Uncomfortable funeral

I stirred uncomfortably in the church chairs, it's surprising that in spite of spending so much money in their decoration, the churches of this world have such uncomfortable chairs, I wanted to remember how the churches of my original life were, but nothing came to my mind.

I hated myself for not having planned this better, I must remember that the next time I'm forced to attend a church, it will have more comfortable chairs.

Be that as it may, the priest doesn't seem to be shutting up any time soon, so the only thing I can do is to hold on, meanwhile the only thing I can do is to look around me, even though churches are exclusive for nobles, this time thanks to a big donation the general public was allowed to enter, so a lot of people are crying at an empty coffin.

It's amazing if you think about it, how people cry for an invented character, even though my father Count Vladimir Lazaruz does not exist, he is very loved by the people.

The priest finally finished his speech, but he gave the podium so that people could talk about the deceased, one by one a lot of people were passing by to talk about how they were close to bankruptcy and my father approached them to support them financially, how a family member got sick and sought the help of the count who received them with open arms, people describing my father as an extremely generous man who built schools, hospitals, orphanages and all that without expecting anything in return, how he was magnanimous, hardworking, humble and above all strangely shy, as he didn't like to appear in public.

All this took us hours in which I was sitting in an uncomfortable chair, plus I still had to shake hands and receive the respects of the people, so I lamented silently wishing that all this would end at once.

Finally tired, hungry and fed up I said goodbye to the last person, and only those closest to me remained in the church.

When I was about to leave, Johan ran to embrace me, between his cries I could not understand much, but I can intuit that he was lamenting the death of my father.

I hugged him back and let myself be consoled, but anyone who saw us would imagine that I was consoling him and not the other way around, then when I looked up I saw the rest of his family, during the last years our families have had a good relationship, and Johan comes to my house more often than I would like.

His brothers came to pay their respects, and to take him away, so I had a moment alone with the Marquis.

(Marquis) I was very sorry to hear about your father, if you ever find yourself in trouble do not hesitate to ask our house for help.

(Leonora) Thank you, Marquis, I'll keep that in mind.

(Marquis) You must be strong boy, the gods know why they do things.

Those people don't know what they are doing.

(Leonora) I'm fine sir, my father has arranged everything so that I can take his place when I'm ready.

(Marquis) A lot of people expect a lot from you boy, but remember that you don't have to be alone, you can always rely on other people.

(Leonora) Thank you sir, I don't intend to disappoint anyone.

He finally left and in the background I saw Eris, I knew that the conversation she would have with me would be in private, and I was thankful that she didn't approach me to give me a false condolence.

Again I was preparing to leave, but now the viscount interrupted me, hugged me against his protruding stomach and patted my back.

(Viscount) Leon, whatever you need, count on me, and I promise you that this will not go unpunished, I swear in the name of my house that I will find the culprit.

I was in no mood to feign interest, I think my facade would have been discovered if Aisha hadn't interrupted.

(Aisha) Father, may I have a moment alone with my fiancé?

(Viscount) Of course, you must have a lot to talk about.

The viscount finally released me, and I followed Aisha to a room apart from the church.

We sat down, and I signaled Irma to bring us something to eat, to which she returned in a moment with sandwiches and coffee, I put a couple of cookies in my mouth, and after a sip of coffee, my mood improved quite a bit.

(Aisha) I think everything is going according to your plans Leo, but couldn't you have made the ceremony shorter?

(Leonora) I'm sorry, I think I exaggerated with my father's benevolence, I didn't think so many people would come to the funeral.

(Aisha) ah who cares! The important thing is that you finally got rid of him. Even my father started to feel that it was strange of him to never accept his invitations.".

(Leonora) I thank you again, without your magic this would have been much more difficult.

(Aisha) You're welcome, I told you I would follow you as long as it's fun, besides if you hadn't told me I had blood magic it would have taken me a long time to figure it out on my own.

Blood magic is used to create puppets using corpses or small animals, although you can also create puppets from living humans, the cost of mana is monstrous, besides using blood magic on a person is something extremely punishable by law, but even so, it was thanks to it that I could have a "Count Lazaruz" to present to the public, but the puppet can not speak so it has its limits, that's why I had to fake the murder of the count.

(Aisha) By the way Leo, who are you going to blame for your father's death?

(Leonora) no idea, the person I was going to charge was arrested and tried recently and I couldn't delay the death any longer since it was starting to be suspicious, so.... do you have someone you don't like?

At that she burst out laughing

(Aisha) you are fun to be with Leo, when things don't go according to your plans you get blocked too easily.

(Leonora) I've never been good at improvising, what can I say.

