It had felt like ages before he actually felt as though he could show his face to society again. Since his arrive to the realm, Raeguel had stayed secluded away in Angela's temple and shunned himself from mostly everyone there. In time though, he was able to slowly come out from his shell and started to interact with people. It might have been at a snail's pace, but given what he had done over thousands and thousands of years, he didn't think anything of it. Eventually he yearned to explore this new land and everything he could grasp, and there was one important matter to speak of that helped steeled himself for the travel. As soon as he got the location of the person he needed to "speak" to, he was off, seeking the city of the Rosenite people.

Once he had arrived, he found himself at the Sweet Nectar Inn, one of the city's most well known establishments and had sent out an invitation of sorts to the man that was the whole reason for him being here. There were some matters that had to be discussed, and they were of the utmost importance. He knew well of his upbringing and his loyalties, and yet from what he was hearing, he was becoming very close to his daughter. Even once being a wicked monster, Raeguel was still a father that cared for his children, especially Nerezza and he sought to learn from the man himself of what his intentions were. He wanted it straight from the horse's mouth rather than gossip that had slipped into his ears on and off again. He even gave him some time to prepare, a couple of days would be enough to make him sweat if his intentions had been anything other than noble. Patience had once been his enemy, but now it seemed as though he wasn't nearly as bothered by it anymore as he took the time before then to brush up on his knowledge and absorb as much information about this world through conversations with others and through the parchments and books he was allowed access to. 

When the day had arrived, he was back in the inn, sipping on some warm tea and had some meat, cheese and bread on a platter in front of him. Resting near by was a rather large knife that was to be used on slice his snacks up, but he had made it a point to ask for their largest one for a reason…

A few days ago a letter was delivered to Kaiser and upon reading it, his marble skin became a sickening white upon understanding what the writer had meant by this invitation. Surely the lord had misunderstood the situation entirely, for he knew that the sorcerer hadn't sought to anger him by any means, especially when it came to his daughter. Though as tempting as it was, he had forced himself to remain pure of such thoughts and to continue on with their professional relationship as much as he could. But apparently some rumors had reached the lord and now this whole thing spiraled out of control. If he had to learn of the truth, then it was best for it to come from the accused. Kaiser didn't speak of this to anyone, especially Nerezza. He didn't know how she would respond to the letter or his impending meeting with her father so he left the letter in the nightstand and mentally prepared himself while going on with the usual day to day operations.

As the day grew closer, he was becoming more unraveled as he anxiously awaited for the encounter, and it was starting to show in his behavior. He was more clumsy, more agitated and nervous and whenever asked what the matter, he would play it off and pretend like nothing was wrong. In truth, he was fearing for his very livelihood and when the day finally arrived, he was off in a hurry towards the inn. He hadn't known when he was expected, and he didn't wish to be late in case it would entice the father's anger even more. As soon as he stepped inside, he could feel the lord's energy beckoning him towards his table. Raeguel looked as much as he did back in the Old World, and though his wickedness was cast away, his presence was still frightening strong. Coming over to him, Kaiser gave him a sincere bow, "My lord, it had been far too long. I've seen that you have been doing quite well in this new world." He waited until he was signaled to seat before taking his seat across from Raeguel's. "Before we go on, I just wait to say to you that I have been respectful of your wishes. Both yours and of Angela's in watching over your daughter and making sure that she continues to learn all she can from me in regards to her magic", he spoke as calmly and collectively as possible. He had hoped that the lord was in a good mood to hear him out and judge with a clear head.

Raeguel hadn't paid much attention to how long it had been since he took his seat and refreshments by the time Kaiser had arrived. But once he had, golden eyes looked up to greet him. His look remained impartial as he heard him out- sure he seemed to be as regal as the other times that they had met, but something was quite different. He could taste it in the air around him, and it was something that he had been quite familiar with for ages. Fear. Letting out the smallest of sighs, he pointed towards the chair for him to be seated. "Yes, it had been long since I came to you. Trying times, these are, but I've been better lately." He took a long, nice sip of his tea as the younger vampire begun to plead his case; all the while he took to the knife and made sure it was in his view as he chopped off a chunk of cheese and plopped it into his mouth. Raeguel wanted to believe him completely but something seemed off about his words and tone. If he had nothing to fear, then why was he pleading? Surely he had something that he wasn't telling him and he was to dissect this whole thing until he uncovered it.

