TRAPPED BY THE SECOND MALE LEAD
CHAPTRE 33
“Excellent.” Meridia was stunned to see the beauty of the long-haired man who appeared before her.
His entire body was wrapped in a bright but shady light making him look like a god, he wore simple keemassn white all-white clothes that managed to accentuate a uniqueness that Meridia had never seen before.
The young man smiled kindly at his uninvited guest, “You are looking for a book about him?” he read Meridia's face.
The princess who could not acknowledge Ziel raised her eyebrows confused because she did not feel like saying anything. “Dia?” the repeat doesn't understand. The strange yet handsome young man walked with short steps toward Meridia. The girl focused on every floor she stepped on, the floor would glow a few seconds after the young man raised his legs again.
The distance between the two of them is now very close, your “Aroma is filled with unpleasant aroma from him,” he said while slightly lowered his nose moved sniffing the air around Meridia.
The long-haired girl blinked her eyes a few times quickly, “Sorry, but I've had a bath.”
“What a pity, you are already under his control. If this is the case, it seems like your life will continue to be tied to it. Don't you want to be free?” he brought his face closer to Meridia while occasionally rubbing his pointed chin, “Hm...what lately has your memory been deteriorating, like you often forget something that you feel is important?”
Meridia flinched in shock “How did you know?”
Lately, since she last woke up with Lucien next to her, Meridia was less able to remember anything she did yesterday. Other little things take a while to be remembered.
Iris green shade young man over time turned bluish “You still don't remember anything about Lucien, yes.”
“You know Lucien?” Meridia had trouble processing the information she had just obtained was shocked. He can't think very well.
Then the elf who sat on Meridia's shoulders earlier flew to the front of the girl's face and kicked Meridia's forehead even though her little legs would not hurt. “Hey, don't you know who this boss is? you seem to underestimate it. He's it's de-umph!”
The long straggled man immediately pushed Aquila's mini body away using his index finger. “Get to work, Aquila. You talk too much,” cut it.
“Huft! You cruel boss!” Aquila turned away an annoyed face but she kept following her boss' orders and returned to the shelf where she was supposed to rearrange the book's arrangement. The unnamed young man smiled kindly, “How about we chat while sitting down? I have some questions I want to ask you.”
Meridia nodded weakly, her confusion making Meridia not know what to do. He was just following the command given from the person who seemed to be the owner of the library. “I can feel an incredible calm near this guy,” he said inwardly as he continued to notice the radiant face of the young man.
As the two of them sat down, some little elves came to bring a teapot and two empty cups to the table. See fairies flying in front of the face? it was like a childhood fantasy.
“Ekhem, what was your impression after seeing me?” The long-haired man was waiting for the answer he expected. At a glance from her sparkling eyes, Meridia saw that this young man before her was happy to meet her.
“Eh?” Meridia scratched her temple, hesitantly she replied, “It seems like you are not a bad person,” that is just the answer she thought of.
The young man smiled but it was very noticeable that in fact he was not satisfied with Meridia's very ordinary answer “So? yes, I was wrong to expect too much from you.”
He took a sip of his warm tea and put the cup again while adding honey to his teacup “You have a pretty great ability. You can't use it yet?”
Instead of hearing, Meridia was busy paying attention to the man's appearance “Did you always shine like that? You look like a firefly at night.”
“Haha you're so funny. It would only be an insult to me because I am so much better, it cannot be equated with creatures like them.”
“Wah, is this guy really narcissistic? He doesn't look like the guy who's throwing jokes, Meridia's inner” in the heart.
"You haven't answered my question, you know. Well, but that's okay, I also already know the answer.”
“How can you know about many things?”
“Because I'm not stupid like a human who has limited brainpower.”
“...” Meridia was a little upset to hear it, he then switched the topic of their conversation “Actually what is my strength? They said this was just a curse and would be of no use at all,” he was bowed staring at both palms. As long as he moved to Lucien's palace, the power of the curse did not come out.
“Of course not. Even your strength is very useful for greedy and selfish humans.” The young man flicked his finger at the book on Meridia's lap, then in the direction of his finger the book flew back to the owner of “It is still too fast 100 years for you to know its contents.”
