The Ogre Strength Fairy and the Eldest 'Son'
Chapter 94 - A Deep, Cold Abyss Of Schemes While Famished, Yet Surrounded by Food!

Chapter 94: Chapter 94 - A Deep, Cold Abyss Of Schemes While Famished, Yet Surrounded by Food!

The reincarnator’s unveiled nature cornered him, yet it was almost refreshing. It was like finally seeing your opponent in the smog of the fires burning uncontrolled around you. Anper er Yecine, with his Smoke Element, was very accustomed to fighting like that.

"You presume too much, girl. The Yecine family has weathered far greater dangers than a manipulative child bride. If you think threatening me is for the better for my *daughter* then you’re mistaken."

The girl’s smile never wavered... though her eyes narrowed.

"Oh, I don’t presume as much as you think. But if we’re talking about things people don’t know... I wonder... do your young sons know the truth about their elder sibling? That you are willing to lie to *them* just like you are anyone you come across?"

She felt his spirit roil in ’fury’ and ’fear’. Being a hypocrite, she wasn’t bothered about lying over how much she was making assumptions. It simply stood to reason that if his biggest problem with Qat was her gender, he would value the male children more.

He eventually opened his mouth to retort, but the sounds around them suddenly returned.

"Esteemed guests and beloved family members!"

A female voice rang out across the Feast terrace, cutting through the ambient chatter and music. Lirades er Yecine had taken a center position for an impromptu speech.

"On this joyous day, as we celebrate the union of our two great families, I am moved to speak."

Elua ’giggled’ while gesturing for Anper to turn towards the grand elder. Both of their faces smoothed into masks of polite attention despite their energies poised to act on one another. The Yecine woman stood tall in the direction of their unfocused gaze and her gray eyes twinkled with a sharp intelligence.

"The joining of Qatrand and Elua represents more than just a regular marriage. It is a testament to the strength that comes from the unity of embracing new bonds. While honoring our cherished traditions, we mustn’t forget how they have shifted with the times and in necessities."

As Lirades continued her speech, a vibrant tableau of themes about family, duty, and bright futures... the two waiting to be at each other’s throats exchanged another look. The confrontation may have been interrupted, but the air between them crackled with unresolved tension.

Eventually she stopped talking and applause erupted - mostly from the non-Yecine groups - due to the woman’s spiel. The small Goltbred leaned in close to Anper one final time. She didn’t bother smiling, though her voice wasn’t as harsh as before.

"That seemed like unfortunate timing, didn’t it? Maybe it wasn’t. I doubt we were ever going to accomplish anything today besides risking a scene."

He scoffed at her.

"It would appear to me like that had been your goal."

She chuckled at his accusation and looked up into the cloudless sky. It was going to be a nice, star filled night. It was giving her a particular idea.

"You clearly think I care for something out of this marriage with your family more than having others recognize Qat as mine and support all she wants out of her life. I’m not sure how to clear that up. My only immediate response is to threaten you not to hurt or get in her way again."

Mint eyes lost all their light as they looked into his. As he met them, they felt like pools that hid an endless, abyssal depth that definitely did not belong on a child. If he had to pick, the closest thing he could compare them to was a Voidling.

"But even if I leave a promise to reciprocate and multiply any wounds you attempt to leave on her, I truly fear that you’ll never stop or learn. We’ll have to finish this discussion in the future when you aren’t so terribly ill-at-ease, father-in-law. Do enjoy the feast."

Without waiting for a response, the young bride turned about to go rejoin her husband-wife, leaving the Yecine to stew in a potent agitation.

’I couldn’t move...’

In the distance, Navuill caught a nod of acknowledgement from the eldest Yecine. It was a silent thanks from Lirades for his timely alert of the tension brewing that she had been able to diffuse. As guests began to mingle and eat once more, the undercurrents of family politics continued to swirl beneath the surface of the celebration.

Qatrand watched Elua make her way back through the crowd to her. She fiddled with her cuff as her mind drifted back to her experience at the gift table...

<---

The blonde looked back to see her father’s jaw clenching as he processed something El must have said. It made her want to turn back around, but a gentle push of spirit reoriented her on task. Her wife’s female disciple, Nohre, was frantically trying to restack their scattered presents. The girl’s face was still flushed with embarrassment and her tension caused her movements to be jerky and uncoordinated.

