In the deafening silence that accompanies Leomi's dismissal of Ms Conner, I hear approaching footsteps. The old Templar is slowly headed over from the Temple and progressing through the crowd with a look of dignity.

The people relax as they move out of his way. He represents the Emperor, Nobles can't just do whatever they want when a Templar is present. Even a titled King or Queen cannot simply dismiss a simple temple guard who wishes to arbiter a dispute.

“The Lake teaches to forgive if one atones and remains true to the Due.” He speaks up, preaching and obliquely reprimanding Leomi. “The Emperor, First Chosen among the Lake's servants, has walked the centuries and shielded us from doom.”

“May the Lake's flames burn those who threaten Him and the Empire that protects us!” A third or more of the crowd cheers with enthusiasm, another third mutter the words, while the rest keep quiet.

“Lady Countess Lance.” The old Templar greets without bowing.

The old man proudly raises his chest as he advances to the front of the crowd. Ms Conner swiftly retreats, looking relieved. Leomi squint her eyes, she isn't frowning but I know her well enough to be able to tell that she feels challenged.

Yet, instead of replying, she throws me a questioning look. I shrug in response, telling her that I don't have an opinion. She smiles a little and passes her hand around my shoulder to pull me right next to her. The old temple guard's face distorts, he is unmistakably offended.

“While these villagers need not bow, it is courtesy on my part that I have not extended to you, Templar.” Leomi utters flatly. “You hold an official position under Master Amand in this village.”

“I serve the Emperor.” The Templar grunts with a grimace.

“It is the reason why you need only bow, and not kneel, for, in the absence of a Baron in charge of these lands, I am the Ruler.” Leomi easily responds. “It would have been proper for you to offer your respects first so that you could inform these good people in my name that they need not do so.”

A wave of relief shakes the crowd as they hear themselves praised. It isn't the compliment but the underlying meaning that Leomi has no intention to take revenge for the insults or for the late Baron's scheme against my family. I keep observing, feeling a slight itch to break the solemn mood.

“It would be my honor to show the respect if not for this girl by your side, she is half a criminal if not a true one.” He says in response, looking anything but honored.

Silver threads flicker in Leomi's right hand as it trembles and nears her waist. Yet, Leomi came unarmed this morning so her fingers find no sword handle to grasp. I chuckle and lock gazes with the Templar, showing that the old man's glare means naught to me.

“Jessica lost her arm and much more than that in service to the Izla. The role she played ensured that the Izla was able to even negotiate a surrender instead of being conquered through rivers of blood. The sword by your side itself shows that you hid while she fought.” Leomi barks out in a harsh tone. “Now bow and show the respect due to the Nobility that our great Emperor trusts to rule his realm.”

Her choice to use the word 'due' is anything but a coincidence. The old Templar's eyes widen as his face twists in fury. He chokes a little as he seeks to find the words to deny the accusation.

Yet, he doesn't say anything. The crowd itself splits and people don't look straight at him, telling me that he indeed hid from the Rykz, more than likely with their help. I smirk and lift my hand to push Leomi's off my shoulder.

“I wouldn't want to receive his bow if he offered it willingly.” I declare while stepping to the side.

“Insolence!” The Templar exclaims, his face turning bright red. He even reaches out to his sword but pauses when Frank and Hale do the same. “You Hospitaliers wish to interfere?!”

“Ms Jessica broke no law, old man.” Hale responds with disdain, causing Frank to make a grimace.

“I represent the Emperor on this land!” The Templar blows up.

“You do not.” Leomi denies with a calm voice. “Had you received His commands or been asked to arbiter a dispute, perhaps, but otherwise you are a guardian. It is tradition to show respect to you, not a law like the bow you must extend to me. You are not a titled Noble, you were elevated to defend His Temple and guide the people to convey their Due. Outside of your duties, what say have you?” Leomi asks rhetorically.

“I... I...” The old Templar stutters. “Thou art corrupted!” He spits out, drops of saliva flying out of his mouth. “People speak of your dealings with Elizabeth Vil who murdered our Lord! It is even said you have shared a bed with that cursed existence who serves the black plague! Another woman, and out of wedlock no less!”

I really wish people would stop commenting in public about what others chose to do in private. Still, I hold my tongue because speaking here could easily attract attention and the last thing I need is for people to suspect that I am E.Vil. Shit. I bite my tongue, suppressing the mad giggle rising from my stomach.

“Which of our Emperor's sacred decreed prevents women from sharing each other's company? Which enforces marriage?” Leomi asks with an emotionless voice.

“The Lake...” The old Templar starts but stops himself, likely realizing a bit late that his beliefs are widespread but far from unanimous and aren't officially upheld.

“None do.” Leomi says with a dark look on her face. “Thrice you have refused to bow. I will leave to you the choice to either report your transgression of Caeviel's Law to Master Amand in person or I will do so myself.”

“You!” He explodes, seizing his silver lion sword's handle.

“Challenge me to a duel and I will slay you where you stand.” Leomi utters flatly, without even a hint of fear despite her lack of a weapon.

