When that suggestion was brought up by Eubin, Seishan nearly choked.
"Marriage?" she had asked incredulously. "He's just a kid!"
"Younger marriages have happened in our Clan," Eubin said. "It isn't any kind of romantic partnership, simply contractual."
"Then why not just write up a contract?" Sesihan turned to her mother. "Why not just adopt him like we originally planned?"
Eubin answered this question for her.
"Because there is no way he would accept it," Eubin said in an exasperated voice. "We know what he's like and we know what he values. Being forced into a family won't appeal to him, even with the promise of the Divine Lineage…but a marriage with you on the other hand…"
Seishan was not an idiot. She knew that there were practically no men in the world who would turn down someone who looked like her. Though she didn't take specific care of her appearance, even the bare minimum she did was enough to make her exotic and exceedingly desirable.
Still, Seishan sighed.
"One of the first things he said to me was something along the lines of: if we date, then one of us is a criminal."
"So he has thought about dating you?" Eubin pressed.
Seishan's nostrils flared and her glare hardened. "Bin, is there a reason you are so fixated on this inane idea?"
Her sister finally seemed to back off a bit, and her amused smile dimmed.
"...I am taking into account everything we know of him. The fact remains that no matter how old he really is, he is in a 15 year olds body, and thus has very little control when it comes to certain things. It would be foolish not to exploit that."
Seishan opened her mouth to object, but found it hard to put into words why she was so put off by this. There was nothing romantic or sexual about this engagement, its purpose was to simply play on Gehrman's emotions and influence him into making the choice that benefited Song the most.
Still, this type of manipulation was something she had never seen before from Bin. But it became abundantly clear that while she was gone, her sister had grown into a woman, and she knew exactly how to use that to her advantage.
"This type of manipulation could very well upset him, making him dismiss us all together."
"You're talking like he's gonna turn you down," Lonesome Howl interjected. "I'll be frank, there is no way any guy would ever do that. The only scenario where it wouldn't work is if they were only interested in men…even then I feel they would be hard pressed to ignore you."
"And he is interested in women. That much is obvious from how strongly he reacted to my passive ability," Eubin smirked.
All attention focused on Seishan. Their proud older sister had curled in on herself over the course of the conversation. It was such an odd sight that no one dared to break the silence for a long moment.
Then, it was Revel who finally spoke.
"Mother, what are your thoughts on this? There is no point in debating if you were to not allow it."
Fortunately, for Seishan, all the eyes immediately lifted off her in that instant. She caught her breath as their mother spoke.
"Even if it is contractual. I won't let Seishan, or any of you for that matter, enter into such an agreement unless you are positively sure it is what you want to do."
Her warm voice made Seishan relax in her seat, the tension between her brows released and she felt that her mother was acting like her old self again.
"The question is wrong," Hel said after thinking for a moment. "It is not whether Seishan wishes to get married, but whether she can put up with Gehrman until his usefulness runs out."
His usefulness will never run out, Seishan thought.
"Can you see yourself spending hours at a time with him, just the two of you. Not during a battle, not during a date, but simply in a mundane setting?" Her mother asked gently.
Seishan tried to envision it. In truth, it seemed impossible for Gehrman to exist in a mundane setting. But there were a few moments where they had simply talked.
During the Forgotten Shore, he had told her of his past lives, his returning memories, and his deepest secret: his Divine Aspect.
Had anyone else opened up to her like that before?
No. No one had.
Had anyone else treated her like a normal person and not as a leader, savior, or royalty?
No. He was the only one who treated her as an equal.
Was it such a terrible thing to imagine them simply sitting down and talking? Him sharing his day and her talking about her own. Explaining what made them upset, what made them happy, what surprised them.
Could they sit down and eat a normal meal together?
"Seishan?" her mother probed gently.
In that moment, she snapped out of her trance. This imagined time spent with someone who wasn't a lover or partner, but simply a friend.
She had no desire to fall in love or get married, but if she were to enter into an engagement, it would probably be best to be with a person like him.
Someone interesting, but strong and independent.
"...He won't take the offer," Seishan said quietly. "But you can write up a contract."
…
Seishan had run through his response a hundred times in her head. She had considered him laughing, yelling, or straight up leaving.
Only a single time had she considered what would happen if he was bashful. And in that scenario she did not imagine immediately spending alone time with him afterward.
And she also didn't anticipate that last line about "producing an heir". If she could, Seishan would be giving them all an earful for saying that.
They walked in terribly awkward silence until they reached a suite that had been reserved for Gehrman. As soon as she opened the door he entered without even glancing at her and made to close it behind him.
