«Sona," Emeric said, walking side by side with his friend. - Why are you accompanying me again?
«Because you don't know! - she fixed her glasses on the bridge of her nose in an irritated movement. - It's only been one day, only two delegations of guests, and you've already done something wrong! Emeric, tell me," Sona met his gaze. - Do I have to watch your obnoxious behavior for the rest of my life? I'll be like a hen, leading you by the hand and constantly telling you not to do anything outrageous? I can't believe I did that in one day.
«Calm down," Emeric shrugged. - Nothing terrible has happened...
Sona gathered air in her chest to yell at him, but exhaled sharply, correcting her form. She remembered her manners.
«That's exactly what happened, Emeric, you stupid head! - Sona tugged at his arm, still, unable to withstand the internal tension. - Do you realize that all Hell is talking about one brash kid who ran over two respected tops! People are demanding that Bedeze and Roigun summon you to the Ranking Game right now and 'punish' you!
«That would be nice...
«That's not the point! It's not like they don't know about your power, they just want blood! - Sona shook her head. - That's too much even for you!
«Nothing," he stopped and looked her seriously in the eye. - They'll all shut up when I smash the top one and top two against the wall. The public's memory is short-lived, and all you have to do is show them that there's a lot of power behind the bravado. Before you know it, my haters turn into adoring fans. That's how crowd psychology works.
Sona gave in sharply, not expecting him to be so angry. She thought hard for a few seconds, then asked with a sigh:
«Are you really that pissed off by their Royal Figures?
«Not a word," Emeric shook his head and continued on his way. Sona, taking him by the elbow, changed her trajectory. - I respected them, for their sweat and tears on the battlefield, for their strength, which I thought they had cultivated for years. - He shook his head. - And it turns out that all the power was bestowed by someone else. And they dare to come here, show their brazen faces to the cameras, basking in undeserved glory....
«And Roigun Belphegor? - Sona continued to pry into his intentions. - I know her quite well... She's not a bad person, by the way. Better than most.
«So? - Emeric raised an eyebrow in sarcastic question. - Are you telling me that she's killing herself with shame inside? Even if she is, does that change anything? No. Did she do something about it? She hasn't. She's inertia has gotten her used to being adored by everyone. How good and conscientious she is, oh, I'm all poor and suffering! She's been screwing the people for decades, what's the big deal? Ugh! - Emeric snorted. - This is personal. They dared to betray my trust, and they will pay in full. They're used to the protection of the Great King....
«Emeric," Sona called out to him anxiously. - You don't want to run into him, do you?
«Not yet," he shook his head negatively. - I'm just going to put two crooks in their place who've gotten used to impunity. As they say," Emeric winked at her. - It's all payback!
Sona shook her head at his recklessness, but didn't go any further. He was serious, after all.
«What about Reiser?
«With who?
«Don't play dumb! - Sona frowned menacingly. - You beat him up yesterday!
«Ah-ah-ah!" Emeric laughed merrily. - You're talking about Chick! That's not me! - Emeric put on the most retarded expression possible. - Chick beat himself up!
«You!.... - Sona wanted to shout at him, but she couldn't stand it and laughed. - You're such an idiot! A-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha...
So, laughing together, they reached the student council room.
«By the way, - Emeric turned to Sonya. - I forgot to ask... Does someone really want to talk to me? Do I know him?
«You know," she nodded doomfully. - There's Diadora Astaroth sitting in the room...
«Huh," Emeric couldn't hold back a chuckle, but he laughed full-blown afterward. - Ha ha ha ha," Emeric ignored his friend's annoyance. - Sona, man, you're doing charades! You should have said you wanted a repeat of yesterday's Chick!
«E-me-rick," Sona caught his eye. - There's... It's complicated. Diadora's kind of become different...
«What do you mean? - He raised an eyebrow in bewilderment. - We're talking about the same Diador Astaroth, whom I..." he said.
«Hit in the face with a bat with consecrated nails," Sona finished his sentence for him before Emeric once again couldn't contain his laughter. - Emeric, I'm serious!
«Oh, you make me laugh, friend," Emeric wiped the moisture from his eye. - Let's be clear, we're talking about the heir to the Pillar of Astaroth, aren't we? - After her nod, he continued. - The creepy, hypocritical faggot? - Sona cringed at his expression, but nodded. - Who has a very, and I mean very, dubious entourage?
Sona once again nodded tiredly.
«It's more complicated than that, Emeric," Sona met his gaze hesitantly. - There used to be rumors that his new queen had changed him so much. So much so that he confessed to many sins and is trying his best to atone for them....
«Pfft," Emeric couldn't contain his laughter and interrupted Sona with his forced chuckles. He held up his hands conciliatorily. - I'm sorry, it's just that the fierce thrash went down the wrong throat.... Sona, that's ridiculous!
