Ruby’s Desire

**Janus Side**

When I reached my Father’s Door, there was already someone inside. But I didn’t care, and I shouted while stepping through the door, “Father, I have to talk to you!”

My father was in the middle of talking to Joe and seemed rather displeased about the sudden entry. And Joe looked rather amused about my behavior.

“Janus, haven’t I taught you better than to burst into my office, get out.” His words immediately took the wind out of my sails, and I deflated.

I still tried to push forward, “But I know...” but my father cut me off beforehand. “I heard you, but we will talk later. For now, I would like you to wait outside.”

And so, I waited, wandering up and down in front of my Father’s Office.

Eventually, after what felt like hours, the door opened. Joe gave me a happy sneer, seemingly enjoying the Thought of me getting lectured by Father. I paid him no mind, but I was still too excited about what Ruby told me. I walked through the doorway, passed my brother, and closed the door behind me. My father didn’t look happy but still offered me a seat in front of him.

“Now tell me what you want to talk about, and you better hope that it is useful, or I have to tell Otto to reeducate you,” he said with a stone-cold glare.

I paid him no mind and explained to my father what Ruby had told me. My father didn’t seem very surprised. He must have guessed something like this was Happening. But why hasn’t he said anything? I asked with surprise,

“Father, you knew?”

But he just said smugly, “Of course, I knew what gave it away.”

Even though he didn’t want to hear it, I said, “As always, the look in your eyes.” Even when my father’s face is lying, his eyes are always honest. My remark visibly flustered him. But I brushed past my father’s rare expression and asked with visible incomprehension,

“But why haven’t you…” my father interrupted and finished my sentence with,

“…done anything? Simple, I had a general idea about it. But I can’t risk the lives of my men on an idea. But more important than that is what we will do about it.”

He sighed and began to crack his knuckles while ordering, “Janus, I want you and Joe to lead an escort to Aldmoor and bring that goddam coward of a priest here.”

“With Joe?” I asked, hoping I had misheard. The last mission I took with Joe was nothing short of a disaster.

“Yes, you and Joe. This stupid feud between you two must end. You must learn how to work together, or I will never be able to retire at this rate.” For the first time, the always steadfast father I knew sounded tired. Losing his friend Father Roland must have hit him harder than I knew.

“The two of you will be equals for this mission. And if you can’t agree on how to proceed, hold a vote. Do you understand?”

His tone left no room for complaints or changes. It wasn’t the voice of my father but the voice of Marquess Olliver Yuwen, the Lord of Fort Rose Shield. I answered,

“Yes, father.” But I couldn’t ignore his following words.

“Good, you will leave in two days at dawn.”

“What two days. but the festival?” I immediately regretted asking.

“Janus. TWO DAYS AT DAWN. Is that clear?”

Why did I say that? Usually, I wouldn’t whine about missing the festival. Even in the past, I would volunteer for guard duty on most holidays anyway. Why was I suddenly so opposed to missing it? But under my father’s gaze, I could only give one answer.

“Yes, Father.”

“It is just a festival. Getting that priest here safely and finding out what is holding them up is more important than any festival.”

Was he comforting me? Yeah, no way.

“Then the next point. Have you found anything out about the stone?”

“No, nothing. None of the scouts found any traces, and the last witness is still just Averall, who claims to have seen it 3 days before we found Ruby.” From one day to the next, It just vanished. Maybe it was carried away by a flock of Harpy or some flying monster, but this is speculation. The investigation has reached a dead end, but apparently, my father disagreed.

“Doesn’t she know anything?”

“Who, Ruby? “Instead of answering, my father looked into my eyes. “Sadly, nothing; she only remembers right before Joe and the twins found her.” my father’s eyes darkened.

“And you believe her?”

“Yes, she has no reason to lie. And to be honest, we don’t even know what the stone was. It’s not like it was important.”

The stone in the middle of the crater was an immovable, perfect 4-meter-wide and tall sphere of completely black stone, darker than any other material.

“For now, the best theory is that the Ibasans somehow removed the stone…”

“Somehow?” my father interjected mockingly, but I continued with my conclusion,

“…and that Ruby was able to escape from slavery but lost her memories.”

He again looked deep into my eyes as if to gauge my true thoughts before doubting my theory further by asking,

“Quite convenient, wouldn’t you say?”

At this point, I was beginning to get angry. We talked about this for months, and he still wouldn’t let go of his doubts. I asked with great effort not to raise my voice,

“Are you still on about this? Why are you still antagonizing her?”

Before answering, my father stood up, seemingly tired of this conversation. I complained inwardly; if he is tired of this topic, why can’t he let it go. Without even looking at me, he asked, frustrated,

“Why aren’t you? Why are you so fixated on seeing only the best in her?”

I stand up and turn around, intending to leave. And while leaving, I say,

“It is thanks to her. Without her, I wouldn’t have noticed the change in the Ibasan’s tactics”. But before I could reach the door, my father asked in a monotone voice.

“Sigh, you really like this girl, do you?”. He wasn’t even looking at me. Instead, he was staring through the window into Mother’s Rose Garden.

“Yes, she is a good friend,” I replied curtly. At the word ‘yes,’ my father’s shoulders tensed up. Only to drop down immediately at the word ‘friend’. He looked at me over his shoulder and said tired,

“And I thought amongst you and your brothers that you are the smart one.”

“What do you mean,” I asked accusingly.

“Well, I don’t care as long as you don’t forget your position as my heir.” With these words, he turned around and looked back into the rose garden. I’m unsure if he knows, but he always looks at mother’s rose garden when upset. There was again a long pause between us. I thought the conversation camouflaged interrogation was over, but when I tried to grab the doorknob, my father again threw me off completely,

“You are already 22. After your next mission, you have to choose a wife.”

“What!? Where did this come from!?” I exclaimed, alarmed.

“You know where it came from, and you should be happy. I’ll let you choose at all!” he said harshly, adding in a much calmer, almost soothing voice, “Not all Nobles are this lucky.”

“But...” I tried to interject, only for him to interrupt me immediately, “My decision is final. Even your mother agrees that you should find a wife soon”.”

“You have talked to Mother about this,” I exclaimed, surprised. I can’t even remember the last time I saw them together. Even during family gatherings, my mother only showed up after he had left.

“Yes, she complained that she still had only one grandchild and wanted me to find a good husband for Martha and a good wife for you.”

I started complaining, “The last time I met a noble lady from a different family was two years ago.”

“That isn’t a problem. I already looked through all the young women you can pick in the country.” He said as if it was an easy task. Did he just say the whole country?

“I can’t win, can I?” I asked while looking down at my feet, defeated.

“Of course not, “my father replied with a smirk,” But you don’t have to dread it. I have already filtered out the wrong choices, and there are still 14 Candidates that I approve of. Their Files are on the Table.”

“You want me to pick my wife based on Files?” I asked in frustration.

“Of course not. They are there just to give you an idea, and then during the next social season, you will travel in my stead to the Capital for the Anniversary. There, you can make your final choice.”

With these words, my father declared the meeting was over. After the office door closed behind me, as my father pushed me out, I still couldn’t come to terms with what just happened. How did the conversation go from discussing Ibasan tactics to me getting a fiance?

Sigh, I need a drink.