Hear Ye

When Larkin hissed at her earlier, she knew she had done something she shouldn't have. However, she had no idea what it was. The feeling actually intensified when she was taken to her own room and was watched over as a punishment. Moreover, Larkin didn't seem to be doing so just for being a voyeur.

It was a legitimate punishment as Artie didn't like exposing her skin.

Now that she managed to uncover the real reason for the punishment, she quickly hummed and pursed her lips to keep herself from spouting unintelligent responses. After thinking for a few seconds, she seemed to have unearthed an event that happened just recently.

"...? Oh, you're right." Artie twitched. She didn't know what happened to Miel back then, but she remembered how he froze when he saw a rat resting on Larkin's shoulder. No one explained to her what took over the seneschal; neither did anyone mention it again so she had forgotten about the small matter.

For it to be actually something serious...

She bowed a little. "I'm sorry, I was ignorant. I should have remembered how he reacted when he first saw me on your shoulder. I'll be very careful now."

"Ig… no, do not degrade yourself for this." Larkin's gaze soon mellowed from its glaring stance. "Miel has fears rooting from his younger years. Dogs, cats, and rats… mostly all animals that one could spot in the dirtiest of alleys of the city frighten him to this day. It wasn't something to be discussed so naturally either.

"Should you dare change into one of them, it would be for the best not to show yourself to Miel."

'Dogs? Cats? Rats? Dirtiest of alleys?' Artie twitched before her eyes lowered, her thoughts wandering around her head as she tried to explain Miel's fear of normal things to herself. He was the ducal seneschal of an archduke who had demon powers after all. 'Ah, I thought it's just rats… and that Kali was just barking so fiercely by then.

'Could it be because he was a street child that he had to fight for food against these animals before? It wasn't a secret that he used to be one, right? What kind of life did he live before returning to the arms of his father?'

[You have unlocked 'Miel's Secret Story 2'!]

[Abandoned by a mother who chose to spread her children in secret places, Miel Ellis was forced into a life of extreme poverty. Homelessness and hunger were the only constants of his life growing up, and he had learned to fight for every meal he could get. Not only did he grovel for stale bread, but he had also snatched inedible food from hungry street animals after desperate skirmishes.]

[Engage in more conversations to unlock more chapters of 'Miel's Secret Story'! You need one more chapter to unlock the next prize!]

Her eyes widened before she clutched on her skirt. She then looked up to Larkin's eyes which only had a tinge of surprise in them. Artie strode to her bed and sat down next to Larkin. She soon smiled at him as she slowly and cautiously held onto his arm. "I promise! I promise! He's a very poor child… if ever, we should be really good parents to him, shouldn't we be?"

"Parents..." Larkin only hummed, not answering her question.

"...don't worry. You'll be a good one… da~ddy~" Artie giggled to herself, knowing that she had said something strange and one that Larkin didn't know. However, the man just nodded as if he could understand some words that she said. 'So cute… he doesn't know what I'm talking about, but he just nods nonetheless…

'To think about it...' Artie recalled what happened earlier and back at that time in the market. 'He did… keep on hiding me from Miel every time. He wasn't even scared to look ridiculous just to make sure Miel wouldn't see an inch of my rat form. Heh, what a very dedicated parent. System, will I be able to fix their relationship?'

[Keep unlocking chapters of Miel's Secret Story to gain insight. Chosen routes would also influence the flow of the world's events.]

'Erm… is that how you say… 'make use of what you know before attempting to fix their relationship?' That means… yes, right? I can change the nature of their relationship?'

[Keep unlocking chapters of Miel's Secret Story to gain insight. Chosen routes would also influence the flow of the world's events. Unlock character parameters to influence the people around you. Complete ability quests to further increase your presence. You draw your own destiny!]

'Hahah, the prompt got longer!'

Artie couldn't help but giggle at the response she got from Heaven's Creation. However, Larkin had no idea what was making her giggle. Nonetheless, simply having her seated next to him, arm linked with his, seemed to be giving him a tinge of warmth that he was quite familiar with. It's just that… it wasn't a firsthand experience.

Larkin then reached out with his other hand and caressed Artie's head, carefully making sure that the snood wouldn't be ruined. "You're really strange..."

…

An hour before noon was the time that most people were moving around the city plaza. Most maids were hurrying to come back to start cooking while others were hurrying to go back home and eat. This was also particularly a good time as the tents were almost finished.

In two more hours, the collection week would officially start, and the people would have to bring in some identification and the amount of taxes that they needed to pay. Some would give cash while some, in-kind—depending on what the registry dictated to be paid. Of course, most knew how much they had to pay without consulting the registry… until weeks ago.

Rumors of the war at the northern end of the devildoms had leaked to the east where Ellis Plains were. Most duchies and territories had also raised their taxes—according to the traveling merchants, but the people of Ellis Plains weren't told how much they needed to brace for.

Artie and Miel arrived in the city plaza with their horses. Callum and another three ducal knights were appointed to keep them safe. However, as the people were used to seeing the seneschal out and about, they didn't really pay attention to the representatives of the archduke. Besides, the tents and the uniformed tax collectors were a lot more eye-catching than them.

"This is it. We're going to hear his answer now. I wish it's going to be a good one." Artie sighed as she looked on.

"Have you read the letter?" She then recalled that this was the first thing Miel had asked of her. To see if she could make Larkin address the people better to stop their unnecessary clamor. However, they failed to do so as Larkin had grown busy dealing with Machiav's forces that were causing trouble in the plains.

"It was sealed." Miel's eyes glistened faintly as he saw the messenger arriving. "But I do hope he would have more words to say… just to calm the hearts of the people whose interests he cared about the most."

The messenger stood at the center of the plaza, taking the attention of everyone using his loud voice and brilliant red uniform. He then started after clearing his throat. "Hear Ye! Hear Ye! I shall now read the Archduke's open letter to the people of Ellis Plains!"