«I... - Sona couldn't explain all her arguments at once. - Emeric, I'm serious! Don't forget that House Astaroth is one of our closest allies! If there is a chance, we just have to build bridges. He made me sick of him too until now, but today I saw him and it was like he became a different person... - Sona shook her head and started to open the doors. - Anyway, you'll see for yourself....
«Well, well, well," Emeric only snorted skeptically.
Opening the doors to the student council, Sona took a step to the side to give him a full view of the new guests.
A boy and a girl who stood up from their seats as he approached. The room froze in tense anticipation.
The guy was, predictably, Diadora Astaroth. Handsome, like all demons, with hair of a greenish hue. Slender build and formal clothes, in the form of an old cut suit. It should be noted that usually Diadora looked at the world through a perpetual squint, which gave him a sly look. Now he looked serious and straight ahead. Very atypical of him.
The second was a girl who, according to Sona's information, was most likely his queen. A very pretty blonde girl with green eyes and long hair. Slender, no "kinks", but overall very pretty. Her facial features are Italian. Overall gives off some elusive holiness and innocence. Just as Diadora likes it.
He had no idea what to do. He had originally wanted to poke fun at all of Diadora's hypocrisy, and then "make a joke" sometime, but...
He really was different. Emeric couldn't believe his eyes. And Wisdom also spoke of his most serious attitude!
Diadora glanced over to his companion before she smiled at him and bowed before him.
«Emeric! - Diadora's voice was serious and unwavering. - I want to thank you, for you were the only one who tried to point out the error of my ways!
Emeric was at a loss for words in an atypical manner. It was rare for him to be surprised, but ...
«Oh-re-no... - Emeric almost dropped his jaw, sensing the wholehearted attitude of this formerly scumbag. He turned to the blonde. - Did you do that to him?!
She smiled kindly at him, like a dandelion, and bowed slightly as well.
«Senor Gremory, allow me to introduce myself," Emeric dazedly took her hand and automatically kissed her knuckles. - Asia Argento, Queen of Diadora Astaroth...
«Let me guess," Emeric tried to find a catch in the whole situation. Everything seemed too unreal, though Wisdom seemed to be giving clear signals that everything was all right. - Formerly a nun?
«Truly so, señor," Asia nodded favorably to him.
«And," Emeric looked at the unmoving Diadora, who was hiding his gaze from him. - How did you two meet? Was it some grand love story? Did Diadora somehow magically get you out of trouble?
«Not exactly," she met his gaze with confidence. - He planned my expulsion from the Church, and then... He made me his queen.
«There you go," Emeric took another good look at the girl. She looks plain, but she's got teeth. - And you don't mind?
Diadora wanted to get a word in:
«I...
«Quiet! - Emeric shut him up and turned a testing gaze on the blonde. - So, Miss Argento, what do you think of his dastardly frame-up? Don't you feel like running away from a moral freak? Don't you feel the least bit resentful that your whole life has been derailed by vicious selfishness?
Emeric tried to increase the pressure on the unknown girl. The whole situation seemed too unreal to him, so he tried to extract information from the only eyewitness. Or catch him in a lie... Some joint that would allow him to unravel this tangle of lies and rebuild his picture of the world. It can't be that simple, can it? It can't be, can it?!
Diadora was known not only for his rotten character, but also for his equally rotten and questionable actions. His entire entourage was made up of former nuns who had been disowned by the church for various reasons. They tried to nail him a couple times, but he always paid them off. It was clear to Emeric that Diadora was seducing innocent girls for his own fetishes and desires. Even planned to punish him in the future, but....
He had really changed. And, apparently, the reason for this "re-education" was the girl standing opposite him.
«For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.....
Emeric picked up on her citation:
«But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Matthew's Gospel, chapter six, verses fourteen through fifteen..... - Emeric shook his head in bewilderment. - That's fucking amazing!
«Señor," Asia took the floor, taking Diadora by the elbow. - Diadora has undoubtedly done many terrible things.... Don't doubt that we will be working on correcting those mistakes for a long time to come. It won't bring back everyone's mental health, and time can't be turned back, but... - Asia kissed Diadora on the cheek.
«Asia," Diadora continued after his nod. - She helped me to see the wickedness of my path! I'm going to have to deal with this for a long time, but... - Diadora met him with a determined gaze. - I wanted to come and thank you. Emeric Gremory was the only one who tried to fix me.
Actually, he was just laughing at him, because his squinting face pissed Emeric off, but he didn't correct him. Diadora had gone from rapist to redeemer of the highest order. If it weren't for Wisdom, he'd never have believed this nonsense in his life!
«It was I who asked Diadora to settle all past conflicts," Asia interjected, raising her hand with the gold ring on her ring finger. - After our betrothal, we begin a new, righteous life!
«Oh-re-no... - Sona and Emeric reacted in unison.
What surprises life has to offer, don't you think?
***
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