A Lesson For Louise 19

Chapter 19: Charles Interlude

<<<Charles>>>

He always knew his father wasn’t a man of strong moral fiber; if anything, he was an unrepentant hedonist. Charles could only imagine how many bastards his father had, given the parade of courtesans and whores that he preferred to keep in his company. Birmir’s sake, he wasn’t even sure if his mother was his mother!

So, a very petite and frankly beautiful pink-haired mage shows up, seemingly out of the blue? Charles had his suspicions that his father had given her an invitation that she couldn’t reject. He wished his father would stop this, but he knew he did it so the ‘stain’ of having a magicless child would never be known.

“You know, dear,” The fox woman started, hanging from his chandelier, “this is the right thing to do.~ Take it from me, I always know the right thing to do.” She paused for a moment, “And then I do the exact opposite every time! You can’t do that consistently without knowing what the right thing to do is first, after all!”

Charles just looked up at the fox woman, “Shouldn’t you be with Louise?” He asked, not that he minded.

If anything, her presence kept him from thinking darker thoughts regarding his father, thinking how foolish he is… he didn’t socialize much, but even he recognized the youngest daughter of Karin the Heavy Wind! Did the fool not realize the sheer vengeance he was attracting their way!? He’d be lucky if she didn’t just save her daughter and bring the entire building down on them! 

“Oh no, she’s far more capable than she once was; she doesn’t need me right now. She’s just relaxing… besides, I’m with her all the time. I’m her familiar, of course,~” She giggled, dropping down and catching herself on one hand, standing on it. “So I’m with you instead!”

“... Perhaps you can tell me something.” Charles said, “Chiefly for my peace of mind, but… what sort of retribution has my father’s careless actions invited down on our heads?” 

“Depends on which you think is worse.” The fox woman said, “Which is scarier, Karin or an Inquisitor?”

His breath caught in his throat before he closed his eyes, “I’m going to have to participate in dealing with him if I want to live, won’t I?”

“Possibly, though it’s also possible with Louise vouching that the Inquisitor won’t question you,” She said, “After all, can you say in honesty that you didn’t expect anything that’s recently happened? That you had no part in this little… incident?”

She let herself drop, flipping to her feet with a smirk. “I’m assuming the answer is yes, but there’s another thing you’re missing.~” She purred, slowly stepping towards him, seductive in each movement.

“W-What?” Charles asked warily, in his experience, women only approached him like that when they wanted something.

Leaning in, he felt her breath tingle at his ear. “Inari is watching you…” She whispered, “Always. And she doesn’t like it when people break their vows…”

Her smile was carnivorous as she stepped back, eyes boring into his. “You gave up your ability to choose the moment you agreed. At least… choose without consequence.”

That… did slip his mind. Though in his defense, his entire world has been thoroughly rattled rather ruthlessly. He closed his eyes with a sigh.

“I suppose I have no choice but to subdue him then?” He asked, “I suppose it’s a good thing father’s guards are more loyal to money than the man himself. Plus, despite his efforts to sire a ‘proper’ heir, I’m still the only one who can inherit everything. I’ll be holding the coin purse, and thus their loyalty.”

“Good boy,” She replied, “All you have to do… is give the signal, that’s it. Just blow into that little whistle you were given during the meal, and other people will do all that dirty work for you.~”

Charles looked at the whistle, “... I know my father isn’t a good man. But he’s still my father.” He said, “He never approved of me, somehow viewing my ‘lack of magic’ as either my fault or my mother's… never his. Never a kind word said, even my best attempt wouldn’t get much of a passing glance. But he never hurt me, and ensured that one would hurt me… so the fact that I have to do this… is difficult…”

“But it must be done,” Rei replied, “You can either do your duty, or be punished. Serve or be left destitute. If one wishes to be a lord, and you do, one must see through duties which are unpleasant before allowing oneself to indulge in things considered pleasurable.” Her head tilted, and the ghost of a predator passed through her face, bloodthirsty and mean. It went quickly, but it stuck in his mind. “Do you know how many men I’ve killed? Go ahead, guess.~”

“I…” He shuddered, feeling as though he were staring down a boar… or worse. “Hundreds?”

“None,” She replied with a smirk, “But I’ve done things that have led to the deaths of tens of thousands… and if my Lord ordered me to kill a man? To take my first life? I would do it in a heartbeat, no matter how bloody, torturous, or excessive the method they desire. Even if it was something that would take days, weeks, decades to kill them… I would do it, no matter how distasteful I find it.” Rei stroked his cheek, voice soft. “Because it is my duty. I’d even do it to Louise, if I were ordered… and I was sure it was my Lord. No matter how unpleasant, my Duty, your Duty goes above and beyond your desires.”

“Duty…” Charles muttered before sighing, “Well, I suppose the first step is proving to the peasants that just because my father is a fool of the highest order, doesn’t mean I will be the same.” And with a heavy heart, he pocketed the whistle.