"I remember our deal", he spoke bluntly as he positioned the knife beneath the ham, readying to cut it and yet he simply left it be for the time. "I recall if one little hair was harmed on her that wasn't involving training, then I'd be hunting you down. Or worse, her mother would. But my dear boy, I hadn't spoken of what would happen should you overstep your boundaries in case…something vulgar was to come from you and her being close." With that, he chopped at the meat with a little more force than he had previously and gave Kaiser a half glare. "You know the one thing about Rosenites that I have come to learn since my arrival? He scraped the piece of meat unto the bread and took a nice bite out of it. As he chewed, his eyes bored into the youngster coldly as if deciding what to do with him. "It's that they are horrible gossipers. I've heard my fair share of tall tales from them, but I can't seem to ignore the ones regarding with my daughter and that handsome devil of a vampire, their words not mine. Of them shacking up in her mother's manor. So tell me, my friend", he asked while carelessly swinging the knife around in front of Kaiser, "What is the lies and what is the truth in this matter? Surely I couldn't imagine you taking advantage of our generosity and of my only little girl.

Heaven help me.

It was his utmost thought at the moment from when Raeguel started to talk. He seemed to be in a fair mood, but that was the one thing about him. Back when he was known as Nemesis and was far different than he was now, a drop of a coin could trigger his violent temper and his moods could change dramatically, depending on the circumstances. How was Kaiser to be sure that this man wouldn't have just lured him out here in the public eye to just kill him? Being surrounded by others didn't help him to feel at ease; there were still stories that he could recall of the elder slaying many of his targets without care for who bore witness to it. Another mug was there and prepared for him and he only glimpsed at it for a minute before he took it into his hands. Just as he rose its rim to his lips, that's when Raeguel decided to get on with the business at hand, which made him freeze up.

"Ye…es…I had sworn to that, and that promise had been kept, Lord Raeguel. I have not harmed her during my teachings, she can vouch for that." When the mentioning of something unappropriated happening between the teacher and his pupil came, Kaiser looked on with a hint of anger but it quickly disappeared as he ran his hand over his forehead and his locks. "I have done nothing to her aside from guide her down the path she is destined for. We both know she carries great power within her, even at a young age as she is. And you know me by now, with all due respect. You know of my upbringing and my family. I wouldn't dare lay a hand on in any sort of wrong way." He jumped a bit at the chopping of the food, knowing that he was being tested. It annoyed him, yet he spoke nothing of it. "She had rescued me from the salvage and helped me back on my feet. I am eternally grateful towards both her and Lady Angela for their hospitality. I respect the three of you too much to anything that would be considered disrespectful. Again the chopping came and he only twitched this time. "The rumors are true in that we are living in the same house, but anything aside from that is false." His throat was growing dry as he hadn't revealed completely everything yet. Kaiser brought the mug to his lips and took slow sips as he felt Raeguel's eyes on him. Boring onto him like daggers onto flesh as his own conscious was weighing down on him. Nerezza was close to him, perhaps it was too close for the comfort of her father. He knew not of what to do at that moment. Maybe their relationship had became inappropriate but he couldn't very well blame her for it for he had a part in this too. "But…I can not say that I…hadn't felt anything for her. I realize that it may be wrong, but I have a feeling I can merely shake off. But despite of this, I have not acted upon anything and kept the line of our relationship clear." He looked to the elder in all seriousness, "If anything, then you can blame it all on me and I will accept whatever fate you have planned for me. Just know that your daughter is innocent in all this." Kaiser would have rather died than for her reputation to be ruined and stained.  

Nerezza was bored and while most of the time she would leave her teacher alone when they weren’t doing magic legends, she found herself pacing around the mansion in Sularia. She was bored after all and while she had moved about trying to fill her time with other things Kaiser kept coming into her mind. It was a little while after Kaiser had left. He had appeared anxious and it peaked her curiosity. She watched through the window as the vampire left the manor.

Running out of her room she went to Kaiser’s room and looked around. Where was he going? He didn’t have a lover did her? The thought made her angry before she got to the letter. She picked it up and read it. Her mouth dropped open as she thought about what would happen to her dearest Kaiser.

