I followed Essence to breakfast and my shoulders sank when I realized that everyone was already present. I wouldn't be able to have my breakfast alone...
"Mister Zeidan!"
Quistis waved to me excitedly while Demien smiled shyly. Hearing the childr call my name made Payne jump up from his seat. He bowed and pulled my chair for me. He didn't need to but I wasn't going to start a fight in front of the children:
"Thank you."
He didn't go anywhere and looked at my jacket:
"Green really suits you."
I could feel my whole body freeze up. It couldn't have been a coincidence. I looked up at Payne and he was in fact smirking. I knew that he did it on purpose and felt my blood boil. Payne on the other hand seemed very proud of himself and he sat down next to me in a good mood. Everyone watched him sit down in a big silence, his family members looking at him perplexed. I understood their confusion. In all the time I had known him, I had never heard him compliment anyone. Yureka was the one that woke up first and she smiled:
"My simple brother is right for once! You look very sharp wearing green, Mister Zeidan."
I could feel my cheeks blushing and I tried hiding them with my hand:
"Thank you anyway, we should eat now."
Yureka started laughing:
"Are you getting shy?"
I quickly shook my head. But Payne decided that he wouldn't let me go that easily. Why was he annoying me so early in the morning?
"Mister Zeidan isn't comfortable with receiving compliments."
Quistis's eyes became very round:
"Why is that? Yuyu always says that we are the best children she ever met and hearing her say that always makes me feel warm inside."
I nodded, trying to change the subject:
"That is because you are very good children.
-But you are a good person too and you deserve compliments too."
I grabbed the first cake that I could reach:
"What is this?"
Everyone froze again. Quistis noticed the awkward atmosphere and was about to say something when both Yureka and Demien stuffed cake inside her mouth.
"It's a Black Forest cake."
Essence frowned:
"Have you never tasted one before?
-No."
I didn't understand why Essence was making that face. Quistis immediately straightened up, her cheeks finally empty:
"You will love it, mister! It's my favorite cake!
-Really? Then I will surely taste it."
Payne had to destroy the moment once again. I had finally forgotten about his presence :
"There is no screaming during breakfast, Quistis.
-I'm sorry...
-And sit properly."
I glared at Payne but he didn't seem to understand why. At least everything went back to normal thanks to his interjection and everyone started eating silently. Or that was what I thought. People seemed to be staring at me and seeing everyone looking at me made me frown.
"Have I made a mistake?"
Yureka quickly shook her head:
"How do you like the Black Forest Cake?
-Oh... It's very tasty.
-I am relieved. You should try the other cakes too. This one is my favorite."
I ate as fast as possible and even thought that I could rush through the meal without having to speak to anyone. That was without counting on Essence:
"Do you have anything to report to the family?"
Payne put his fork down with a serious look:
"I didn't mean to report it during breakfast but the author of the letter has been arrested."
Already? The man who wrote to the maid to poison Quistis? How did he manage to catch the man in a single night? He had no idea what he looked like or where he came from. Yureka was just as perplexed as me hearing that sentence:
"What letter?
-The one sent with the flask of poi-"
I kicked Payne under the table which made him flinch. Why did he have to talk about that in front of the children? What was wrong with him? Did he want to traumatize them? Did he think that they were as heartless as him?
Payne seemed very surprised by my reaction and he looked at me with round eyes. Having him suddenly stop talking, everyone followed his gaze and started looking at me too. Seeing me angry worried Demien:
"Mister Zeidan... Is there something wrong? Do you perhaps not like the cake?"
I quickly shook my head:
"No, everything is fine. This cake is the best cake I have ever eaten."
Demien blushed a bit as if he was the one who baked the cake.
"You should call Mister Zeidan Duke Consort, Demien."
I almost choked on my cake hearing Payne say that:
"Don't call me that! We aren't married."
Payne raised an eyebrow:
"They should get used to it. We will soon be married after all."
I laughed:
"Should I remind you that the Temple still hasn't approved of our wedding?"
Payne looked at me and I could feel that I would hate whatever he was about to say next:
"We have received a letter from the Temple this morning."
No.
"They have given us their approval.
-No!"
My fork fell to the ground in a deafening clatter. Everyone looked at me but I couldn't hide my surprise:
"But... How?"
Payne didn't even look at me and continued eating calmly:
"They couldn't reject a union that was decided by her Highness herself."
That didn't hold them back in the past. In my first life I had stayed in the mansion for months without them accepting the union. I had no idea what Payne did but I never would have thought that he would convince them that fast. What could he have given them? Or what did he threaten them with? No, it wasn't important how, first of all I had to stop this wedding from happening.
"I request an audience with you."
Payne frowned:
"You don't have to ask for an audience. You can talk to me whenever you want."
I jumped up:
"Then that would be now.
-Don't you want to eat a bit more?
-No."
I bowed towards the kids:
"Thank you for the cake, please enjoy the rest of your breakfast."
Quistis jumped up as if she was about to see me for the last time in her life:
"Can we have tea together afterwards?"
I smiled gently:
"Of course. I won't be long."