“What?”
“Your strength is very unique," he paused on his explanation for tea, "You can impose your desire on others just by saying what you want to expect to happen to your target,” she knew Meridia wouldn't be too surprised after hearing that because basically the girl had already understood the concept of her own strength, “That's why you chose not to put your feelings forward in order to keep your words in control, right so?”
“You are magical once to know everything easily.”
“Thanks for the compliment,” reply the young man was happy. There is one question the man wants to ask, “How did you feel while living with Lucien? Ah I forgot, he was a noble huh,” murmured as if not only knew Lucien's name but knew the whole ins and outs of a Lucien Clein Navarro.
“I don't know. I can't explain what I feel,” Meridia sighed long, “Every day my mind is always a mess.”
The mysterious young man looked at the face of Meridia “You can answer honestly, do you love Lucien?”
“What?” Meridia did not know that she would be asked this question so she was very unprepared for the answer.
“I also don't know.”
“He's not the right person for you to choose as a lifetime partner. Lucien has gone too far, I'm sure he won't be able to make you happy.”
“That's not true.” without her intention, the denial's answer just escaped her mouth.
“You mean?”
How else, he has already pleaded. Finally Meridia tried to explain slowly the meaning of his words earlier. “It was precisely he who saved me from the hell of the world that I felt while living with my biological family. He always gave me anything, even if I didn't ask him even if he would know what I needed. He always gave me attention that I had not been able to, ” martial Meridia did not think long, she was provoked after hearing the sentence of the person before her.
The young man squinted dislikes. “Oh so you do love him,” his response was casual but cynical, he nodded small while drinking his tea. Meridia widened her eyes, she did not realize she had said something that she had never wanted to admit.
“Can you listen to me?”
“Ya.”
“Meridia, you will continue to be in big trouble if you choose to stay together. I know what you're feeling but it's good to stay out of danger." He let Meridia think for a while, “I'll give back some of your locked memories,” the handsome young man grinned faintly.
“Intanku?”
“Stand,” his word.
Meridia followed his orders and stood facing each other. The young man bowed slightly and whispered in front of Meridia's ear “After this make sure you can still behave as usual if you do not want to be suspected.”
Without a hint the young man instantly gave Meridia a brief peek and instantly her body glowed like the young man before her. Five seconds later the light disappeared along with a light feeling that penetrated into his soul. “What's finished?” ask Meridia who doesn't feel anything anymore.
“Yes, now come back. Maybe someday we can meet again,” Meridia feel in the middle of the whirlwind that revolves around it. As Meridia's body floated, the wind carried her body flying out of the library. The more Meridia moved away the more the light in the room faded.
The young man put his index finger in front of his lips “This is our secret, don't tell anyone.”
“Wait! I don't know your name yet.”
“Call me Ricchie. Remember my name well until we can see each other again, yes.” the young man's smile faded replaced with a sad look when he saw Meridia was already in front of the end of the room.
After that the mysterious door he used to enter had disappeared without a trace. The wall is tight.
“Ricchie yes,” muttered Meridia who was sitting on the floor still staring blankly at the plain wall in front of her, “I feel very happy to meet her, it feels like nostalgia.”
Qouila had just returned after finishing the commotion between the servants in the meeting room. The man was surprised when he returned he had already seen Meridia sitting on the floor dumbly, “Y-Your Majesty, are you alright?!” the guard man immediately helped Meridia get up “Did you fall slipping? I'll immediately reprimand the waiter.”
Meridia did not answer and left ignoring the worried Qouila. The girl went back to where Lucien was. Before Meridia arrived, she could see Lucien waiting at the door agitatedly though not clearly on his face, “Meridia, you were so long ago. Are you lost?”
Meridia shook her head weakly “No,” her reply was quick.
“Come. Hugo will immediately drive you home,” Hugo has come to the throne room still with a complete adjutant outfit that makes it very charismatic and radiates clearly the authority of a great Knight.
“Let's Her Royal Highness Duchess.”