"Here, let me help."

Qat said in her soft tone while kneeling beside her. The green eyed girl looked up and relief washed over her features. She’d been hoping someone would, but the Talcres couple and Fusand had just looked at her like she had done something wrong!

Her eyes darted nervously to the other onlookers, expecting to see more judgment for getting the groom involved.

"...Thank you."

They worked to restore things back to normal, but Qat couldn’t help but glance back at the pair she’d left for this. Both of their bodies were tense and the cunning spirit of her partner contrasted with her face that held civility which didn’t reach mint eyes. The swordswoman was growing certain that she had indeed been kicked out of the conversation on purpose.

"Is everything alright?"

Nohre asked while following the gaze of her master’s new husband, who she had never really met for one reason or other.

"Of course. Just... family discussions."

The Goltbred was a ways off and talking to someone that looked and dressed like they were from the Yecine. A particularly ornate gift slipped from the girl’s grasp as she watched the tension. Qat quickly bent to retrieve it as the object had clattered close to her

"...do your young sons know the truth about their elder sibling? That you are willing to lie to *them* just like you are anyone you come across?"

El’s voice carried into her ears unnaturally clear, causing the swordswoman’s breath to hitch. She nearly fumbled the gift and dropped it again.

"Are you sure you’re okay?"

The Yecine nodded, not trusting her voice. She moved back to pick up the final few items while she grew lost in her thoughts.

’What is she doing...?’

A persistent hush fell over the gathering. Qat looked up to see a relative of hers taking the spotlight, the elderly woman’s voice belting out clear and strong as she launched into a speech. Pigeon blue eyes hastily found Elua and Anper once more.

They stood side by side in the very picture of respect towards the speaker. But Qat could see the tension thrumming between them, like a bowstring pulled taut and ready to snap. Her wife might do something terrible... and she wasn’t sure how to stop it.

When the speaker stepped away to applause, Nohre sat the last item in her hand back on the table.

"There. All fixed."

"Thank you for your help."

Dark braids bounced before retreating back toward the nearby Talcres.

’Whatever is brewing between my wife and father, I was always going to be caught in the middle of it. Rather, it’s only happening because I was already in the middle... so maybe I need to stop being there?’

The blonde resolved herself. There was only one choice. She was rather confident that she still would have taken the clearly just side of the cute girl even a year ago, but couldn’t help but feel how much things had changed in her heart in such a short time.

Anper didn’t respect her... and her relationship with the Goltbreds, but particularly Elua, was showing her the value of that sort of thing going both ways.

--->

’It was interesting that his choice was to get that woman involved.’

The ancient schemer thought... while putting together everything she had sensed. From the moment she used her essence to knock down their gifts, to the careful attention of three or four particular Yecine elders as she talked to Anper, and the friendly but sneaky ’warning’ she had sent of their spirits to the disgusting Empath - her machinations had given her plenty of clues to go on in the future.

’I hope they all enjoy their spiritual markings. Oh, how I almost hope someone finds one. I should have made them more obvious! It would be so much more delicious when-’

Her stomach growled violently just as she made it back to her beloved. She licked her lips awkwardly and covered her mouth. Qatrand shook off her drift into daydreaming about the meaning of her resolution at the sound of Elua’s hunger.

The blonde reached out a hand and started to lead her to their table.

"Everything alright, darling?"

The heiress questioned ’sweetly’. The one she asked nodded while choosing her words.

"The gifts are all sorted. You should apologize to your disciple. How was your... chat with Father?"

The illusionist’s spirit vibrated with ’amusement’. Her precious gem was shining so brightly, clad in that silver, that her misdirection of knocking the gifts down was revealed in its light!

"Oh, I planned to make amends. The talk was... enlightening. I’m sorry that I both didn’t warn and didn’t continue to feed the sound to you. I noticed that there was a nosy party who-"

Another internal groan rumbled the surrounding air. Qatrand couldn’t help but wonder about the machinations behind her wife’s innocent ’facade’.

’How can someone make that much mischief on an empty stomach?’