Back in the Hall family's mansion, the grand dining room was now empty, save for Klein and Audrey, who stood in an awkward silence after her parents' departure.
"Well... that happened," Audrey said.
"Yeah, it did," Klein replied, "Your father is more understanding than I anticipated. I was ready to get thrown out of the house." He let out a small chuckle.
Audrey let out a small groan, burying her face in her hands for a moment. "Now he thinks… we're… Oh, I can't even say it."
"Hm? And why are you the one getting embarrassed?" he teased. "I had to declare my ever-burning love for you in front of your parents. I had to tell the beautiful story of our fated encounter and how our feelings for each other burned brighter every passing day," he declared in a mocking and teasing tone. The more he talked, the more Audrey's face flushed.
"Klein! Stop!" Her face was now a brilliant shade of crimson.
Klein laughed. "What? I thought it was a rather compelling story. I am a specialist in ancient history, after all. Crafting believable narratives is part of my job."
"Performance would be the right word. For a moment, even I almost believed you." She looked up at him, her emerald eyes sparkling with genuine worry. "But what are we going to do now, Klein? This 'fiancé' stuff has become very, very real!"
"And who was the one who confirmed it?"
Audrey opened her mouth to retort, but no words came out. She knew Klein had a point. A few moments later, she said, "I panicked! I couldn't lie to my father!"
Didn't you manage to influence the entire government from the shadows? Didn't you manage to trick your family into believing their daughter was perfectly normal and totally not a Sequence 4 demigod? And now you say you can't lie to your father? Klein silently mocked.
Audrey continued, "What are we going to do, Klein? My parents think our engagement is real!"
Klein walked closer to Audrey, raised his hand, and gently grabbed her by the chin. "And what if it truly became real?"
"Klein!" she exclaimed. Her face was burning up even more, and her heart was beating so loudly she felt it would come out of her chest any second now.
Klein chuckled as he let go of her face.
Ah! Why did I do that?! I followed what those webnovel main characters do, and I feel like I'm going to die of embarrassment. How do they do it so perfectly in those stories?! He inwardly screamed.
"Don't joke like that!" she said, but in her mind... for a split second, she thought of their future, just like Klein had previously done during breakfast. A wedding... living together... kids... a perfect future for both of them. Thinking of this must've been too much for Audrey since she suddenly became awfully shy.
She refused to look at Klein in the eye. Her cheeks and ears were visibly red.
"I'll be going to my room. I have something to take care of," she said, keeping her head down and refusing to look Klein in the eyes before swiftly leaving the room.
How cute... Klein thought.
After successfully teasing Audrey—perhaps a little too much—Klein also returned to his room. His other persona had just made a "delivery" to his room, and Klein had to "pick it up" before anyone else saw it.
When he walked inside the guest room, he noticed that Audrey and Susie were standing near his bed. Her gaze was focused on the silver mirror lying on his bed.
"Audrey?"
His footsteps snapped Audrey back to reality. "Ah, K-Klein. Uh, s-sorry, I didn't mean to walk into your room. I was just, uh... Susie heard something and came running to your room. I followed her inside, and that's when I saw this mirror..." Her words trailed off as she turned back to look at the silver mirror. "Words appeared on it, and it introduced itself as Arrodes. It then told me to ask a question. After I asked, it said to answer a question in return or be punished..." she said, sounding worried.
"Hm? And what did you ask?"
"I-I just asked how it got here. It said it was carried here by 'Great Master,' whoever that is."
I specifically told this stupid mirror not to talk to anyone... Klein scoffed inwardly. He walked closer to the mirror. Its aqueous surface changed, rearranging words and adding new ones. Soon, a new question was formed—the question that Audrey had to answer.
"Regarding the future children you've imagined having with Klein Moretti, do you find yourself more focused on the joy of raising them, or on the intimate act of creating them?"
Audrey's face was drained of color, only for it to come back in a furious shade of red. She froze in place, unable to move or speak.