The old Templar throws a look around, finding a crowd that avoids his eyes. His red face turns almost violet from humiliation. He half-draws his sword, apparently deciding that he would rather fight and die than bend the spine.

Leomi extends her hand out towards Frank who draws his sword, holding the blade in his hands to present the handle to her. The Templar throws me a look filled with hatred but he doesn't say anything. He straightens his old back and takes a step forward out of the crowd to face Lance.

“Baron Buton made the deplorable choice to flee in front of evil, I will not!” He exclaims with conviction.

“Enough.” I speak up in a low voice. “You need not bow or die.” I tell the Templar as I reach out and set my hand on Leomi's forearm.

She lets go of the sword's handle as she throws me a glance. She takes a deep breath before sighing and crossing her arms. The crowd makes wide eyes at witnessing me take charge of the situation over a Countess.

It annoys me because the power I hold over the situation is clearly derived from Leomi's. Without her, I might not even have speaking rights unless I took it by force.

Either way, her choice to back down without hesitating tells me that she's serious about her ideals of equality. Otherwise, she would care about the disrespect shown to her. I would able to tell if her pride was hurt.

Frank and Hale are staring at me with baffled expressions, equal if not superior to those of the villagers because they know more about their Commander Lance and the true authority she yields.

The old Templar, on the other hand, is stiff with surprise at seeing the Countess turn passive and silent at my intervention. Yet, instead of calming down, he seems to grow even more agitated and offended.

“This is outrageous! She is flouting Caeviel's law and Nobility's standing! What right does she have to do so when you threaten me when I merely forget to bow?!” The Templar explodes with a look of disbelief.

“I despise you but at least you have a spine and remain true to your screwed up beliefs.” I chuckle at the man. “I have no right to do anything, not by Caeviel's law at least.”

“If I chose to allow it, then there is no crime.” Leomi adds hurriedly, throwing me a look of warning.

I would be in trouble if there were Nobles of a rank equal to hers here, or if it were reported to the Council, maybe. At least, it would cause problems and make it difficult for Cecil and Leomi to deal with other more important issues.

I might have pushed it if I really wanted to destroy Nobility here but there is no point to that. The fall of Nobles here would only add to Leomi's enemies. My first move should be wide enough to encompass a few Duchies at least, when Nobility's fall spreads wide, the Izla will naturally follow.

The Templar steps forward but lowers his sword, apparently set on continuing this discussion while ignoring my intervention. I sidestep between him and Leomi while assembling lion's steps and strikes.

“Back down if you have no right to speak!” The Templar orders me.

“I'm intervening by right of power.” I tell him while raising my hand and falling in a defensive stance. If I didn't say this, it wouldn't be long before he would accuse Leomi of yielding to entertain her mistress, likely adding some nonsense about how wrong it is for us to be who we are. “Lance is backing down because she is here on my request, not to deal with an insignificant temple guard who doesn't even rise to his Order's standards.”

“...” The old man freezes. I definitely hit a weak point there.

“Now, either you challenge me to a duel and I'll stop at first blood or you back down.” I utter flatly, resting my hand on my knife's handle. I'll have to keep my flow consumption low to maintain the constructs on my heart.

“He can't.” Leomi whispers. “You're low born, it would lose him his position among the Order if he did, regardless of reason or result.”

“Can I challenge him?” I ask.

“No.” Leomi replies awkwardly. “Peasants don't have the right to ask for a duel, a soldier may if they have a justification and their liege's permission.”

“Do I count as a soldier?” I question.

“Not unless you swear allegiance to me. Joining Hospitaliers wouldn't solve it either. Grace and I set strict rules, I can receive a demand for a duel but not ask for one if it's personal. Only Justiciers and high ranking officers can make the call, and not without justification after having failed to solve the issue peacefully.” Leomi murmurs.

“Hm.” I frown, looking at the old Templar who looks stuck.

It seems like the only way to obtain a duel as a low born is by thoroughly provoking the opponent, and even then it would be risky because a sore loser might resort to condemning the winner anyway if they're a peasant.

“I did not come here to fight.” The old temple guard suddenly declares, pushing his sword so into its sheath. “The Emperor, in his benevolence, does not wish for bloodshed.”

He looks a bit afraid but I think that what got to him is the possibility that he'll lose of his position in the Order. Tough luck, if I recall correctly, not even Leomi has the power to stop Frank and Hale from reporting this to Grace, who is likely to then hand the report to Amand.

“I only came to put an end to this disturbance which is hindering our sacred duty to pay the Due. As thus, I will return to the Temple and await each of you.” The old man declares.

He turns around and stomps away, his fists closed and shaking. I shrug and throw a look around to the crowd. Many turn their heads away, in fact, the only two who don't divert their eyes are Ms Conner and Edric.

I kind of like that boy, he's smart and didn't seem like he despised the Rykz. Too bad he's a Miller and won't leave the village since his future is set. Boy, hah, he's five or six years older than I am.

“Does this happen a lot?” I ask Leomi as the crowd hurriedly scatters. This was too much for these villagers to handle, they want their simple lives to remain as such.

