Dungeon Annihilation 2 - 32

Evening everyone! I hope everyone had a good Tuesday. My sleep schedule is out of wack so expect uploads to be late in the evening for a while. We're finally into December, hopefully 2021 will be a better year. Just from the number of people that didn't renew their subs due to financial issues was quite high this month. While I was sad to see them go, I know that just getting from day to day is becoming an increasing challenge for a lot of people. Even five dollars is a burden given the situation of the world.



Louella

I looked to the marquis sitting across from me at the table. “Was all this really necessary?” The two men could have been handled by my people in the valley.

The marquis shook his head. “Probably not. I had other reasons for bringing you onboard today. This just seemed like a good enough reason to warrant having you come here personally.”

“Alright. What is the matter?” I couldn’t think of anything on my side that would call for us to speak personally at the moment. The tournament just ended and many of the adventurers were shifting their focus toward the dungeon. Maybe something was found that he’d been informed of before me.

The marquis glanced at the gathered members in the room. With a wave, he motioned for everyone to leave but the two of us. I snuck a peek at Earle, but he appeared to be distracted by something and left with the others without a word. It must not have been too bad, as a large grin crossed his face. Perhaps he knew more about what was going on with the marquis.

Valamar cleared his throat. “Sorry about that.” He sighed and placed a hand on the table. It looked like he was thinking about what he wanted to say. “I just got word that a certain Countess is on her way here.” When he mentioned the countess, he appeared genereally displeased.

“Is that a problem?” I asked not sure where he was going with this. “There are several nobles schedule to arrive in the coming weeks.”

Marquis Valamar laughed cynically. “Problem?” He asked tapping his finger on the table. “She is my fiancé. Needless to say, I don’t agree with the arraignment.”

“I see. Unlike a lot of the other current noble generation. You must have enough credit in the kingdom by now to be able to make the decision for your wife.”

“You’re not wrong. Part of the reason this came about was that my father grew tired of waiting for me to sire an heir.”

“I assume the matter of lineage is important to a man of his influence.” My father was the same way with my brother. He practically forced young ladies on him until he finally settled on my current sister-in-law. Not that I had ever met her.

“Yes. I have no other siblings and will soon be halfway through my third decade of life. I imagine he is getting worried.”

“Then just declare someone your fiancé. Surely there is someone that you’ve met that is worthy enough for the position.” I didn’t see the problem. While it would be an issue if the marquis was a horrible and wicked man. There were rumors of women fainting in the streets from his passage. Most men would kill to be in his position.

Valamar took a deep breath letting the air out slowly. “No one has ever lit the spark, so to speak.”

“That is unfortunate. Then why not give this countess a chance?” I asked with a sympathetic smile. “She can’t be worse than any of the other women you’ve met and as a noble will be able to help you in your state affairs.”

“Yes. Yes. All valid points. Ones that have been pointed out to me often in the past.”

“Then?” I asked still unsure of the problem.

I began to wonder if there was some truth to the rumor that the marquis alleged liked men. Other than the issue of not being able to sire heirs, it was a trend that was growing in acceptance lately. Even that issue was solved by concubines providing their services until they birth a child. Still it wasn’t something that you could come right out and ask a person. Especially someone of the marquis’ position in the kingdom.

The marquis made a fist and steeled his expression. “I have heard… troubling rumors about the woman coming here.”

“Rumors, my lord?”

“This women claims to be a relative of a relatively secluded noble. Since she appeared in the courts two years ago, she has moved up the ranks with remarkable speed.”

“I’m not sure I am able to comment on this type of rumor,” I remarked rubbing my hands together in embarrassment. I had skipped two ranks in an instant thanks to the marquis. I was sure there were all kinds of rumors in the capitals about the Lecazarian noble turned exile that slept her way to a high rank in the Thonaca Kingdom.

He chuckled before he shook his head. “My apologies. I know it was a bit unorthodox the manner in which you moved up. I…” He paused then a wide smile crested his face. “That’s it!”

“My lord?” I asked nervous at the sudden change of tone.

“Lady Louella Coates. Would you do me the honor of being my fiancé?”

“WHAT?!” I demanded angrily. Never mind the casual way he asked. A proposal was the last thing I expected. Not to mention, the man I was sleeping with was right outside the door. I gripped the table as my thoughts whirled.

“Calm down!” Valamar said quickly motioning for me to relax as he looked at my hands. Glancing down, I saw that not only had I made indents, but sparks were popping off my skin. “Let me explain.”

“Hurry before I walk out of this room, lord or not.”

“Look. I fully intend to find a wife. It just might take me some time. For now, I need someone to throw of the scent as it were. Rumors are already running rampant back in the capital about us. I say we embrace them for a time, then when I do find a woman that I wouldn’t mind bringing into my household. I’ll claim that I proposed to you to protect your honor. Everyone will be happy with that and we all protect our honor and dignity.”

“You really think it will work just like that?” I asked my anger still there but reduced to more of a simmer for the moment.

“There are sure to be a few hiccups, but we should both come out of this stronger.”

“And… what about me? I doubt I can see other men while I’m engaged to the great Marquis Valamar.”

“Are you talking about the recent night you spent with a mysterious person?”

My emotions shifted to embarrassment then back to anger. “You’ve already heard about it?”

“Small town. Don’t worry. I know this isn’t fair to you or the lucky man, but if you can’t keep it a secret then I have no issues with you continuing to see each other. Like I’ve said this is all for show right.”

I stared at the man for several minutes as I processed the proposal. Like he said we didn’t have much to lose in the long run. I’d be turning most the women in the country against me, but that had likely already happened. The biggest issue was that I still needed his support to protect my position. That might be changing by the day but it would be a while before it wasn’t true.

Wanting to bang my head on the table, I sighed and nodded instead. “Very well, but I want your guarantee that this gets no further than the engagement. If I find myself in a dress walking down an aisle, upset will be the least of my feeling.”

“You have my word.”

After settling a few more details we called the others back in. With my head hanging, the marquis announced his decision. For security reasons, we decided not to tell anyone else. I would be able to tell Earle and Ezal, and only them. And that was if I thought he’d be able to keep it secret.

Shock was the obvious state of most of the people in the gathered crowd. In particular, his female guard were obviously upset. The one in red armor looked like she wanted to jump across the table and rip me apart. The dwarven woman also appeared upset, but I wasn’t sure what the reason might be.

I peeked at Earle, but rather than upset. He had an… interested expression. I worried that he might have thought I was a lose woman that played with men to achieve her goals, but something about his expression told me that he didn’t think that. Though it could have just been my mind seeing what I wanted to see. If I didn’t know any better, I’d have thought he’d heard everything we’d just talked about already. Ezal was also shocked. Not that I blamed her, she had seen Earle and I in the middle of last night’s activities.

Marquis Valamar clapped his hands together momentarily clearing the air. “Well then. It is late. We should all turn in for the day. The two men will be executed in the morning for their crimes against the Thonaca Kingdom and for nearly killing a noble.”

This evening had not gone the way I expected it to that was for sure. On our way back, silence ruled the air as no one spoke. At the manor, I managed to get next to Earle. “Are you going to visit me tonight?” I whispered. Personally, I wanted to make sure he understood the situation as soon as possible.

“I have some matters to attend to, but if I have time. My lady,” he replied with a bow before briskly walking off. I stared after him with dread in my chest. I prayed to both Nyx and Lelune that he would visit me tonight.



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