“He wouldn’t.” she thought about her father for a moment. “Oh he would.” She kept her thoughts to herself as she knew that her father and her were still linked together. She got dressed and ran out of the manor. “I’ll be back later!” She waved to one of the maids and left to go to the inn.

Opening the door she stared at where they were being seated. She could hear them from the distance she was at. “Papa!” the word left her lips as she came up to the table. “And what do you mean you would disrespect me?!” She stared at Kaiser. “I wouldn’t consider it a disrespect. I’ve been trying to get you to see how I feel.” She looked back over at Raeguel. “Papa! I love him!” Sure, typical words of a teenager just barely old enough to keep control of herself.
 

Raeguel didn’t know what to think; the rumors were too much for him to ignore and yet the young man seemed to be on the same level with him. Still, there were some skeletons in his closet and as a former agent of Deceit, he knew when he was being lied to. That, and his attempts to unravel him seemed to be working, which only proved his cause to be all the more true. “You are saying the right things, but you have yet to prove to me that my worries are for not, Kaiser.” He sliced through some more meat and cheese and piled them onto two slices of bread and bit into his food. He ate through the conversation as his companion continued onward. His family were loyal and trusting, that much was certain, but that word meant nothing now in this world. Kaiser only had his strength and his word to fall back on now as far as he was concerned, and both were fleeting at best.

Raeguel was scheming in his mind of what to do if he was lying and something was going on between Nerezza and him. Would he flat out kill him? Imprison him somewhere and torture him? He pondered such ideas but something refrained him from taking pleasure in them. He wasn’t the man he had once been, but there was also the factor that he wouldn’t be doing this to take enjoyment out of it. No, he wanted his daughter safe and sound, to not be taken in by the sins he had once taken in. She deserved better than that. Raeguel was about to ask if that was all he had to say when Kaiser confessed something. Reading between the lines, he tilted his head at first, taking it all in before placing the knife down. His hand, however was still on its handle, fingers rapping against it softly. “So…you take all responsibility in this?”, he asked, seemingly unmoved by the young man’s self sacrifice. His eyes lingered on his until his daughter came in. It had been a while since he saw her, still as radiant as he remembered, though this wasn’t a completely happy reunion and her words stunned him enough to release the knife. He took a moment to see that Kaiser carried about the same expression onto his face before he signed heavily. What did she know of love? She was too young…

Still, he couldn’t very well ignore any of this, and if something was to happen to her teacher now, she’d probably never forgive him. “Are you serious, dear girl?”, he asked in a much calmer, softer voice. “But why…?” His question trailed off as he turned his eyes to the man in question, “Are you serious in taking whatever punishment I can think up?” He raised a finger in the air to quiet Nerezza in case she was to speak against. He wanted to hear his answer as he sipped at the remainder of his tea before pouring some more.

Kaiser watched on as his words were heard, but not yet quite believed by the lord yet. Did he have to get on his hands and knees and swear on his life that nothing happened? It seemed as though even that wouldn’t be enough to prove his innocence. Perhaps he just needed to leave and be out on his own, to stay away from Nerezza. Maybe that would please Raeguel, but it wouldn’t make him the tiniest bit happy. He would rather die than to do so, even if the feelings he had weren’t right to have. He wished he could read minds so that he would know what the lord was up to. But he carried himself too well for him to see where all of this was going. “My lord, I do. She did nothing wrong. If anyone had done you wrong at all, then it must have been me.”

Kaiser noticed that he was distracted at the climax of their conversation, and he turned slightly to look behind him, his eyes widened as Nerezza came into view. “Lady Nerezza…what are you doing here…”, he inquired before she spoke up. A shamed look came over him, frustrated at himself for having her involved in this. “I didn’t wish for you to hear this. I…” He was stopped by her next lines of words, his jaw slightly dropped as he was trying to think up what she meant.

And then the next four words shocked him to his core.

His mouth was unable to move, he was unable to speak as his mind slowly begun to understand what she meant. Her own father was taken back by this, though he recovered enough to ask him once more whether he could bear his decision or not. But he was still thinking about what Nerezza had said and he thought back to when she had found him on the streets that fateful night. Of course, he should have known that all along, but in his own confusion, he must have missed it. His palm met with his face and he looked to her and took her hand and lightly kissed it. “Yes, I will if that is what you wish”, he offered to Raeguel.

