40 First Meeting?

Pov. Orion

I was inside a ballroom surrounded by 3 old farts and their wives.

From my right, they were lined up in order-

Baron Hugo von Dumas older man wearing a green suit...he smells a lot like a beans

Viscount Tom von Faucher, a slim man in his forties wearing a yellow tuxedo, his wife behind him was looking at me like a hunter is looking at its pray basically drooling and "seductively" licking her lips

I bet she is regular at the male brothel.

And lastly, Count Ethan von Pelletier, a fat old small man but unlike old Theodore who looked kind, he wore a nasty grin on his face most of the time ignoring me and looking at Uriel who was standing quietly behind me.

"You really are a gem of this kingdom mister Orion, I heard you were sick and the lord duke wouldn´t let you out. We are really happy that doesn´t seem to be the case anymore and we were able to meet tonight" Tom said with a polite tone while the other two were nodding along

Even though his tone was polite meaning if his word was different.

'So the rumors were false and you were not just banished from your family' Is what he meant

I ordered Uriel to collect all sort of rumors that were about me and even about some other characters.

From the result I , could deduce that 30% of people believed that I am sick. 50 % believed the rumors I was just an arrogant brat and my family hid me out of shame.20% Believed other sorts of rumors like me not existing or that I died a long time ago.

"We have a daughter that is about the same age as you mister Orion, it's real shame we couldn't bring her with us. She would love to spend some quality time with someone like you" Tom´s wife whose I never really bothered remembering her name asked

Yeah, I bet you would too like to spend some "quality" time with me if you could get the opportunity.

"If you weren´t satisfied with my daughter I would also like to show you my collections of precious gems...If you ever wanted to visit our territory"

She said that with a straight face?? And in front of her husband?

Whoa, her eyes are looking dangerous is her husband blind or just doesn´t care anymore?

The line "I would like to show you my collection..." Is an invitation to "sparing in bed" noble women often use.

I learned that common sense doesn´t really apply to nobles not like I have any common sense to begin with after all I was reborn as an angel... but there are certain things that surprise me.

And the adult woman in her thirties offering herself to a boy that is looking like he 12 years old right in front of her husband is one of such things..

"Thank you, madam, I would love to have new friends...But I don´t think my mother would allow me to travel to such a faraway place." I said trying to look innocent but not dumb at the same time

Yeah better pretend I didn´t understand the meaning behind her sentence.

Normally I would probably try more...but honestly there is no point in doing something like that anymore

After all most of them won´t leave this place in one piece.

"Mister Orion I would be overjoyed if you could visit my territory with your mother duchess. Our territory is closer and we have many beautiful lakes with sights that can´t be seen anywhere else" baron Hugo inserted as he saw an opportunity to appeal.

"I will ask my dear mother after I will return hom-"

"Mister Orion, can I ask you where duke acquired such a rare breed with golden eyes" Count Ethan disrespectfully interrupted me mid-sentence and asked.

"Huh?" I subconsciously said not expecting him to be so bold about it

Unfazed Count Ethan continued

"You see I have a hobby of collecting all sorts of unique specimens, most of the time In slave auctions or putting a request in adventure guild yet I have never seen such a unique specimen with golden eyes and lime hair" He licked his lips after he said ignoring me while speaking only looking at her

"I would pay any price for her. If it's not possible to decide for yourself I can, of course, contact duke. So what do you say helping me with it as a gift of our friendship?" While disgustingly licking his lips Count then extended his hand to touch Uriel.

I instinctively grabbed his hand. It didn´t use much strength. Only enough to slightly crush his bones.

I squeezed his hand that was about to break under my strength when a soft hand landed on my shoulder and woke me up from trans.

I let go of his hand and count retreated it with a pale expression. Even though I didn´t break his hand completely he was probably shocked when the boy that is even shorter than he had such strength in his slim arms.

Other nobles excluding the count out of nowhere bowed in unison.

I couldn´t understand until I looked over my shoulder to see the young girl slightly taller than me with blonde hair and red eyes holding my shoulder with one hand while glaring at the count.

"We greet the third princess of the Kingdom, the moon that shines upon a night" Nobles spoke in unison

'Laila? How it's possible I couldn´t sense her even though she was behind me?'

I didn´t have the luxury to think too much about it as she changed her attention from count to me

"I am Laila Adair von Malphas, nice to meet you Orion" Laila innocently smiled and said

Silence

"EHmm..Orion?" The girl spoke again to me because of the lack of response from me but I was too shocked to speak

This girl before me...is too pure.

Not metaphorically speaking...

I looked over my shoulder to see Uriel´s reaction but she was too looking at her with widened eyes.

So it's not just me she can sense it too.

I was speechless for only one reason...this girl was not tainted by corrosion. Not even a bit.

Something that should be among humans only possible for the main character.

"My apologies...I just remembered something from the past I am Orion Von Astrape, it's my pleasure to meet you princess" I woke up from my thoughts and responded

Laila only innocently smiled at me as if she didn´t mind.

Around this time she was only 12 years old. Her brother the prince was around my age and she became an adult in the second faze of the game in one of the events...of course only if you played the route where she survive Orion and more than a dozen other "accidents".

Following behind her was her maid Matilda. So she is already here huh?

One of the few people that sacrificed their lives in process of protecting Laila.

She was someone that replaced the place of a parent in Liala´s heart when her mother died and her father was blatantly ignoring her.

"It seems like we are only fifth wheels here so we will leave right count Ethan?" Viscount Tom said and dragged the shocked count Ethan by the sleeve of his shoulder

"A-Ah yes we will leave princess it was a pleasure to meet you" Viscount Tom and Baron Hugo both dragged that pig, Ethan, in a hurry

Hmm, why are they trying to escape?