Yet despite the heaviness of his heart, he felt lighter than he had in years…

“Now then…” Rei started, stretching out, “What do you think of my little Louise?~ Is she your type?~”

Charles chuckled. “Louise is a vibrant and beautiful lady, a spitfire if she takes after her mother, and decidedly unapologetic and genuine in a way that I don’t see in nobles often,” He said frankly, “This Obsidia is a lucky lady to get Louise’s affections, and if she would have me I wouldn’t say no. Even if I don’t think I could survive her disapproval if I truly upset her.”

“You would… but you wouldn’t survive Obsidia’s,” Rei replied with a laugh, “But she might think you’re cute enough to get away with some… punishment instead. Good luck.~” Then, with another laugh, she vanished.

He… didn’t know who to be scared of most for a moment before deciding to be scared of Inari first and foremost. Rei was their servant, and they let Obsidia do… things.

… When did his life get so complicated?

“Oh… it was when I made a deal with a God…” He thought with a snort as he got ready for dinner. All the while carrying a whistle that felt like a massive weight in his pocket.

[hr][/hr]

The feast was… extensive, as per usual from his father, and there were many desserts available, mostly chocolate dishes. But, as he was sitting next to Louise, he couldn’t enjoy it.

She seemed to, though, taking to the food with gusto. How she had maintained her figure was a mystery to him, but he wasn’t opposed to the show… particularly with how scandalized the noble ladies were around them.

“Just tell me when,” He whispered to Louise, who nodded as she tore meat off the bone with her teeth, “... and why are you eating like that?”

“It makes the food taste better,” She replied after swallowing, “And the reactions are funny.”

“... I can’t disagree, they are funny,” Charles admitted with a faint chuckle as he eyed his father.

Who, of course, was ignoring him, even though he was hoping Louise would marry him. But then again, old habits and all that. Still, it didn’t stop him from trying to understand. Surely this wasn’t simply about getting him a wife? Was this some form of petty jab at the Heavy Wind for scorning his advances all those years ago?

He was petty enough to do that. How many lives has he ruined out of petty spite and vindictiveness? For a noble, his father didn’t have the thickest skin when it came to slights against his honor (such as it was), be they legitimate or perceived.

“Mm, they’re in position now,” Louise said, reaching over the table and picking up a chocolate, sniffing it for a moment. “Oh, this one is spiked. Aphrodisiac, I think. I haven’t had this one yet… wonder if Obsidia would want to try it with me…”

Then she ate it.

“Not bad, a little weak though…” She sighed, “Amateur.”

… Charles decided he wasn’t going to even question it, instead pulling out the whistle and blowing on it.

Though he did start to wonder if he wanted Louise’s attention or not, she reminded him of one of those carnivorous plants in the jungles.

His father looked his way, confused for a moment before panic crossed through his face… and then he was frozen, one of the servants touching him on the neck before shifting forms with a moan, an… an elf with dark, almost grey-black, skin was left in the servant’s place. “None of that now, no, no; please put down your weapons. If you don’t, he might start screaming.~”

Charles ignored that, if only to not panic, and instead focused on his father, the former Lord Plantier-, “What were you thinking?” He asked, not even angry, just disappointed, “You risked the wrath of Lady Louise’s family, her girlfriend, and the Inquisition!? Are you daft!?” He demanded as his temper started to rise, “You would’ve brought ruin to our family if your insane plan worked!”

The elf, who must have been Obsidia if Louise’s wave meant anything, laughed. “Don’t worry, dear, he can’t say a word right now. But he hears you.~ I’m… restraining the urge to make his skin turn inside out, but Rei assures me the Inquisition’s punishments will be worse.~”

“Good, because I don’t think I could stop myself from reacting if he could talk…” He ignored the comment about the skin, “Brimir’s preserve me, my father is a bleeding fool! The Inquisition has eliminated entire families for subversive behavior! And given that Karin holds the highest rank and honors in the military, this could be seen as subversive behavior!”

Charles then grabbed a bottle of wine that wasn’t drugged, according to his magic, and simply opened it and drank straight from the bottle. Improper, perhaps, but Charles felt he deserved it!

“Oh~ I like this one, are we keeping him, Louise?” Charles just drank faster at Obsidia’s words.

“We might,” Louise said, “Are the inquisitors outside?” She asked, taking another chocolate, “The other people in the hall are stuck in place right now, but it’s taking a lot of focus to do it. The chairs aren’t alive enough for me to make them do it…”

“I’m here.” Said Inquisitor said as he entered the dining hall, right behind him were six other mages in dark robes and wide-brimmed hats, “My fellows will take the fool into custody and he’ll be interrogated…” He promised darkly, a vengeful glint in his eyes, before they went to Charles, “And you will be spared for your actions to the Crown and Country. Even before this, we’ve been looking into your father. He just… sped events up.”

Charles didn’t whimper, but it was a very close thing.

“I like him!” Obsidia announced, “We will have to bring him into bed tonight to see if he can perform. And if he can’t, well… I can always make sure he can,~” She giggled, letting go of his father and skipping towards Louise and him. “Don’t worry, he’ll be able to move and speak again in about~ ten minutes, so don’t worry, Mr. Inquisitors.~” 

… What had he gotten himself into? What had he agreed to?

Brimir give him strength…