Daily updates resume from today.
Lucretia and Lumiere Arc.
(POV: Lumiere)
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Ah yes, the fresh scent of the early morning always felt better when there was as much putrid foul smelling scent of blood as there was fresh sunflowers.
Women and animals, I always wanted to find the characteristics that differentiated them aside from one having superior legs and voluptuous body.
I recall asking my father and even Arthur what the difference between them was.
And they both gave me the same answer.
— "They're both dangerous".
And to be honest... I agree.
Slowly, blood trickled down my face from a nasty head wound and pooled on the floor.
Next to me, I saw a stick smeared with my blood.
Haha, my blood...
It made no sense why I'd use a stick to harm myself, doesn't that sound stupid? Ah, indeed it does, but that's because I wasn't the one who inflicted such damage on myself.
And it certainly wasn't my enemy, the only one I had was Gallus and Fenghis Rhan, besides them, who else?
In a totally unrelated note, Lucilia apologetically sat next to me as she watched me maintain the little sanity I had left by forcing a smile. A smile so forced that my cheekbones felt like they would pop at any moment.
Shame shadowed Lucilia's eyes as she sat next to me.
She was like a cat who'd done something absolutely bad.
"I'm sorry. I didn't know it was your daughter," she murmured. "I thought the depression you suffered some time ago had already changed your taste in women or something silly like that..."
"Oh Lucilia," I chuckled. "It's just a nasty head wound that may or may not kill the average human, don't bother..."
"Eh, Really?" Lucilia asked, oblivious. "We're good?"
I then shouted at the top of my voice, "OF COURSE NOT!!"
"But you just sai..." Lucilia squeezed her eyes a bit, as though she knew I would shout and assail her ears once more.
I chuckled dryly, "Even if I had changed, was this the best way to handle it?"
Lucilia crossed her arms defiantly.
"Just because we're friends doesn't mean I won't call you out when you're wrong. You deserve a good scolding when you do something stupid."
I glowered at her, pointing to the wound on my head.
"You call this a scolding? It feels like a bludgeoning!"
Lucilia shifted uncomfortably, then said, "Would it help if I said I went easy on you?" an awkward smile followed this stupid question.
I shouted, "No!"
"Why're you making such a big deal out of this?" Lucilia sighed and then she added, "You can easily regenerate."
"That's not the point," I said. "Just because I can regenerate, doesn't mean I should be the poster child for domestic abuse!"
She relented, "Fine, fine. It won't happen again."
I had to make her see reason. "Anyone else would've been hurt far worse," I insisted.
"Why are you still on about this?" Lucilia huffed, frustrated.
"Of course, I am!" I shot back. "I was whacked on the head with a stick!"
Lucilia frowned, a playful spark in her eyes and she picked off a strand of hair from her shoulder. "I'm surprised, though. I thought you'd take the hit better."
"Huh?" I uttered, a little confused with where she was headed.
"Eh," Lucilia then shrugged gently. "With how strong you're meant to be, I was thinking that stick wouldn't even do anything to you... Aren't Cursed Kings so powerful that they could even survive the collision of two worlds on their worst day?"
"Where'd you get that information from?" I asked her.
She rubbed her chin and thought for a short moment. "I think it was from one of the books that I read in the library about Curse Kings and how strong a good chunk of them are..."
I occasionally went to the library, which meant I was supposed to have come across a book or two related to what she said. But, these days I barely have time so I doubt I'd be chanced to do that, that doesn't mean I still can't learn more about them...
I chuckled at her enthusiasm, "Of course, I am."
However, I wish other people would say that, no one laughed at my jokes unless maybe Serena and sometimes Isadora if she wanted to be generous. Stellaria, however, would just tell me how terrible the joke was and then make everyone else laugh - especially that loudmouthed bastard, Mojito.
Of course it pained more when Fasit told me:
"Please my Lord, don't, it's getting sad..."
So yeah, I stopped.
Lucilia, looking around the room, inquired, "Uh, where's Stellaria? I don't see her anywhere."
"Oh gee, I wish I knew, maybe if I wasn't whacked in the head seconds after waking up then I'd have had the chance to sort things out for myself."
She let out a tired sigh, "You're still on that..."
I nodded with heavy sigh, "Unfortunately, yes."
Lucilia rolled her eyes dismissively, muttering, "Suit yourself."
With a shrug, I informed her, "Oh yeah, I won't be able to make it to lectures today, so could you please help me hold down the fort ? The students have already had enough breaks as it is."
Lucilia questioned, "What? Why?"
"Well, apparently, I don't have anything important doing so the oh so gracious owner of our university has ordered me to join her for the day to help her do who knows what, I feel like I'm living in a hectic soap opera."
Tch, like she'd know what a soap opera is.
Silica then giggled, "Haha, Daddy's so funny."
"Ehhh," Lucilia responded incredulously, clearly not understanding my explanation.
I sighed heavier than before. "Don't stress about it too much, but I'll see if I can still join you guys for lectures later today, if I'm given the chance that is."
She was obviously still confused, but I didn't really have the time to explain. There was supposedly a lot I had going on for me today.
Lucilia nodded and straightened her unbelievably smooth, long blonde hair.
"Alright then, I guess this is the part where I take my leave."
"Pretty much," I told her, a little exhausted already.
As I walked her to the door, I remarked, "I'm surprised you took the news about Silica so well."
Not everyone would, especially when I didn't even explain who the mother was. If it was Serena or Isadora, I was definitely sure that Lucilia would be able to tell. But I guess she didn't take it as me sleeping around because of the number of women I already had in my life, yeah, that makes sense...
Lucilia chuckled proudly. "I've learned not to be surprised by anything you do." She smiled at me affectionately and added, "At this point, not doing something surprising would be surprising in itself."
We shared a laugh and she made her way out.
"Well, bye," her last words before leaving.
Yeah right...
"Five, four, three, two, one..."
Immediately, Lucilia quickly returned and sharply rapped on the door and reentered before pointing at me.
"HEY! Just because I said all that and we shared a good laugh doesn't mean you're not going to explain to me about your daughter and also who the mother is because I'm sure as hell that it isn't Serena... And she wouldn't like to learn this from my mouth, and also, I wanna know why you're not going to be at the - - -"
She said a lot more stuff, but that was all my brain could pick up from what she said; I'm sorry but her mouth just rushed like a tap.
With a bored tone, I conceded, "Sure, why not."
And without even letting her finish I shut the door on her face.
"HEY LUMIERE! YOU DIDN'T LET ME FINISH!"
I then used [Ice Magic] to seal the door.
Lucilia left again, at least I could sense her leaving.
Turning to Silica, I smiled at her.
How do I tell her that I wanted to take her to go see my supposed first love even if it wasn't anything based on romance, just a casual outing.
I then pounded my fists together. I had the answer.
"Oh Silica! Do you wanna follow Daddy to go meet a really, really, really nice lady?!"
She jumped on the bed, gleefully exclaiming, "Yay! Nice lady!"
Ah children, scream the end of the world in a very loud tone, and they'd still think it's a good thing.