The Simulacrum

~Chapter 148~ Part 3

"I can't believe you just did that…" the class rep muttered in a daze, and I did my best to pretend I didn't hear it.

We were currently sitting around a small table inside one of the empty rooms of the penultimate floor, because even I wasn't going to try and bring Naoren up to his penthouse with his chair in tow without Phasing involved. It was smaller than the room where the young patriarch was staying, though it did share the aesthetics of the rest of the hotel, from the traditional style wood panelling on the walls and ceiling to the Chinese lantern-shaped lamps used for illumination. I was already used to the visual style, and to my eyes the room felt warm and cosy, though Ammy clearly didn't share my sentiment.

"Grandfather told me that your approach to people in positions of power is 'unrestrained'…" she whispered in a tense voice, her hands mechanically stirring her drink with a teaspoon. "… but experiencing it firsthand is…"

Her words trailed off, and she took a sip from her thick green earthenware mug full of one of those fruity-herbal-infusion non-tea beverages, only to then put it down and throw in another sugar cube. She would probably get along well with Tsephanyah, I mused absentmindedly even as I turned to the other person at the table. Despite the unorthodox nature of our meeting, by the time we settled down, the hotel staff already delivered a set of drinks and snacks to our table. Very professional.

"Would you please explain what this is all about?"

Naoren maintained a veneer of calmness on the surface, but I've spent enough time with him to tell that underneath that, he was more than just a little disgruntled by the stunt I just pulled. He also annoyed me with the stunt he pulled though, so I simply considered the scales getting balanced and didn't pay much mind to it.

"Au contraire, my friend. I'm the one who's here to hear your explanation." He blinked at me in mild perplexity. The kind you get when you can't put the USB plug into the socket even after you turned it around three times already; not particularly profound or mystified, more annoyed if anything. I figured it was best I stopped beating around the bush and just ask the pivotal question right away. "Could you please tell me what this whole 'contract marriage' business is all about?"

The way he looked at me had a distinct resemblance to a dead fish, and it took him several seconds to formulate an answer.

"We… discussed this." I didn't say it was a good answer, did I? My dissatisfaction must've shown on my face because he quickly put down his cup and took out the same privacy artifact he used the last time we had dinner together. He placed the small wooden box into the middle of the table, opened it up, and after its light enveloped us, he let out a soft groan that nevertheless sounded like it came from the depths of his soul. "You said you don't object to a relationship between Lady Rinne and I. What changed since then?"

"You're focusing on the wrong part," I pointed out and lightly tapped on the table with my finger for emphasis. "What is this deal about a temporary contract?"

"It was a… let's call it 'emergency measure' I had to undertake due to certain tensions within the clan, with many a complicated twist and turn, I'm afraid."

While I waited for him to elaborate, the class rep meekly raised her hand into the air.

"I'm sorry, but am I allowed to hear this? If it's related to the politics of the Draconian Federation, then…"

"Just sit tight, class rep. This shouldn't be a state secret." I waited for a beat and then glanced at Naoren. "Or is it?"

"Not quite, but…"

Seeing him fidget and act self-conscious like that was a rare sight, but as much as I found it amusing at the moment, I didn't want to overdo it and have him develop a grudge against me. That would've been just awkward, especially in the long run.

"Just say it as it is, please. If you had a good reason, you should be able to tell me with your head held high."

At last, Naoren looked me in the eye and adjusted his posture in his seat.

"My predicament isn't an uncommon one. As you're aware, I was courting Lenore before your engagement."

"Who?" the class rep blurted out, seemingly without meaning to, and when I glanced over, she hastily covered her mouth, as if afraid that she just committed a faux pas of monumental proportions.

"He's talking about Elly," I told her, and in a second, her expression shifted from panicked to critical.

"Mister Feilong calls her that?" I didn't know why she was asking that with such an incredulous voice, as if she didn't just hear it herself, but I nodded all the same. "And you're okay with it?"

Now it was my turn to look confounded.

"Okay with what?"

She glanced at Naoren, then back at me, but didn't hesitate for long.

"I don't want to offend Mister Feilong, but isn't calling someone else's fiancée by a pet name somewhat… inappropriate?"

"Don't overthink it," I cut in the moment I recognized what she was getting at. "It's just a nickname, and who am I to call someone else out for using one? If I got mad every time someone gave a nickname to someone I care about, I would be shouting at myself all day long, and that's just now very productive."

My bespectacled table-mates blinked in unison, having a hard time digesting my words. Which was weird, because I was pretty sure what I just said was both very legible and logical. It was Naoren who managed to regain his wits first, and after clearing his throat, he hastily clasped his fingers on the table.

"I assure you; I have no designs involving her anymore, either in a romantic or political nature. I only brought her up in this conversation because she's relevant to the bigger picture of my woes."

He stopped there, and the way he was looking at me told me he was waiting to be prompted.

"As in?"

