"Please leave, or I will have the guards escort you out."
Lady Vayne, however, just kept on observing Gregor. Then her eyes went towards Riku and the others, and a crafty smile ford on her lips.
"It appears that you are the ones who helped my brother. I must give you my thanks." She said.
"No need, it was what we should do," Riku said perfunctorily.
He did not like this Lady Vayne one bit from the looks of her. But without evidence, he did not want to do anything.
"I am curious about the artifact that you have given to my brother. I see that both of your companions have one as well. Do you have a lot of them? I can buy them all at any price." Lady Vayne continued with a smile on her face.
Riku t Lady Vayne’s gaze, his own expression polite but firm. "Lady Vayne, your offer is most generous. However, these talismans are still in an experintal phase. Their numbers are limited, and my primary commitnt is to ensure they reach those most desperately in need, regardless of their status."
He offered a slight, apologetic smile. "To sell them all, even for a handso price, would go against the very purpose for which they were created. For now, I must decline."
Lady Vayne’s smile didn’t falter, but a flicker of sothing cold passed through her eyes. "A pity, Master Riku. Such noble sentints. One hopes they do not lead you into... unforeseen difficulties." She rose gracefully from her chair, the cat stirring slightly in her prosthetic arm.
"The Crimson Creep is a treacherous affliction, as my dear brother Gregor knows all too well. It preys on the unwary and the overconfident. Do be careful where you tread, and what powers you ddle with. So blights are best left undisturbed."
"Thank you for your warning, Lady Vayne. We will keep it in mind."
In an instant, Lila beca nervous. She imdiately looked at Riku to see if there were any changes to his deanor.
However, this ti Riku smiled gently. Unlike last ti, he did not lose his emotions over this subtle threat. After all, he had been expecting sothing like this the mont Vayne addressed him.
He had already evaluated Vayne’s strength. Not to ntion her, Riku was sure that even the strongest warrior of Luxia would not be able to do anything to him. All the strength and spells that he had manifested as the Grand Maxius the other day, he could still use slightly weaker versions of them with goodwill points. But this ti, he would be in control, rather than letting soone else take over.
Lady Vayne then gave a curt nod to Lord Gregor and Baron Charles.
"Brother. Charles. We shall take our leave. Do get well soon, Gregor. The Grand Luminar would be most... disappointed if anything further were to befall you."
With that veiled sentint, she swept out of the room. Alaric followed her with a final, resentful glare at Riku.
The mont the door closed behind them, the polite facade in the room shattered.
"That woman!" Lord Gregor spat, his voice trembling with a fury that belied his recent illness. The talisman around his neck pulsed with a slightly brighter light, as if reacting to his agitation. "The audacity! The sheer, unmitigated gall! She cos into my house and threatens openly? How dare she?!!"
Baron Charles rushed to his father’s side. "Father, please, calm yourself. Don’t let her words agitate you."
"Calm myself?" Gregor scoffed, though he allowed Charles to help him settle back into his chair. "That sister of mine and her viperous son have been circling this house like vultures for years! ’Grand Luminar’s prayers’ indeed! Her husband is more concerned with the Church’s coffers than any mortal soul!"
He took a ragged breath as he fell back onto his chair. "They are waiting for to die, Charles. Waiting to pick the bones of House Humr clean."
The tension in the room was thick enough to cut with a knife. Lord Gregor was visibly shaking with anger, and Baron Charles looked deeply distressed. Riku knew they couldn’t have a productive discussion in this state.
He caught Lila’s eye and gave her a subtle nod. Then, he reached into his satchel and pulled out a simple, unadorned wooden flute. It was the sa one she had played in Elowen, the one that had chased away the bandits, though she didn’t know the full extent of its previous enchantnt.
"Lila," Riku said, his voice calm and gentle, cutting through the charged atmosphere. "Perhaps a little music would help soothe frayed nerves? Your playing was so lovely in Elowen." He offered her the flute.
Lila looked surprised, then glanced at the fuming Lord Gregor and the worried Baron Charles. She understood imdiately. "Of course, Riku," she said, taking the flute.
As she brought it to her lips, Riku subtly gestured with his free hand, a faint shimr of mana, almost invisible, briefly enveloping the flute.
Aura of Serenity
Lila began to play. It wasn’t a complex lody, but a simple, lilting tune from her village. The notes, amplified and imbued with Riku’s subtle enchantnt, flowed through the opulent parlor like a gentle stream.
Slowly, the oppressive tension began to dissipate. Lord Gregor’s harsh breathing evened out, the furious glint in his eyes softened, replaced by a soothing expression as he closed his eyes, enjoying the lody. Baron Charles relaxed as well, the worried lines on his forehead smoothing.
Even Elara, who had been sitting quietly, tensed by the earlier confrontation, let out a soft sigh.
The music didn’t erase the anger or the problems, but it created a space for calm, a mont of respite.
When Lila finished, a more tranquil silence filled the room, followed by rounds of applause.
"Wow, young lady. I have never heard music so soothing and relaxing in all my years in Luxia. Your talent would be unrivaled even in the entire country." Lord Gregor got up and clapped.
"Bravo, bravo." Charles, Elder Borin, Elara, and Riku stood up and all clapped happily as Lila finished her performance.
"Noo.. this is nothing." Lila got shy and imdiately returned the flute back to Riku.
"Of course not, you deserve every bit of the praise." Riku tapped her hand lightly as he took the flute. "Your playing was nothing less than that of an angel."
"Stop it..." Lila’s blush grew deeper as she gave Riku a kick from under the table. Elara, noticing the antics of the two, gave an amused smile.
Now that the imdiate storm had passed, Riku finally turned to the two nobles.
"Now that Lady Vayne is behind us, can we discuss so other matters?"
Both father and son looked at RIku curiously, and then settled back onto their seats.
"Of course, Mister Riku. If there is anything, please go ahead."
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