20 A Mouse and His Toy Cat.

"Oi, old man!"

"I've been looking for you- huh? Why're over there with that guy?"

Lord Delinquent, or Zephyr as I should call him, was one of the first of the nobles to walk back into the throne room- he looked like he was looking for someone; and that someone just so happened to be Belial who had his hand on my shoulder.

"Ah, Zephyr- why, I was just giving this young man some good advice." Well, he wasn't lying- he was giving advice, but I'm not so sure I would call it 'good'.

"Ah? Yeah, sure, fine gramps- but you do know he's the reason why ah-" He shot a glimpse at Flaur, but she was purposely ignoring him- inciting him to speak up a little louder in understandable youthful angst.

"-that Flaur ain't marryin' me!" He yelled across the throne room.

Belial gave a feigned 'oh really?' kind of look to Zephyr as he let go of my shoulder. But before he went, he gave me one last sly look as he began walking towards Zephyr- this time with a strange limp that he hadn't shown before.

"C'mon hurry up over here, did you take your medicine earlier today?"

"Mmm, yes yes- don't you worry about me Zephyr, let's just get comfortable as the others come inside."

The two meet up at the middle-back of the throne room's carpet, where Belial himself was standing before the break. From there, he was playing up a helpless, elderly man act to Zephyr.

I'm guessing he wasn't lying- Zephyr was his grandson.

But I would've never guessed it if he hadn't called Belial out like that as he did- I don't know how the hell that old fox could've let his grandson end up like that with the way he had acted with me earlier.

Other nobles began to slowly pour into the throne room one by one, until a torrent of larger groups came in last within the droves. I can imagine this kind of this is a huge networking opportunity for a lot of the younger Demons in the crowd.

And just like that, the break was now over with the majority of the Demon's now back inside the throne room.

...

// Just a minute before Zephyr had entered the room //

"What the hell do you mean I should become the next Royal Assistant??" I blurted out to the very confident looking Belial.

"C'mon, Flaur, help me with this??" I motioned to Flaur, but she said nothing- rather, she seemed a little out of it herself at the moment.

"Wuhhh? Uhhh- I dunno, hehe." She giggled dumbly as she sat on the throne, cookie crumbs littered all over her black short skirt. Levii dropped the platter she's been holding in shock of how Flaur had become.

"It looks like it has taken effect- splendid!"

"Huh!?"

I grabbed him by his collar- it surprised him as it caught him completely off guard; but he didn't look threatened in even the slightest.

"Did you poison her you bastard!?"

"Oh, great moon-above no, Sir Kai." He said as I held him by the scruff of his collar- he looked unfazed by it.

"Rather- this is for her Majesty's best interest; I've simply made her 'more' agreeable, that is all."

"How does making her like this help us with anything, Belial!?"

The old demon kept a thin smile as he gently placed a hand onto the arm I was using to hold him by his collar.

"Sir Kai- albeit you may have achieved a surprisingly friendly relationship with little Flaur in such a short time- to the point of being able to completely disregard her title as her Majesty without repercussion." He gently squeezed my arm.

It- it hurts...? Is this my limit without [Moon God's Might]!?

"That does not apply to me- so, please, do continue to call me by Lord Belial- not simply, Belial."

I let go of his collar as he continued to apply pressure onto my arm until I did- his amicable smile never changing for a moment.

"Now- as we're low on time before the others arrive, I will try my best to inform you of my plan as quickly as I can." He pulled me in by my shoulders.

"It all begins with my grandson..."

...

"Welcome... welcome, welcome- uhhh, back!" Flaur greeted the now returned Nobles with her loopy state; I took position to her right side, Levii was still where she was before the break had begun.

The nobles looked confused by Flaur's new strange attitude.

"Y-Your Majesty? Are you alright?" One of the numerous nobles asked.

"Yes- yes, yes; I.... am quite good!" She looked like she was on the verge of dozing off.

"No- no need to worry- for my, my- uhm..." Flaur looked to where I was standing, she blinked slowly at me as she studied my face; a slow smile crept up her face.

"Suitor! Yes, yes- him, he will do... will speak... maybe, yes..." She reclined her head back onto her throne-

"I... am going to nap." She gave an unceremoniously loud yawn as she closed her eyes; now effectively fast asleep.

Oh boy, she's a drooler.

"Absurd!"

"What has her Majesty befallen to!"

The nobles were understandably pretty freaked out by Flaur's sudden change within a thirty-minute window. Even Barbas from the crowd looked a little panicked by Flaur's display.

I guess it's go-time- it's lining up to how he had predicted it so far.

"Dear Lords and Lady's- the prestigious Lesser Keys!" I spoke from where I stood- I'm getting a sense of déjà vu.

