The door finally slid open. Who was standing at the door happened to be my mother with her 7 and a half-month-old baby bloating her belly out?
"Oh? Your back!" My mother cheered while hugging me and also pulling my father in for a hug too. At the same time, I had completely ignored my mother and kept looking towards the bloated belly, seeing right through it and looking right at the baby.
"It looks healthy" I muttered, however, my mother was close enough to hear me making her raise a brow yet ask nothing more. However, seeing who was behind us, she quickly let go of us and looked at the two.
"Major General Galibiur? It's a pleasure to see you again" She curtsied before turning to Olivia and asking "And you are?"
Widening her eyes, she stammered before straightening her back and replying "Your servant, Ma'am."
"My servant?" She was completely lost
"I-I mean, Pandora's servant technically." She stuttered before deflating her posture a little.
'Why are you acting like you are meeting you parents-in-law?' I chuckled at her dismay
'Shut up!' She pouted
My mother gave me an inquisitive look which made me smile in mischievousness and say "Actually, she is my slave"
My mother's eyes widened in shock before turning into anger, however, before she could say anything, she heard Jack laugh from the back as he watched Olivia turn from purple to red, to an even deeper red while smoke exited out of her ears like a steam engine.
"LIKE HELL I AM!" She roared back at me, making me laugh while jumping away from her dash.
After completely missing, she composed herself quite quickly before looking at me with an expression of contempt. She then shifted back to face my mother just to bow and say "I am a servant"
My father however pulled my other into what seemed like a kiss on the cheek before whispering "Soul contract"
My mother's eyes widened in surprise before it slowly turned into anger a contempt. Why would her husband create a soul contract with her? They had enough money to get their own maid, why choose this one? He even had the balls to make it seem like she was serving Pandora...
'Maybe he wants both of us? Then why force her into a soul contract? Maybe he just wants a sex slave... Maybe I am not good enough' My mother pondered with a cold expression
"To think someone as young as you was able to use soul contracts, and even know of it. It is quite surprising" Jack laughed while staring at me
"You should stop using your heightened senses to hear in on what people are saying you know" I lectured back
"Well, I know you listened in too"
"Well that is because I am literally forced to hear everything within a 10-meter radius whether it is the blowing of grass or the minute shakes of the earth below my feet every time your fat-ass takes a step" I retorted
"Oh, you can?" He raised a brow while glancing at me from the side
"Of course, I can. How the hell do you think I beat that guy yesterday? By pummeling him to death without any strategies or abilities that would give me an advantage?" (-_-)
"I don't know. You seemed to be doing well with your spells and skills alone. Plus, you can silent cast up to the Lord rank, something most imperial knights can't say they can do" Jack retorted
"Ugh, anyway mom, who are those people in the house?" I quickly changed the subject before my parents could butt in
"Oh those?-" For a second, she marveled at the clothes I was wearing, that being a blood-red dress with crimson heels. "They are here for two reasons. How about you go see them?" She asked politely, yet I could see right through her expression, making all the previous negative feelings come back with new vigor, while new ones formed and even soured my mood even more.
You could say that the happiness of coming back home was short-lived.
"Mom... I swear to god if you tried to make another engagement behind my back, I will do something no one will like, especially you..." I voiced loud and clear, whilst glaring daggers at my mother
"Uh, uhm. How about we come in first" My mother stammered and walked inside
*sigh*
We all walked right behind her until we reached the living room, where everyone was seated. Aroura gave me a huge hug with Gen joining in the mix. My tutor gave me a nod before finally looking back at our guest with disdainful eyes. I had completely skipped Elaina, but looking at her through my 360 vision alone had told me enough. She knew them, also meaning she was probably the person to orchestrate this.
"What do you want?" I started to question them while sitting down on the throne-like seat that was the seat my mother sat on.
"We are here for an offer. If you are willing, you can give your hand to my little brother over here, and in exchange, your family will be pulled up to mid nobility as well as gaining us as your benefactor." The son on the side replied. He looked the same age as Aroura and had a grown Cyan mustache
"And why would you want that?" I asked with narrowed eyes
"Well, at first it was to strengthen the water element into our bloodline, and since you are a branch of the Raven family, we expected you to have the ice or water element at least. While this might not be the case anymore, your beauty is enough to charm anyone, making you a good face for our family. My brother can always marry another girl, but- wait why am I telling this to you? aren't you like 6?"
Seeing him come to the realization of my age, I couldn't help but facepalm before commanding "Carry on"
I could see the soul flame of everyone in the room shudder a little, some more than others, but I could not understand why. I did not release any killing intent, battle intent, or blood lust, yet they shuddered?
Apparently, due to my natural extrusion of an intimidating aura which I had now found out was the mixture between the Sin of Pride and my divine energies, my command sounded like one from a queen commanding her subjects. While some shuddered at the remembrance of the queen speaking down to them, while others simply imagined me sitting on a throne.
"U-uh well, my brother can marry someone else and secure the family ice affinity into the bloodline." The man-boy stammered.
"What is your name?" I asked with a warm smile, making everyone shocked with elaina and my mother excited at the same time.
"Frachured Grofford" He replied while standing up and giving a cupped bow.
"Then Frachured, how about we make a deal?" I asked with a slightly evil smile.
"W-what is it?" He asked back indignantly.
"How about this... If your brother can beat me in a battle, I will become engaged to him on the spot" I smirked
'Oh? Is she playing the hard to get card? Maybe she wants to be beaten before taking in her knight in shining armor? Maybe she likes to be dominated instead of just submitting?' The eldest brother quickly made many assumptions and rapid-fired them like a machine gun through his mind.
"Are you sure about this? My brother is 3 years older than you and is considered a prodigy even among the new batch who had entered the academy this year. Are you sure?" He smiled innocently
"Of course I am sure." I snickered back
At the back of the room stood my father and Jack, however, while my father seemed worried, Jack was simply shaking his head.
"I pity them," Jack muttered
"Them?" my father raised a brow.
"They are going to have to go home with the mangled body of their child. I truly pity them"
Over on our side, we quickly agreed on the rules and moved towards the backyard.
"Normal duel rules! You cannot seriously injure the opponent or kill the opponent. Weapons are prohibited, but all magic or aura use is permitted. Now when you are ready!" Frachured announced while lancing at me in my red dress and scoffing 'If she is going to fight in that then it means she has already submitted to her fate.'
Seeing him staring at me, I could not help but stare down. I finally became aware of how uncomfortable my current wear is for battle.
"Gimmie a sec" I shouted while dashing into the house. A minute later, I came out with nothing but a tank top and tights
'Is she trying to charm him into losing?' everyone could not help but think. Most of them knew I was a mage, not a warrior, but most of them also know I had trained the art of the sword with my father a lot.
"I am ready" I waved at the ref who simply nodded. The ref was fractured.
"Alright! Start on the word go.
3
2
1
GO!"