Kebrilio would have to say this was the very first time he had ever been waken up so early before. He was a little confused when his butler woke him, but his mind began to clear up at the mention of Hughesin’s arrival. Hughesin and his antics weren’t unknown to the older man. The two might be enemies on the court, but Kebrilio was acutely aware of Hughesin’s penchant of waking others from their beds. The man once even woke up the emperor from his slumber before.

Yet, that was something Hughesin did to peers his age. He never bothered to wake up an old man like Kebrilio before. What was in the water today for Hughesin to storm over to his abode?

A groan escaped from him as he sat upright. He had to get up and greet this uncommon visitor no matter how unwilling he was to leave his bed.

Back in the lounge, Hughesin was practically at the end of his patience.

“What in the world is taking that oaf so long?” He thought to himself.

His patience was rewarded at last when the creaking of the floorboards could be heard above. At first, Hughesin wasn’t sure if it was a servant that was walking around or Kebrilio. After all, it could be anyone walking on those floorboards, servants included.

It had to be Kebrilio, however. Floorboards creak, but the ones in his residence were made from an especially limber lumber. The wood, as he knew it, wasn’t very prone to creaking unless there was a substantial amount of weight being displaced across it. Given Kebrilio’s hefty stature, he was the only person that’d be able to produce such a sound.

As expected, Hughesin saw Kebrilio emerge from the second floor in the same robes he always wore.

Pleasantries were exchanged by the two as they were served by the butler. Marbled cutlets were placed in front of the two while Kebrilio motioned for his guest to eat.

The man had the barbaric habit of entertaining his guests while eating, something Hughesin found rather annoying. Together, Hughesin’s habit of waking others up early and Kebrilio’s dining habits were the talk of the capital.

Hughesin was also feeling a little under the weather at the breakfast-of-choice. Such a greasy and fatty slab of meat so early in the morning? Peckish he might’ve been earlier, but that was certainly not the case anymore looking at Kebrilio eat.

Thinking about Kebrilio’s eating habits made the duke think fondly back to how adorable his niece was when she ate. It pained him to admit it, but there was definitely a resemblance between the two. He definitely had to make sure to save Fantasia from this damnable bear, lest she find herself corrupted by him.

He steeled his nerves. It was time to do what he was here for. “Ser Kebrilio.” He faced the magus. “I find myself at your estate today regarding your niece.”

Kebrilio’s cutlery froze halfway to his mouth. He had indeed been curious on where Elric had gone to later that day. He and the Sovereignians had all been curious on Elric’s disappearance, some of them even debating if Elric ran away or not.

They spent a good portion of that day wondering how to best punish Elric when they caught him. A monitor would be needed then, so he would have to think twice before trying to run away again.

So Kebrilio was taken by this fellow? This wasn’t good. His mind was no longer on the food, but the man in front of him.

“So,” He took a long sip of his mug of coffee, “What about my niece?”.

Kebrilio couldn’t afford to underestimate the duke. The youngster was a veteran of both the court and the battlefield. In battle, specifically, Hughesin was lavished by the army as being the ‘Golden War God’ or Hughesin of the Sun, epithets fitting for his personality. It also matched what Somiret used to be called back in his prime, Somiret of the Night. The ‘Heroes of Sun and Moon’, the two were called. It was to Kebrilio’s utmost observation that the two were extremely difficult to deal with. He and the two political pillars crossed blades many times before on the political field, so Kebrilio was very wary of whatever Hughesin was ready to say.

This very same wariness ending up causing Kebrilio to nearly choke on his own spit when Hughesin stuck out his head and chest to say:

“I was blessed to have come across your niece Fantasia, Ser. Her beauty and grace has charmed my heart. I have come on this fine morning to ask for her hand in marriage.”

He stared nervously at Kebrilio—this wasn’t a reaction he expected. There should’ve been three different reactions:

One, Kebrilio says no to his request. But Hughesin didn’t care about such a case. He didn’t think Fantasia was Kebrilio’s niece, but even if she was, then asking Kebrilio for her hand was basically only a formality. Regardless, Hughesin was ready to continue with his original plan either way.

Two, Kebrilio says yes to his request. This was the most likely answer, in Hughesin’s opinion, given his and Somiret’s suspicions. If Fantasia was a Sovereignian spy, assassin, or some other informant, and Kebrilio was an accomplice, then being with Somiret or Hughesin was the entire point of her mission. Who would refuse such a golden opportunity?

Three, Kebrilio gives no answer and instead begins to question Hughesin’s intentions. If such a case were to happen, then that meant this entire thing was just a series of timely coincidences.

The third scenario was something Hughesin only thought about in passing, he didn’t actually think there was a chance of it coming true. But Kebrilio’s expression right now was clearly indicating such a timeline. His jaw was dropped so far from his upper lip that Hughesin humored seeing if he could see if the coffee mug would be able to pass through without touching the teeth.

“Pardon? I don’t believe I heard you correctly.” Kebrilio spoke at last.

Hughesin stood up this time to walk closer to Kebrilio. “I am in love with your niece. I wish to marry her.”

He was sure now that Kebrilio heard and fully understood what was being asked, but never did Hughesin expect for the man to suddenly bray with laughter. His hands clasped onto his belly as he roared with laughter

It was an act completely unbecoming from a matured and wise man. The epitome of uncultured behavior.

As jovial as Hughesin normally was, he wasn’t going to stand to let someone laugh at him. “Ser Kebrilio,” He spoke, indignant. “If you find my affections so laughable, then laugh! I’ll see myself out, good day.”

Like a gust of wind, Hughesin was quick to exit the room and out from the manor. But also like the wind, Hughesin was beset with the laughter of Kebrilio every step of the way. Even when he was stepping onto the coach back.

The hooves of a horse and the wheels of a coach clattered across the cobbled path. Inside the coach, Hughesin was busily trying to work out his confusion. Why was his proposal so amusing to Kebrilio? As much as he hated the man, he never thought Kebrilio the type to be distasteful or to make a fuss about nothing.

But he couldn’t find out what was so funny!

Thus, he was on the way to the only other person capable of giving counsel, Somiret. His mother turned out to be surprisingly capable of sage advice, but he needed the chancellor’s keen insight and strategies to help him navigate through this mysterious turnabout.

Only long after Hughesin left did Kebrilio’s laughter finally die down. Springing up from his seat, Kebrilio began a jog out the room. Such an interesting development surely had to be shared as soon as possible to the Sovereignians!

※※※

Flania, Charle, and Hamon stood together in the drawing room of their consulate. Called awake slightly earlier than expected, the three waited for a giddy Kebrilio to finish chuckling to himself. None of them had any guesses on what the man was here for. Judging by his laughter, it shouldn’t be anything too serious. The three, therefore, were feeling rather curious and light-spirited.

Not Kite or Jerry, though.

The two were currently giving Kebrilio the death glare. They hated the man for calling them awake so early; especially since they barely got any sleep last night due to their princess’ ‘discipline’. Having their precious sleep robbed from them left the two feeling murderous.

And the only one feeling impatient about Kebrilio’s laughter was the young prince. His patience was miraculously rewarded when Kebrilio began to catch his breath to speak.

“El…Elric, that boy has found his way to duke Hughesin’s estate. Du-snrt-Duke Hughesin has just…he’s only just informed me of his affections for…for Elric. The duke wishes to marry Elric…heehee…”