She had gained an immense amount of beauty from both of her parents. It caused people to melt just at the sight of her. Her white hair like snow as it tussled down her shoulders and back. Her gold eyes were like liquid metal. She was small in stature compared to her mother and father though and it didn’t shock her that Lucian was taller than she was. 

Her eyes laid on Kaiser and she took a gulp as for the first time in her life she did something that looked like it displeased her father. “You know I wouldn’t do anything to displease you unless I really wanted it. When I killed that man in the outpost, I just wanted to please you and be your little girl. I wouldn’t do anything to displease you unless it was something I really wanted.” She whispered it more as she grew serious. Her words were not angry but rather sad that she wanted something different. 

“I wanted nothing more than to be the Shiran you would be proud of,” she took a deep breath. “I want to be Nerezza though. I want to live with that.” She smiled at her father. “Papa, please don’t be mad at him.”

She almost had a harsh reaction as she jumped to his palm to his face. Her hand was with him now and he lightly kissed it. A blush crossed her pale face and she looked up at her father with an almost pleading look. He had already warned her not to speak so she followed the direction closely. Her hand gripped Kaiser’s softly while they waited.

Looking from Kaiser to Nerezza over and over again, Raeguel shook his head. Something like this was bound to happen, he supposed. How could he had been so careless? Then again, Nerezza’s beauty was enough to captivate anyone; even someone as regal as Kaiser wasn’t able to withstand it. He placed down the teapot and place both hands beneath his chin and leaned forward. “Nerezza, I only want the best for you. My child, you know your happiness means the world to me. I never wanted you to go down the path I had once been.” He could see that she was serious, and from Kaiser’s words, that he was too.The final gesture made him shoot a look at the man, though it wasn’t one of anger, but one of shock. He had hardly expected the kiss from him and he just about rolled his eyes as he received his sought answer. He fetched his drink and downed about half of it and took the knife back into his hand.

“That was your last chance to avoid it, and now you leave me little choice. Kaiser Ray, my decision will be final, unless Angela speaks against it.” He looked on with a dreadful, serious look and leaned back against his seat. There was a pause before he sighed softly. “You..” Then he looked to his daughter, “And you are to be engaged. Do you understand me?” Eyes went back to the vampire, “You are to make her happy and to never leave her side, except for death itself. If you break your word, then I will kill you.” He poured some tea into another mug and placed it in front of Nerezza.

“Remember that you promised me that you’d go through whatever I suggested. And I hardly think of this as a punishment, especially since you are used to the customs of old, like myself.” Raeguel was old fashion and he wanted someone that could make Rezza happy when the time would arrive. Unfortunately it had came sooner than latter and he wished he had more time to enjoy spending time with her while she was young. But she seemed older than she looked and was determined to be with Kaiser. And despite his efforts, the vampire seemed the same way, even risking his own life for her.

“Well? What do you two think?” 

It had been recently that he saw Nerezza becoming more of a woman than most would give credit for, and yet, he had never seen it more than he had right now. He was amazed by how stern she was, even in the face of her favorite person in the world. He felt honored to be defended in such a way, yet he was worried about how her father may react to it. He would have voiced his concern towards her, yet he felt as though it wasn’t his place to do so. Her father gave her some words, which he could agree with. Raeguel was a father, and a good one at that. All good fathers wanted their children to happy, and he wasn’t anything different. Even if he was to be banished, he would obliged to his whims as long as nothing happened to her. His kiss had been done out of respect towards her and also to let her know that her feelings weren’t merely one sided.

When Raeguel started to speak his decision, he returned Nerezza’s hand grip with his own but become entirely dumbfounded by the result. Banishment or death, he was expecting one or the other, but to be formally engaged!? He was even more surprised by that than when Nerezza confessed her love for him. A light gust of wind could have easily toppled him, but he recovered enough and nodded. “Yes my lord, I am willing to do as you say.” Kaiser looked to his pupil, half shocked and half concerned as he was unsure as how she would react to this. He wasn’t sure what to say to her for all this happened so suddenly.