Raymond's Thoughts On Clovers

"Bravo, you're not bad," Raymond chuckled as he released his brother from his grasp. "At least, you know my name, Roland."

That seemed to have ticked off the boy more than anything as he started clawing Raymond's hands which were a few inches away from his face.

"My name is not Roland," He uttered with clenched teeth and tried to sink his nails into his flesh. Alas, Raymond was built differently. No matter how much Ronald tried he couldn't even put a scratch on his brother's hand. Instead, his fingers started to hurt.

"Ron, stop it. You're going to hurt yourself," Jasmine quickly pulled him away from Raymond, seeing as his face was starting to distort in pain.

Raymond pretended to look elsewhere to avoid the chastisement that was due from Jasmine. He didn't know why but he found strange delight in teasing his cousin.

"Young master, quickly get behind us," One of the guards stood in front of Ronald and Jasmine as he eyed Raymond sharply.

"Alright, no need to get worked up here," Lark intervened, not wanting to become a witness to a petty feud between nobles. He had better things to do such as leading Raymond to meet with the Imperial Family. "My friend here did not mean to slight your young master."

"Today is the day of celebration. You should take it easy and forget this matter," He tried to ease the tension between the two parties.

To his reply, the guard sneered.

"Hmph, I see what is going on here," he speculated. "An Imperial Guard using his status to oppress others, nothing new. But don't think we are just anybody. We are Clovers. We will not let this—Aack!"

Ronald kicked the guard to the side to stop his ramblings.

"Didn't you hear who he is?" He pointed towards Raymond. "He is also a Clover. You'll just embarrass us further by pursuing this matter."

"Haha, Roland, you're very different from your mother!" Raymond laughed. He was pleasantly surprised by his cousin's attitude after learning his identity. He was expecting to get a scornful look or some mockery which was the usual for every encounter he had with his aunt in the past.

'Maybe he didn't take after his mother.' Raymond thought.

"You goatfucker! My name is Ronald."

'Tch, that mouth is definitely from her.'

Raymond shook his head. His cousin may not be fully influenced by his mother but he did inherit her quirk for cursing.

"Watch your tongue!" Jasmine pulled on Ronald's ear and scolded him. "Don't use such nasty words."

"Ouch! Sister, please, I won't use it again. Let me go!"

"Good!" Jasmine relented. "Master, at least try to spell your brother's name correctly."

Raymond scratched his chin as he mumbled playfully: "I will try, Daisy."

"Tch, you're hopeless," She pouted.

"Mr.Ray, sorry to interrupt but can we move forward?" Lark asked from the side. He had been ordered to bring this guest to the venue before the festival started. He didn't wish to get a scolding from Princess Scarlett.

His voice was urgent enough to make Raymond realise he was simply wasting everyone's time. Releasing a sigh, he responded:

"Alright, let's go, Jasmine," He gestured for Jasmine to come along.

But Ronald thought differently and grabbed her hand unwilling to let go. He had finally managed to get ahold of his sister after a long search, he was reluctant to part ways with her so easily.

"Uhm, Ron? Can you please let me go? I promise I will meet with you later during the festival," Jasmine pleaded. She didn't want to break the young boy's heart by telling him about her plans for the future, as such, she tried to send him on his way with as little hassle as possible.

"No can do! You're coming with me," He glared at his big brother. "This guy doesn't even remember your name, he is very likely to ignore you in the future if you stay with him." The boy made accusations that greatly annoyed Raymond.

He grabbed Ronald's hand and Jasmine was effortlessly unhanded from his grasp. Raymond squatted as he pulled the boy down to his eye level. For all the hate and anger he had towards Rachel Wagner, he couldn't hate this little cousin of his, not when Ronald had done nothing to garner his hate.

"Listen here, Ronald," This time Raymond called him by his proper name. "We have a very important appointment now, we will talk later, okay?"

"Why should I listen to you? You were never there when I wanted a brother." Ronald huffed irritably. "You don't get to tell me what to do!"

Raymond's lips twitched in anger.

"Ask your mother why I wasn't there! I am sure she had a pretty good reason to keep me away from you."

