Chapter 5
Princess Klara’s aura shook with reluctance, shame, and suppressed anger as she stared at the cousins.
“What do you want?” Arne asked, matching her tone in forgoing protocol.
“I… Ugh,” she groaned. “I owe you for yesterday.”
‘Come again?!’ Arne had expected threats, demands, vows of eternal vengeance… And so had Friedrich, whose aura exuded irritation and confusion in equal measure.
“That duel was a close call,” she continued through clenched teeth. “As much as I hate to admit it, you did me a favor by stopping it there. My reputation might have taken a severe hit had it continued in the same manner.”
Arne could understand that line of thought, since it was exactly what had prompted him to intervene on his cousin’s behalf. However, he had surmised that Klara would consider the result either quid-pro-quo or a severe offense.
“It goes against House Eisenberg’s – no, my honor to owe a favor of this kind,” she spat. The ‘to the likes of you’ written in her indignant expression was left unsaid. “So, name your demands.”
Arne was conflicted. Her aggressive request practically invited an exchange of insults and a refusal to acknowledge her ‘debt’. In fact, that was probably what she was aiming for. An easy way to paint them as honorless savages with no regard for Imperial customs.
If, however, he decided to accept her request and pose a demand, an entirely new series of pitfalls would materialize. If she considered his demand too insignificant, she could easily frame it as House Hohenfels mocking House Eisenberg’s honor. Conversely, a hefty demand would leave them open for accusations of unseemly greed and thus, dishonorable behaviour.