Corallia(3)

"Now then, shall we start?"

"Yes, let's start" My Father replied.

The atmosphere in the room changed; it was now intense. My father met Duke Edgar's gaze with sharp intensity. In front of them, I was just a sitting puppy—nothing more, nothing less. 

Across from me, Lev and Vivianne also had tense expressions. I stared at them, and they stared back at me. 

"Edgar," my father began, his voice carrying a cold edge. "I won't waste time. Tell me, why did you call off the engagement?"

"Is it perhaps related to Lucian's prior conduct?" 

"I suppose you could say that," Duke Edgar replied calmly, his expression unreadable.

Duke Edgar glanced at me for a brief second, then shifted his gaze to his daughter beside him. "You see before my wife passed, she wanted this marriage to happen," he said, his voice softening for a moment, but the weight of his words hung in the air.

"But," he paused, contemplating for a few seconds, "I decided it was best to end this relationship. Don't get me wrong—Lucian is a good boy, but his prior behavior has been... questionable."

His eyes turned more serious as he continued, "I didn't want my daughter to be unhappy. I might have excused his behavior if he had been attentive to Vivianne, but not only did he ignore her, he went as far as to threaten her to stay away."

"What?" The word escaped my mouth in a rush of confusion. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Everyone in the chamber turned to look at me after my sudden outburst. "Sorry..." I mumbled, lowering my head in embarrassment, feeling the weight of their stares.

'He threatened her?' But when? And Collete did not say anything like that happened between them, He just flat out ignored her and nothing else. 'Lucian, why the hell would you do that?' I thought my head had started to ache.

That's why Lev was looking at me like that, god damn it. Pretty valid reason.

"As I was saying this is the reason why I think that this engagement should be broken off" Duke Edgar continued.

"But I think we should let the kids decide" he added looking at his daughter, "What do you say Arin?"

My father gave me a side glance and pondered. He then looked at Duke Edgar again and then at Vivianne. Then he nodded in agreement, "Yes, let's do that"

Am I dreaming? There are actually two caring fathers in such a world or I just read too many novels where there is a shitty father? 

[You read too many novels]

'Yeah, you are right....'

Wait who? Did I just hear a voice? In my head? Nah, I must be going crazy.

[Nope you did hear me] the same female voice repeated in my head.

"What the fuck?!" I jumped up from the sofa while cursing out loud, my head reeling with confusion. As I tried to make sense of what was happening. "Who are you?!"

[Hey calm down everyone is looking at you]

"Lucian?"

"Boy?"

"Lucian?"

"Brother?"

Everyone looked at me with concern in their eyes. My cheeks flushed out of the sheer embarrassment that I had to go through because of the voice in my head. "I-It's nothing please continue..." I sat back down on the sofa, trying to avoid their concerned gazes.

[You know you can talk to me with your thoughts]

'Should have said it sooner, you fucker'

[Hey don't curse at me, moron] The voice snorted back.

'So who are you?' I asked because it is not every day you get to talk with the voice in your head that isn't particularly yours. 

[I am Elara and I will be assisting you] she declared.

'With what?' 

[Your goal]

'What goal?'

[Going back to Earth, you dumbass]

'Hey, you know about me?'

[Of course, Aiden Crawford a 20-year-old University Student. He lost his parents at age 13, was adopted by his uncle and aunt alongside his little brother Neo, is a game addict, and reads novels or studies all the time. He has no friends and a girlfriend is a distant dream for him]

'Fuck you'

Ignoring my curse she continued, [Got offed by a Daemon and was sent here on Atlan in the body of Lucian Whiteclark. Wow, quite the dad lore you've got there]

'...'

"Lucian?" My father's voice grabbed my attention, "What will you do?"

"Do what father?" I asked as I was not paying attention.

"Do you want to maintain the engagement?" He asked.

"What does Lady Vivianne want?" I asked looking at Vivianne.

"I," She started her face now red, "I want to uphold it"

She still wants to be with me, despite the threat? Such a good girl.

[What will you do now?] Elara's voice asked me.