Meanwhile in front of the palace, Arden had just stepped off the official Grand Duke family carriage which had a white lion emblem as Palmieri's identity. The first thing that accompanies when his feet hit the ground was a long breath, his appearance this morning was not so good. It was very obvious that he was not okay.
Arden walked casually up the stairs and coincidentally a royal knight who was well acquainted with Arden was passing in front of him. The young man smiled happily “Your Highness Arden!” the owner of his name gasped in shock because he had been daydreaming since then and did not see anyone waiting for him in front of the palace door.
“Wah, what do you need to come here? I've very rarely seen you come to the palace,” asked him kindly. Arden was very rare to come to the palace even though he was the son of a Grand Duke, he would not have come if the situation was not as urgent as today.
“There is a meeting of nobles that I must attend as my father's successor for a while,” Arden replied with a smile.
“You look sleep-deprived, you okay?”
“Ah yes, I am good.”
“Oh so His Highness Grand Duke Palmieri can't attend? Tumben once.”
“Yes, she's not feeling well.”
William was not really sick. Only, last night his father accidentally drank a bottle of alcohol that he thought was the juice of the fruit he usually drank before going to bed because the bottle was very similar. As a result, he became drunk and continued to rummage indistinctly throughout the night, making Helena the mother difficult.
Not only that, William also invited Arden duel sword in the middle of the night while advising him at length whose behavior was completely different from the figure of William that he recognized. In addition, he also invited Helena to chat the three talked about the childhood of their only puppet son, Arden.
Given the incident his father was drunk alone has traumatized Arden made. This morning William is still feeling the influence while Helena has just been able to sleep after taking care of William and it is impossible for a woman to replace the position of head of the family at an official meeting.
That silly mess made Arden very ashamed of himself “How could my family make such a fuss,” the handsome young man sighed for the umpteenth time, he covered his eyes with his palms.
“Eh? Your Majesty just said something?”
“Ah no. I was thinking about my dad at home.”
Marigold and Ziel had already come thirty minutes earlier. Now the leader of the Emerald was meeting his friend and Marigold had no activity that could kill his boredom. Marigold can come to the palace because officially he also has a relationship with the kingdom as a Saintess who has been recognized by the state.
Actually Marigold had a glimpse through the hallway to the toilet where at that time Meridia was also daydreaming to see a mysterious door that could not be seen by just anyone. “Why is he silent there?” marigold muttered in surprise and he just passed by, unsuspecting and coming back to check. He was too indifferent to the point of not recognizing his own twin sister.
Because it was getting bored finally Marigold chose to take a walk in the palace garden and his heart was happy when he saw that Arden also came to the palace. What a fun coincidence.
“Arden!” the blond-blonded youth gasped in surprise, he looked back and found Marigold running small towards him.
Arden did not immediately welcome with a smile but a confused look “Arden, good morning,” greet Marigold with a sweet smile that turned out to only affect the royal knight who was chatting with Arden.
“I came with dad and I didn't expect to see you here,” Marigold said as he held Arden's arm. In the eyes of others, they seem to fit perfectly together. Seeing his whereabouts only disturbing, the knight finally chose to leave them.
“Yes, it just so happens that today I have to replace my father—” Arden instantly stiffened, he felt that there were people he really wanted to meet. Arden turned his head around “Meridia.?” there was no one in the palace courtyard other than the guards and some inner servants who worked in the palace.
“Arden, what's up?” Marigold followed Arden's line of sight and frowned in confusion.
“No,” Arden accidentally saw a chariot bearing the gold-horned black dragon belonging to Duke Navarro leaving the palace courtyard “Why did he come home early? Is he going to miss today's meeting?”
“Who is Duke Navarro?” ask Marigold who just heard the Navarro clan. Arden sighed “He is the current leader of the Navarro clan. Looks like he's the same age as us.”
Marigold suddenly held onto his head which was very painful “Akh!”
Arden immediately caught Marigold's limp body “You why? Are you sick?”
“A-I'm fine, suddenly my head hurts,” the girl's face turns pale, finally Arden helps Marigold go to the palace healer room to check his suddenly weakened condition.