"Thank you for your understanding," Matilda said and bowed in Leila´s place that treated nobles as nonexistent and was only looking at me

"Would you like to eat something, Orion?" Laila said pointing at the table with snacks on it

"Yes, I hope they got pudding" I blurted which maid Laila slightly laugh

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Third Person Pov.

Orion and Laila were sitting on the balcony with plates in their hands.

They were alone because Lila send her maid out and Orion did the same because of noble etiquette.

"Look Orion at this muffin it's cute isn´t it?" Laila showed Orion a Muffin that looked like a ladybug

"Yes, it's a really cute, princess"

Laila cutely pouted when she heard his textbook-like response.

She was tired of people speaking to her like that all the time.

"You don´t need to speak so formally with me you know?? We are the same age anyway..."

At this Orion showed a smug expression

"Then if you say so...but do you know that I am way OLDER ?" Orion smugly said teasing Laila whose eyes widened

"Really even though you are so short?"Laila laughed at him and pretended to be hit by an invisible arrow when she mentioned his height....

"Tsk, forget about heights...is there anything you like prin-"

"Laila! Call me Laila" Leila corrected him cutely trying to look angry

"Then Laila is there anything you like?

"Hmm..:

She was stroking touching her chin trying to think of something when a light bulb shone above her head.

"Animal...I like animals. But dad won´t allow me to have any pets inside the castle.."She said with a glum expression

Orion remembered the scene where she once sneaked a dog inside a palace and the king killed it in front of her to teach her a lesson.

'I should probably give her "that"..it can protect her while I will be away from the kingdom..'

"Then I will give you a gift as thanks for helping me with that old fart"

"You noticed?" she asked surprised

She was shocked because she tough he wouldn´t notice. Which made her a bit embarrassed.

Matilda pointed out that Orion might be in trouble and it would be a good opportunity to introduce herself favorably. That's why she appeared and drove away nobles.

Orion nodded and clenched his hand. Inside while light gathered as if it was forming something.

Laila was watching the whole process with sparkles inside her eyes.

"Is that magic!!!?" She shouted excitedly

Even though she is living in the world of magic. In her environment, she has little to no chance to see it in action. Because of that, her expression brightened when she saw something so amazing this close.

When Orion finally opened his clenched hand. A butterfly made of white magic power was sitting on his palm. It was around the size of a normal butterfly but its wings were sparkling beautifully and were almost transparent.

"Can I touch it??" Dali´s eyes were about to pop out from excitement and her whole body was shaking.

This was the first time she has ever seen something so cute. Even the animals she saw in the forest weren´t so cute!! For a girl of her age, this was ultimate happiness.

"Of course, it's yours now..."Orion said and the small butterfly flew off his hand and landed on Laila´s nose.

"Do you like it?"

"It's cutest thank you, Orion!!" Laila said as she couldn´t hold her excitement and hugged Orion.

Orion genuinely smiled when he saw girls smile. It felt different from when Cleo hugged him, because he knew it was real. He could feel the affection thought this gesture.

Her smile was also real... not only a cut scene playing on the screen of the tv.

Even though he knew most of the feelings he felt at that time were influenced by the guilt of the original Orion.

He still decided to save her.

So he could repay what she gave him at that time.

"I need to give him the cute name that will suit him...but what if will father take him away from me?"

"Don´t worry, It's a magical butterfly so only you can see him." He reassured her which made her sight in relief

"But be careful around people like Alyssa. She will be probably able to see it so if she asks you something just play dumb."

'Only someone stronger than me can see it...and Alyssa is right now way above me'

"But isn´t laying bad?" Laila asked while tilting her head

"I mean I can take that butterfly back..." Orion moved to take it but Laila quickly covered it with her hands as if she was protecting some sort of treasure with a wary expression

"Orion you bully..."Laila mumbled

"Hahaha sorry It's just refreshing seeing someone changing expressions so quickly and you are cute"

At the surprise attack, Laila´s face turned instantly red like a tomato. Even though she had no reaction to his beauty when they met which made Orion honestly impressed. It looks like she was just weak to compliments.

"Oya, what a cute reaction you really want me to bully yo-" with a sadistic grin Orion spoke but someone knocked on the door interrupting him

Knock! Knock!

"...Tsk...You can enter"

None other than Cleo entered the balcony followed by Uriel who had an expression that was hard to read but Orion could understand she felt guilty.

'Cleo probably forced her to spill the beans'

Like a girlfriend that caught her boyfriend cheating, Cleo stood with one hand on the hip glaring at the unknown blonde girl that is close to her fiance.

"I am interrupting something ORION?"

The look on her annoyed face made him want to punch her really badly , she was interrupting his precious time with Laila. But he instantly calmed himself.

After all, play is still ongoing and he must play the role of her cute innocent fiance.

"I was just playing with my new friend big sis" Orion answered innocently

Laila´s face instantly brightened when he mentioned the word "friend".

'Matilda was right...I really found a friend' Laila thought to herself and hugged a butterfly she cold in her hands

"I see then it's okay, will you introdu-" This time Cleo couldn´t finish her sentence because the whole mansion shook.

Orion gave Uriel a signal with his eyes to protect Laila while Cleo moved to protect him from falling.

Uriel nodded and kicked off the ground to save Laila who was falling from the balcony.

'The show is starting' Orion thought to himself in Ceo´s embrace

[ Trivia-7 After Laila´s mother died she spent most of her time locked in her room hiding from her brother that hated her and her father who was ignoring her until a maid named Matilda was assigned to her and changed her life.

I have zero energy and I am going to sleep..so I hope when I wake up there will be a million comments!!... Just like always, I love you all]