But Seishan stopped him, placing her hand on his shoulder.
He flinched at her touch, and she could feel his blood coursing faster than usual. His heartbeat was strong and quick. He really was flustered. The inscrutable and insane Hunter was embarrassed.
"I want to clarify something," Seishan said evenly. "An engagement in a Legacy Clan has nothing to do with romance. You would not be obligated to even stay in the same room with me alone. All it means is a reliable partner. We would share each other's burdens and help each other build a stronger Clan."
"Yeah, I figured," he said simply.
Seishan tried to parse out if his voice was resentful, resigned, or regretful, but failed to come up with anything.
"I gave the okay on the offer knowing that you wouldn't take it. I just wanted to make the gesture to demonstrate our sincerity."
Seishan was tempted to throw Eubin under the bus for trying to use seduction to manipulate him, but she would not turn on her sister that easily. Plus, he already seemed uncomfortable around her, she didn't want Gehrman to be outright hostile to her sister.
This time, there was no verbal response. He only nodded and walked away from her grasp. He walked in a straight even line before falling face-first onto the bed.
A complicated number of emotions crossed Seishan's face, but she calmed herself before she left with her parting words.
"When you are ready to talk, you can ring the bell by your door. That will notify a servant to come get you," she paused. Her back was facing his, and both of them stared off into empty space. "I hope you do not resent me for that."
…
Fuuuuuuck.
Gehrman groaned into the impossibly silky-soft sheets.
He had really lost his cool earlier. Over a girl! How outrageous! The greatest Hunter Yharnam had ever seen was reduced to a puddle of hormones by a few sentences.
And then to top it all off, Seishan had to go and keep talking before leaving. Her quiet voice, cautious tone, and respectful words were all so similar to Maria that it made him want to tear his face off.
To think that the thing that could undo his alien abomination of a soul would be a woman.
The problem was that Gehrman was inexperienced and terribly unhealthy in the romance department. He didn't have enough memories of Johann to glean any social intelligence. And the only girl Dorian talked to was one that he made up inside his own head.
There could not be a single more inept individual when it came to talking to beautiful women.
And they had figured that out and exploited the hell out of it.
He wanted to be angry and destroy something, but even if Ki Song wasn't a Supreme, two of her Transcendent daughters would be more than enough to thoroughly thrash him. He wouldn't even have a chance of escape.
He continued cursing into the sublime bed for a few hours. Slowly, his panic started to ebb and logic was able to take hold.
The whole marriage thing is unimportant. I need to look at the facts. The pros and cons of each choice.
It was a bit difficult to do, but with time he eventually sorted out everything in his head.
When he first entered these negotiations, the first option was exactly what he was looking for. Being an ally of Song meant that he would probably have to kill a couple Nightmare Creatures for them or do other miscellaneous tasks, but it would still allow him to build the New Workshop he had planned.
Becoming a vassal was more appealing than he had initially thought. Being able to get strong Memories and Echoes for his Hunters was something he had not considered, and it would indeed be crucial for them for their trials during the Nightmares. Ideally, he would build up enough capable Awakened and Ascended to effectively neutralize Gate Crises while also building a core group that would reach higher levels like Transcendent and Supreme, these ones would be able to enhance the colonization of the Dream Realm and gather more resources for more prosperity in the Waking World.
However, being a Prince of Song would give him all those benefits and more. He himself would likely be able to become a Titan in a matter of weeks. The Attribute that they spoke of was also intriguing. Judging by how they spoke of it, it was likely that it was the reason why each of the Princesses had a distinct edge on all others that shared the same Rank as them. Building up a Workshop that could effectively save millions of lives would be done at a speed far surpassing his original plans, as he would not have to wait or worry about resources.
Each had great perks and were all tempting. Gehrman played out scenarios in his mind, imagining what life would be like with each path he took. But he eventually noticed two concerning details.
The first was the fact that he would be abandoning the Government. Though they hadn't done much for him, they were accommodating enough that he valued their connection. On top of that, no matter how great of an influence the Song Clan had in the Dream Realm, it was still inadequate in terms of the Waking World when compared to the Government.
At the moment, Gehrman needed technology and knowledge more than Blood Fragments and Strength. Though it may have been short sighted of him, the value the Government offered was greater at the immediate moment.
The second and more pressing issue that he kept running into…was Ki Song herself.
Gehrman's intuition had been honed with decades of battle experience. He couldn't judge a person's character very well, but he could judge their bloodlust, insanity, and malice.
In these regards, Ki Song was especially concerning.
She was already fragmented hundreds, if not thousands of times over. She experienced the world in a way that no human could fathom. And in her current state it was not ridiculous to say she was more akin to a Great One than a human.