After escorting Marigold, Arden immediately went to the meeting room and waited until the time came, he also had time with other nobles who would also attend the meeting.
Arden chose a further path when his mood suddenly lacked, he chose to pass through the vast palace living room. He accidentally looked into the room where the door was open. There he saw Lucien enjoying a cup of tea alone in safety and peace.
“I think he's home because his train went first.” Arden held the back of his nape, a wish appearing in his heart. “I want to be friends with him,” he looked at Lucien again, “Should I greet him? but we never greet each other, it seems like he will also be disturbed by my presence.”
Lucien glanced towards the door, he put down his teacup and looked at Arden who was aghast in shock because he did not know that Lucien would soon realize his existence. "Good day, Prince Arden Lund Palmieri,” greet Lucien by calling the full name of the handsome young blonde.
William Palmieri's son was still a little hesitant, but seeing Lucien's friendly expression made Arden ventured to enter as well and reply to the Duke's greeting the youngest “Good afternoon, His Highness Duke Navarro.”
After being invited to join in enjoying tea together, Arden sat on a sofa a bit far from Lucien. “So I saw your train leave, I thought you were going to miss this sudden meeting," Arden tried to find the topic of conversation because it was so visible from his face that Lucien was a very quiet person.
“Yes, it's my aide.”
“Why did he leave you?”
“I only needed it when I met the King earlier,” Lucien replied briefly but did not remove his friendly impression.
“Meet with King Gilbert?”
At first Lucien was reluctant to talk about it but he became curious about something to see Arden's reaction. “Ya, before the meeting I had time to meet the king to discuss the matter of marriage.”
Arden gasps “You're getting married soon?” although Lucien was a family leader, at the age of eighteen, getting married was too soon a decision.
“Um, it looks like so. I have loved her so much since I first met her. What else do I need to delay to have it immediately, yes ‘kan?” Lucien smirked faintly looking at Arden's expression.
“A-ah yes, that's right, Duke,” the young man smiled awkwardly in response to Lucien's remark, “that's why I feel he's insinuating me but why do I feel insinuated?” inner wonder.
Not Arden the one Lucien was after, he knew Marigold was eavesdropping on their conversation at the door. To be honest he was eager to make it clear that what he wanted to marry was Meridia but he wanted to further prosecute the two boys.
Behind the living room door, Marigold silently pegged with cheeks that already resembled tomatoes. “a-ap-what did Lucien say?! I just found out that he's a rumored young Duke. I was like a heroine, surrounded by many handsome men,” the girl was excited to imagine that what Lucien meant was her because of their last chat.
Marigold was supposed to be in the doctor's room but his headache went away on its own, so he chased after Arden to chat longer with him. However, before Marigold could call his name, Arden had already entered the living room first.
“I heard you'd be engaged to Marquess Emerald's daughter,” Arden and Marigold were both surprised.
“Where did you hear that?” Arden had indeed heard of the plan from Helena who immediately liked Marigold. But William rejected his wife's plan to match their son beyond their own.
William principled will hold an engagement and wedding if Arden himself chose his life partner. The Grand Duke's rebuke left Helena a little disappointed at squandering a very good candidate like Marigold. But the matchmaking problem is over. Only in their families.
Neither his father nor his mother had revealed such a very private plan to others. Even the family negotiations did not reach Ziel's family. “Anu...do people spread rumors so because they often see us together?” ask Arden again.
Lucien shook his head while smiling, “You think I heard it from someone else? Lady Marigold himself said,” Arden does not believe in his hearing, he does not expect that Marigold who indeed spread the news.
Marigold who had been eavesdropping on their conversation came straight out of his hiding place. “No! That's not true. I never said anything like that to anyone!” sergeant Marigold panicked, so confused by Lucien's attitude that suddenly said this in front of Arden.
Arden was speechless a thousand languages, he was at a loss to see this state of affairs. “Loh? I've heard for myself that you told the people at the temple about you two getting engaged.”
