Chapter 59: Vredemann

*** At The Academy Lounge

“I trust this is important, Father?”

The lounge was quiet, unusually so, the first reason being that most students were already at their classes, but for the second? It was the result of having two D’Arclights in the same room.

A deadly duo, if you were dumb enough to stay in the lounge despite them being present… well, they’d better pray to the gods that they’ll protect them.

“It’s been weeks since you last talked to me, can’t you be kinder to your old man?”

Vredemann laughed, sitting on a plush red sofa that was meant for students; it didn’t even matter that it wasn’t visiting hours.

Most of the faculty were already under his payroll anyway.

Both officially and illegally.

A man of serious stature, his hair and eyes a perfect match with Evelina, complementing his black suit and coat that matched his mastery of magic.

He wasn’t particularly ugly, nor was he particularly handsome, the result of the countless scars that riddled his face.

Some on purpose, some from battles he had fought in the past.

But it was clear he accepted them with open arms; it only added to the fear-factor after all.

It was better to be feared than to be considered a bachelor.

“Still pretending to care about me?” Evelina scoffed, sitting on the couch opposite him, the space in between being occupied by a wooden table filled with tea at each side.

Tea prepared meticulously by servants brought by her father.

“I’ve always cared about you, daughter.” Vredemann laughed again. It was hard to take him seriously, especially with his piercing crimson eyes that always looked like they were ready to kill.

The contrast between his tone and his features.

It’s what earned him the moniker of Jester.

“Cut to the chase, why did you call for me?”

Evelina picked up her tea from the table, blew on it gently, and took a sip.

“You always preferred your mother, didn’t you?” Vredemann sighed, crossing his legs.

“Fine, I’ll make this short.” He leaned closer to the table, tapping it with his fingers.

“Rumours have it, you’ve found yourself a little lover…”

Evelina’s eyebrows twitched at his words; she didn’t expect him to take an interest so quickly.

He was usually way too busy with his work as the royal palace’s spymaster to even bother with his daughter’s daily business.

“What’s it to you?”

“Well, I just wanted to see if he’s D’Arclight material; it’s only a father’s instincts to make sure his little girl chooses the best option.”

“If you really needed to know, Father, then I’ll tell you.” Evelina lowered the cup. “Remember the Lionbright’s own pair of prodigies?”

Evelina smirked.

“He’s far better than both of them, in fact, I bet he could even take out the two of them in a fight without magic.”

“That’s high praise coming from you.”

“It’s the truth.”

Vredemann’s smile thinned.

For the first time since he sat down, he stopped laughing.

“Without magic,” he repeated slowly, tasting the words. “You don’t exaggerate lightly.”

“I don’t exaggerate at all,” Evelina replied flatly. “Especially not to you.”

Silence stretched between them, heavy enough that the servants standing near the entrance stiffened.

“That boy,” Vredemann said at last, leaning back again, fingers steepled. “What’s his name?”

“It’s none of your business.”

“Hm.” He chuckled. “Why so stingy?”

“You would do the same thing in my shoes.”

That earned her a sharper look.

“You’re right,” her father warned. “Potential assets tend to attract vultures.”

“I’m aware.” Evelina’s eyes narrowed. “That includes you.”

Vredemann laughed outright this time. “Straight to the throat. You really are my daughter.”

He reached for his tea, finally taking a sip.

“So,” he continued casually, “you’ve taken a servant and elevated him. Or is it the other way around?”

Evelina didn’t answer immediately.

Instead, she crossed her legs, posture relaxed, chin lifted just enough to signal confidence rather than defiance.

“He’s useful,” she said. “Competent. Discreet. And unlike most nobles here, he doesn’t hesitate the moment I give an order.”

“Low bar.”

“And yet most fail it.”

Vredemann hummed. “Does he know what he’s getting into?”

“He knows enough.”

Evelina hesitated; she knew that Cael probably knew more than he was letting on, but she’d rather not let that information be known to her father.

“That’s usually how disasters begin.”

Evelina’s gaze sharpened. “Is that concern I hear?”

“No,” her father said smoothly. “It’s experience.”

He leaned forward again, elbows resting on his knees now.

“As for my second concern…” Vredemann tapped his fingers together in calculation, his eyes changing to a more manic state.

“I need you to ace the academy’s first semi-monthly examination.” He commanded, making sure she had no option to argue.

“I’m already planning to even without your orders.”

Vredemann chuckled at Evelina’s response, standing up and brushing his coat.

“Just a simple reminder, nothing more.”

Vredemann straightened fully, towering over the table as his shadow stretched across the lounge floor.

“Oh, and Evelina,” he added, as if remembering something trivial.

She looked up at him without standing.

“If this ’lover’ of yours happens to interfere with that examination…” His smile returned, thin and sharp. “I’ll remove him. Quietly.”

The air shifted.

Evelina didn’t flare her magic. She didn’t raise her voice. Instead, she set her teacup down with deliberate care.

“If you touch him,” she said calmly, “I’ll assume you’ve finally gone insane.”

For the briefest moment, something dangerous flickered behind Vredemann’s eyes, not anger, not amusement, but interest.

Then he laughed.

A full, delighted laugh that echoed through the lounge and made the servants flinch.

“You’re getting my hopes up,” he said approvingly. “A man that impressive, how lovely.”

He stepped past her, coat swaying as he headed for the exit.

“Relax,” he added over his shoulder. “I won’t move unless he forces my hand.”

The doors opened for him without being touched.

“Oh, and Evelina?”

She didn’t turn.

“If he really is as capable as you say,” Vredemann continued, voice drifting back, “You should bring him home sometime. I want to see him with my own eyes.”

The doors shut.

Silence reclaimed the lounge.

Evelina remained seated for several seconds, eyes unfocused, replaying the conversation in her mind.

“…Tch.”

She leaned back into the sofa, clicking her tongue softly.

“So that’s how it is.”

Her fingers brushed the choker at her neck, instinctively checking that the succubus remained sealed.

“Annoying old man,” she muttered.

Yet despite herself, a small, almost imperceptible smile tugged at her lips.

If her father was keeping her in check, it meant that she was becoming both important and powerful enough that even her father had to get involved.

“That reminds me, I still need to refine the darkyte I obtained.” She stood up, fixing the cuffs on her sleeves. “Guess I’ll have to cut classes for now.”

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