She scared him for that reason.
But there was also the fact that she seemed to be…waning. Or more accurately, her humanity had faltered and diminished. Though he couldn't be sure, it was likely this was a process that occurred over time.
It wasn't surprising, for someone on that level to maintain empathy for mundane people must have been terribly strenuous. It was only her Will and her love for her daughters that acted as an anchor for her.
But even that connection was beginning to fray.
There was something unsettling about the women, even when ignoring the army of puppeted corpses.
Submitting to her would be perilous, but the boons he would receive might very well offset the risks.
Gehrman let out a long sight. He looked up at the pristine white ceiling and thought and came to a decision.
…
The next morning he rang the bell, and true to Seisahn's words a servant came to fetch him.
It was a young Awakened girl…but she seemed familiar.
"You were one of the Handmaidens, Felise, right?" The modestly dressed girl seemed astonished that he remembered her…or maybe she was astonished to find him alive and also in the Jade Palace.
"Yes. But we go by the Blood Sisters now," she lowered her head slightly before escorting him.
The name is a bit edgy, I wonder if it was Seishan who came up with it.
"Are you all doing well?" he asked her.
"Yes. Most of us survived and now serve directly under Lady Seishan. It's like a dream come true," her voice became wistful. Abruptly, she snapped back into impassivity as she realized she had broken her professional demeanor.
"I'm glad, you all deserve to feel happy and fulfilled," Gehrman paused. "Don't slack on your training, but also make sure to enjoy life while you're at it. If you have free time in the Waking World, you should check out this thing called fruit smoothies, they're great."
She gave him an odd look out of the corner of her eye. Perhaps she had only heard the legend of fruit smoothies, and was surprised that Gehrman got his hands on them. Given their tastiness, he wouldn't be surprised if they were actually quite difficult to come by.
"You're really him," she mumbled in disbelief.
"Please don't ask me how I came back, I've been explaining that for the past few weeks and it's gotten incredibly exhausting."
A small grin cracked on her face.
"Understood."
A little while later, they approached an imposing door.
"This is where I leave you, only a very select few are allowed to enter the Throne Room. Consider it a great honor."
Now it was Gehrman's turn to give a small grin.
"Understood," he said with a wave.
Felise turned around and left swiftly and quietly.
Gehrman considered the grand entrance and the need for secrecy. His unease was only amplified after he took a look inside.
What the hell is that?
[Eyes on the Inside] had trouble parsing out the details, so he decided to go in and see for himself.
Inside, there were several individuals.
The five Song sisters from yesterday were joined by two others. One was a brooding and quiet huntress who emanated an aura of quiet lethality. The other was an ethereal maiden with celestial white hair.
They too were Transcendent.
All of the Princesses had gathered to welcome him.
I guess I do consider it an honor, Gherman thought with unease.
The silent hunter seemed just as lethal as Lonesome Howl, while the white haired lady seemed strange and frightening. He couldn't quite place what made her so unnatural, but he felt a serious wrongness looking at her.
He had considered this for a mere second before all thoughts flew at the window as he witnessed the sight before him.
What the hell?
Sitting on the throne was a beautiful corpse. She had pale, inhumanly smooth skin. Long, luscious black hair, and subtly sublime figure, and a striking red dress flowing around her form.
It was clear who this was.
The true body of Ki Song.
After taking a closer look though, he realized that there was something even more curious going on. The sword that impaled her was of a Rank above Transcendent. It was undoubtedly Supreme, but even then Gehrman thought it was especially powerful among such Memories (though he had nothing but his intuition to come to this conclusion).
Still, Ki Song's body had not deteriorated one bit. Though there was clearly no life behind her closed eyes, she still seemed as if she might wake up any moment.
"A bit of a macabre scene isn't it?" a voice cut through the room. A corpse resembling the impaled figure strode past Gehrman. She had come from behind him, but he had not sensed her. That very fact sent shivers down his spine.
"I forgot to inform you of something before you left yesterday. And it is a rather crucial piece of information," she paused, examining her own body. "Care to take a guess how this came to be?" she gestured to the unnerving sight before them.
Gehrman had been thinking about it ever since he had seen the blade. In truth, he had been considering it since last night.
The fact that Ki Song did not openly proclaim herself ruler of the world, along with her use of plural when referring to her equals, meant there was at least one other Supreme in the world.
That other Supreme kept her in check, as she did to him.
They were locked in a hidden stalemate, though Gehrman could not fathom the reason they would be at odds with each other.
Ignoring all Ranks, there was only one person who could be considered Ki Song's equal.