Marigold was getting more panicked, he did have a chance to talk to some priestesses while helping them dry the sacred cloth in the backyard “Don't Lucien be there when I talk about it?!” ask her in your heart.
Marigold scowled furiously. He thinks Lucien is a more handsome and charismatic young man, and expects Lucien to have the same qualities as Arden. Marigold was a little disappointed because the way Lucien dismantled the woman's conversation in front of others was very disrespectful. With that, the entire good supposition about Lucien in Marigold's eyes became shattered.
“Ah but I don't seem to see Saintess.” wrong
“No! Duke, I don't know what your purpose is to say that but instead it's a disrespectful act and tarnish the good name of another noble?” Marigold was still trying to smile and speak patiently even though his tone explained all the anger held in his heart.
Lucien nodded his head in understanding, “oh or lest you deliberately spread the news so that everyone supports the relationship between the two of you?” Lucien getting up off the couch, “You should have more to learn about manners. Eavesdropping on other people's conversation and interrupting the careless chatter was a complete violation of a nobleman's code of conduct.”
Lucien left, as he passed by Marigold he whispered a little, “I'm very disappointed with your decision to choose him, whereas I really hope a lot for you, I'm very disappointed in you,” again Lucien still toying with Marigold's feelings to make the girl think of many things. None of the two men (Arden and Marigold) saw the sly grin Lucien showed.
At that time Marigold did not care about Lucien and ran to the front of Arden who was still sitting quietly on the sofa. “Arden are you mad at me? I never really said that to anyone,” her sapphire iris glazed against tears.
The young man raised his face then smiled fakely, “I'm not mad at you. You don't have to think about that, maybe he's just curious about something.”
Tears down wet his two cheeks “Hiks.I'm sorry Arden, I really did not do that, I beg you not to hate me,” he did that so that Arden sympathized with him.
The Palmieri clan's rightful successor sighed and gently patted the top of Marigold's head. "Don't cry, Marigold. I won't be mad at you. Besides I can't trust the person I just met,” he said as a tranquilizer. The young man immediately continued his sentence, “I have to leave right now or I will be late for the meeting. See you later.”
After Arden left the room, Marigold wiped away his tears. “Actually what is Duke Navarro's goal?” the look on his face turned serious, “I didn't expect him to go this far because I was disappointed to hear me say so.”
At first glance in Marigold's memory, he felt that he had said that to someone else other than the priestess and Marigold “I was like talking about that with someone else, but with whom?” her still very vivid memory was when she showed off her bragging to make Meridia envious.
Marigold shook his head strongly “no, no. Rather than that, I also seemed familiar with Lucien's face. But, it's impossible, I just met him not long ago.”
Twelve nobles have now been present in the meeting room held during the day at the Bommenhaum palace. The king himself has sat in the lead while evaluating each report carried by each meeting participant.
Gilbert smiled as he saw Arden sitting next to him representing his father. “Tumben once Grand Duke Palmieri was not present at such an important event, what has happened to him?”
Arden smiled clumsyly, he was embarrassed to explain William's true state, “Father is fine, Your Majesty. He was just exhausted from staying up late to finish another report,” despite all the work William had to do last night Arden did, which is why he was sleep deprived.
“Hahahaha as always, he's a very hard man against himself.”
“Yes that's how he is, Your Grace.” Arden managed to handle Gilbert's question.
As soon as everyone was ready, Gilbert opened the meeting by discussing many of the things listed in the reports that had been collected starting from the supervision of the territory under the leadership of each noble, and the, social problems that occur in communities under their auspices, the development of leadership areas and the checking of territorial boundaries.
An hour and a half was missed with the amount of discussion they had. The king has also informed in the last two weeks that at the next meeting he will divide some new territory for two nobles in order to preserve and prosper the new territory.
Many of the other nobles were satisfied with Ziel's performance so support flooded the Emerald leader. In addition to the area mentioned was close to where he lived, Ziel is known to be capable and easy to associate funds to the right place or person.
Gilbert received input from the noble leaders and included the name Ziel in the new candidate for territory, in addition to William Palmieri. Just as Gilbert was about to open his mouth, a noble immediately interrupted by raising a hand.
