Chapter 60 - For the Love of All Things Holly...! (2)

It was three days later at 1:30 in the afternoon and Llyr and I were sitting on one of the terraces in the direction of the mainland, and having tea time together. Something that I was reluctant to do but also willing to do for the sake of keeping Llyr out of harm's way from any suspicious persons and potential assassinations.

"I must admit, the view here is very beautiful, and pairs well with the chai tea you made, Araluen," I complimented, smiling as I looked over at the mainland in the distance.

Araluen was standing by the door leading back inside the palace, she had a melodic smile that made her seem perfectly at peace with where she was. 

"Thank you for the compliment, your Lordship. I am glad the tea is to your liking!" She expressed, putting on an even brighter smile.

"Please, I'm just being honest," I replied, while also thinking to myself that the current mood and view would be even better with some jazz music.

"Y'know Lev…" Llyr started to say, but then stopped for a minute.

"Hm? Go on," I urged him, setting down my teacup and crossing my legs.

"Well…It's just that you seem to be more cooperative lately. Er, no, sorry. What I meant to say is that you haven't acted as if you wanted to leave or get away from me as you usually do and that you seem more at peace," he exclaimed, noting my actions over the last couple of days.

It's true, I had been more willing to comply with Llyr's demands since my encounter with the Patron Goddess of Alkmene, Cordelia. Tough of course it was all with the intention of keeping the poor fool alive and gaining his trust that I wasn't going to try an escape, at least until the time that I did came.

"...Yes, I suppose I have been…more at peace that is," I replied, looking at my tea with a cold expression. It wasn't so much as to being at peace, but more of not wanting to create bigger problems with myself, especially when it came to the way that Llyr and I would treat each other.

I started being so much more compliant that I went along with his request that I sit on his lap. And I used that as motivation to get him to work, while also helping him, of course.

During that time, I learned that Koren and his advisors mostly handled the kingdom's paperwork, including taxes and where they would invest the money. So, I took that opportunity to teach him how to manage the kingdom's internal affairs so that he could actually do the work himself.

A moment later, Koren came in with snacks and a stack of paperwork, which made Llyr groan in defiance.

"Ugh, more work?" Llyr complained, and Koren nodded. "Mmm, can't this wait until later? I'd like to have a nice, calm teatime with Lev without distractions."

"Well if that's the case, then I suppose I'll have to end our teatime early and let you do all of that work by yourself," I threatened, looking at him domineeringly with a cold expression.

"...Alright, fine, I'll do the work. But you have to stay here and help me!" Llyr exclaimed, looking at me with puppy dog eyes.

"As long as you actually get the work done, then yes, I will stay here with you till you finish your work," I replied, being extra specific with how long I'd stay with him. After all, I had my own things to do as well.

Llyr's face lit up, like a puppy who was just given a treat after it was praised. If I had to be honest, it made me want to roll my eyes at him, though I decided to just settle for doing it in my head due to the people present.

A few moments passed after, and Llyr was unsurprisingly still doing his work. He would occasionally ask me questions on a few of the things he didn't understand, or ask me for advice in the decision-making aspect, like things to improve the economy or budget requests, but other than that he was mostly silent.

So with nobody there to talk to, I was stuck messing with the cigarette in my mouth, using my teeth to bob it up and down in boredom. Something I shouldn't have done, but I always make sure to brush my teeth when I mess with my cigarettes like that.

Noticing my boredom, and getting unsure of what he should do with one of the requests he got again, Llyr tugged at my shirt and looked at me in a cute manner, practically begging for my attention and help.

"Hmp, what's the issue?" I asked, leaning forward to look at his paper, and accidentally bumping our foreheads together.

Llyr started blushing from the physical touch, his blush spreading from his cheeks to his ears. Without me realizing it, he leaned in closer, his breath mixing with mine. Araluen, who was now changing the flowers in the big vases by the railing of the terrace, didn't even notice.

"The knights are once again asking for an increase in budget, I've already declined it thrice now, but they keep on asking…should I just give in?" He exclaimed, pointing to the amount of increase they were asking for.

"HA! Absolutely not!" I laughed, throwing my head back and leaning into my chair, putting an arm on the backrest, "They are asking for an increase of five grand, there is no way in hell that they wouldn't do some sketchy things with that!"

As per usual, I stated the obvious. It ticked me off that the knightage was asking for this much of an increase in budgeting, especially during a time of peace for their kingdom. 

Everybody in the Alkmene Kingdom is fully aware that with the wars going on around them, they should be focusing on maintaining their agriculture and trades, making sure they have enough materials to get them through a war.

