184 Exual Persuasion

He ignores whatever retort Henrietta was going to give and follows Tiffania to the nearby river, the girl sitting on a stone outcropping and patting the place next to her. "Something on your mind, Tiff?"

She gives a slightly sullen nod, "I spoke with the princess earlier... She says you attacked them first. Is this true?"

"I mean, yeah, if you want to look at it like that. They refused to hand over the book, so there was only one other option forward. You understand that, right?"

TIffania gives a tentative nod, "I do, but, the princess said that she would have let us borrow the book if you had explained why you needed it. I think she was being honest too..."

Michael shakes his head, "No... We can't even tell them why we need it, first because it'd reveal your status as a Void Mage, and second because they wouldn't let us have it if they knew we intended to leave this world. They'd fear that we'd take it with us." he states, not mentioning that he would indeed have stolen the book at that point... It wasn't like they'd be able to chase them for it, is it?

"I think... We should listen to Henrietta, and make a deal, instead of keeping her as a hostage. We are already being hunted, do you wish for that to continue while I am trying to learn from the prayer book?"

Michael lets out a sigh and rests his hand over hers, "Tiff, you shouldn't listen to her. She's only trying to convince you because she's in the weaker position. If our roles were reversed, she'd have had us executed in front of a public audience the first chance she got. These are not people that can be fairly dealt with, even if she manages to convince you otherwise."

...

Tiffania was still looking conflicted, and Michael isn't really sure how to convince her that his method was the correct one. "Tiff, do you trust me?" he asks and she nods. "I'll see if anything the princess said was real, but if that fails, know that I tried. Alright?"

She smiles, "Thank you."

Michael grins back, "Now, shall we get our guest home?" he says while getting up and holding out a hand to assist Tiffania, the girl happily grabbing it as he helps her to her feet. "Ok, lets go."

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Two hours later :

Michael is standing atop the hill that he'd designated as the meeting point with the princess tied up next to him. He chose this location specifically because of its vicinity to a large forest south east of Tristania. This would allow him to escape towards Lake Lagdorian and into Germania if shit really hit the fan, not to mention make it difficult for Tristain to set up an ambush.

Tiffania and Ralf were watching from a stone outcropping a mile or so away, the latter ready to summon his dragon if the situation arises.

"So, I head you were talking to Tiffania... A peaceful resolution, was it?" he asks while scanning the surroundings for Louise and her entourage.

"I was, and I believe we can end all of this without fighting... True, you might get the book using this dishonourable method, but Tristain wouldn't allow you to go after kidnapping me."

Michael just shakes his head, "Alright, say I listened to you. What would it take for me to get the book? What would you ask for? Aside from your freedom." he sarcastically says regarding the last option.

"If you had no material worth to trade, then you would need to pay with your services." Henrietta states with a neutral look.

Michael crooks a bored brow at her, "And what would these 'services' involve?" he asks, wondering if she'd ask him to assassinate the King of Gallia like how Loutiel had.

"Unless you possess talents I am unaware of, all of your uses would be related to the military. Specifically the elimination of high priority targets... This would not be difficult for you, and I think it a fair trade for the use of a national treasure... No other country would be willing to offer such generous terms." Henrietta affirms.

Michael laughs, "Yeah, but no other country has had their princess kidnapped either. You might need to add abit more to persuade me, princess." he says, eying her up suggestively, though, not serious in his offer at all. He was only making a show of negotiating because Tiffania had asked him to. He simply didn't trust Henrietta at all, and was sure she would betray him whenever possible.

Henrietta shrinks slightly under his leer, but lets out a heavy sigh, "I-if that is what it would take to secure your loyalty then..." she trails off, not daring to voice her accent to such a vile deal. Indeed, the mere thought of selling herself to him had bile rising in her throat. But, what difference would this be compared to Teiter Gramont? At least this would likely only be a one time thing, instead of marriage.

Michael just bursts into laughter as she begins psyching herself up to accept such a term, unable to keep his composure at this stupid princess. True, she was sexy, with curves and beauty most women would sell their souls for, yet he wasn't interested in her at all. The sheer amount of baggage that'd come with her, along with Louise and Tiffania's reaction wasn't worth the reward in the slightest. "Hahaha! Keep your panties on, princess. I was only joking! I'd not touch you with the tip of Derflinger, let alone my own sword."

Henrietta growls with a steadily reddening face, angry at being japed at in such a situation. "You-... So my attempt to deal with you was for nought?" she asks, doing her best to ignore his improper actions and concentrating on securing his loyalty.

Michael shrugs, "No, it's just that you've offered little to nothing. I wouldn't even technically own the Prayer Book, so I'd essentially be receiving a library card for my kidnapped princess and services... Not even close to being a fair deal."