Chapter 445 145 - Perserios territory - part 1- Settling in (part 5)
The point that Miriette made showed a reason why the first prince Horeo nicknamed her the cunning fox.
She knew the rules.
She knew the laws, traditions, and regulations.
She knew it all and that's why she could weaver and around them and bent those that she disliked.
The thing she said about having a clear conscience was an example of that.
"...is this really how you want this to play out...?"
Devios sighed heavily and asked gritting his teeth.
"I want to enlist to help our kingdom and save myself from having to sell my body in order to survive, is there a fault in my motives...?"
Miriette nuzzled up to Zoemi while keeping an eye on Devios's reaction - and did not back down on her own silly little story, making the younger boy clench his fists in an attempt to hold down his anger at the borderline disrespectful behavior.
"You are really making it harder than it needs to be. Everyone knows that the barbarians are acting up more and more, making things difficult for your family and your troops. The only people trying to blame you for not extensively checking the background of the magicians volunteering to join the fight would be able people who are working together with barbarians. Just make him sign it. I've heard that young lord Banemor married or engaged and I think I will try to use my feline charms to woo him... of course without that getting in the way of my new duties."
Since the young heir of the Perserios family didn't show any signs of calming down, Miriette rolled her eyes and straightened her back, speaking in a serious, matter-of-fact voice.
...and she did that without actually trying to change her compromising position in the arms of the black-haired boy...
"...young lady... you really have the guts... the audacity, to say that we can get away with having you here shielding ourselves with the dire situation that makes us forego the extensive background check... WHILE YOU ARE THE SINGLE, MOST OF THE RECOGNIZABLE WING MAGE IN THE ENTIRE BELLCEPHORA KINGDOM?!"
Everyone had a limit to their patience, and Devios found his own for the first time in his life - which caused him to raise his voice and stomp his foot in a splendid outburst of utter annoyance.
His counterargument to Miriette's solution was simple, precise, and to the point.
The dark-haired girl was even more recognizable than some of the unique variant magicians.
The moment she would use her magic anyone except some extreme country bumpkins or commoners who never left their village would recognize her because of the well-spread information.
It was the biggest demerit of being the fiancée of the first prince on top of looking different from the standard of the populace.
"Then I will wear a big helmet. Wind magicians aren't known for having good physical defense so wearing it on the battlefield would not surprise anyone."
Miriette shrugged, leaning down and nuzzling against the base of Zoemi's neck.
"You will even wear it inside, in between the skirmishes?! That will get just as much attention!"
Devios scoffed and waved his hand, showing off how strongly opposed he was to the idea.
"Really? Because I saw soldiers wearing them inside as I walked here. Where's the problem in me doing the same."
The dark-haired girl waved her hand dismissively as if she already have won the argument.
"The only ones who do that are the people on active guard duty! That is not an excuse!"
"Yes, it is. Stop being such a little ba..."
*nom*
"Kyaah~!"
Devios gasped, having a hard time believing someone can be that pretentious, to which Miriette was going to double down on - until Zoemi nibbled on her ear without any warning causing her to let out a sweet voice, stopping the dark-haired girl before she went too far.
"Miri, you are going too far this time. Devios has a point."
The black-haired boy finally said something that approached the realm of what the blue-haired boy brought him there for, but that didn't particularly satisfy the person in question.
Too little too late, as one could say.
"..."
Miriette pouted and her eyes narrowed as she glared at Zoemi.
"...fine..."
"Wait, really?! So you will leave as if nothing happened, right?"
She ended up pouting even more and she looked away but she did give up and muttered all sulky - which in turn caused Devios to perk up and call out in relief.
"No. Instead I will come up with an excuse that you could use - since it clearly looks like you are incapable of on your own. Let's see..."
"!!!"
But Miriette only scoffed and faced the younger boy with a mocking expression, making him flinch as his eyes widened.
"I will still join but you will straight up put me into a pair with Zoemi. With how many bad rumors about him are circulating, no one should question why a poor young girl is taking a defensive measure in his vicinity."
The dark-haired girl declared only after a few seconds of thinking about the subject.
"..."
Devios froze in place, straight up staring at the prideful face Miriette was making as if expecting her to dismiss everything by saying it was a joke.
"Yes, that sounds plausible enough to work."
"...!"
But when Zoemi ended up nodding and applauding the plan, the young heir of the Perserios family slouched and began massaging his forehead as he could feel the headache approaching him like a tidal wave.
"You cannot be serious. That will not work - it cannot work! Why would anyone want to pair Zoemi up with some random recruit?! Even with one-tenth of his abilities available, he already is far too much to handle for hour veteran commanders to put into a proper use!"
Devios raised his head looking up at the two, especially focusing on Miriette - who was being the more outrageous one by far.
"You are getting on my nerves."
*click*
All of a sudden, the dark-haired girl frowned in annoyance and snapped her fingers.historical
"Gu-huogh...?!"
*thump*
At her movement, the officer who was minding his own business staring at the wall, complying with Devios's orders gasped for air, grabbed onto his neck, and fell to his knees.
"Don't you think that it is too far?"
Even Zoemi didn't stay silent, and he actually put Miriette down and looked at her with disapproval.
"No. Not really. I gave him an easy-to-follow plan but he just chooses to be difficult. It's hardly my fault. Can we continue to at least hug while your uncle-in-law makes the right decision?"
The dark-haired girl shook her head from right to left with a stoic expression and immediately switched back to the cute voice as she looked upwards at the black-haired boy.
"Seeing innocent people getting tortured isn't something that sets the cozy mood for me - so, no."
"Hmph..."
But Zoemi put his foot down - in a figurative manner at least - and declined while pointing at the very problematic situation Miriette was causing.
"Whatever spell you are using, just stop it! He is going to die!"
Devios demanded in an urgent voice, while all of his strong will was going to not actually attack the indifferent dark-haired girl.