It was an instinctive reaction.
Since I loved Eve and had chosen to love Eve, the thought of being with someone else, even Mari, made me reflexively react.
A visceral, immediate rejection.
I didn't intend it, but because it was so unprompted and out of the blue, that was how I reacted. And then I realized a half a second after I said it why that crafty old man had said those words.
Marzin Sagewind. He was Marisa's grandfather, as well as the Eighth Rank Mage known as both the Boundless Gale and the Grand Sage.
...And in other words, a crafty, meddlesome, and witty old man type character I wrote who often already knew the answer to his questions 9/10 times and only spoke to confirm what his intuition already told him. And case in point-
"Aha!" Marzin snapped his fingers and said, "I knew that girl was lying! Even if you're an impressive genius, that bookworm wouldn't have pulled her head out from her books for such an ordinary face!"
"..."
Marzin cleared his throat. "Ahem. Not to say that there is anything wrong with your appearance. After all, I heard that you managed to win the Imperial Princess's heart, did you not?"
I met Marzin's sharp and analytical gaze and carefully said, "Once more I ask, is there a reason why the Boundless Gale- No, the Grand Sage decided to greet me today? Because as honored as I am, I have a prior engagement."
"Tch." Marzin clicked his tongue and said, "Not even a crack in your composure. I guess that one was a fluke because you love the princess that much?" He rubbed his chin and said, "Well, I suppose you pass. A book should never be judged by its cover, and your contents seem far more extraordinary than your appearance, young man."
"So they say." I nodded and then stepped past him. "Then excuse me."
It wasn't meaningful. If the old man wanted to stop me, he could. And if he wanted to chase me down, he could too. There was a reason why he was called the Boundless Gale after all. There were very few places he couldn't enter if he put his mind to it.
But I hadn't lied. I really did have a prior engagement, and while it was interesting to come across him, it wasn't important. He was probably just here to congratulate Mari for crossing the hurdle after all.
...Aaaand him meeting me was definitely because Mari threw me under the bus out of her embarrassment from admitting she loved Roland.
Definitely not going to let her live that one down.
Marzin stepped to the side and laughed. "Yes, yes. Apologies for taking up your precious time, young man. The lovely princess must be waiting for you with bated breath. However..." His eyes flashed as he stared at my
I didn't bother looking at him, just casually waving my hand from behind. "I'll consider it since you're Mari's grandfather, but no promises. Take care."
Now, setting that old man aside, it was time to head to Eve's dorm and hand her my second contingency plan.
...Ah.
Showing up in the noble dorms and heading to her room was going to blow up the rumor mill again, wasn't it?
Well, whatever.
> NOTE: User is reminded that SP may be gathered and utilized to influence the flow of events.
Yeah, yeah. I got that. But I'm saving it for now. Every author's gotta have one Deus Ex Machina up his sleeve, right?