Episode 22 ...

Talon heeded his mistress' command and opened the door wider this time for Jasper and Anselme to get in. With both his hands behind his back like a little gentleman, Jasper stepped inside the room and Anselme followed behind him.

Scarlet was about to offer Jasper the empty seat beside Levin when he suddenly came straight towards her and picked the sleeping fox from her lap using his thumb and index finger, holding him by the back of his neck.

Red was awaken from his sleep immediately and he struggled to break free from Jasper's grasp but he was ignored and tossed away, landing straight on Eireen's lap. He landed with a thump and Eireen flinched when the Red was thrown to her.

Jasper turned his attention back to Scarlet.

"...Fur." he mumbled, brushing away the remaining fur on her lap. After that, he climbed up on her lap and sat comfortably on her thighs like it was his rightful place in the world.

Seeing that his favorite bed was taken away from him, Red growled. His golden eyes glowing with hostility towards Jasper. This little brat! How dare he take my place on her majesty's lap!

On the other hand, Jasper was enjoying the feeling of satisfaction of sitting on his wife's lap to even notice the crimson creature glaring at him.

Jasper just didn't care.

"Red, it's okay..." Seeing the angry fox, Scarlet tried to console him but the fuming Red didn't seem to hear her so she tried again.

"Red, don't be angry anymore okay? I'll let you sleep on my lap later. How about that?"

That seemed to have gotten through Red since he suddenly became quiet.

Scarlet smiled. "Do we have a deal?"

Red's golden eyes lit up. He nodded his head in expectation to her promise. "Ung! Ung!"

Scarlet then felt Jasper's eyes on her so she looked down at the little lord on her lap. His dark oceanic eyes met with hers and she saw that his pink little lips was pouting at her in dissatisfaction.

"What?" she asked.

Jasper's face returned to it's normal emotionless state and casually said. "Nothing... I waited for you to come visit me this morning." he said, changing the topic.

Anselme glanced at his master. His words may sound casual to Scarlet's ears since his tone was calm and monotonous but for Anselme who served Jasper for a very long time, he knew that his master was actually complaining to his wife.

"Oh! Right. Sorry. I forgot to tell you that I already arranged to meet with the Scarlet Order so I had to see them first and I'm really sorry for not telling you. "

The Scarlet Order watched Scarlet and Jasper interact in front of them and their expressions turned gloomy especially Eigeel and Eireen since they couldn't accept the fact that their queen was being casually talked to without honorifics by a mere child.

Jasper peered into Scarlet's dark translucent eyes to see if she was being genuine with her apology towards him. And when he looked at her, she didn't look away and stared back at him without holding anything back. Ten seconds later Jasper confirmed that she was really telling him the truth so he gave up and broke eye contact.

"Very well. To compensate for the grievance you've cost me, you will be spending your remaining time with me after this." he said and he wasn't asking. It was an order and Scarlet couldn't say no since she kinda felt like she had to take responsible for making him feel like she forgot him anyway.

Although, firstly she had to make sure that she didn't have any appointments after the meeting so she turned towards her ever-so-reliable aide, Eigeel.

"Uhm. Eigeel, do I have any appointment after this?"

Silence. He didn't want to answer. He even thought of lying but in the end he gave up.

"...You'll be free once this meeting is over, my queen." he answered after a long pause and secretly gave Jasper a swift but very calculating glance.

Scarlet didn't notice the stares but Jasper did. His dark oceanic eyes narrowed into slits as he eyed Eigeel who was now fixing his monocle.

It was clear that this man named Eigeel doesn't like him very much. 'Is he perhaps aiming for his wife's affection as well?' he thought.

Unfortunately for Red, his ears perked up when he heard that Scarlet was going to spend her remaining time with that brat after the meeting. What about her promise? Did she forget? This is so unfair!

Scarlet saw Red's grieving face and felt guilty so she cleared her throat and said, "Don't worry, Red. How about we do it tomorrow instead?"

Although he wasn't really satisfied, Red agreed to the new arrangement while pouting and bobbed his head. Better this than being completely forgotten by his favourite master.

Scarlet saw Jasper deep in thought so she softly called his name.

"Jasper?" No response.

"Jasper?"

"...Yes?" he answered but still lost in thought.

"Are you planning to stay and listen to the meeting?" she asked.

Jasper's expression immediately turned dark as he turned and looked at her. "Are you driving me away?"

Scarlet frowned. "Huh? No. Of course not. I just thought you might feel bored while listening to our discussion. I was about to suggest to amuse yourself in the gardens, if you want."

Jasper shook his head leaned his back to her, "No need..." He crossed his arms in front of his chest, "I'm going to stay here with you so don't mind me and continue with your meeting."

Scarlet didn't know what to say when Jasper snuggled his head close to her chest then slowly closed his eyes to sleep.

"Okay..." Scarlet gently touched Jasper's hair and combed it with her fingers. I guess since he said he wouldn't be bored here because he'll just sleep it off.

Then it's a better to leave him be then, she thought. She likes the feeling of him sleeping on her lap like this anyway. Her chest strangely feels warm and fuzzy holding him in her arms.

***

The meeting continued on to the next agenda and it was all about the condition of the realm and the upcoming plans to do next, now that she's awake.

Eigeel did a brief report about the plans of the rebels forces to attack Donatel tomorrow and he already assigned Eireen to take care of the matter.

Which was a surprising news to Scarlet and the other members of the Order since they knew that Eireen doesn't normally do tasks that involves wars and fighting.

Anyway, the rebel forces came to be before Scarlet's awakening one hundred years ago. Some of the lower nobles grew restless of her absence and they pushed for a temporary leader to rule the kingdom among the higher nobles.

Unfortunately for them, the power and influence of the Scarlet Order didn't wane after 400 years of maintaining the kingdom without their queen. And to cut down those scheming nobles, Eigeel acted in her stead and executed them all after determining each and evert traitor in one fell swoop.

Marcemus and Teofolos are the last of the nobles who were able to escape their execution. They hid themselves farther east near the edge of the kingdom together with their followers and bid their time and grew their numbers.

During those times, they did small guerrilla attacks on the kingdom's military supplies to feed themselves since vegetation beyond the city walls was impossible. Their successes could only be counted by the fingers of a hand. And the small city of Donatel is one of the 3 recognized territories that has average defensive capabilities against invaders since they were a little bit far from the capital and the borders guards.

And since the small city is abundant with food and vegetation like the capital and the only one nearest to their hideout, Donatel is the perfect place for them to conquer.

Marcemus and Teofolos might have thought that attacking the city would gain them an advantage. But sadly they were against the most cunning and merciless strategist in the kingdom, and that is Eigeel.

He was obviously toying with them like a cat playing with a mouse. It's obvious that they weren't a real threat from the way he was smirking while reporting everything, saying the situation has already fallen under his 'complete' control.