6kv Chapter 78: The ways of Marcus Rile.
Chapter 78: The ways of Marcus Rile.
"...You cannot be serious-" Violet murmured. "You mapped all that within few moments of our meeting?"
"I told you, it’s just light work. I cannot undo what has already occurred but I can take advantage of every little situation," Marcus replied.
"So I’m just another strategic...view point in your opinion?" She asked.
"I don’t associate people with pawns, certainly those who I care about," he replied.
"Then why can’t you act like human?"
"I’m being human, what do you expect from someone who has number of people after his lives? What would happen if I just disappear without doing anything? Escelation of the situation because the first prince is greedy but doesn’t show, second is hungry for his power, third never cares about anything but women, fourth is free-soul who is a prey of the second, and fifth is the most cruelest and dumbest the kingdom has ever birthed,"
"But the fifth one is you!" she said.
"That’s what I’m saying, I don’t know how attach to people emotionally, I cannot do that lovey dovey shit, I don’t know how to express how you love someone, am I dull for that or just ignorant of the things around me? I can look at a person and know what they might be thinking, you think I wouldn’t know how you see me?"
"There are...people out there who’re after your life, even the high priest that is a strategist of covenant cannot be trusted and you’re thinking about something meager as affection-"
Marcus took in a deep breath and calmed himself down.
"Look," he said, but in a quieter tone. "I understand that you trust me, and have feelings for me even after short meetings, even if I was ignorant of you when we were engaged, but I don’t need someone who forces me to love them, I’m in need of people who can be assets and emotions at this moment are nothing but a liability, you have to understand that, Violet."
Violet...stayed still for a moment. "Do you think I’m asking you for something simple? I’m not asking you to abandon this, I’m ... I just don’t want to stay trapped within the walls of the covenant,"
"It might not look like a prison to people outside, but I know it is one," she said.
Marcus nodded, now that he was getting what the problem was.
"That looks... like a problem" he murmured.
"Yes because it is. I’ve completely lost my mind there, how would you feel if you were forced to stay within a room, meet people who the covenant decides, heal what they think should be healed, bless those who they think should be blessed, I’m being treated as an asset, and I don’t want that..."
Her voice cracked a breath. "That’s the reason I spoil your plans, because you’re the only person who I can mess with, I saw that the moment you met me in the hearing," she said.
"I’m not here to request or beg for love, I just ...wanted outside, and whatever reason I see fit, I use it," she said.
"I was here to request something from you, but now...I think my requests are irreleva-"
"W...ait, you could’ve said so," Marcus said.
"I did?"
"No you didn’t"
"I did, but you didn’t hear me,"
"I am certain you didn’t say anything,"
"And I am certain you never heard me from the start,"
"Alright!" Marcus sighed. "I lose."
"As you should..." Violet replied.
And there was silence again.
"So...uhm, what did you want to talk about?" he asked.
"You’re not hearing me, what’s the point," Violet shrugged, and brushed her gown like there was dust on it, and started moving towards the door.
"Ah- I’m hearing you. I hear you, I’m listening," Marcus repeated and stepped in front of her.
"No you’re not," Violet stepped to the left.
"Yes, I am, and I apologized too," Marcus replied crossing her path again.
"You didn’t," Violet said, and then stepped to the right.
"No I di—ahhh, I apologize," He said. ’Again,’ he thought.
"..." Violet nodded, and stopped.
"While you were fighting in Crescendra," she began. "Another report was submitted in the Covenenant, regarding the border towns of Marakana, there had been another leak in rift there, and situation is still delicate, even if controlled, the rift has closed but something just feels off, and ..."
"Considering the situation of Crescenda it was wise would be wise to bring a clearance six mage along, the tower master of Burnhum was reached out, and he agreed, but I need someone I can trust there," she said.
"Marakana? I think I’ve heard that name, it’s just a border village isn’t it?" Marcus repeated.