(Aisha) I don't know if you're going to succeed or fail miserably, but count on me for anything, anyway, I don't think I could find someone more funny.

(Leonora) thank you, I guess....

We finished eating and went out, there were still some people offering respect to the coffin, but I was very tired, I apologized to those present and went back home.

In the carriage back I got to thinking, I'm currently 13 years old and things have been strange, there have been many anomalies in this life, but I have managed as best I can, I have replicated several of the objects from my original life and I have had the inquisitor going around in circles, outside of having Eris breathing down my neck things are going well I would say.

And speak of the devil, she was sitting in my living room when I got home.

(Eris) good evening darling, thank you for inviting me to drink tea in your mansion.

(Leonora) I didn't, and I would appreciate it if you wouldn't sneak into my house, and stop drinking that muddy water.

(Eris) You are always so hospitable, my dear.

(Leonora) I'm good with my guests, not with intruders, tell me what you want.

(Eris) A couple of things, but first I want to give you my condolences for the unfortunate death of your father.

(Leonora) Finish quickly, I'm tired and I want to sleep.

(Eris) So honey, my little Johan told me that you don't plan to attend the royal academy, so I came to convince you to attend.

(Leonora) there is nothing there that interests me, besides it's only for nobles or people with great magical power, and you know that my mana is pitiful and my title of count is only in words, even if it was true, Tarrazzca no longer exists and its nobility was eradicated.

(Eris) oh but you were the daughter of a duke, wasn't you?

This woman, when she knows already.

(Leonora) I no longer belong to that family, now I'm little more than a very wealthy commoner.

(Eris) yes about that, the king wants to see you and give you an official title for your father's good deeds, actually he wanted to give you a title since last year, but he knew that your little blood puppet couldn't fool the court magicians, so I convinced him to delay it a little.

(Leonora) I see that you are aware of everything I do, I would recommend that you stop worrying about me and take better care of your family.

She lowered her cup of tea, and changed that childish tone so annoying, for a colder tone.

(Eris) is that a threat, Leonora?

Irma, who was standing behind me, took a step forward, getting closer to me.

(Leonora) is a suggestion, Johan feels intimidated by his older brothers, if it weren't for me, he might have developed an engraved inferiority complex.

She sighed, abandoned the cold drink, but did not return to her childish tone, she spoke in what I believe should be her real voice, a voice she hardly ever uses.

(Eris) I don't understand you Leonora, the more I know about you the less I understand you, you are capable of good deeds even if they harm you, and at the same time acts of real evil.

(Leonora) I'll never throw the first stone, but I never forgive an offense.

(Eris) Be that as it may Leonora, I want you to attend the royal academy, and bring your lovely fiancée, she can get into trouble if she's caught performing unregistered blood magic.

(Leonora) It's boring, and it doesn't fit in my plans.

(Eris) Then make new plans.

This conversation was getting too long, and my patience started to run out.

(Leonora) I don't understand you either, why are you following me so closely? if you think I'm a danger then kill me at once.

(Eris) I want to help you Leonora, I met the previous witch and I couldn't do anything for her, I don't want to fail again.

(Leonora) don't compare me with that woman, she was weak.

(Eris) She told me that she had dreams about the previous witch, you can do it too, can't you?

(Leonora) I only see a pathetic woman, who wanted to live without doing anything to anyone, and was killed because of her weakness.

(Eris) you can't live hating the world Leonora, you must learn to forgive.

~~She's right Leonora~~

(Leonora) forgive... since I came to this damn world everyone has tried to kill me, if you think I'm going to sit here and turn the other cheek then you're crazy.

(Eris) I want to help you Leonora, I really want to help you, that's why I want you to attend the royal academy, that year a very peculiar girl will attend and I want you to meet her, if I can't help you maybe she can.

Again, the protagonist has the affection and trust of everyone.

(Leonora) Alright, if you leave me alone, I will go to your royal academy.

(Eris) thank you Leonora, and if you ever need my help, my door will always be open.

(Leonora) if you eradicate the church you would be doing me a great favor.

Eris finally returned to her childish tone, which marked the end of our conversation.

(Eris) Your jokes are always the best, honey.

She finally left, and I was left processing everything that happened, it seems that I will have to go to the capital to receive a title from the king, and also attend the royal academy.

Wtf is wrong with this life? the anormalities endless!

The next day I convinced Aisha to accompany me to the capital, but she was not very convinced to go to the academy, well there are still two years to go, maybe I will find a way to avoid going.

Be that as it may, I prepared to go to the capital and my audience with the king, I would like to think that things will be as easy as just go, present myself to the king, receive my title and then spend a few days sightseeing in the capital with Aisha and Irma, but I'm me and I know that things cannot be so easy.