Chapter 100

Chapter 100

Orka’s smile was as sweet as a pear blossom, but there was a dangerous glint in his eye. One might call it… maniacal. Olin flinched as if she had also witnessed the change, but by the time she protectively stepped toward me, the menacing gleam had all but disappeared.

“Miss Roxana, if I may, I’d like to clear up any lingering misunderstanding. I had absolutely nothing to do with Pandora’s actions.” His silly grin had found its way back to his carefree face. “Had I known she’d commit such a folly, such an outrage, I would have sent her back to our clan a long time ago. You believe me, don’t you? I really do mean it.”

I squinted at him as he continued to blabber. I already knew Pandora had been recalled to the Fipellion territory by the White Master over the incident. Especially since she had been to blame for his son using her demon to fly over the Blue fortress wall and into the Pedelian compound.

Orka, however, had chosen to stay even if that meant being guarded day and night. I was told that he even volunteered to give up the demon monsters already in his possession, which explained why he wasn’t wearing any of his clan’s tamer jewelry or trinkets. Not all demon tamers relied on such things, but they were common among the Fipellions. Those shiny objects were used to store various spells necessary for imprinting on and controlling the demons. They also served as a medium to help alleviate the physical toll doing so often took on a master’s being. So it said something that he was willing to forgo such crucial tools just to remain in Pedelian territory.

“If you will allow me, I would like to apologize on behalf of my cousin. That was the main reason I chose to stay behind.”

Not even butter would melt in the mouth of such a smooth liar. I knew the only reason he was still taking up space in the Blue castle, despite the open hostility toward him, was because he couldn’t get over my butterflies.

“Of course, I’m also very interested in you personally, Miss Roxana.” He stopped running his mouth for a moment to stare at me intently. A rather obvious come-hither smile slowly formed on his face. It was such a bald action that it made both Olin and Isidore frown since they were well aware of the nature of my relationship with Cassis. “Thus, I do hope you will not be so guarded toward me. You see... Unlike Pandora, I’m a gentleman.”

I assumed that was his way of trying to convince me that he didn’t pose a threat to me. It was very much like a wolf hiding its claws and fangs in front of a lamb.

“There seems to be some sort of misunderstanding on your part.” Then after looking straight into his eyes, I continued. “Mishap or not, I have no intention of befriending you, White Demon Tamer.”

He rather dramatically jerked back from shock. Although I spoke calmly, I admit that my voice was charged with a zap.

“But why?” he asked. “Have I done something to warrant your displeasure? Ah! Is it because I spoke so foolishly all those times by referring to you as a demon? If so, th—”

“As I said, I couldn’t care less about such things.”

“Then why not?”

I was suspicious of if he really was that clueless, so I spoke in a casual tone with the corners of my mouth turned up for emphasis. “The reason’s simple. I don’t have any interest in you as a person at all.”

His expression suddenly went rigid. Only the areas around his eyes seemed to pulsate.

“I’m afraid meeting you brings me absolutely no pleasure. I hope you aren’t insisting that I engage with you merely because you’ve expressed interest in me.”

I could tell by their expressions that Olin and Isidore were just as shocked. Likely since it was their first time seeing me speak so arrogantly. I imagined my sarcastic inflection bordered on sounding cruel. All traces of their demure Agrece guest had all but gone. “I would appreciate it if you would limit any attention directed toward me to what is customary. That way, White Demon Tamer, neither of us will run the risk of wasting our time.”

Once again Orka appeared taken aback by my bluntness. The look on his face told me that he had never expected to hear such words come from a woman of all people. Let alone the most beautiful one in this world. “Um... I just thought you and I would get along...”

His glib salesman persona had evaporated. I imagined he had likely never been turned down like this. At least, not to his face. From the corner of my eye, I could see Olin and Isidore smugly watching our exchange.

The White Heir’s eyes were filled with a variety of emotions. A dab of outrage here, a splash of embarrassment there, but more than anything was the look of confusion mixed with the same intensity I had seen when I first espied him from Cassis’ terrace. With noticeable effort, Orka finally opened his mouth again. “By the way, Miss Roxana, I have something to return to you.”

He seemed to have finally realized that I was serious because he reached into his pocket without throwing in any more inane comments. He withdrew his hand to reveal the ribbon I had lost. I reclaimed it, then quickly inspected it to ensure he hadn’t done anything strange to it.

