden beneath that layer of pain and darkness.
"From the bottom of my heart." He moves our arms, leaving me speechless.
"Hmpf!" I look away, and when I realize it, I'm smiling too.
'I guess it doesn't feel bad.'
We keep walking, talking about trivial things as we head to our destination. When we arrive, I see it's a restaurant in one of the new buildings. Its structure with glass windows makes it look truly luxurious.
Only then does Marco let go of my hand.
He enters the restaurant and starts talking to a waiter.
I look at my hand, seeing it's slightly sweaty. I use magic to dry it, and deep down, I feel embarrassed for not noticing it. I was so absorbed in our conversation that I completely forgot.
It felt natural, although I don't like it coming from a liar.
'You look happier and more relaxed.' Félix's words truly surprised me, but I guess they're true. Somehow, this liar has the ability to make me feel at ease.
'Guess I shouldn't treat him like a scammer again.'
"Of course! The table the gentleman reserved four days ago is on the top floor of the balcony!" the waiter exclaims, while Marco avoids eye contact with me.
I clench my hands, retracting the words I just said. My piercing gaze is skillfully avoided as I'm led to the balcony.
'He planned to bring me here from the beginning.'
I'm not surprised Félix came so well-prepared; they both set a trap to get me out.
Marco pulls out the chair for me, and I sit with my arms crossed as the waiter bows and leaves. He looks at me with an awkward smile while I stare back with my lips sealed.
I can't believe I tried to defend this con artist.
He tricked me into coming here under the pretense that he needed fresh air. I thought I was helping him, but it was all just to court me. 'What does he want? Does he seek to make me fall in love to gain my power?'
'What could a scammer like him want from me?'
"I admit my fault, I should have told you I already had this reserved." The wind of truth blows, but I still don't believe his words. "I wanted to bring you here to clear your mind, it has nothing to do with future plans or anything. I just wanted to bring you, that's all."
After hearing this, I release my arms and sigh heavily.
"You know I have a goal to fulfill, I'm not here for anything else." I reject his intentions. I can still feel the sensation of holding his hand, but even that fades from my purpose.
He shakes his head, then looks at me with eyes that pierce my soul. I feel something break inside me, as if he's asking me to give him my full attention.
Those brown eyes don't look away from me.
"Your purpose isn't far from what we did today. We're going to escape fate, but we're also going to build a life outside of it." He smiles, taking my hands and placing them on the table. "I promise you'll be a queen, but just as you're your goal, you're also Crusch Karsten. Being both will make you stronger than being just one, after all..."
I stare at him, unable to say a word. Today we received critical news; we have a lot of work to do. Yet, despite working all day, I feel so energized I could work for weeks without rest.
'They're the same words Fourier said, but I think I'm finally starting to understand them.'
"My wish was to bring you here, hold your hand, and be Marco Luz." I feel a slight tremor in his grip, his expression becoming complicated. "It's hard for me, and the situation we're in will make it even harder."
It's true, nothing guarantees our plans will work. But, knowing that, I don't feel the urgency I would at another time.
"I... I was also scared, and I just wanted to focus on what I had to do, but then I got a beating to try to lighten my load." He chuckles lightly, and I can't help but smile.
"You deserved it; you owed me for tricking me." I squeeze his hands, my revenge for deceiving me again.
I really don't know what destiny holds, but somehow, I thank that book of wisdom. If it could write this moment, then I feel I should thank it.
"Being here is what I want, and I hope when I come back, we can do this again." He winks, and I look away.
"I won't let myself be tricked again."
Marco smiles, and then we both look at the sky. I see the stars, that beautiful firmament that always remains for us. Thinking that they are gigantic objects so far away that I will never reach them makes me ponder the magnificence of the universe and how tiny we are.
'It's as if my problems are actually small,' as if I'm the one seeing them as so big when they actually have a solution.
I squeeze his hands, thinking about the infinity of this moment.
"Next time, I'll invite you without lying."
It's just the two of us, fighting against fate.
"Yes."