Having said his piece, Raymond took Jasmine by the arm and briskly followed Lark— the impatient Imperial Guard— leaving behind a puzzled teen.

"Young master, let's go. Madam Rachel must be waiting for your arrival," The guard kindly reminded him, breaking through his puzzlement.

"Ahh, yes," Ronald nodded as he climbed the carriage with a head full of his brother's parting words.

*******

"Master, was there a need to be so harsh with him?" Jasmine tutted. "He is a sweet boy, unlike his parents who hate the sight of us."

"No, there was no 'need', rather, I was being purposefully harsh," Raymond explained with emphasis on need. He could have treated his cousin nicely and probably taken measures to mend their relationship. But Raymond found himself disinclined to do so.

This way, he hoped Ronald would pester his mother for answers until her ears bled. There was also a possibility that his aunt would simply concoct some lies about him, further degrading him in Ronald's eyes. Raymond didn't care for any of it. As long as they didn't bother him, he would leave them alone.

It wouldn't even take him more than a few seconds to eradicate the Clovers or to make them the new Imperial Family of the FireBorn Empire, Raymond mused, closing and opening his fist.

Thoughts about his father were the only reason he hadn't attacked them. He didn't want to end the lives of people who shared the same blood, his father would never approve of it. Instead, his father would have hoped for him to take up the mantle of family head and set them straight, something Raymond was not too keen on doing.

He would leave them to their own devices. Whether they flourished or declined in the future, he wanted to play no role in it.

People might call him a coward or irresponsible, but to him, he was simply washing his hands off the matters related to his family. Things would have been different if his father was alive, Raymond would've made him the new emperor just to bury him with the burden of looking after an empire.

Raymond let out a small chuckle imagining his father on the throne, trying to hold back from breaking the decorum of the court by cursing out loud. His father was never too fond of the polished way the noble spoke or behaved. It seemed too artificial to him and Raymond agreed with him wholeheartedly.

Soon, his wandering thoughts came to a halt as they arrived in front of a spectacular courtyard covered in crimson decorations.

"Mr. Ray, please go inside. Her Highness is waiting for you." Lark politely took his leave, having done his duty.

As soon as Raymond and Jasmine entered the courtyard a duo of maids came to their help and guided them to a nearby guest hall where Scarlett usually entertained her guests.

Raymond looked around curiously, taking in all the regal decorations adorning the walls of the hall.

The door to the far end opened abruptly and Scarlett walked in with a bright smile on her face. Raymond felt surreal as he gazed at her, dressed in her imperial robes.

If he hadn't seen Egon and her at the same place and hadn't made the connection between them, he would never believe it if someone told him that Sasha and Scarlett were the same person.

"There you are," Scarlett beamed at him

"I have been waiting for you!" She offered him her hand which Raymond took and brushed his lips against her knuckles.

"Not bad, you know how to greet a noble lady," Scarlett japed. She would much prefer a hug from him but that would be asking for too much considering the place they were in.

"Well, I could always greet you with my fist. Just the way you like it," Raymond whispered.

Scarlett shook her head, amused at his lack of concern towards the imperial way, and greeted Jasmine.

"It is an honour to meet you, Your Highness," Jasmine greeted indifferently. The sight of Scarlett irked her to no end.

The thought she was the woman chosen by Master Thomas for her master made her temper rise. It should have been her. She was the one who knew him more than anyone. She was the one who loved him more than anyone.

Jasmine took pride in the fact that she was his first woman and she wouldn't give it up for anything. But this marriage contract posed a threat to her position. Scarlett would be considered as the first and only wife according to the empire's custom. She and Lyla would have to be satisfied with being concubines which didn't sit well with her.

"Sasha, there is something urgent I must discuss with you," Jasmine was pulled back from her reverie by her master's words.

"Hush, don't call me by that name when we are here," Scarlett quickly stopped him. "Whatever it is, it can wait."

She offered him her elbow which Raymond took reluctantly.

"First, let's meet my parents!"

Just as she finished speaking, the door opened once again and the Empress made her appearance within the hall.