Though the House of Night was a Great Clan, its founder (the man known as Nightwalker) left no clear successor. And even though many appeared to inherit his abilities to conquer the sea, storms, and the unknown, they didn't have a clear leader like the other Great Clans did.
Of course, the only one who could be the other Supreme was the ruler of Clan Valor. Publicly, it was headed by a Transcendent named Cormac. However, he publicly fought, and it was clear he was not lying about his Rank. His younger brother on the other hand was enigmatic and cloistered in their Great Citadel of Bastion.
Anvil of Valor, the King of Swords.
"I presume the one whose Aspect is clearly related to swords was the one who put one through your chest."
Ki Song let out a humourless laugh.
"Astute observation," she turned to him fully. Her gaze was heavy and she spoke with a solemnity that was similar to a preacher proclaiming the apocalypse.
"That man was once someone I called friend. We conquered the 4th Nightmare together…but he has changed. His icy heart led him to paranoia and a warped perception of reality."
She paused, and her eyelids lowered.
"As you can see, he tried to kill me. He had plotted for the sword to sever my existence. My true body along with all of my puppets. He failed, obviously, but his hunger for my death is not sated."
The next words she spoke reverberated with a thousand voices throughout the throne room.
"There will be a reckoning. There will be war. This is unavoidable."
Gehrman raised an eyebrow. Trying his best to stay nonchalant amidst the grandiose proclamation.
"Well, that sounds dreadful. It is truly unfortunate that people should die because the highest power lost their humanity."
Suddenly, a suffocating pressure surrounded Gehrman. He felt as if a mountain had been dropped on his shoulders.
"Your use of the word 'their' implies more than one has lost their way. Tell me, what do you mean by that?"
Gehrman let Madness ripple through him, trying to shake off the terrible aura, but it was barely able to lessen the strain.
"I did not mean to cause offense," Gehrman said through gritted teeth. "But it seems obvious to me that the so-called man of Valor is not the first to succumb to inhumanity. I doubt you passed the 4th Nightmare as a pair. Were there not others?"
For the first time, Ki Song was the one unsettled. Her dominant presence receded, and Gehrman's own aura was wrangled under control.
She approached him, loud clicks from her heeled shoes echoed in the hall with each step.
Then she offered him an apologetic look and a comforting hand on his shoulder.
"It is I who should apologize. I seem to have forgotten myself for a moment. These things are rather personal to me, and I find myself temperamental when I talk about them," she lowered her hand slowly. "You are right. There was another. But I wouldn't call him a friend. His humanity was gone from the very beginning I fear."
That's an unsettling notion. Gehrman repressed a shudder. He had chosen his words carefully, his desire to learn about the other Supremes fueled this reckless choice, and it succeeded.
There were three Supremes. One of which was either dead or sealed, while the other two prepared for war.
"I won't probe into your past, Lady Song. It is not relevant to our current dilemma, after all," Gehrman gave a nod of forgiveness. "But I presume that this impending war will change the terms of the contract slightly. I will naturally have to play a role depending on my decision."
"You will play a role no matter what," Ki Song corrected. "This is not a threat, but simply a fact. This war will be unlike anything in history, there will be no area of this world or the other that will not feel its effects…but yes, the capacity in which you fight will be determined by your decision."
"Might I make a suggestion then?" Gehrman asked. Though his senses screamed at him to just kneel before the Supreme entity before him, he managed to muster up the courage to lead the conversation with a mixture of insanity and pure will.
After receiving a curious nod from Ki Song he continued.
"For the option of being an Ally, I will fight to defend my territory. All Awakened under my control will do the same. If I become a Vassal, all of us will contribute to the campaign as Hunters, clearing out Nightmare Creatures before direct conflict. If I become a Prince, only then will I fight other humans. And that will be based on my discretion and that of Seishan."
Ki Song's gaze was cold, but it also had a hint of amusement.
"So in no circumstances will you listen to direct orders from a Sovereign? Even if you become my son-in-law?"
Gehrman paled slightly, but committed.
"Yes, that's right."
There was total silence in the room.
A mere Ascended had defied a Sovereign. Nothing so foolish had happened in the history of this Palace.
But then, Ki Song's face grew into a small grin.
"Intresting, very interesting," she whispered. It was more unnerving than if she yelled or used her crushing aura to immobilize him again. "I suppose I will consider it. But I must ask, why describe all of the paths when you will only choose one?"
Gehrman took a deep breath.
And he revealed his decision.
"This is because I will not choose one. Instead, I will be your ally from this very moment. And in three years' time I will be your Prince."