Chapter 158: [158] She’s Not A Pet

The moment Eliron stepped through a portal, appearing in his room, he was assaulted by a loud shrill.

“Awwwwww!” Yennefer squealed as she hurried over to him, her eyes locked on the fox that had made his head her home.

“What is that? Where do you find her? Can we keep her?” She beamed, never once looking away from the spirit.

“Well, it’s not like we have a choice on the matter… wait what are you both even doing in my room??” Eliron questioned.

Then he took a glance at the space, only to realise that his entire party was present for whatever reason.

Artie was seated on his bedside chair, and Ash was standing next to the door, a look of relief on his face.

Instead of answering him, Yennefer swiped the fox right off his head and jumped atop his bed, her entire attention on the spirit.

“Fruhhhh…” the fox breathed out as it enjoyed being pet.

Ash seemed just as curious about the fox, but instead of asking, he decided to answer Eliron’s question first.

“We were wondering where you went, my lord! Please do not leave without telling us next time, we thought that something had happened.”

“Ahh… sorry…”

Eliron had originally planned to return before he woke up, but it seemed Ash had woken up a little earlier than usual today.

“Let me guess…” Artie’s eyes strolled down to his clothes. “You were training?”

Eliron nodded and walked up to the bed Yen was on, and sat by the side.

“I wanted to do a little workout before morning. I guess I worried you guys.”

Artie looked in the other direction. “Worry us? Hardly…”

“My lord.” Ash called, his eyes now on the seven tailed fox. “What really is that? It hardly looks like a regular fox.”

“Yup, this it the spirit that was summoned by the mark…”

Ash’s face contorted with shock, while Artie’s face remained stoic, but Eliron could tell that even she was as surprised.

“That little thing?” She asked, pointing at the fox.

“Mmhmm…” Eliron nodded.

“So, what should we name her?” Yennefer asked, hoisting the fox up into the air and twirling her around like a baby.

As she did this, the fox had a noticeable grin on her face as she enjoyed Yennefer’s coaxing.

“She is not a pet, Yen… she’s a spirit.”

“And so what? Tiny is a wyvern and I still gave him a name!” She argued.

“Alright then, do you guys have any suggestions?” Eliron asked, his tone flat.

“Ouu, ouuu!” Yen raised her hand. “Why don’t we name her Peanut!”

“Fruhhh…”

The smile on the spirit’s face fell and it hissed in a gruff voice, making her discontent known.

“Last time you named a wyvern the size of a house, Tiny and now, you want to name her after food. Come on Yen…” Eliron nearly laughed.

He then turned to Artie. “What about you, do you have any recommendations?”

Artie stared at the fox for a few seconds, her chin nestled in her palms. “Hmm, what about Starlight?”

Eliron nodded. “Not bad, but it is a little too flashy for me. Ash, any options?”

The knight scratched his head as he thought it through. “I’m not that good at giving names… even my parents just named me based on the colour of my hair…”

Eliron blinked. ’Ahh, maybe asking him was a bad idea…’

“What about something relating to the moon?” Ask asked.

“The moon?” Eliron repeated his words while pondering on them.

The fox spirit’s summoning mark was indeed in the shape of the moon, so naming her according to it wasn’t a bad choice, but at the same time, just using moon would be too cliche.

“Tsukiko… her name will be Tsukiyo, meaning child of the moon?”

“Tsukiko..” Yen repeated the words. “It sounds great, what do you think, Tsukiko? Do you like your new name?” Yen asked the spirit.

Tsukiko purred, then laid down, slowly closing her eyes.

“Well, it isn’t a no right?” Eliron stood up and stretched, offering Yen a hand and helping her off the bed.

“Let’s get breakfast…”

<•••>

Tingg~!

There was a sound of a water bell ringing outside as the light drizzle accumulated on the roof, before gliding down and landing on the metal surface.

Inside the building, in a large office was a middle aged man dressed up in lofty clothing.

He had greying hair which was smoothed backward, with not a single strand sticking out, sharp black eyes laced with malice, and a perfectly trimmed beard that spoke of his discipline.

Clip!

Sitting on one of the couches in the office, was a woman in tight, black leather armour.

Her belt was lined with countless knives, and a scimitar was strapped to her waist, ready to be drawn at a moment’s notice.

But currently, she was busy clipping her nails, a bored expression on her face as she did.