“Sorry I interrupted, Your Majesty. Can you just say something? Last time the problem I explained in the report has not been discussed His Majesty so..”.
Gilbert nods small “Please Marquess Benholtrich.”
“I plan to build a new temple and market in dae—“
Lucien instantly cut the man's sentence without hesitation. “As usual, do you want to ask for support and financial assistance from His Majesty the King?” all the nobles are silent. The reason, Benholtrich is the person who most often asked for funding assistance every two months and never seen the results of the development he promised.
“That's because...” the man couldn't say anything because like Lucien's guess and the other nobles, he did want to ask for the funds' help.
"I don't see the development of any building you want to build to develop small villages,” said Gilbert who had already received a report from his guards.
The man broke out in cold sweat and lowered his head trying to find the reason “i-it was because the assigned workers were always not at home, Your Majesty. I have to spend extra money to continue it.”
“Oh, the reason they do not feel at home is because the payment is not smooth? or because you tortured them without paying them a dime?” both are the same, Lucien already knows that Benholtrich squandered the money given by the King to brag at the auction of illegal goods and the central night world of human garbage gathered.
“Kegh..! I-it's not true!” Benholtrich felt increasingly cornered and unable to argue anymore. He looked down deeply, his body trembling in fear. Not to the King but because of the pressure given Lucien.
The youngest duke gave a death look that managed to defeat Benholtrich's argument. Arden who was confused to pay attention to Lucien and the reaction of Marquess Benholtrich alternately “Duke Navarro looks very suspicious, actually who is he?”
Gilbert raised his hand with a sigh, “I refuse to discuss this again with you, Marquess Benholtrich,” he said as a final decision which means no more help received by him from now on. “I will continue the announcement of the division of the new region.”
Ziel who had been longing for the results of the division of the area near his house did not care much about the debate that occurred. He had already thought of many things such as building public housing and building a new port as a sea trade route that would be very profitable.
“Two new territories near the city of Zvylquezk will be handed over to Duke Cleophirsha,” Gilbert set aside a report that has been qualified and take another last report “Two regions near the city of Vylveith will I submit to Duke Navarro.”
All the other nobles besides Arden and Lucien were surprised to hear the results that missed their estimates especially Ziel whose expectations had soared.
Reflexes, Ziel immediately stood pounding the table and after that he himself was surprised by his actions that provoked attention from the other meeting participants. “Your Majesty, does it have a big enough weakness? I beg you to let me know the flaws in my report.”
Ziel felt annoyed and disappointed when he looked at Lucien who was also looking back expressionlessly. The young man who was only seventeen years old and did not have much experience was precisely his name called seizing the two territories that should have fallen into the hands of Ziel.
Lucien smiled slantedly at Ziel satisfied because the man had been looking at him cynically since then so he deliberately ignited the fire. Gilbert sat down and hung his chin. “Hm, in other words, Marquess Emerald was not satisfied with the decision I made?”
Ziel shook his head quickly “No, don't you think. I apologize for my carelessness, Your Majesty. Actually I just want to know where the shortcomings of the report I made so that I can fix it.”
“I'll explain it later after meeting.”
“Your Majesty, how could Grand Duke Palmieri not qualify?” Ziel found it impossible for William to have any flaws in his reports as he was already very adept at compiling reports compared to the boy Lucien.
Gilbert let out a long sigh “dia who asked me to withdraw her name. William already had enough territory to deal with and within five years all the burden would move onto his son's shoulders so William chose not to add any more. Is my explanation still incomplete, Marquess?”
Gilbert's sharp gaze made all the nobles shudder in horror, they recalled the unforgettable big event five years ago in which the meeting was held into a bloodbath due to Gilbert's irrepressible anger.
Ziel apologized and immediately sat back with a feeling of being arrogant “ alright, then today's meeting is finished. You can go home now,” everyone is improving and one by one the nobles started to leave the meeting room with a feeling of relief. “Marquess Emerald, Duke Navarro, and Prince Arden. You guys come to the throne room in ten minutes.”