And while gaining enough war-time materials was easy for a Kingdom built upon trade, like the Alkmene kingdom was, even the foolish Llyr knew it would all be in vain if the economy of the kingdom fell, especially if it was due to something as foolish as increasing the budget for something the Kingdom didn't need right now.

"Hm, yes, you are right. Besides, the kingdom is currently in a state of peace, so there is no need to increase the knightage's budget anyways…well, unless we ended up having to go to war," Llyr trailed off, remembering the war with the demon realm and how I have been here for so long.

"Indeed, so you best write a letter to your troops telling them to cease the requests, or else you might dispel a troop or two and combine it with another," I said smugly, smiling and raising an eyebrow in triumph of threatening the foolish knights.

"Alright, I'll do just that!" Llyr smiled before declining the request and writing down the reason why, then turning to Araluen, "Hey, deliver this to the knights' dormitory for me, oh, and bring some letter envelopes afterward.

"Understood, should I bring some more tea and snacks afterward as well?" She reassured, not wanting to be sent back as soon as she finished her previous order.

"...No, there's no need to come back. Why don't you clean our rooms then tell the chef to prepare dinner once you're done, okay?" Llyr ordered, giving Araluen a nice smile, and making me raise my eyebrow in suspicion.

She then smiled and bowed in turn, leaving the terrace and closing the door behind her. 

Llyr then turned towards me with a bright, toothy smile, reminding me of a child who was just given candy. He put his chin in the palms of his hands and put his elbows on the table, leaning forward to stare and smile at me.

"...Your Majesty, It's best that you get back to work," I reminded him, feeling a bit uncomfortable, "Besides, you only have a few documents left, so you should finish rather quickly."

"...Lev, how many times do I have to tell you to just call me by my name?" Llyr said coldly, upset at the sudden shift in demeanor, "I get not wanting to refer to me in such a familiar way in public, but we are alone now."

The upset Finfolk sat him, both hands clenched on the table and wearing an upset expression on his face. It looked as if he was about to start crying, having bit his lip and slightly scrunching up his still handsome face - handsome enough to blow my own ego away with the face I wore.

"Haaaa, in private or not, it still is not appropriate to do so. The difference in our ranks is too great, and even if that was not the case, I am from another Kingdom, it could cause a great scandal if word got out that we were on a mutual first-name basis." I lectured, taking shit out of my ass to get out of the newfound situation I started.

"Do you honestly think I care about that?" Llyr said harshly, practically slamming his hands on the table in front of him, "Viscount, you are somebody I hold quite dear to my heart. If it was up to me, I'd make as many scandals between us as I possibly could…and I'm quite sure you know what I mean by that."

To tell the truth, that last part sent shivers down my spine. It reminded me that this man who I thought of as being like a seven-year-old child is a grown man with immense power, making him quite dangerous for me.

But, luckily for me, I had developed a bit of a silver tongue over my years in the military. I had immediately thought of a jest to direct this conversation, not wanting it to get any more serious or drift to something more…private.

"Yes, I am well aware of that fact, however…you also need to be aware that my subordinates know what crime you have committed in me being here, so I'd watch yourself if I were you," I threatened, curling my fists on the table, and giving Llyr a death glare.

"..." Llyr was silent for a moment, and I lit a cigarette, signaling that I wanted to end the conversation, "Why must you want to leave that badly?... Aren't I enough for you?! I can offer you anything you want, hell, if it really mattered to you, I could have your subordinates here as well, so why not choose me!?"

Llyr practically shouted that at me, him looking up at me with tears of anger and confusion welling up in his eyes. He looked truly pitiful, like someone who was just rejected by the person they've been in love with their whole life and had always had someone else chosen over them.

"Because it's not as simple as that! I have duties to attend to, even if I don't want to! My country could be in great danger in my absence, so even if I wanted to leave I couldn't just abandon it!"I huffed, and thinking I had enough of him today I was about to storm out but was stopped by Llyr.

With a flick of his hand, a giant water curtain surrounded us, blocking me from the door and sealing off the terrace from any outside observers trying to spy on our interaction.

He had gotten up from his seat so fast that he ended up knocking over his chair and causing the table to wobble, then grabbed my hand hard and pulled me back to the table.

Llyr slammed me onto the table, leaving me bending backward onto it, one leg on the ground, the other just barely touching the ground. He grabbed both of my wrists and brought them above my head, then put his leg in between my crotch area.

"YOU FUCKER WHAT THE HELL ARE YO- MMnh!" I started shouting at him but was hushed by him taking my lips in his, stealing my breath from me.

Just about 15 seconds later, he broke the kiss, saying something that I thought I'd only ever hear in psychological anime and manga, "If I can't have you so easily, then I suppose I'll have to take you by force."

He then kissed me again, this time harder and with more force, determined to intertwine his tongue with mine.