The knowledge that I have the power not to ever reveal what Neuvillette said had me plotting so many plans that you guys surely wouldn't like...
~
Neuvillette's POV
Oh, dear!
What was I thinking?!
No, the problem is that I wasn't thinking.
I must have lost my mind.
How could I ever say something like that?!
And in front of Wriothesely no less?!
Phew...
I need to take a deep breath.
This isn't the time for this. I need to figure out what Furina sent someone-
...
Really?
This isn't someone sent by Furina.
This is Furina!
"Ah, Monsieur Neuvillette! I've brought a message from Lady- Woah! What are you doing?!"
Without letting her finish speaking I grabbed her by the collar, pulling her towards Wriothesely's office.
"Monsieur Neuvillette, this is un-"
"I'm not in the mood for this, Furina." I growled under my breath.
At the moment I have better things to deal with than your theatrics.
A trace of shock flashed past her eyes, but eventually, she stopped struggling, allowing herself to be dragged along.
Did she truly think that I wouldn't see through this sorry excuse of a disguise?
If she did, she might receive another shock when we get back to the office.
And...
She did.
"Oh! Hello, Lady Furina!"
Contrary to Sigewinne's excited greeting, Furina's face turned black.
"Tsk! Can't you at least pretend not to see it?" She muttered, undoing her disguise.
But soon, her face cleared up, and she let out a triumphant laugh.
"Hahaha! At least Duke Wriothesely didn't see through my disguise!"
Looking at the laugh his trying so hard to hold back he probably did.
Wait...
I couldn't help but narrow my eyes as I looked at him.
He didn't tell me on purpose, did he?
...
We all sat down.
Wriothesely behind his desk while the three of us ended up on the small couch with Sigewinne sitting on my lap.
As for why we ended up sitting like this...
Please don't ask.
And on second thought...
Maybe I should have played along with Furina's little trick.
"Lady Furina, may I ask you to translate something for me?" Wriothesely asked with an innocent smile on his face.
"Of course!"
Furina, who was happy not only because she managed to "fool" him, but also from being treated to some cake, happily agreed to his request.
Oh oh.
Before I could stop him, Wriothesely had already spoken those words aloud and Furina immediately translated without much thought.
"Don't you dare lay a hand on what's mine."
After saying this, Furina took a sip of her tea only to spit it out right away.
She looked at me completely horrified.
"Neuvillette! What the f*ck?!"
Instead of dealing with her, I looked up at Wriothesely with some difficulty.
He was frowning, thousands of emotions swirling within his eyes. Eventually, he seemed to settle on one and...
He blushed.
Oh, someone please kill me!
"Lady Furina..." He called out.
"Yes?"
"And Sigewinne too."
"Hmm?"
"Please get out."
"Huh?"
"Excuse me?"
"Get out!" He repeated, this time more forcefully.
While Furina was still stuck with an expression of 'just who are you kicking out', Sigewinne grabbed her and pulled her along, not forgetting to remind her to put on her disguise once again before leaving the office.
Bang!
The sound of the door closing was incredibly loud. Piercing even.
Instantly, it turned immensely awkward between us.
The silence is unpleasant, but it's probably better than-
"Neuvillette."
!!
I couldn't help but flinch when I heard his voice.
It was unlike the tone he had used to speak to me the last few days. This one... This one was cold and authoritative.
"Just what exactly do you mean by: Don't you dare lay a hand on what's mine?"
Please don't ask.
Don't ask because-
"I don't know."
"What kind of idiot do you think I-"
"I really don't know, okay! I don't even remember saying it!"
Besides, how could he be mine?
He's not an object and this stupid draconic instinct saying that he could be mine all the same should cease this instant!
This...
This is...
This is too much!
~
Wriothesely's POV
"Neuvillette. Look at me."
I won't allow you to hide. Not this time. Those words carry too much weight with them.
When he finally looked up-
Oh, good god!
Was he crying?!?
Without thinking too much, I walked over and crouched down in front of him, taking his hands in mine.
"Neuvillette-"
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I don't know what's wrong with me." He muttered.
And from this distance, I could clearly see the tears threatening to fall from his eyes.
"There is nothing wrong with you."
"But there is. I'm too emotional. I keep losing control of said emotions and causing trouble for thousands."
"You're not-"
"The reason Furina is here is likely because of the mess of a weather aboveground." He interrupted.
Well...
I can't deny that seeing as how I met not one but seven people coming down to Meropide complaining about the weather.
Phew...
Take a deep breath...
"Listen to me, Neuvillette. What you're feeling is perfectly normal-"
"But-"
"No, but. Just shut up and listen to me for a moment."
For a second he looked like he was pouting, but in the blink of an eye, if he had been, he had returned to his usual expression.
"It is perfectly normal to feel too much, to be overwhelmed. It happens to the best of us. You for one, and I don't mean this as an insult, are not one to know how to deal with your emotions at all so suddenly feeling too much would naturally overwhelm you."
I expected his expression to at least clear up a bit, but instead, he started frowning.
"Neuvillette?"
"But that's the problem."
What?
What's the problem?
"I should not be feeling these emotions at all."
Oh, good god!
We're back to square one!
We probably never even moved on to be honest.
"This is-"
"It shouldn't be possible. I clearly remember locking them away along with my..."
Shock and clarity seemed to fill his at the same time.
"Right. That's it. I knew it."
What's right?
What is it?
And just what did you know?
God damn it, Neuvillette!
Can't you use longer sentences?!
"Could you perhaps call Furina back in?" He asked suddenly.
"Sure..."
At this point, I had completely lost track of what was happening.
Well, since I likely won't be getting through to him in the current situation I might as well just do as he asked.
Maybe that will get us somewhere.
At least he didn't end up crying.
Though I'm not sure if that's a good or bad thing right now.
I sighed as I walked towards the stairs to go find Lady Furina and Sigewinne when Neuvillette's mumbling reached my ears.
"Hmm? This feeling is peculiar. I seem to be feeling... unwell...?"
I glanced back for a second but he didn't seem to notice. He looked deeply confused but not sick otherwise.
Right.
According to Sigewinne dragons don't get sick.
With this knowledge calming me down I walked further down the stairs.
It was only when Neuvillette was already fully out of sight that I heard his voice once again.
"Wriothesely, could you perhaps call Sigewinne as well? I appear to be-"
Poof!
...
Poof?
You appear to be poof?
What the heck is that?
I couldn't help but take a few steps back wanting to ask him just what the hell he meant but-
"Neuvillette?"
I didn't see him sitting on the couch or anywhere in my office.
An ominous feeling rose within my heart.
"Neuvillette?" I called out again, this time a bit louder.
No answer.
Now incredibly worried I climbed back up the stairs
!!
Now I could see something very alarming.
Neuvillette's clothes were still on the couch, the man himself, however, was nowhere to be seen.
_
_
You know what guys?
I'm only now reading up on Wriothesely's lore.
And...
Let's just say I should have done this sooner...