Landon's Point Of View
It's hard to breathe.
Chills run down my spine, making the warm great hall seem cold and haunted, despite the happy cheers around me. I force a smile through the discomfort, but no matter how I try to ignore it, the murderous gaze locks onto me again... and again.
The feeling of unbridled malice lingers and causes the hairs on the back of my neck to rise again.
When people want to kill you, there are many ways they can look at you. As I killed my father for the throne, and started cleaning out the corruption, I have experienced quite a few of them. Everything from the fearful one that doesn't want to do it, to the emotionless one which quietly plans your death merely because it's business.
This... this is one I've only tried twice before.
It's the look my father had just before I killed him... and the look my ex-girlfriend had when she saw me with Yuriko, and as she sunk the kitchen knife into my guts over and over until I could only watch as she turned towards Yuriko and killed her in the same way.
The overwhelming malice of a personal grudge strong enough to want you and whatever you love dead.
What causes my stomach to turn, is but a single phrase:
I don't know what I did to deserve this.
If I don't know why I am hated, then how can I even attempt to calm her down? Not only that, but because of this hatred from her I realize that what we know of Lady Lily is way too little.
We know that she was an actual military officer. Otherwise she would not have been able to pull off what she did at the siege of Castle Celeste so shortly after she reincarnated, and that she might be from a strict family since there are no rumors of her lack of manners other than some violence at a tea party... I'm not even sure that whoever is inside Lily Celeste is really a woman... what is worse is what we know rumored about her as Augustus.
'A demon that cuts people in half without blinking' from the battle at Ice Claw Keep
'A blood drenched slaughterer without mercy' ... from the siege at Castle Celeste where none of the Zocrian soldiers were spared.
A person like that wants me dead, and the only person holding that person at bay is Lionel Tepet, the character in the game that enjoyed watching people suffer. Lionel holds her back with a caress of her hand and a worried gaze, and my instincts tell me that if that hand was not in his grasp, then it would be on my throat.
At first I thought that Satoshi had noticed the situation as he glared in their direction... but his gaze was filled with nothing but jealousy and anger towards Lionel. Ignorant of the situation. Was he always like this, or is he blinded by the fascination of his own character?
I guess it's possible that he thinks her glare is merely caused by the way we forced Ristaze to surrender... if that was all, then her anger would fade with time... probably...
But the fury in her eyes is directed at me. Not anyone else.
Clink- clink-
I end up jolting as Satoshi brings everyone's attention to him.
"With the peace negotiations finished we will now begin the party."
He smiles to little Emilia, who has been doing really well through all of this. Sadly it seems like she hasn't realized the situation with Lily and Lionel.
"But, King Landon and I have some important business to discuss with your retainer Lady Lily Celeste, as such, I hope you could lend her to us for a short while?" Satoshi says in an a matter-of-factly tone, prepared to get whatever he wants without question.
My stomach twists again as Lily's murerous gaze lands on me again. I glance to Lily. It would probably be for the best if we waited a bit...
"You can borrow her as long as Lord Tepet escorts her, Princess Catarina, King Landon."
...Emilia gives her conditional approval with a cold Satoshi, visibly dissatisfied.
Emilia's condition causes Satoshi to frown as he now has to, to my relief, bring Lionel along.
"He has no business at that meeting," Satoshi says out bitterly, and sends a stubborn glare towards Lionel.
"No business?" Emilia speaks out with an eerie ghost like grin... as she puts her free hand into Jacques' large one and shares a single look with him before they both look at me with their violet eyes.
"Well, what do you say, King Landon? Is Lord Lionel unneeded?" Emilia adds.
Both Emilia and Jacques are smiling at me, but neither smile reaches their eyes.
My stomach sinks at the realization that Emilia is aware of Lily's fury and is using that. This is also an indirect warning that Emilia is not promising my safety if Lionel isn't brought along.
Isn't this supposed to be a peace conference?
...but with that thought comes another realization. Emilia cannot control Lily.
I feel another chill crawl down my spine and feel yet another furious gaze burning holes in me. It seems like Lionel himself finally realized, that Lily's hatred is aimed at me, because of Emilia's words.
"...I believe we should bring Lord Tepet, Catarina. You have already made him aware of our business as well. Also, I believe Lady Lily looks rather... tired after their long journey. We should let them rest for a while before we begin the meeting," I force out dryly.
Satoshi glares at me, but there is no way I am going to be in the same room as a person described as a monster, without someone to hold her back.
Lily's Point of View
I don't want to go.
I have to endure a meeting with them without snapping, all while they're in reach?
I grasp Lionel's hand tighter.
No matter how much I try not to, I end up comparing Landon to Michiko; The way they move, the way they speak and the little mannerisms they should do without thinking.
If his role as Michiko was really nothing but a role in a game, and he is actually nothing like that, then should I forgive him? Could I? On the other hand... if they are the same, then no 'game' or excuse can pardon him for his actions...
That is what I concluded... it is what I concluded, but the truth only makes my head feel light with anger and frustration.
They aren't alike.
They aren't alike at all, so he isn't Michiko... but there is no way I can truly accept that. I don't want to forgive that woman. So just give me a reason to kill you, Landon.
Even if you have true allies, even if none of your mannerisms are the same and the way you act is so far from Michiko... if you mess up even once, then I'll put you through every bit of the misery you brought Kenta and I.
I feel Lionel's grasp tighten again.
"We are indeed tired from the journey, King Landon, and I am sure we would be able to proceed with business after a few minutes of rest somewhere quiet," Lionel responds to Landon, but I can hear hints of irritation in his voice.
