"What the absolute fuck did you just say?!" I exclaimed, my glare having disappeared from my face and now replaced by wide eyes and a loose jaw, "You want me to join your ranks as what now?!"
"You heard me, or are those elven ears of yours failing you at your age?" Keir poked, his tone not matching his request.
"You don't even know my age, you psycho! And why the hell would you break into my room just to offer me that?! I am not Atlas Clyyford. I would've been very welcome to talk about this over a cup of tea," I announced, crossing my arms with a look of displeasure.
'I may be lying about wanting to talk to him, like, ever, but I much rather would have preferred a proper heads up!'
"Ah, is that how you do things in the mortal realm? My apologies, I suppose I should ask permission first!" Keir said with much sarcasm, doing a theatrical bow, "Viscount Lev Andraste, would you please give me the honor of discussing a change of employment?"
"No."
"Well, now you see why I let myself in," Keir smiled, straightening himself, "So, your answer to my offer?"
"Wow, you aren't even going to give me a few days to answer? How considerate," I replied, rolling my eyes at the straightforward Demin King.
"I am quite the impatient man, I don't typically find myself waiting for anything, especially if it is something I directly request," Keir admitted, stepping closer and laying his hand on my shoulder, "So, do not make me wait. I would advise not to risk gaining my wrath or annoyance."
Sighing, with frustration and surprising speed, I grabbed Keir's wrist and swung him over my shoulder, right onto the floor and under my foot. Keir smiled with annoyance as I pressed my shoe into his neck, a groan coming from his throat.
"You say that you are an impatient man? Well, guess what, so am I. You know why I am denying your offer? Because, unlike some people, I know how to pick and choose my battles, as well as discern who will win and who will not. As for you, unfortunately, fate has already chosen you to be on the losing team, so I'd rather not have to face the same consequences that you do," I pulled on Keir's arm with a strengthened grip, earning a groan from him.
I looked down at Keir, all emotion drained from my face, simply seeing him as an insignificant bug. I felt Keir tremble under my grip, his breathing sharpened, but just for a brief moment. A strangely familiar gaze filled his eyes before disappearing almost instantly, the look reminding me of something that made me pull and twist his arm even more.
"Look, I don't care what your relationship with Klaus Leondis is, nor what you plan to do to the Ender Empire, but leave me out of it. If you ever dare to bring my people into your little games, expect a world of hurt and deceit, you damn bastard," I threatened, pulling and twisting his arm so hard that I heard a pop and then a crack, a muffled scream coming from my Demon King as I let go.
"HAHA! You and the hero really are so similarly opposite that it is almost funny," Keir started, speaking through groans as he tried to get up, "You really get my gears going, like how that hero does, but in a good way."
"Shut your mouth, you bastard. Get the hell out of my estate and never come back," I demanded, watching as he walked to the balcony.
"Just answer me this, how the hell do you know about Klaus Leondis and me?" Keir interrogated, looking at me with a raised brow as he brushed his hand over his broken arm.
"It's quite obvious, especially considering that he shows up here and a few days after I meet him, telling him about Llyr Vellamo, you show up," I explained, shrugging, "it wasn't much, I simply connected the dots. And not that you know how, do me a favor and fuck off."
"Dear Viscount, I will be back, whether you like it or not. Since you were able to harm me as such, I'll make sure to return the actions tenfold," Keir announced, a strained smile appearing on his face as he disappeared from the balcony.
And with that, he was gone. I felt my shoulders sag, a breath of relief escaping from my lips as I plopped onto my bed, relieved that the man was gone.
'Shit, that was too much! If I hadn't caught Keir off guard, who knows what would have happened. Though even I had to admit that breaking his arm was a bit of a stretch…'
Lying there, staring at the ceiling, I thought about his offer. Asking myself if that was what happened in the original timeline, if Keir had previously come to offer the original Lev a position like that to get him on his side.
'Well, at least I was here before Lev accepted it, that way I wouldn't have to deal with evading Atlas and instead get to like a life of what little comfort I have now.'
I was quickly brought out of my thoughts by the sound of my door bursting open, a worried Praxis appearing in the doorway, "M-Master! Are you okay? Where is his Majesty?" He asked, rushing over to my side and cupping my cheek in his hand, and looking over towards the balcony.
"Oh, hello, Praxis. Keir has already left; he probably won't be back anytime soon," I replied, leaning my face into Praxis' hand.
"I see…are you okay, Master? You are shaking," Praxis asked, his brows creasing and lips pursed into a frown.
"Hm? Am I? Well, I am alright. Where is everyone else?" I inquired, noticing that Sephtis didn't follow Praxis, and that Victor wasn't here either, which he would usually be the first one to arrive at the sign of a disturbance.
"Ah, well, I kind of left them to take care of the luggage. I only noticed that his Majesty was here when he used his mana, I suppose Sephtis didn't recognize it," Praxis explained, his hand sliding down to my shoulder, giving it a little squeeze.
"Mmmm, alright," I nodded, pulling Praxis' hand away as I got up, "Then let's go join them, let me just put this last thing in my trunk."
Praxis watched as I stood up and went over to my closet, picking up the closed trunk beside it and placing it on my bed. His face was still laced with worry, and it seemed that he wanted to say something but decided against it.
