17 C17 - Island Retreat

After the events of the night, I was asleep in the new nurses' arms before I was taken to the room. The next morning, I was awakened by Mona. As she looked down at me with a conflicted expression, I couldn't help but coo and reach for her. I could see her face trying to fight a smile as if she didn't think it was appropriate for the situation.

*Ding*

By charming Mona, your charisma has increased by 1!

Huh, in the stress of yesterday, I had nearly forgotten about the system. 

Mona whispered to me, "It must be nice to have no idea what's going on; knowing how close you came to death." As she spoke, she took an amber vial out of her bosom. I was suddenly gripped with fear but it vanished as she opened the vial and poured it on the ground. "We won't ever let anything happen to you, young master." A tear fell from her eye and she continued, "Please have mercy on my son, he's not used to serving the nobility." Gone was the aggressive, terse Mona from the fall. The nice Mona had returned. She was more gentle and caring than she was before. She got me ready for the day as we heard the second bell of the day ring out through the valley below. If I recall, the ducal couple were going to leave a bit after sunrise, or second bell, but before the third bell which was halfway between sunrise and lunch.

We descended the stairs to the sitting room we had been in. Mona's son, Fazio, was already there. Getting a better look at him, he had the tanned skin common to the region. But his hair was a lighter brown than normal. Duke Calo's, for example, had almost black hair. He was handsome and you could tell he would grow up to have no issues in the romance department. He was dressed in black tailed suit like Selahe. Before he noticed us, he was fidgeting with the suit, clearly uncomfortable. Mona made a coughing sound to alert him. Fazio's back straightened out so fast I was half expecting to see a drill sergeant from my previous life calling him to attention. He paused for a moment, trying to remember what he had been hastily taught.

He quickly came over and knelt on one knee, saying, "Good morning, my Lord." I cooed at him. Mona lowered me down to his height. I touched and gently slapped his face, hoping that it would convey my forgiveness. I looked around the rest of the room to notice Selahe, and the ducal couple standing, looking with smiles. Even the stoic Selahe had a grin in his goatman eyes.

The Duke nodded to his wife and she stepped forward to say, "It has been decided. You two will be soul bound to our son. You won't be executed, if you agree to this fair exchange."

Mona nodded immediately but Fazio paused for a moment and said, "I agree to the procedure, but not to the method of getting my agreement." I nearly gasped that I had said a similar line in my sentencing hearing. I managed to hold it in and maintain my normal-baby facade. Mona looked reproachfully at her son but the Duke waved it off.

The Duke added, "Don't worry, Mona. The sting is still fresh. If you prove yourselves to be valuable to my son. He might release you from the binding at a later date."

"Not likely," Fazio muttered for only us two to hear. Remaining silent, Mona glared at him.

"This way." The Duchess motioned everyone. We navigated the villa to a stairway leading down. I was starting to get cult vibes; I was half expecting a room full of robbed figures with masks on. However, it was empty, to my great relief. Duchess Calo went to the center of the room, to her right was a high chair with a small seat.

She said, "Place my son here." Mona did as she asked. I was seated with the Duchess to the right of me. She continued, "Please kneel in front of him. We had to improvise this setup due to the circumstances." The two knelt before me. I was conflicted about this soul binding. Though, like my fantasy-father said, I could release them at a later date. It was weird to think of having my own vassals to serve me. Then again, Mona had been serving most, if not all, my needs for over a season now.

Mona looked happy to have escaped execution, looking at me with loving eyes. If the situation was different, I wouldn't have minded her as my fantasy world mother. Duchess Calo was nice but she was rather intense sometimes. Fazio, however, looked like he had not escaped execution. His head hung low and there were tears in his eyes. He looked at me with pleading eyes and I just looked back at him. What do you want from me dude? I'm a foobing baby! My irritation at his expression vanished as I realized I was going to witness a proper spell!

Duchess Calo's voice took on a commanding tone, "Mona, daughter of Cupido, do you swear to serve Damiano Calo? To protect him before all others? To ensure his success in all things? To obey him even if he's wrong?"

Mona's bright happy face had faded into a sad smile and said, "I swear."

Duchess Calo's head turned to Fazio and said, even louder and more intense, "Fazio, son of Gordiano, do you swear to serve Damiano Calo? To protect him before all others? To ensure his success in all things? To obey him even if he's wrong?"

Fazio's face was crying full tears as he managed to squeak out, "I swear."

Duchess Calo announced to all, "It has been sworn. I will now bind your souls together. Should Damiano Calo die you will share his fate." Wait, if I die they die?! Uh, fantasy father, this option is just as intense as your wife!

I knew it was coming so I tried to make as much sense of the spell as I could. She gathered quite a bit of her mana between the pair and me on my stool. The mana condensed into two distinct clumps. Dual casting! It is possible! I could feel the change in the clumps as their ratios were set. Unfortunately, because my mana sense was still only at a basic level I couldn't tell the details. If I had to guess it was a mixture of void, life and space. I felt the spell activate and the clumps turned into a tiny, almost imperceptible mana thread from my heart to theirs. I knew if my heart stopped, theirs would as well.

You have obtained 2 pets!

What?! System, people aren't pets!

Congratulations! By witnessing a powerful spell your understanding of magic has increased!

Magic Basics: Rank 3 > Rank 4.

Mana Sense: Rank 3 > Rank 4.

Sweet! Despite the awkwardness I was jazzed about ranking up my skills.

The Duke said, "Now that we're done. Let's go back upstairs to discuss what happens now before we return to Calo." Wait, the city was also called Calo?! How unimaginative is that?!