'Isn't it obvious?'

As much as in love she might be with me, I don't love her. Sure she is attractive but I don't want to base it on that. And lastly, she loved the previous soul, not me. Yeah, she might think that I am the same guy who just happened to have lost his memories.

But that's not the truth, I am not Lucian Whiteclark, I am Lucian Crawford. And if I get engaged to her again it would be troublesome and I don't want to hurt her, she was his love and his only, not mine. I don't want to feel guilty about it, I already feel guilty about lying to this guy's parents.

"I am sorry Lady but I want to call the engagement off," I said maintaining my stern tone.

I am definitely going to get an earful from Mother but the worst part is still coming up, I haven't told them about going on an adventure.

Upon my response, the room fell silent. No words came from anyone's mouth but I could see their faces. Vivianne was shocked, and Lev shared the same reaction. My father gave a silent glare from the side and the worst was Duke Edgar. He was glaring at me with cold and distant eyes as if he wanted to tear me apart.

"Why?" He asked still maintaining his cold gaze.

"..." I fell silent, I was not able to say anything. He was now scary as hell and I don't want to piss him off further.

"Why?" He asked again but I lowered my head and did not meet his gaze.

But I could not ignore him for long I had to give a reason but the problem was what reason should I give? I can't tell him that I am not Lucian Whiteclark. 'Hey, Elara help me!'

[You are on your own]

'What? Didn't you say that you are here to assist me?'

[Not with such issues]

'Are you really here to help me?'

[Yes]

'THEN HELP FOR GOD'S SAKE'

[Nah, you are on your own]

"FUCK YOU!" 

The room fell silent again as I cursed out loud again. 

"What is the meaning of such behavior?" This time my father spoke up.

"You dare disrespect my father?!" Lev also jumped in, his eyes blazing with anger.

Duke Edgar remained silent only giving me a glare and Vivianne, she was looking downward.... sobbing?

I was cooked from all angles be it my father, Lev, or Duke Edgar himself. I messed up big and it's all your fault Elara.

[Shift the blame that's all you can do]

'Fuck you'

[Don't know other curses?]

'...'

[Knew it]

'This... one day I swear I will beat you up! You dumb system.'

[System? What's that?]

Ignoring her question, I now had to get myself out of this mess. Duke Edgar was now giving me a fucking Death glare and his son's face was now filled with anger, ready to beat me up any moment. 

"I see you have not changed, you are still unstable" Those words came out of Duke Edgar's mouth. 

My brows twitched, anger bubbling up inside me. Sure, I knew he was right—I had been acting out, maybe even like I was losing it sometimes. But still, it's not my fault, you old fucking oaf. He was calling me mentally unstable. Why should I take his insult? I didn't curse at you, old man. I clenched my fists under the table, fighting the urge to say something I'd regret.

[You are boiling within]

'Fuck off don't say anything'

[You know if you want to say something just say it, you know~]

'Shut the Fuck up'

[Cmon say it will be fun~]

'Shut Up'

[Oh cmon~ say what your heart wants]

"I SAID SHUT THE FUCK UP, YOU MISERABLE BITCH!"

"What?" A deep voice reminded me again that I had spoken out loud. I screwed up again.

Before I could say anything, Lev grabbed my collar and lifted me up. 'Fuck he is strong'

"What did say to my father?!" He demanded his voice filled with anger, his eyes blazing as he locked his gaze with me.

"Leave him, Lev," Duke Edgar spoke out as he looked towards my father, "It's not worth it"

"But father he insulted you and grandmother," He retorted, "I won't take this lightly,"

"Lucian Whiteclark, I, Lev Corallia challenge you to a duel"

As I heard the words coming out of his mouth, I knew I had messed up big time. A duel with the heir of Corallia? I am beyond cooked- I am burnt. He is no ordinary guy, he had trained from his childhood days and I just transmigrated about one week ago.

'It is not fair, I say' Not that they would know but still Lucian's body is fucking weak. Now I am supposed to fight this guy?

[Should've just apologized]

'Fuck you, Elara'

[Same here]