“I sense I may have overstayed my welcome. Especially in light of the current state of affairs between the clans. I think I shall return to the White territory as well.” Surprisingly, he still managed to speak with a slight smile.

“I see. Well, as brief as it was, I’m glad we met like this.” I intended to make it clear that I was through with him. In truth, it surprised me a little that he did in fact give up so easily.

“I sincerely hope that you and I will be able to meet again, Miss Roxana. However, outside of Blue territory.” His innocent smile had returned, but I felt that his parting words contained some sort of veiled message as he had delivered them so casually.

At that moment, Sylvia approached us. “Oh! Good day to you both.”

Whether she had come after hearing that Orka had accosted me on my way back to the annex, or if she had happened upon us purely by accident, I still can’t say for certain. But from the slightly combative stance her lithe figure seemed to take, I assumed it was the former.

“Beautiful day we’re having. Don’t you think, Roxana? And you, White Demon Tamer?”

“Good afternoon, Miss Pedelian. You’re looking as lovely as ever.” He spoke in his usual tone with a smile to match. Unlike other times, however, rather than follow up his greeting with banter, he returned to the subject of his departure. “I would love nothing more than to spend time chatting with both of you, but I fear I must prepare for my return trip home.”

“I see. You intend to return to the White clan?”

“Indeed. Now if you’ll please excuse me. I must bid farewell to the Blue Master. I wish you two a good day.” True to his word, the White Heir really did leave. And after a quick bow to me and Sylvia, Isidore chased after him.

“I wonder what that was about,” Sylvia muttered as she gazed at Orka’s fleeting figure. She almost seemed deflated. I even wondered if she may have been disappointed. The only answer I could think of was that she had come ready for a fight and perhaps felt robbed of her chance.

“I imagine he must have been shocked to have his heart so mercilessly trampled upon by Miss Roxana,” Olin, who had been playing the quiet observer, suddenly said from beside me. But she sounded almost giddy as if someone had finally swatted a pesky gnat right before her.

“Trampled his heart? What are you talking about?” Sylvia’s eyes became golden discs after hearing the surprising observation.

I simply offered her my usual nonchalant smile. It was obvious that she was genuinely curious, but she seemed to have something more pressing on her mind.

“By the way, have you fully recovered, Roxana? It’s just... you look even frailer to me.”

I stared back at her and finally noticed that she looked riddled with worry. I don’t know why, but I reached up to caress her hair. The unexpected action caused my silver-haired companion’s cheek to color.

“By the way, you know that ribbon you used to tie up my hair? Would it be all right if I kept it?” I hadn’t detected anything suspicious about it after Orka handed it back to me, but I still didn’t feel comfortable with the idea of returning it to Sylvia. I thought it best if I held on to it just in case.

“Of course! It was already yours.” Her grin was so full of joy as she said that.

She truly was a lovely human being. And not just because she was the novel’s heroine, or because she was Cassis’ sister, but plain and simply because she was. The odd thing was that whenever I saw her, I found myself reminded of Jeremy. Of course, there wasn’t an ounce of similarity between them. Ever since meeting with Roussel Pedelian in his office, I had been thinking about Jeremy a lot more. He had informed me of the Agreces’ circumstances and how Jeremy had chosen to remain there.

He also mentioned that rather than allow the Black clan to disappear off the face of this world, my younger brother had been working to rebuild everything from the ground up. And as the new Black Master no less.

“I know you’ve never sincerely laughed in your life, so... w-what if I could make the Agrece clan into a place where you could?”

I had deliberated for quite a while if he had been serious. That day, I hadn’t offered an answer to his pleas that I return, but hearing from Roussel that Jeremy was doing everything he could to literally rebuild our home from the ashes gave me the impression that he was still holding out hope.

When I left the Black compound, I was certain I had discarded all of my possessions, but I had evidently been mistaken. Something was still tying me to the Black mansion. It was something I saw as a shackle holding me in the past. Even now, I’m still not so sure. Perhaps it could be just as Jeremy had said. Probably not right away, but one day. But I couldn’t even begin to guess when that day would come. I simply hoped that it wasn’t too far off. Then I felt a smile play at the corners of my mouth as I continued to caress Sylvia’s hair and think of Jeremy.