Route 1: Preliminary Move

**Scarlet Aubrielle**

“I honestly didn’t expect that you are this audacious, your highness” I heard Calyx said and from my peripheral vision, I saw how he run his fingers through his hair which indicates that he is indeed pissed off. Honestly, I too am quite pissed off because of what Helios said that we should do - he is basically giving us orders of what we should and we should not do for that ‘honor’ that he is talking about.

However, even if it has only been weeks since I became Scarlett Aubrielle Elvoi, I know for a fact that this family - my parents and my brother are not like the other nobles that are willing to sacrifice their men in order to attain that honor that Helios is talking about. And the crown prince Helios should have already known from the start since he is a friend - or maybe once a friend of my brother that I am the Elovis doesn’t care about bring honor to their name by helping the imperial family with every whim that they have.

The Elvois have become Detroits trump card and indeed we are loyal to them. However, that loyalty does not mean that we are going to follow blindly what they want. We have our own thinking and we cannot just agree immediately about everything and again, the Elvois are a family does not need the support of the Ixtal Empire. With the money, military and magic power of our family, it is obvious that we can simply out power the Imperial Family - however of course, our parents does not want that and we are living our lives peacefully here in the north, handling our own problems and away from different things that can stress us out.

“ Audacious? Aren’t you forgetting that I am the crown prince of this empire, future duke of the Elvoi duchy?” that is what the crown prince said in a serious voice and just then I heard my brother click his tongue, once again it is pretty obvious that he didn’t like what the crown prince said. Well, yes Helios is still the crown prince however it is obvious that he is forgetting something.

“If I remember correctly, the emperor which is your father had given our family the power to actually decline any request that we think is unreasonable and that will endanger greatly our people. And right now, based from your request even my parents - the duke and duchess will reject your orders because it will put our people in grave danger.” That is what Calyx said as he snapped his fingers and in a blink of an eye, a scroll appeared right in front of us - well, it is actually floating mid air.

“This is the scroll of the agreement between your father and the Elvois, if you want evidence to prove my claim then read this” my brother added and in that moment, I saw how Helios’ expression darkened but after a few seconds it reverted back to his normal expression.

I guess what my brother said hit a sensitive spot - it is as if he doesn’t want to hear anything about the deal that the Elvois made with his family the moment that his father became the emperor.

However, with this atmosphere it is obvious that I need to step up already. Well, to be honest I don’t really think that I should just butt in and say whatever that is on my mind right now but then again, if this is for the sake of my plan of being close with Helios and in order to ensure my safety from dying from his hands then I would gladly do everything in my power to do so.

“Excuse me, you highness, Calyx can you allow me to say something?” that is what I said trying to cut off the tension between the two because I know if I didn’t do it any sooner there is a possibility that two powers - ice and fire will collide in this room and that it may also affect further the relationship of my family with the imperial family.

Well, although it may not affect the relationship of my parents with Helios’ father, the emperor however, of course if I am planning to change my future and the future of the Elvois in general then we are to witness of course Helios becoming the emperor and my brother becoming the Duke of the household and it is not a good thing if their relationship is still bitter.

When I said that, automatically the two turn to look at my direction. It is as if they are not expecting that I am going to suddenly butt in because just like what I mentioned to them a while ago - I am just going to be quiet here, listen to their conversation and they don’t have to mind me - treat me as if I wasn’t really here but right now, I broke what I said to them.

*

“Scarlet Aubrielle” Calyx suddenly called out my name and to me it is already a warning sign. He doesn’t really usually call out my full name. Well, even if I am just here for about a few weeks, I am already used to him calling me Scar or only Scarlet, and based from the memory of the original Scarlet Aubrielle, indeed the only time that Calyx’s calls her by her full name is when he is giving a warning to his sister.

Well, that is although he had never been mad at her for anything - not even in the storyline of the game because until his death he only had love for his sister and that he only wants her to get what she wants and live a comfortable life without people treating her as a monster because of the powers that she possess deep inside of her.

