Re:START/If {Book 1.0}
Chapter 71: Regalia III (Part 02)
Odo for a moment put on a faint smile. Hearing Arteria calling Mavis Mother made her want to laugh a little. However, what the girl said next made Odo unable to tease her.
“Princess Arteria …. This may sound strange, but listen to me carefully.” Odo removed his hand from the girl's grasp. Holding both sides of the shoulders of Mr. Princess Arteria, while putting on a slightly grim face the young man also said, “The belief held by me is different from the beliefs held by the people of Felixia. If my mother said that, then she also said that I was not baptized, ‘kan?”
Arteria was a little jolted at hearing this. Just as his fiancee was telling him, Mavis and Dart also delivered. Not only that, the Pontiff also said things that were not much different. To say that Odo Luke's view of the Gods and the Beliefs they brought into the world was very different from what people understood.
“What ... Mr Odo does not believe in the existence of the Gods?” ask Arteria. Deep down, the trust that his late mother had taught him began to waver.
“Of course I believe they exist, one of the magic I'm good at has to do with them. However ...” Odo lowered his hand from Arteria's shoulder, then while putting on a tired face he continued saying, “I do not believe that the Gods are omnipotent.”
The sentence seemed to be an execution for Arteria, making the Princess completely doubt the beliefs that exist in the society of Felixia. For him who became the container of the Goddess and talked with beings from the higher dimensions is a natural thing, he vaguely understood that the Gods are not omnipotent.
He began to feel that the beliefs held by the majority of the people of Felixia by worshiping the Gods were not absolute to follow. Because it is a free thing, the prayer they offer is not fully heard by those above. Though heard, the Gods did not grant all hope because they tended to be favoritism.
“What ... trust that Arteria and everyone trust this wrong ⸻?”
“I have no right to judge it wrong or not.” Odo lightly patted Arteria's head, then smiling freely said, “Trust me what you want to believe! You don't have to worry like that …. For my birthday, I'd love it if you didn't have to do anything to celebrate. Honestly, on my birthday I somehow felt sensitive.”
“Sensitive?” Arteria stared in wonder.
“Again temperamental. You must have heard that my father is somewhat temperamental, ‘kan? Looks like I inherited such a trait ...”
“Hmm …. “ Arteria nodded, then with a gaze still looked doubtful and agitated said, “Ayahanda also once spoke like that first …. My late mother also. Descendants of Luke tend to have a less stable mental condition as a teenager.”
Arteria's gaze still seemed to think about Odo's previous words. Shaking his head to get it out of his mind, he fills his head with other things.
As Arteria looked back at her fiance, her face immediately flushed red and quickly turned away. He felt too often stared at by Odo, making him slightly misplaced and slowly seeing his fiancee before him as a man in one piece.
Odo slightly turned his gaze towards Vil, giving a blank look to tell something. The Great Spirit did not catch the intent he wanted to convey, only confused and stepped back as slowly fear filled his heart.
“Ka-Then, I go upstairs first. It feels that here continue I can disturb both of you.”
Vil immediately used the hovering magic, going to the second floor leaving the two of them. For a moment Arteria did not notice, that the Great Spirit was gone with trembling and fear. But when Odo turned his head and looked back at him, Princess Arteria was slowly starting to feel the same.
“Talking about my dad, did he say anything? You guys have to go home to the Capital this afternoon, ‘kan?” The young man looked back at Arteria with such eyes, then re-affirmed the question, “Means he will come as a special bodyguard?”
Such a deep calm gaze, neither dark nor filled with light. Although it looks ordinary, the look the young man showed him made the Princess was stunned.
“Eh? Hmm ...” Arteria turned her face away and avoided eye contact, then with a slight stuttering replied, “Uncle ⸻ Intentions Arteria, A-Father Dart will also come along …. Too bad Mr. Odo also did not come to the Capital ..”.
The princess felt unworthy to treat her fiance like a horrible person, she ventured and tried to treat Odo accordingly. He grabbed Odo's hand and held it tightly, then with the volume raised he said, “If you can, Arteria wants to show Arteria's friends there!”
“You have friends anyway?” syndir Odo.
“Of course you have! Arteria has many friends in the palace! There are Fire Spirit Master, Water Spirit Master, Mortal Spirit Master, and Air Spirit Master! There was also the Steel Spirit Master and the Sky Spirit Master! There Arteria has many friends, know!”
Hearing the sad-sounding self-defense, Odo slowly turned his gaze away and felt a little sorry for his fiance. “Roh all his friends,” the young man's thoughts before sighing long.
ↈↈↈ
Mentari had reached its peak, shining freely on the land without the slightest cloud. On the grounds of Luke's Residence, most of the horse-drawn carriages had gone to bring guests who were from Luke County. While the guests who came with King Gaiel's entourage, they seemed to be preparing for the journey home.
Taking care of the documents about the agreements they made during the event, talking about business, re-enforcing relationships that have been formed, or just waiting by sitting near the rows of trains and carts. Whatever they do, almost everyone looks tired for some reason.