Catarina's glare moves from Landon and back to Lionel, clearly bitter that nothing is going the way she wants.
"I see an agreement has been reached. Tuli, would you lead our guests to the western solar room? Meanwhile the rest of us can enjoy the meeting as planned."
Jacques calls one of his maids to guide us from the great hall. I look to Landon one last time, but this time Lionel steps between us and looks me in the eyes with an intense stare before leading me out of the great hall.
---*---
The door closes quietly behind us and the Castle Duvin maid places herself quietly in the corner. She's looking down at the floor, pretending not to exist so as not to disturb our conversation. If she could leave, then she probably would, but now where I'm back like this I cannot properly stay alone with Lionel in a private room.
...but being out of the great hall calms me down a bit too much. I feel like I am beginning to fall apart. I... don't want to go in there again.
"Lily."
My name comes from Lionel with a low growl, and when he turns to look at me it is with the same angry look as he had back at the academy.
"What happened between you and King Landon? I have never seen you look this livid and wound up over someone, not even when Alstair tried to kill you."
He doesn't raise his voice, but his irritation is palpable.
I end up looking down to the floor like a guilty child under his gaze, at the realization that all of my emotions surfaced to the point I had to be reminded of it like this... No... not just this. The target of my ire, Landon, had been the one to suggest we go rest. It wasn't just noticed by Lionel who seems to be able to read me far more easily than I like right now.
That said, he already knows about that battle...
"...that person is the one that got me killed. He used my... weakness... after the war, and my lack of..."
I pause and shake my head, lowering it further.
"After the battle I requested to commit suicide... it was refused. My fiancé knew about this and about the nightmares haunting me. I was in a far worse place than after I became Lily. He twisted Kenta... my fiancé's feelings of worry towards me, and drove him to kill me, to stop me from ruining myself and put an end to my pain."
I feel my eyes and heart begin to sting, as I tell Lionel the truth of my shameful demise. I didn't plan on telling him everything. Just that he made Kenta kill me... but I had to tell more in some attempt to not make Kenta look the sole villain, and then things begin to pour out of me as Lionel gently holds me by my shoulders.
"...Wolfram Stanbell overheard King Landon talking with his subordinates about how he had killed me. How he said this was the easiest way..."
I grit my teeth and clench my hands into the dress as my anger and frustration flares up again.
"But it was a game! Another game! My life and my world was just a game and he just played a character! And no matter how I look at it that woman and that man are no where the same! Why do I have to consider forgiving someone just because my life was nothing more than a story character?!"
I gasp in a breath and try to contain the surge of emotions that are overflowing.
"...I just want him to suffer for what he did... but I can't..."
If I do then everything built here will fall apart.
It is a price I cannot pay.
I feel Lionel's hands on my shoulders squeeze tightly.
"...Whether it was merely a game or not doesn't matter."
I look up and find his eyes almost aglow with anger.
"Even if you were only a character in a story, he would not have chosen that way to kill you if he had not in some way hated you or felt you deserved it, even if it was the easiest way. He does not deserve any of your pity, for even if he might not do it again, his opinion on whether or not he wants it to happen to you won't have changed."
Landon hates me? Why? I could vaguely understand Michiko's reason, but why would Landon himself hate me? Lionel loosens his grip a bit.
"You can have your revenge if you want to. Just because he is safe for now, that doesn't mean he will continue to be. The only thing is the patience to find the perfect timing."
...That's... true...
"Why would he hate me?" For my weakness? I did go into waking dreams quite often... but if he despised weakness then would he look so kindly at Emilia?
Lionel lets go of my shoulders and shakes his head.
"I don't know... but if the meeting is just private talk between you and the other people who have reincarnated, then you can ask him. You should ask before you speak your name if you want his true feelings, but I cannot imagine a good answer."
...ask?
I go quiet and look back down at the floor as I process Lionel's words. I don't need to act rashly. I don't need to decide whether or not to kill him right now. There will be more chances in the future where the odds will be better.
"Why didn't you tell me about this?"
I look back up to Lionel to find a frown this time. The anger has seemingly subsided a bit.
"...You were distraught about your family. I wouldn't burden you with this and I... thought it would be fine."
Lionel's frown deepens as he takes a deep, deep breath, like one of my brethren just about to snap.
"Lily... I know how you are horrible at, in any way other than anger, expressing your emotions. Especially pain and sorrow. However, no matter how much I adore you and know you hate and get hurt by talking about these things, I cannot let things like this slide! You're pulling yourself apart when you keep it all inside and bottle it up until you are about to explode! Even if you hide it in front of others, you need to let these things out once in a while and talk about them instead of getting stuck inside your head and overthinking everything!"
Eh?
I end up staring up at Lionel blankly as he finishes speaking.
"Wha- What are you saying at a time like this?!" I word out more shocked at the timing than anything else, while heat begins to rise to my head again, this time to my cheeks.
"I am saying that you make me worry about you!"
Lionel snaps back stubbornly.
He didn't realize?!
I reach an arm up to cover behind as I gaze away.
"You... your thoughts really come out unfiltered when you're angry," I grumble at him, now more embarrassed that I'm the only one making a note of this... I feel a bit dizzy and exhausted from the sudden shifts in emotion.
"I apologize. I should have talked about it beforehand. I'll talk about it properly if there is something else."
I simply give in. I don't have the energy or reason to refute him anyway. I move my arm enough to let me peek at him, and the irritation from before is replaced with this soft smile of his.
"Thank you," he says far more softly.
I look away again.
"I... need a little while longer before I'm ready to head to the meeting..."