480 A Truce Between Siblings
‘That’s enough time on my hands.’ Lucius thought as he watched the rather fired up Lily.
“Just you wait, Lord Asher, I will remain here with my brother,” Lily smiled then blushed demurely. She glanced to the side shyly. “And… and well, we shall cross paths often then. However, I will mostly prove my brother here wrong and win the conditions you’ve set out for me.”
“…Then would you like for me to set a deadline?” Lucius chuckled. “Today is the first day of your arrival, tomorrow you and your family will be shown the city sights and henceforth, after dinner, I hope to have everything prepared with the Masked Legions. That’s more or less, maybe twenty-four hours. A day to get everyone to say yes, Miss Lily. Can you handle that for me?”
Both Benjamin and Lily’s eyes widened at the sudden deadline, and yet their reaction was for different reasons.
‘T-that short amount of time…? I have to meet the Count, Countess, Viscountess and that’ll be during dinner hours with my mother and father. If I were to reveal everything all at once during dinner, there will be an upheaval and a contrasting amount of emotions that it almost seems easier to approach them individually and slowly get each one to agree, but will be more time consuming. What’s the Count and Countess’ schedule like?’ Lily’s thoughts ran quickly as she clenched her fist.
‘Lord Asher has probably set this kind of deadline to be polite with my sister and allow her to gracefully fail to come here. It is a bit of an impossible task. Tomorrow, the Count and Countess won’t be around since we will be touring the city if I am not mistaken. Viscountess Blackshield… I don’t know much about her except for the party but she seems difficult to talk and we can’t even forget Miss Kiana Wizen. Who was she again?’ Benjamin thought.
Lucius glanced at the two siblings and took note of their reactions. Both of them were working their brains off, trying to comprehend the task and the possibility of it.
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If Lily couldn’t do this much, then well, she would hardly be worth the effort to make her stay.
“Now then, in case the two of you need anything from me, I shall be going ahead to the library once more.” Lucius said.
“Where are you going, Lord Asher?” Lily suddenly looked up, getting distracted from her thoughts.
“I apologize for being unable to host properly, but I have a feeling that you and your brother has much to discuss about, Miss Lily.” Lucius responded before he bade them goodbye.
As he went off out of earshot, the two siblings immediately looked around the barracks.
Many of the male and female guards were looking at Lily. They were all impressed with her beauty and were even a little envious of it.
“Shall we get out of here first?” Benjamin sighed and rubbed his face. “I can’t believe of what you brought yourself into this time, Lily.”
With the Baron and Count still exchanged in swordplay, the two siblings had the urge to both follow Lord Asher and have the time of the man to themselves, but first they needed to settle things first.
“Hmmm, you’re the one who’s suddenly making plans out of nowhere, Benjamin. You didn’t even consult with the whole family and just accepted the offer,” Lily pointed out with a pout.
“Do you think a chance like this comes knocking twice? I had to think on my feet. Isn’t that what father always says that he does. He thinks on his feet and gets himself all the connections and contacts he wants.”
“Well… hmm, not all opportunities are great.” Lily muttered and crossed her arms over her chest.
“Pfft, are you actually going to miss your brother so that’s why you decided to want to come with me?”
“No! Hardly. Go skin yourself and cook yourself in an open flame, Benjamin.” Lily half-glared at him and crossed her arms. “I came here for Lord Asher. But… ah, how do I explain what I like about him?”
“You like him already?” Benjamin asked.
“I mean, don’t you too?”
“Lord Asher is excellent, mature and has a good head on his shoulders. Did you know that he spoke to me on behalf of our father? Can you imagine that? He is incredible.”
“Pfft… why don’t you get married to him then if you’re so mesmerized by him.” Lily joked lightly.
“Well, I’m unwilling to share him with you.” Benjamin chuckled, but then poked his finger in the forehead. “You keep your head on your shoulders and not your heart on the sleeves, alright?”
“It’s not like he’s the only reason why I want to stay here in Inanis City.” Lily pouted and crossed her arms over her chest. “I also want to get away from Mother and Father too. So why not just help me too, Benjamin? Let’s call it a truce.”
Benjamin stared at his sister. “You know, I don’t think Lord Asher is interested in you at all.”
“Why are you so blunt? You didn’t even soften your words for your poor little hopeless romantic sister.” Lily placed a hand on her chest. “Father would be… well, we need to split up and talk to each separately.”
“Do you think I can actually speak to other people? You just called me useless.”
“I don’t need you to do any convincing, brother. All I need is for you to act as a decoy and slow them down from leaving. Our first target is Count and Countess Inanis. They’ll be in different states. Hmm, alcohol will make Countess and Viscountess Blackshield honest.”
“You just have to play up your cuteness, well, I don’t think it’ll work. It might work with mom and dad, but that’s because they refuse to see you as anything but such.”
“Well, I’ll give them a performance! Sooner or later, Lord Asher’s eyes will be on me.”