"...That used to be my village," She replied.
"Oh," Marcus nodded in understanding.
"No problem, I’ll assist you, I assure you of that," he said.
"Not as Marcus..." Violet said. "I need you there as Ymir."
"..."
"That seems...doable, the whole realm hates Ymir but a Saintess is requesting for him instead," Marcus said. "I’m honored.
"No excuses," she said.
"Definitely not, just give me a headsup when you want to leave," Marcus said.
"Two days from now," She said. "I’ll send you a letter."
’Well, at least the conversation concluded without emotional escalation,’ Marcus thought.
Violet then reached out for the door, put her hand on the handle but stopped.
She turned around, walked back to Marcus, and...
*slap*
"...?" he put a hand on his check, and furrowed his brows.
Hurrying back to the door, she left.
"What the hell was that for?" Marcus spoke to himself.
.
.-.-.-.-.-.
.
Arthur popped a cigarette out of the little box, and lit it as he placed it between his lips.
He had left the banquet the moment he saw Violet enter room with Marcus. He just knew from the way she walked towards Marcus, that the rumours he was hearing were indeed true.
That Marcus was having an affair with the saintess, who is officially engaged to the Prince Ymir.
"..." Shervin didn’t say anything, he just opened his book again, and kept reading it as their carriage moved.
"He looked at me, Shervin," Arthur said.
"?" Shervin was confused at that. He looked back at Arthur and waited for him to continue.
"Marcus...when I was looking at Violet, that man noticed my gaze even when I was standing at the corner, he noticed me among the crowd of those two hundred nobles," Arthur said.
"He’s a transcendent, after all," Shervin replied.
"He’s a scheming guy, Shervin, he’s onto me now," Arthur replied.
"Find out everything about Marcus Rile, that man...he gained his fame in a sudden span of time, there’s no mention of such a prodigy in his academic years, how did a man like Marcus just suddenly appeared?" Arthur replied.
"You’re thinking too much, Sir," Shervin commented.
"He’s a man Violet loves, it’s inevitable, I should at least know who I’m going to be dealing with," Arthur replied.
"It won’t go well, even if you build an army of hundreds and thousands, you will not amount to strength he possesses," Shervin said.
"I have to try," Arthur countered.
"I cannot just sit and watch forever now, can I? I’d rather die trying," Arthur continued.
He let out a long breath of smoke, and clenched his fist, and closed his eyes to calm the weight within his chest.
"I have to...at least try," he repeated in a softer voice.
"..." Shervin shook his head in silence.
He had seen this man get obsessed over a girl who used to be his friend when they were kids, but now, going against a transcendent is like standing with a broom in hands to stop the lava from a volcano burning a village.
Their leader...was turning insane with every passing day, he didn’t know what to do.
Moreover, Shervin pitied Marcus more than he did to Arthur. He saw how unpredictable that woman Violet, the saintess is, even if its his first time seeing her. Beauty aside, she’s a headache to have on someone’s side.
Shervin sighed.
The carriage rolled forward through the streets, wheels cutting through the damp stone floor.
"And..." Arthur spoke again.
"There’s another reason why I have decided to go after him, Shervin," he said.
"...?" Shervin furrowed his brows, ’What reason can a transcendent give him?’ he thought.
"He’ wasn’t drawn to her, neither was he overwhelmed, nor cautious, he just allowed it," Arthur spoke.
"And that bothers you?" Shervin asked.
"The way he looked at every one in the room with a short glance, the moment Violet grabbed his shoulder, he observed each and every person within that moment,"
"In that very moment, he decided what and how the people in that room will behave, even his mind is not ordinary, he’s just...dangerous, Shervin."
"Because if he noticed me, which I believe he did, then he didn’t just see a man staring at her, he saw the intent behind that stare, and that bothers me, because powers aside, a man that can read the room and map who’s whom in seconds is the most dangerous kind of person to deal with."