Just as Javier was about to say Heres’ name, Marcellus put his hand on Javier’s shoulder, making him glance over his shoulder.
"What?"
Marcellus narrowed his eyes toward him before saying, "Are you sure you want to do this?"
"Of course. Why?" Javier turned and tilted his head. "What’s wrong?"
Marcellus pinched the bridge of his nose before exhaling. "You know... we should make it more cool than just saying his name."
"Oh... now that you mention it, you’re right." Javier rubbed his chin. "So? How are we going to do this?"
Cedric crossed his arms, a smirk spreading across his lips. "Make him swipe his hair and flash a charming smile."
Aelius, who had been quietly observing, uncrossed his arms and lifted a hand, wiggling his finger. "Chi chi chi~ No. We should make him pose with dramatic style."
"No~" Marcellus grinned. "How about we make him twirl his mana guns and holster them on both sides before saying..." He demonstrated, slowly turning his head and glancing at them with a practiced, cool expression. "Oh, beautiful~ My name is Heres, Son of the Sovereign of Armand, pleasure to meet you."
"Ugh! No, no." Javier lifted one finger before planting both hands on his hips. "Better this way, brothers. Like this."
He struck a series of fast, fluid poses, each one flowing into the next with practiced flair. A single red rose materialized in his hand. He turned his head, slowly biting the stem of the rose between his teeth, and said in a smooth, deep voice.
"Oh, beautiful~ Roses are red, violets are blue, but none pare to the grace I’ve found in you~" He swiped his hair back with a flourish. "My name is Heres, and saving a beautiful roses was my pleasure."
Marcellus, Cedric, and Aelius stared at him in dead silence for a long moment before bursting into loud laughter. Marcellus slapped his thigh, his shoulders shaking as he laughed. Cedric lifted his arm, rolling up his sleeve to show his forearm covered in goosebumps.
"Wooooo! Look at my arm, damn!" Cedric said between laughs, shaking his head. "That was so smooth it gave me chills!"
Aelius let out a long, hearty laugh, wiping a tear from the corner of his eye. "Yeah, that’s definitely going to work, little brother! If you say that to any girl, she’ll be swooning in seconds!"
Javier grinned, striking another pose with the rose still between his teeth before plucking it out and twirling it between his fingers. "Of course it will. This is Javier you talking about~" He wiggled his eyebrows with a confident grin. "I’m sure this girl is going to fall for Heres the moment I use this pick-up line~"
Cedric’s face suddenly turned serious, his eyes widening as he glanced behind Javier. "Liana..."
Javier’s grin vanished instantly. He swallowed hard, his eyes widening as he lifted both hands in a panicked gesture. "Ah... L..Liana... I... I just..."
The three brothers burst into another round of roaring laughter, pointing at him as he stood there, looking like a child caught with his hand in the cookie jar.
"Got you! Hahahaha!" Marcellus wheezed, clutching his stomach.
Cedric wiped a tear from his eye, still chuckling. "The look on your face! Priceless!"
Aelius shook his head, a wide grin still plastered on his face. "You should have seen yourself, little brother. You went pale in an instant."
Javier groaned, dropping the rose and pinching the bridge of his nose. "You guys are the worst."
While the others were teasing Javier, Heres slowly stirred. He blinked, his vision adjusting to the dim evening light, and noticed Marcellus, Cedric, Aelius, and Javier gathered near a large holographic screen. A portable mana puter sat open near Javier. Heres stretched both arms up with a long, lazy yawn.
He paused, feeling something on his head. He tapped it with both hands, his expression puzzled.
"Hmm? What is this?"
He kept touching the helmet, turning it slightly as he tried to figure out what it was.
Javier and the others finally noticed he was awake.
"Oho? Finally awake?" Marcellus said with a grin.
Cedric groaned, shaking his head. "Damn! We missed our chance."
Javier rolled his eyes toward Marcellus. "Ugh! It’s because of you, suggesting that ridiculous pose."
"What? It’s not my fault you’re slow~"
Heres, still hazy from sleep, yawned again before narrowing his eyes at them. "What are you all talking about?" He touched the helmet on his head again. "And what is this, little brother?"
Javier grinned sheepishly, averting his eyes. "Ah, that? It’s just... we were running a... er... simulation."
"Simulation?" Heres tilted his head before noticing a wine bottle on his lap. He lifted it and placed it on the side table before slowly standing up, stretching his body with a relaxed groan. "Man... that was a good nap."
After stretching, Heres slowly walked toward Javier and the others. He leaned forward, rubbing his chin as he looked at the holographic screen. It showed a girl with a beautiful face, slightly smudged with dirt, looking up with wide, hopeful eyes.
"Heres?"
"Hmm? What?" Heres turned his head, still rubbing his chin.
Javier gestured toward the screen. "This is a situation simulation. You’re meeting a noble lady for the first time after saving her. You need to respond based on the context in front of you."
"Errr... what?" Heres tilted his head, confused.
"Stop thinking and just react!" Marcellus added, nudging him.
"You mean... talk to this... girl in the screen?"
"Yeah! This girl... err..." Javier nodded quickly, gesturing toward the screen. "Let’s just say I was running a simulation... a diplomatic rescue scenario. You just saved a noble lady from enemy batants. Now she’s asking for your name. She’s... she’s not real~ Yeah... not really real... so make it good!"
"You mean... I answer based on the situation or what she’ll ask?"
"Yeah!" Marcellus grinned. "Just treat it like a real conversation. Don’t overthink it. Just be cool."
"Oh...okay?"
Meanwhile.
Vurghen’s Last Town.
Emeline tilted her head, a flicker of confusion crossing her face as the handsome man in front of her simply stared at her with those beautiful, captivating eyes.
She fidgeted slightly, her cheeks warming.
Did I say something wrong? Was my question too forward? Perhaps I should not have asked so directly...
Ugh! I was supposed to be the first one to introduce myself properly before asking his name. How stupid of me!
He must think me impolite. A proper noble lady would have waited to be introduced, not demanded a name so boldly. Oh, what must he think of me now?
She fidgeted slightly, her cheeks flushing as she lowered her gaze. "Umm... I apologize if I was being rude, suddenly asking for our savior’s name without even introducing myself first."
’Heres’ snap out of his daze, a calm, charming smile spreading across his lips.
"Ah, forgive me. I was momentarily lost in the beauty of your eyes. It’s not every day a man is blessed with such a captivating sight, even amidst the chaos of battle. My name is Heres. Son of Sovereign of Armand, King Garius de Armand. Pardon me for being unable to look away. If gazing upon a vision as beautiful as you is a crime, then I am guilty as charged, and I would gladly face the sentence."
( End Of Chapter )
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