Second Task

Larkin was tasting tea in the waiting room, the twins sitting together at one of the couches. Havina pushed the door open and smiled with a loud gasp. "Uncle!" She quickly got to his side and gracefully kneeled down before embracing him lightly. "Uncle, I have missed you! I wish I can visit you pretty often, but the physical I must cross had only gotten bigger."

"It's nice to see you again, Havina." Larkin regarded her with a small smile, but he had the initiative to remove her arm on him when Artie and the rest walked in. "Please take a seat."

Artie didn't sit right away and waited for Havina to move from her loose embrace on her uncle. At the corner of her eye, she noticed the strange coldness in Selvig's eyes that wasn't there before. She couldn't help but turn to him, but he had moved away to sit down. Miel and Eula decided to stand at the side with the maids as they were servants to the nobles before them.

The princess picked up her skirt and moved quickly, taking a seat next to Larkin. "Uncle, Uncle..." She began chatting, and it seemed like she didn't notice the strangeness of the scene. Artie's eyes only flickered as she continued to stand on the side, watching the princess. Havina… should be sitting next to her husband, shouldn't she be? She's practically sitting on Artie's spot.

'Just this once… for the fact that you are not rude to me...' Artie decided to let it pass and sat… next to the prince instead. She had no other spot but the one that was meant for Havina. Even Clarissa and Marissa were shocked, but then, they remembered how Artie sat on Larkin's lap. What was the bottom line of Artie's shame, they wondered. However, Miel could only sigh discreetly.

Selvig didn't mind as well. He was very busy staring at his wife that had flocked to her uncle. The prince had long seen Larkin before, but he couldn't bring himself to speak with the archduke. He felt that, if he grew amicable to the man, his wife would feel freer to mingle with the archduke. 

In fact, he was relieved that the archduke chose to marry someone else, but picking a woman close to Havina's age was rather displeasing. Selvig was not quick to judge someone, but it really felt so wrong on many levels.

After some time filled with Havina's animated chatting towards Larkin, Artie finally cleared her throat. "Princess, I believed you have some other business with my husband." She then waited for Havina to look at her like the princess was confused, and so Artie continued: "Larkin, the princess wishes for you to give their baby his name. It seems like she favored the names you thought of for children."

"A name?" Larkin frowned, but not because he was being asked. He finally noticed why Artie was not around him; she was sitting on the couch across him. The last time, she squeezed herself in between him and Gustova's gaze. Why didn't she do so again with Havina? Was she afraid to upset any of the two?

"Yes, a name. The future prince of Latodine has been so grumpy all the way here. He probably figured there would be a good reason for traveling this far." Artie curled her lips and even her eyes, but there was something in her gaze that was making Larkin feel uncomfortable.

"But the baby is not thinking yet. It sounds funny if you feel like he's displeased by our early travel." Havina forced a laugh, and it was easy to catch. However, only Artie noticed how Selvig took a deep breath… no, it was a grunt of dissatisfaction.

Artie then shook her head. "That's quite wrong. I promise you, he's already conscious before he was born. That's why he could recognize his parents even as soon as he leaves your womb, princess. However, let's not make that a topic. What do you think would be a good name, Larkin?"

The archduke only stared. He wanted to frown at Artie, but he held it back. Only a hum answered her before Larkin spoke seconds after. "Give me some time to think."

"Great! Let's do just that!" Artie suddenly got to her feet and walked towards Larkin. She then held on to his arm and pulled on him to get up from the seat. "While doing so, let's give our guests a tour of our castle! It's years since the princess had been here, and the prince hadn't gone here before. It would be very nice for them to see the sights together this time!"

"We shall show them, then." Larkin moved his hand from Artie's hold and circled it around her waist instead. However, before he could do so, Artie stepped in front of him and reached out to his side. When he turned, she was… reaching her arm out towards Havina—as if using it as a ruler to measure their distance. Moreover, the princess had her hand stretched halfway towards Larkin's other arm.

Artie didn't drop her smile, but her eyes were saying something else. "Princess Havina, you seem to be forgetting something." However, she didn't wait for the princess to answer before sliding back and collecting Larkin from the room. "Let's head to the courtyard first! The trees around it are flowering at this time of the year!"

After the two left the room, Havina fluidly moved to follow them. Selvig got to his feet to intercept Havina, but the princess only moved her body sideways to avoid him and continued. The prince's eyes widened at her blatant action and disrespect, but he didn't say anything. He couldn't even look around as many people had seen what just happened. Not only was his wife sticking to another man, but she was also ignoring him openly.

Miel couldn't help but find it odd for Havina to do. He wanted to speak with Selvig, but the prince softly yet angrily called for the nanny. He handed the baby to her before quietly leaving the room. The archduke's children and the maids were the only ones left, and Clarissa clicked on her tongue. 

"…bitch."

…

Artie was pulling on Larkin softly, but her steps were faster than normal. Larkin then turned to her. "Are you jealous? You don't seem to like Havina as well." Even if he could be a little upset by Artie's behavior, he knew that this wife wouldn't be unreasonably jealous.

"No." Artie twisted her lips before stopping and looking up at him. "Can't you tell? She's acting strangely for a mother. She's just an excited niece. Moreover, I'm keeping you out of trouble. If the crown prince finds trouble with you, it will be hard to deal with. Don't forget that the plains are being surveyed by the demon scouts."

"I have not forgotten." Larkin was actually relieved. His chosen wife wasn't jealous. "What are you planning to do?"

Artie sighed and massaged her forehead. "I can't fix this right away. I have a bad feeling that they might start causing trouble at our wedding if I leave it as it is right now. It's just that… what can I do?"

Before Larkin could continue, a soldier came running towards them. "Archduke! Archduke! R-Reporting to the Archduke! W-We're under attack! We don't know what they are, but… the hunters surveying the area said they're like giant people… made of clear ice!"

"Made of what?!" Artie gasped… and felt very weak when a sudden notification came to her mind.

[You have unlocked your second task!]

[Active task: Repel the Glass Spirits (2/??)]