"Her Majesty- my- my, err, 'Beloved' has been feeling quite tired as of late- please forgive her for her unprompted state!"

"As her Grace has been working tirelessly to reward the many of you for your hard work and undying patronage to the kingdom's efforts at whole!" I shot a glance at Belial, his face looked dopey from his feigned act- but his murky eyes piercing at me suggested otherwise.

I began to walk forward- whatever was this body's version of sweat was- I could feel it pour on my now drenched back. This was nerve-wracking!

"Why- it should be known that for the many of you, your great many of acts have not gone unacknowledged!"

The nobles began to redirect their attention from the napping Flaur to me.

"What are you talking about?"

"Even if you are her Grace's suitor, you have no right to address us so casually!"

"Explain yourself!"

Looks like I have to push a bit more- otherwise I can't get 'him' to do his 'part'.

"Please- please, do not be alarmed."

"As her Majesty's SOLE SUITOR, and most BELOVED man, I believe that I can properly explain myself and these extenuating circumstances- unlike any other UNPREFERRED SUITOR CANDIDATE that she may have ever had the displeasure to have known or met could!"

I could see it- the twitch of a sole boy's eyebrow.

"Why, I believe her Majesty ADORES and TRUSTS me so much- I believe she may as well make me her CONSORT by the end of this very day!"

Ughhhhhhhhhh.

This is not how I wanted my first confession to play out like.

I know it's all fake- but c'mon!

I wanted to confess my feelings to a pure of heart, perfect, and all-together wonderful (not Flaur) girl for my first time!

All those (lonely) nights from back then in my old life- fantasizing the perfect maiden; gone! And no- me practicing with my favorite visual novel's route waifu doesn't count; 2D is beyond mortal convention!

The nobles from the crowd at first looked quite confused as to why I was emphasizing my merits to them; and so brazenly at that. But oddly enough- slowly but surely, some began to clap.

Is it because of the bravado I've shown for being such a weird tool? Or are they misinterpreting my speech as some kind of comedy act; that being, where was the confetti? Whatever it really was- it was enough to set the keg on fire.

"HEY! ASSHOLE!"

And it was about to explode.

...

"My grandson, Lord Zephyr, has been pining to court little Flaur ever since their tender youth spent together."

Belial explained to me the backstory about his grandson, who to my surprise, was the brash blue-haired demon from earlier that had asked for Flaur's hand in marriage and failed. I guess I should've taken the hint with his horns being similar to Belial's- but that's beside the point.

"He is a good child, but in my honest opinion- far too immature and selfish for his own standing." Belial scowled as he recalled some unfortunate memories of the boy.

"But even so- he is of my proud house, Trismegistus- and in him runs a pure pedigree that would allow him to become a proper suitor to Flaur without fail; competition being out of the question."

"Zephy- Zephoo... waHaha!" Flaur babbled, Levii was next to her, gently caressing her wobbling head.

"But how does that explain him just giving up with me randomly appearing then!?"

"Because you are a surprise random element to him Sir Kai- to him, you could likely hail from a powerful house he himself does not know of; that entirely being blame to his severe lack of attention to formal studies and any kind of necessary socializing with other young nobles of his age." Belial rubbed the nose of his bridge heavily; his face seemed to sag a lot more when talking about Zephyr.

Belial rose one finger up to emphasize what he was going to say next.

"I want you to rile him into anger- to cause him to challenge your claim as little Flaur's suitor."

"Huh? Why would you want me to make an enemy of your own grandson! Isn't that going too far!?"

"You may think that Sir Kai, but I have my private reasons for doing so." He tapped his finger onto my chest.

"Now- when the Lesser Keys re-enter the throne room from their break... repeat this to them as exactly as I am going to tell you now..."

He whispered into my ear- I couldn't help but let a wicked smile escape my lips from the sheer evil ingenuity of it all, word for word.

"Do you really believe that'll work? What if it doesn't, Lord Belial?"

"Sir Kai- the Trismegistus name is of certainty-" I could see a familiar uniform peek from view coming in through the throne room behind Belial; our time was now up.

"-and not something as tedious as mere 'belief'."

...

Everyone, stunned from the sudden outburst coming from the young noble, Zephyr, who was now barreling towards me from where he had left Belial, were left in a befuddled standstill as they watched the coming clash between the young man and the slightly older, but still young man (me).

"I'm TALKING to YOU, JERKOFF!" Ough, careful there, you'll pop a blood vessel!

I debated whether or not to turn on [Moon God's Might], but I opted not to- if he punches me through a wall, fine; I'll likely live. But if he punches me and he loses an arm or worse...- then that would DEFINITELY not be the desired outcome Belial would have planned for.