Naoren sucked in a deep breath, as if mentally preparing himself for something.

"While Clan Head Abram never officially gave his blessing, within the social circles of the Draconian clans, our union was considered to be a foregone conclusion. That, of course, was a short-sighted prediction, but one everyone accepted. Because of that, I didn't have to concern myself with other suitors. However, due to Lenore being engaged to you now, there has been a mounting torrent of intrigue both within and outside Clan Feilong regarding my marriage prospects."

"In other words, you're telling me that once Elly was out of the picture, you became the most eligible draconic bachelor on the island."

"More like in the world…" the class rep whispered on my left, but by the time I glanced over, she was back to leisurely sipping her not-tea and preteneding she wasn't even listening.

"You could certainly say that, yes," Naoren agreed with a heavy voice filled with faux self-deprecation. "Due to that, ever since the public announcement of your engagement, the Elders of Clain Feilong have been subtly but unfailingly insinuating that I should choose a suitable bride soon to maintain the face of the clan."

"Face?" Ammy interjected again, this time sounding more confused than anything else.

"It means 'prestige'." After clarifying that, I turned back to Naoren.

Was he throwing the elders of his clan under the bus, or was there more to this story, I wondered. I didn't have to do that for long though, as he soon continued where he left off.

"The clan has also received some offers from other distinguished bloodlines since then, but if at all possible, I would like to refrain from disclosing the details of those meetings. I just want you to know that my affection towards Lady Rinne is genuine, and I have turned down the other clans and their prospective brides."

"Then how did we end up with this contact marriage plot? Please get to the point."

Naoren's eyes closed in resignation and he continued his explanation in a soft voice, bordering on a whisper, "It's because of the Vritras." He paused again, as if waiting for the non-existent dun-dun-dunnn sound effect to die down before continuing. "During the meeting with their representatives, they made numerous veiled implications about Clan Feilong's position in the Draconic Federation in general, even going as far as to openly imply that the clan leader not having a wife or heir at my age is a show of weakness. The Elders didn't show it in public, but they were outraged behind closed doors, and even the other branch families and subordinates of Clan Feilong voiced their discontent and demanded that I would remedy this blotch on the face of the family."

"And so you proposed to Rinne to get yourself out of the crossfire," I concluded, and after an uncomfortably long silence, he weakly nodded in assent.

"It wasn't such an impersonal decision, but yes, I admit that it would look so on the surface. Regrettably, I didn't have the luxury of options, as I was afraid that if I proposed such a deal to anyone else, it would create a rift between me and Lady Rinne, one which I could not afford. Considering this, and that you have already given your blessing, I did not think my decision would result in your… intervention like this."

Ignoring the faint tinge of resentment in his voice, I leaned back in my seat and levelled a dispassionate gaze at him. Now we were clear on the nitty-gritty details, it was time to resolve the main issue at hand. Namely, how to dismantle the 'contract' part of this malarkey, and fix up the relationship between those two.

"How many people know about this?"

"I have yet to announce it publicly." That made sense. Otherwise, I would've probably heard about this from other channels already. "As of this moment, only the people in this room and Lady Rinne herself should be aware." There was a momentary pause while he stared at me attentively, and when I didn't speak up, he reluctantly added, "If you wish us to dissolve the relationship, I believe this would be the best time for it."

"No, that's not the point. I just want the contract part of it to be out of the picture." Naoren's face eased up with relief as if I just told him he passed a difficult exam. "Also, until we clear this up, do your best to keep your admirers among the fairer sex at arm's length to prevent any contrived misunderstandings. Not that I think you have any, but you get my point, right?"

While I only intended that to be a light jab to ease a mood, Naoren's expression turned indignant right away.

"For your information, I do have female associates. Close ones, at that." That reaction surprised me, but not as much as the sullen way he said it. I didn't think the man in front of me had such as… was 'childish side' the right word? Anyhow, seeing me taken aback (though not for the reason he expected), the currently slightly less dignified than usual patriarch's lips bent into a pleased smile. "For example, I believe I'm getting along well with Lady Yseult."

Yseult? It took me a second to pair that name with a face, but then I clicked my tongue. Right, Yseult Albion, the representative of the second most influential Western Draconian family within the Draconic Federation. I used to be able to identify her by her beehive hairdo, but she got a more sensible haircut since then, and she wasn't particularly active during the meetings of the Draconic Council, so her presence kind of slipped to the back of my mind. Still, just the fact that her name was brought up in this context was enough to make my plot-senses tingling.

"How so?"

Naoren must've mistook my request for details for doubt, as he swiftly doubled down.

"Swimmingly, I would say. We've known each other for a long time, we have engaged in small talk many times during recesses, and I could even go as far as to claim we have developed a mutual rapport." All of a sudden, his face tensed up. Was it because he read something into my expression, or something he had realized on his own? We may never know, but he certainly got flustered for a second and his voice sounded just a tiny bit strained when he insisted, "In a platonic sense of the word, I assure you. I simply wish you to acknowledge that I'm not some old bachelor whose only attractive feature is his wealth."