That damned mirror! Klein thought, his jaw tightening. Seeing Audrey's distress, he acted instantly. The kind and warm voice of Klein Moretti was replaced by the voice of an authoritative figure commanding his subordinate.
"Arrodes," he said, his tone sharp and cold enough to cut glass. "Erase it."
"Master, the question must be answered or the subject must be punished for me to erase it." Arrodes had to stick to its rules no matter what.
"Punish her then."
?! Audrey, still reeling in embarrassment, looked at Klein. Punish me?!
Suddenly, lightning struck from the ceiling of the room, illuminating everything in a blinding white light. As it was about to reach Audrey, Klein put his arm in the way between the lightning and her head.
Klein was struck by a tremendous amount of power, but it was all transferred to a Paper Figurine in his pocket, which soon after disintegrated into a million pieces.
He sighed as he shook the wrist of the arm that took the blast of lightning.
"You... Why did you do that?" Audrey finally managed to ask, her voice barely a whisper. "You told it to punish me, but then you..."
Klein lowered his arm, turning to face her fully. Klein spoke, not in the commanding voice he had used, but in the warm and apologetic voice of Klein Moretti. "It was the only way, Audrey," he explained softly. "Arrodes is bound by its nature. It had to have an answer or a punishment. I couldn't let you answer that... and I was never going to let you get hurt."
I'll have that bastard listen to the True Creator's ravings later as punishment...
"B-But are you okay? That was a lot of lightning!" she said, her voice carrying a strong sense of worry. Her eyes darted around his body, trying to find any injuries.
A small smile appeared on Klein's face. He then wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into a tight embrace. "I'm fine, it'll take more than lightning to hurt an Angel," he said. "All that matters is that you're okay."
Audrey relaxed in his hug. After being so scared, she finally felt safe with him. She held on to his coat tightly, making sure he was real and okay.
'It'll take more than lightning to hurt an Angel.' She knew he was powerful, but it felt different to see him use that power just to shield her. It felt... reassuring. Reassuring that Klein would be there to protect her. Actions spoke louder than words.
When she lifted her head, her eyes were shiny with tears. "Thank you, Klein," she said. "But are you sure you're not hurt?" Even if Klein was an Angel, she couldn't help but be worried.
"Yes, I'm fine," he said as he leaned in and kissed her forehead. After he let go, he cleared his throat and said, "So... that mirror said you fantasized about our kids, huh?"
"!!!" Audrey instantly became flustered and started to hit Klein on the chest, her face—which was turning back to its normal color just a few moments ago—had now turned red once again. "Klein! Forget what you saw!"
Her hits did not hurt in the slightest, feeling more like the light taps of a flustered kitten. Klein chuckled, easily catching her wrists in his hands to stop the light assault.
"How can I forget?" he teased, a playful smirk on his face. "It's a very important topic for our... 'engagement,' is it not? We have to plan for the future, after all."
"It-it was just a stray thought! No! That mirror is a liar!" Audrey protested, her voice muffled as she tried to hide her burning face against his chest.
Who knew teasing could be so fun... Klein mused. It seems the webnovels that Klein read back on Earth were starting to show their influence over his character.
"Right, right. I'm sure it was," Klein replied.
He doesn't believe me! Audrey cried out in her mind.
Knock Knock
A maid knocked on the door and said, "My Lady, the items you requested have arrived and require your approval."
Klein and Audrey separated, the air feeling slightly awkward after the interruption.
"Y-yes, I'll be there in a second," Audrey replied. "Ah, Klein," she looked at Klein, "You'll have to stay here for a few weeks now. My 'fiancé' can't exactly run away right after meeting my parents, right~?" she winked. "I'll be setting up a reservation at a high-end restaurant for tomorrow night, make sure you open up your schedule!~" she said as she opened the door and left.
"..."
Another date? Hasn't she been too flustered the entire morning? Where did the sudden confidence to invite me on a date come from?
... A few weeks, huh? A slow, happy smile spread across his face.