"Ahh- if it isn't my dear fellow FORMER suitor to her Majesty, Lord Zephyr!" If I wasn't such an ugly wimp in my last life, I think I would've done well for myself as an actor.

Belial told me to get him really angry for the second 'phase', but I feel like I'm still missing something from getting him 'there'.

That je-ne-sais-quoi,... butthurt?

"WHY'RE YOU ACTING LIKE THIS TO ME SHITHEAD!?" He was now standing a few yards away from me- many of the Nobles were onlooking the scene with a funny kind of bemusement.

But the war-faring looking types like Barbas all had a kind of similar look; they all had on their best betting-man's smiles.

"Whatever do you mean Lord Zephyr, I am merely stating facts."

He took a few more angry steps- from his body, I could see a kind of blue-lightning zap in and out sporadically.

He was grinding his teeth down to a pulp.

"I don't know.... I don't fucking know what Flaur is thinking- thinking of wanting some ASSHOLE like you to be her- her, her- HER, HER--!!!." His eyes, unlike his grandfather's, did have irises. But these irises were like bolts of blue lightning- they fizzled erratically with the sheer hatred that they were channeling into my face.

He lunged at me- his speed roaring like a thunderclap- from where he had stood, the carpet had burned to a blackened singe.

I braced myself for an impact that never came.

"Enough."

As I opened my eyes, I found a log of a red arm in between my face and Zephyr's outstretched arms ready to aim in for the kill.

Barbas was looking down at the surprised Zephyr, he had his hand firmly grasped within his massive hand.

"I enjoy bloodshed just as much as any noble worth their salt in this throne room- young Lord." He was talking to Zephyr, not me.

"But, if you we're to attack Queen Goetia's Suitor so brazenly like such- I believe that would be on grounds of the Trismegistus Family declaring war; would it not?"

Barbas looked away from the smoldering Zephyr to me, he had on a sickening, gleeful smile.

"And for you, nameless Young Lord." His eyes squinted sinisterly.

"I do believe you should not make such a brash effort to make enemies so soon into your debut." Barbas let go of Zephyr's hand, he stepped back a couple of feet now being freed.

"Lord Barbas, I have every right to knock this bastard's head off after he had insulted me in such a manner!" Wow, that's the most Zephyr has tried to sound somewhat formal- I guess even he respects, or should I say fears, Barbas enough to do so.

"Now now, young Lord Zephyr." Barbas looked at his now singed hand.

"If you want to prove a point- there is a better way of doing so."

The nobles began to mutter a strange word- a surge of excitement rippled among them like a growing riptide.

"Sanguidicium!"

"Sanguidicium!"

"Sanguidicium!"

Over and over again did they repeat that odd word- the odd word that Belial had told me about in his instructions but didn't exactly tell me what it actually meant.

"Sanguidicium?" I repeated- it caught Barbas' ear.

"So- you accept already. How bold of the defending party!" Accept what!? I was just asking a question!

I looked around the room, trying to find Belial- but the excited crowd of nobles were moving around too much for me to find him amongst them.

He told me that I should accept it once it was prompted, and then I'd be 'freed'- but with how it's starting to look like, I'm getting some serious second thoughts!

"..." Zephyr looked at me- he had on a conflicted face.

He stared off at Flaur who was happily sleeping on her throne and looked back at me; anger began to resurface on his face.

"Sang-..."He closed his eyes for a moment, he was hesitating.

But he went all in for it anyway; conviction egging him on.

"SANGUIDICIUM!"

From his announcement of the mystery word, the nobles roared into a fanatical cheer- fancy hats were being thrown into the air.

But Zephyr ignored this as he began to slowly walk away from Barbas and me, him disappearing into the crowd of nobles with his blue lightning arcing his every step.

Barbas looked down at me and began to speak once more.

From the face he was giving; he likely won his bet.

"Both parties have consented- it has been quite a few decades since a good trial by combat has been spurred by some boisterous youth!" He loudly belly laughed into the air, it made the floor under us to rumble.

Wait- TRIAL BY COMBAT!? BELIAAAAAAAL!!!

"I believe with that- and with Queen Goetia being indisposed as she is now- the Lesser Keys Court has been adjourned in turn for a sanctioned blood sport between young Lord Zephyr, and you- err...?" I guess I can't escape this rapid flow of events now, can I? Guess I'll let them know my name now than deal with the humiliation later; maybe it'll cool off my now very angry head.

"It is Kai, Kai..." I looked at Levii- she was too busy dealing with Flaur's pinched neck from her poor sleeping angle on the throne to notice what I was going to say next.

"-Tieldich."