“Brother, you need to calm down and hear me out first” that is what I said as I look at him and gave him a reassuring smile and at that moment, I instantly hear him let out a sigh then he nod his head. He no longer hesitated to let me speak because he knows that I - or rather his sister will actually not speak about something that is nonsensical. Calyx had always recognized Scarlet’s abilities. He once said in the game that Scarlet actually had the capabilities and characteristics of a ruler.

And well, I just want to prove it to him even if I am just a foreigner in this world.

“So our problem is basically simple, and that is the fact that we aren’t compensated even if our troops are going to risk their lives to explore a new dungeon, am I correct?” that is what I said as I place down the teacup that I am holding and my brother then nod his head in agreement while Helios - well, he is just looking at me, obviously anticipating what I am about to say. Additionally, I do think that he is kind of skeptical if I am going to say something that will indeed be able to solve the problem or what.

But if that is the case, then basically he is underestimating me, a daughter of two powerful individuals and persons who have deemed to be co-equals of the emperor.

“Then let’s put it this way, alright we are going to subjugate the dungeon with me on the front line and in exchange the Elvoi duchy will be the one who will lead further studies about it which includes studying the monsters that will be found but of course, we are still going to report to the empire whatever that we found in the dungeon with honesty.” I preliminary said because suddenly Calyx cut me off and I can feel the extreme stares of my brother and same goes for Helios, he is also looking at me intently.

“What the hell are you saying Scarlet Aubrielle?! What do you mean that you’re on the front lines?!” Calyx exclaimed and he even got up from his seat. Seriously? He didn’t even let me finish. I then turn my head to look at him and I raise an eyebrow.

“I said what I said brother, I am going to be the one to lead the team that will go inside the dungeon and explore it and don’t even dare to say that it is dangerous for me. I am an Elvoi too, an danger is part of my name - sooner or later I will also be the one leading our troops in order to eliminate monsters. So, if you don’t want me to tell mother and father what have you been doing in our training ground then you better sit down and listen to what I am about to say” that is what I said and immediately, Calyx sat down on his seat again but I know that he is already frustrated.

But of course, he cannot risk what he has been doing in our house’s training grounds. Well, it is something that is not actually bad but it is also something that our parents still doesn’t want him to do because they think that it is dangerous.

“Going back, as what I have said to compensate us, you just need to give us the permission to be the ones to study everything regarding that dungeon and that we are recognized for that. . What we can find such as treasures or any valuable item - you can keep it. As you know, our family doesn’t really need any treasure or magical crystals because we have ample supply of those.” that is what I said and Helios looked at me for a while, he let out a sigh then he looked at me again.

Actually, I am quite nervous of what it is the he is about to say regarding my proposal and then when he opened his mouth - I am shocked with what he had said

“Then we’ll go with your proposal, Scarlet Aubrielle.” that is what Helios said, he snapped his fingers and his attendant approached him and handed him a pen and paper that is commonly used for writing a contract which made me let out a sigh of relief.

Well, it did went well huh?

*

It has already been an hour and both parties have already signed the contract and of course, I am the signatory of the contract because I am the one who actually going to lead the team that will subjugate the dungeon and also I am the one who proposed it. And we just saw Helios, the crown prince out of our home. Well, finally he left and finally I am able to do my first move in order to form a connection with him and I guess it is a success.

I will not say that it is not risky because I do think that there is seventy percent chance that he will actually decline my proposal but then again, I guess it is also a good thing that he didn’t decline my proposal. I don’t know if this also happened in the original story line but whatever the important thing is that I took my chance and that I am going to start now my plan.

I am then about to turn my back and walk towards my room when suddenly, I heard my brother’s cold voice from behind me calling out my name.

“Scarlet Aubrielle, we need to talk right now!”

That is what he said and I will lie if I said that it didn’t send shivers down to my spine. Shit!

***to be continued***