'Sometimes, it is best not to pry. Plus, I don't really feel like trying right now.'
Walking back to my desk, I opened the bottom drawer and pulled out an ominous-looking key, relieved that it was still there. I really regretted not bringing it with me on my date with Llyr, but if anything, I was just glad that Keir didn't go searching through my drawers.
"Master, if you do not mind me asking, what exactly is that key?" Praxis' expression was replaced with one of pure curiosity; his eyebrow lifted as he tilted his head, looking directly at the key as I brought it over.
"This thing? I suppose you could say it's some sort of trump card of mine," I smiled, placing it in my trunk and closing it, "Thinking back now, I really should've kept it on me instead of in that drawer."
"I see. Master, you are lucky that His Majesty didn't find it, or take it. That thing is practically radiating mental attribute mana, who knows what would've happened had His Majesty found it," Praxis noted, standing up and taking my hand, likely feeling the leftover mana the 'key' left.
"I'm actually not worried too much. I've already done what I needed to do to get the weapon to 'recognize' me as its master, so Keir wouldn't have been able to use it," I shrugged, looking down as Praxis rubbed my hand, a frown on his face.
"Still. His Majesty is quite the ambitious being. Had he recgonized it's true value and decided it was more valuable than you, he could've killed you to obtain it," Praxis sighed and shook his head, kissing my hand before letting it go.
"Pfft- It really is nothing to worry about! If he wanted me dead, I would be dead already," I chuckled, thinking to myself that it wouldn't go well for Keir if he did, considering this immortal body and all that jazz.
"If you say so, I will not pry," Praxis announced, turning and heading for the door. "It's best we go down now, Sephtis and Victor are likely starting to worry…Oh, and I guess Arwan too."
"Hm? You do not seem to be fond of Arwan. Did something happen?" I wondered, following after Praxis with my trunk and picking up the side bag I left by the door.
"...Not particularly, it's just that Dragons and Demons do not get along too well," Praxis commented, opening and closing his mouth a few times before sighing and continuing, "In the divine hierarchy, Angels rank third after minor dieties, and Dragons follow shortly after, so I suppose you could say we are natural enemies, especially for demons that feed on emotions."
"Is that so? Huh, it must just be you then. Arwan seems to get along fine with Diarmaid," I added, being pulled closer forward by Praxis' tail.
"That is different, for us it is a matter of social hierarchy. Mr Diarmaid is the head butler and chamberlain of the estate, while Arwan is your bodyguard, and I am a mere slave. It would be unbefitting for us to treat each other on the same level," Praxis gave me a pitying smile, his tail curling up behind him as his ears twitched.
I didn't comment on that, and I didn't press him about what he meant with that; I just let the thought settle. I knew Dragons were prideful beings, but I didn't think that even Arwan would let social hierarchies affect how he saw things.
I simply put that debate away for another time, looking straight until we reached the entryway to the staircase. "Praxis, come here for a moment," I called after him, making him turn and walk back after he was already at the front of the staircase.
"Is something the matter, Master?" He asked, tilting his head as he walked over, stopping just a little way in front of me.
"I want to thank you for coming to check on me when you noticed the Demon King's mana. If I were really in danger, who knows what would have become of me if no one intervened," I smiled at him, kissing Praxis on the cheek and patting his shoulder.
"Heh, thank you, Master. But if you really want to thank me, don't you think it should be with something more than a kiss on the cheek and a pat on the shoulder?" Praxis chuckled with a seductive smile and a telling glint in his eyes, then pulled me closer by the waist and squeezed my ass with the other, tilting his head.
"Pfft- HAHAHA! You fucking pervert!" I cackled, surprising myself. I grabbed the back of Praxis' head and pushed it down onto my lips, lingering there for a moment before pulling him away, "You are lucky I don't mind. But if Sephtis saw us, then I definitely would."
I walked past him and went down the stairs, leaving Praxis staring at my back as I left. I didn't see the expression on his face, but I definitely felt it. One full of want and acknowledgement, though I wasn't sure what it was from.
***
"Ahhh, manor sweet manor!" I exclaimed, stretching as Sephtis, Praxis, and I appeared in front of the Manor in the Silversun Kingdom, the mana from the teleportation circle dissipating around us.
"Hehe, it is good to be back! To be honest, this place feels more homely than the estate," Sephtis commented with a nervous chuckle, "Not that I dislike the estate, I just haven't been there long enough yet."
"Hm, understandable. It took me a while as well. Praxis, you didn't seem too uncomfortable, though." I peered over at Praxis, who was looking at the upper floor.
"I guess I am just quick to adjust to things, you know how it was for me," Praxis shrugged, turning back to us.
"Mmmm, yeah, that is true. Suppose I'll just have to end this fiasco soo-" I started, but was cut off by the sound of what I wished I didn't hear, "Sorry you two, could you wait here while I go inside for a moment? There's something I have to check."
I smiled at Sephtis and Praxis as I turned and went inside, a familiar presence lingering in as the doors closed behind me. Walking over to the railing, I traced the spots where it seemed to linger the most on this floor, and the same spot I had touched before leaving the manor.
"Haaa, okay, Llyr, you managed to prove me wrong. Let's see just what foolery you have up your sleeves this time," I smiled with annoyance and a hint of impression as I climbed the stairs.