Barbas' joyous mood turned a deep shade of sour as he heard my last name- his mouth curved into a fearsome scowl.

"What an ominous name you have there, young Lord." He began to walk away to the crowd- but before he had completely rejoined the leaving nobles, he had one more thing to say.

"As parting advice from one warmonger to another- I ask you-"

"Do not tell others of your house's name; be it you wish to welcome disaster." And like that, his massive frame entered the sea of Demons seamlessly as they left the throne room; all for one elderly figure who was left in the alone in the middle.

"Bravo! Bravo!" The elderly Demon, being Belial, was clapping with joy to me- his mustache danced happily on his face with his glee.

"That went wonderfully- what a praiseworthy performance you gave Sir Kai!" His limp being gone along with his geriatric old man act, he strutted to me with the vigor he had shown me from before Zephyr had shown up.

I was unbelievably pissed- I was expecting some kind of bullshit to be thrown onto my lap by this old schemer- but this was ridiculous!

"I have to fight your grandson now!? I never WANTED this!" Yes, I know that "I would trade this for a tournament arc just to lose in the final round to you" is what I did say earlier then- but hey, don't we all say silly things in the heat of the moment? I think I deserve some slack here.

Belial chuckled heartily as he wiped away a tear from his cheek.

"Oh- oh to see that brat squirm, what a wonderful gift indeed!" Does everyone in this world have serious family issues or something!?

Belial cleared his throat as he finally calmed down- his face straightened out.

"To be 'freed' of your circumstances, you must duel my grandson in trial of both wits and combat- a ritual called the 'Sanguidicium'; a tradition that spans millennia, fabled to have been invented by an advent between an incarnation of Ahriman and the Legendary Dwarven King Hreidmarr." Oi, don't just ignore me and dump exposition instead!

"With the adjournment of the Lesser Key's Court, the Sanguidicium will traditionally begin within seven moon-cycles of the declaration given" Belial began to slowly walk to the sleeping Flaur; Levii looked at him warily.

"Do not fret my dear, I am simply going to clean up after my own mess." He rummaged around for something from within his coat and from it, he brought out a small clear vial of mysterious liquid.

Even with Levii's protests, he pressed on forward and brought the small vial under Flaur's nose- he took of its tiny cork and held it there for a brief moment.

And from that- he closed it once again and put it back into his coat- satisfied with whatever he managed with this goal.

"What was that?"

"Modified liquid smelling salts- it should remove any trace amounts of the drug I had administered to her through the confections I had provided." He stepped away from the throne and walked back to me- his smile was back to having a smile.

"Now, Sir Kai- once little Flaur awakes, tell her what had occurred in the court, and she will inform you of how to prepare yourself for the upcoming Sanguidicium within seven-moon cycles from now." Belial buttoned up his coat, he was preparing to leave.

"But- but this doesn't tell me how I'll get out of being Flaur's suitor!"

Belial gave me a perplexed look.

"When did I ever tell you I would solve 'that' specific predicament of yours?" Belial gave a curt smile; he began to walk away to the end of the throne room.

"WAIT! WHAT DO YOU MEAN!? YOU TOLD ME YOU WOULD SOLVE MY PROBLEM!!!"

"Why- I did didn't I?" He turned his head around to me, he had one brow up in question.

"I have procured you a method to make a name for yourself- as you have no family or backing to protect yourself from the other nobles making attempts on your life." He stopped just one foot short from leaving out of the double gates.

"I never said I would help solve your predicament of removing your status of little Flaur's suitor- as well it shames me to admit, that is something beyond my capabilities; if that is all, then I bid thee farewell you two- we will meet once again at the Sanguidicium!" He waved cheerfully as he finally disappeared from the throne room- the massive doors closing behind him with a resounding, creaking thud.

I... I couldn't believe it.

"Milord!"

I dropped to my knees- my legs felt weak, way, way too weak. Everything was catching up to me- I guess I DO produce adrenaline.

"I'm fine Levii... yep, I'm juuuust fine." I waved off Levii who had rushed up to me as I had suddenly fell to the floor.

"Are you sure Milord? I heard everything, and well- I don't believe the method Lord Belial had used was fair to you." She gave her best sympathetic frown she could in hopes to cheer me up; but despite even that, it didn't do much to help.

"Yeah... yeah, *ahem*- Uh, could you please look after Flaur over there? I think she's starting to wake up now."

"Oh! You're right- she's stirring, she's coming back to her senses!" Levii rushed back to Flaur who was waking from her forced sleep- her eyes fluttering slowly open.

But I didn't bother to look back as she did wake up- I was just caught up in my afterglow of complete and utter defeat.

I was soundly outplayed by that scheming, old fart.

And that was that.

///