"I never said any of that, but putting this misunderstanding aside, can you answer me one more thing?"

"… Yes."

I ignored the hesitant pause and the tone that just creamed 'Do I really have to?' and asked my question anyway.

"Yseult is single, right?" He nodded. "And considering her status, she would make for an ideal partner for you, right?" He nodded again, although this time with less enthusiasm. "And you two have a good relationship."

"I believe so, yes, but as I just told you, it's entirely platonic in nature."

"Sure, sure," I responded on auto-pilot while rubbing my temple.

Of course, things wouldn't be so simple. When were things ever simple in the Simulacrum? Never, that's when.

I didn't want to jump the gun, but since we already had a contract marriage plot, my mind was already tuned for related genre conventions, and that just screamed 'villainess trope' to me. As in, the actually existing love rival antagonists archetype that shows up in romance stories from time tot time, not the clichéd dead unicorn trope from the villainess reincarnation genre.

While I was only acquainted with her on the surface level, Yseult ticked most of the boxes. Refined lady from high society, noble and well-connected, a more fitting match to the male lead due to her eminence, a more seductive style of beauty to contrast with the wholesome girl-next-door attractiveness of the female lead… Heck, now that I thought about it, she even had a hand fan, which was weirdly common amongst stereotypical Eastern romance story villainesses, whether the story was set in a medieval European or Asian setting.

Now, I couldn't be sure if she was interested in Naoren in a romantic sense or not, but there were too many significant markers present to dismiss my hunch as just paranoia. However, if I was right, then it meant that Mountain Girl was already set up to have a whole romance subplot dedicated to her as far as… the time of the Draconian Conference and the tournament arc? Sheesh.

It also explained why the Vritras came and left without interacting with me or causing any development in the 'main plot', so to speak; they were here to nudge Rinne's sub-plot along. The question was whether this was Narrative-me trying to pull some strings to say 'Hey, look! I'm still here!', or just the cascading result of plots and hooks already set up in advance and moving through narrative inertia.

I didn't know, and I couldn't do much about it, so I focused on what I could actually affect.

"Okay, people. Here's what we're going to do."

Both Naoren's and Ammy's ears perked up, though for different reasons.

"Am I also involved in this?" the class rep blurted out in surprise, and after some thinking, I nodded.

"Sure. You're now an official conspirator. Congratulations."

"Uh… I don't feel good about this…"

Ignoring the girl moaning on the side, I turned to the bespectacled patriarch and levelled a serious gaze at him.

"Listen up. First off, sit down with Rinne and ask her out normally. Tell her that you like her, in simple terms, so that she can't misunderstand."

"If you think that's the wisest course of action…"

"Also," I cut in, a finger raised. "When were you planning to announce this fake marriage thing?"

"During this week's banquet."

Ah, right. Banquets. Draconians, whether from the West or the East, were into those to an almost obsessive degree, and we had one of them practically every weekend. I didn't care much for them though, so I never attended any of them. However, this time around I figured I would have to make an exception.

"Okay, then if Rinne agrees to a relationship without strings attached, you'll announce it there. I'll provide backup."

"Backup? Why?"

"To bail you out when the inevitable complications rear their ugly heads," I told him with a knowing smirk, and it finally made him relax a bit.

"Your pessimism is showing again."

"No, it's not pessimism. It's experience," I corrected him and tapped my temple with a finger for punctuation. "I think that's all I can say at the moment. I need to collect more data and consult Judy and Elly on how to proceed, so let's cut this discussion here for the day."

"Isn't that a bit sudden?" Ammy chimed in, but I only answered after I stood up from the table.

"I mean, I've got my answers, and I told Naoren the what's what, so things are on track and there's not much else to discuss." Meanwhile, I walked over to the patriarch's side, and put a hand onto the backrest of his chair. "Also, I kind of promised the people in the meeting room that I would only borrow this guy for a few minutes and then return him in one piece, and I'm a man of my word."

"Wait, what do you mean by return in—?!"

Before he could protest (or get up), I grabbed the chair with Naoren on top of it and lifted it over my head.

"Upsy-daisy, and away we go!"

"No, stop! Or at least let me pick up the privacy artifact!"/"Hold on! What about my documents!"

Ignoring the complaints coming from all around me, I casually strolled towards the only entrance of the room, already lost in thought. All things considered, as annoyingly as this whole situation started, it turned out to be potentially beneficial in the end. If my hunch was right, then I could use this to observe how a sub-plot would unfold without Narrative Influence. Or heck, it might even provide me with a relatively safe and low-stakes environment to practice being a stand-in for Narrative-me. I was sure Naoren wouldn't mind the minor inconvenience that could may or may not come with it, right?