“Templars only duel to resolve conflicts as a last resort, but it does happen. Usually, a Templar Master or an Exemplar would be dispatched to curtail a titled Noble who grows out of control or broke the Emperor's law.” Leomi explains. “Those usually run away but they never last long.”

“Well, I'm going to pay the Due, mind giving me a portion?” I ask.

“Sure.” Leomi splits flow into a stream that she directs at me.

I accept the energy and we head out together to the Temple, a few dozen meters behind the Templar. I really don't want to give the Emperor more energy to throw at Suxen for whatever he's doing but one less portion isn't going to do anything and it might cost my brother if I don't.

Although, it's unlikely people will cause Mersey trouble now. The old Templar could be a concern but I really don't want to use Leomi to deal with him. The best outcome would be for Master Amand to remove him.

We head down the tunnel in silence, voices carry far in here. The old man receives my Due with a blank look, skipping even the shortened ceremony he stuck to with me to shorten the time he had to see me.

We then head back up. With the villagers and the Templar dealt with, I turn my attention to Leomi, confirming that her light gait isn't simply a passing impression since she's held it for a while.

“Why are you so happy?” I ask.

“Am I?” Leomi responds.

“You look like you're walking on air, inside a tunnel.” I tell her with a chuckle.

“...I'm relieved to find that you truly tricked me as Elizabeth.” She tells me after thinking for a while. “Your brute act convinced me little by little, but you really were camouflaging the bright mind and empathy I fell for.”

“Did I have those things?” I question.

“You let that old fool off when you could have crushed him with reason.” Leomi replies.

“I'm not as strong as I was.” I tell her.

“I doubt a veteran could match your experience in battle, but that's not what I meant. You were listening and determined he wasn't a hypocrite. You thought things through by evaluating him and the situation instead of taking revenge, which is far from the image Elizabeth gave. It was very Jessica of you.” Leomi grins.

“The irreverence included, I assume.” I note.

“Hm. Elizabeth was both worse and better in that field. She was so wild that I couldn't help but want to tame her.” Leomi sighs. “For her own good at times, she seemed to hurt herself more than her enemies.”

“Elizabeth yet lives, kitten, best be careful with these boasts lest I bend you over a table and see who will tame who.” The harsh, almost flirtatious, words leave my mouth by themselves.

I blush at the implication that calls to the night in the tent. I catch Leomi looking away from the corner of my eyes. I shift slightly and find that she's turned red as well, yet there is a fire in her gaze that tells me the challenge didn't go unheard.

A family of farmers that live on the other side of the village from me appears in front of us so we hold our tongues while they pass. I only know them from sight so I merely salute them with a nod that they hurriedly return with short bows for Leomi.

No matter how famous and admired Leomi is, it is ingrained into peasantry that Nobles are to be feared and obeyed. It matters not that she told them not to bow, they fear accepting her graciousness out of deeply ingrained habitual servitude. I restrain a scoff because I wasn't much better.

“It wasn't an act, Leomi. Elizabeth is as much me as I am her.” I whisper to Leomi once we're past.

“I understand, she's part of you.” She quickly replies.

“You don't. Even I don't really and we're her.” I tell her. “It's fine. At least she could pass for a Lady as a peasant, which is apparently a lot easier than the other way around.” I sarcastically tease.

“I really didn't know it would be that obvious.” Leomi tells me with a bit of a panicked look. Ah, she thinks I suspect she was caught on purpose.

“It's okay. I trust you.” I reassure her. “And you would have been smarter about it if that was your goal, unless you're trying to double bluff me but you would determine it's too risky to do that because it would sow distrust whether you fool me or not.”

“Please don't analyze us like that.” Leomi grunts with a pained expression. “It was a mistake starting that game with Liz.” She mutters. At least she isn't blaming only herself for that, it would have angered me if she implied I didn't have a choice but to follow her proposal.

“I can't help it, same as you can't help your quirks.” I reply awkwardly.

“Ugh.” Leomi grunts, sounding pained.

She takes hold of my hand and pulls me to walk quicker, a serious and nervous look on her sharp traits. We rush out of the Temple, pushing through the small group of families gathered as they await their turns to slip into one of the village's few alleys which are now blocked by the outer wall.

She leads me to the end so that we can both slip into the dark corner. I control my nerves, clinging to the fact that we're still pretty much in public, any slightly loud noise will easily be heard. Yet, the presence of others hasn't stopped Leomi before.

If she gets excited and wants more than a kiss, I'll have to protect us both by stopping it. Yvonne and Celyz have made it clear that I require a period of peace, not to mention that Leomi herself said we both need to take it slow. I'll just remind her of it. She reaches out and takes my cheeks in her hands.

“I want to hurt you but I swear it's not malicious, I want to see you happy just as much if not more.” Leomi tells me in a low and vibrant tone. I breathe out, both relieved and disappointed that my mind was just running wild.

“Pain makes me feel alive, but in a relationship...” I trail off, unwilling to deny her desires because Celyz can be considered a desire of mine.

I'll have to be careful not to imply that there is a transaction between me accepting what she wants in this area and what I want with Celyz, the two can't be mixed together. Besides, I would be lying if I told her I didn't wish to experience her darkness a bit for myself.