Walking on the side porch of the Mansion, King Gaiel was accompanied by the Prince and several Elite Soldiers escorting them. The Chief Servant, Julia Shieal, also followed behind as an additional guide and bodyguard of the Luke Family during their stay in Luke's neighborhood.
“Did Arteria go again to the magic library to meet Odo?” ask the King to his son, Prince Ryan.
The young man who had the characteristic dark red hair color nodded. He sighed fretfully, then in a slightly haughty and disdainful tone said, “Ayahanda, I honestly don't understand why Arteria could be so fond of him. What is interesting about the Dragon Killer! Huh, his attitude is bad, his behavior is also disrespectful. Worse, he also refused to be baptized! I am worried that Adinda's fiancee is an infidel and a follower of heresy ..”
Hearing that, while still moving his feet King Gaiel glanced at the small and thought that his son had a high sense of competition with Odo. But felt what he said was too excessive, with the intention of encouraging the development of his son he also said, “Though so, Odo managed to get an achievement that should be proud …. Dad has the same anxiety as you, my son. But ..., it's a fact that Odo Luke has abilities that most people don't.”
Hearing that his father was quite defending the Only Son of the Luke Family, Prince Ryan was quite embittered and lowered his head. As a child he disliked the King praising others directly besides himself and Princess Arteria.
In the middle of the footsteps towards Luke Scientia, they happened to cross paths with Odo and Arteria who were intending to head towards the front yard. Right on the way the stone structure connecting their two buildings stopped.
Odo and the King stared at each other, showing equally flat expressions and hiding veiled feelings and intentions. Waiting for one of the parties to start the talks first, tension is created. Even to the point of making the four Elite Soldiers who were accompanying were depressed and showed an uncomfortable expression.
“So yes, she doesn't want?” King Gaiel gently stroked his daughter's head and put on a happy smile. But it was only a few seconds, he immediately glanced sharply at Odo and with a slightly pressing tone asked, “Jadi ..., why would Odo not want to? Don't kids mostly like shows like that?”
The young man with black hair only had a flat expression, feeling that King Gaiel was overemphasizing that Odo still had to act like a child in general. Taking a deep breath, the Only-begotten Son of the Luke Family extended his right hand forward and brandished his index finger.
“If Your Majesty still wants to celebrate my birthday, just give the gift to me right now,” Odo said in a flat tone. Of course with implied intent.
Arteria was surprised, immediately turned around and loudly asked, “Say Mr Odo did not like if your birthday was celebrated?! Why ask for a gift now?”
Odo lowered his hand and immediately looked away, then in a slightly lazy tone replied, “I really don't like parties, but I never said that I don't like gifts.”
“Eeeh~?” Arteria looked astonished, then while looking away at her confused face she muttered, “Don't like parties, but Mr. Odo wants if given a gift on his birthday. Mr. Odo is indeed strange ..”
“I don't want to hear that from people who only have friends of the Spirit.”
Arteria gasped at hearing that, her face glazed over with an overflowing sense of annoyance. While putting on a sullen face as if he wanted to cry, he pointed straight at Odo and denied, “Arteria has another friend! Ayahanda is Arteria's friend!”
“The King is your Father.”
“Then, Kakanda⸻!”
“Prince your brother.”
“Kakek Wolnir⸻!”
“He's your teacher, isn't he?”
“Mother Sarawati⸻!”
“She's your stepmother.”
Having no one else to mention, Arteria turned her head towards the King with a face like an abandoned kitten. Seeing this, King Gaiel smiled slightly and stroked his head.
“Let's relax, I want to be your friend. Don't be sad just because you are tempted by it. As a Queen candidate, you must be able to be firm with her,” said the King.
Arteria nodded. Wanting to express his dissatisfaction at being completely toyed with Odo, the Princess again faced the young man. While pointing straight he replied, “Tuan Odo himself has friends!? From the nature of Mr. Odo like that, Arteria doesn't think anyone wants to be friends with you!”
“There are, even a lot ...”
“Eh?” Arteria looked surprised.
While counting his own fingers, Odo mentions people he considers friends, “Vil, Mba Julia, Mbak Fiola, Mbak Xua Lin, Mbak Imania, Kak Gariadin, Kak Linkaron, Arca, Mbak Siska, Nanra, Nana, and there's so much more. Can I name everything?”
“A ..., that …. That's ...” Arteria truly felt like she had been decisively defeated in a trivial competition. Inflating his reddened cheeks, he turned his gaze away and said, “Arteria will not give a gift to Mr Odo! It tastes shitty!”
“He-hem ..” Odo only put on a small smile after he finished teasing her.
Seeing this, whether the King, Prince Ryan, or the four Elite Warriors escorting, they were shocked when they saw a warm smile on the young man's face. The look on Odo's face immediately turned flat, then immediately stared at the King.
Given that there was something to talk about before returning to the Capital, King Gaiel decided to open another topic of conversation. “Viscount Odo, there's something important I want to ask you. Doesn't it matter if we talk here?” ask King Gaiel.
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