Smoke slowly drifted into the air as the man took a long drag off his cigar, enjoying the peaceful atmosphere.

That was until the door creaked open.

They both turned their attention to the man who bowed as he walked in. “My lord, a letter from an unknown sender.”

’Could it be him?’ The man mused.

Marcus waved his hands at the messenger, prompting him to step forward.

The messenger nodded, approached his desk and placed the letter before turning to leave.

Once the door was shut, Marcus waited a few seconds, listening to his footsteps as he retreated.

When he could no longer hear the guard, he picked up the letter and opened it.

“Still as distrusting as ever dad…” the woman said dryly from where she sat.

Marcus smiled.

“Caution never failed me did it? Maybe if my foolish brother was half as wise as me, we would not be together planning his downfall.”

He placed the butt of the cigar on a metal pan, snuffing out the fire.

Doris shrugged. “Fair point. So, what does it say?”

Ambrose unfolded the letter and took his time to absorb every single information outlined in it, and then—

“HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!” He suddenly burst out in laughter, his hand placed over his face as his laugh slowly died down to a wheeze.

’So this is what you have been hiding from me, isn’t it Pieter?’ Marcus mused.

Doris raised a brow then sighed, moving her attention back to her nails.

He stood up and walked up to the fireplace and tossed the letter in, the livid flames reflecting in his dark pupils as he watched it burn.

’How amusing. Who would have known? The very wife you love so much, the pillar behind your success will be your own undoing…’

For years, Marcus had lived under the shadow of his brother. He was the rightful heir, the oldest and the one meant to inherit the barony.

But instead, his father had made the foolish mistake of appointing Pieter, an adopted son, someone who did not even have the Kingsbridge blood as Baron!!

What did Pieter have that he did not have? What skill set did he possess that Marcus did not?

His hand balled into a fist.

And as though to insult him even further, instead of forfeiting rulership, Pieter had the gall to appoint him as a mere minister.

Whoosh—Crash!

In a fit of rage, Marcus suddenly launched a ball of compressed mana towards his desk, shattering it to pieces.

Doris gave him a look, then sighed.

’Not anymore…’

’Never again!’

Marcus’ jaws were clenched, a vein pulsing below it.

The people he loved so much, his wife that was very dear to his heart… and even his heir.

Marcus would turn everything against Pieter, he would sit back and watch his kingdom burn, and then when it was all gone, he would arise and cease what was always rightfully his.

Knock Knock—!

His wooden door rang.

“Wait.” Marcus turned his attention to his broken table and closed his eyes.

Piece by piece, the splintered wood rejoined itself, the books, paper, tray as well as everything that had been on the table, slowly floated into the air, re-arranging themselves.

In the space of ten seconds, it was as though nothing had happened.

He gave his daughter a look and she let out a dragged sigh, grabbing the golden necklace on her neck.

“I guess I should look good for my bethrothed…” she said in a mocking tone.

Marcus adjusted his clothing, his face serious.

“Come in…”

The guard from earlier walked in and bowed respectfully. “My lord…”

“What is it?” Marcus spat. “Have I not told you not to interrupt me unless it is important?”

It was but a show, he already knew perfectly well that he had a visitor, he had sensed his mana from the moment he stepped into his house.

But he had to be careful when dealing with the guards here, after all, some were agents of his brother.

The man bowed deeper, his eyes filled with fear. “Y-you have a visitor, my lord.”

“Oh?” Marcus smiled.

’How punctual…’

“Bring him in.”

A few seconds later, a young man in golden armor stepped into the room.

His blonde hair was damp from the rain, as he had been doing guard duty for the past week, and parts of his golden armour was covered in dirt and grime.

“Ahahahah, speaking of the devil, Duke, how have you been!”

Marcus immediately got to his feet and fast-walked to the young man, pulling into a hug.

Duke smiled and hugged his uncle back. “Uncle, it has been a while…”

Marcus chuckled, a dark smile stretching from ear to ear.

“Indeed it has…”

He broke off from the hug and offered Duke a seat, a bright smile on his face.

“Do you want anything to drink? Beer, juice, tea, coffee? Anything you want, you know you will get it!”

Duke scratched his head nervously and smiled. “You pamper me too much, uncle.”

Marcus smiled. “You are my beloved brother’s son, of course I will pamper you.”

Then his voice dropped to a dangerous whisper, his eyes locked on the young man.

“And speaking of my brother… have you by any chance… considered my proposal?”

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