Chapter 232 Cause and Effec
Hearing Eloise's proposition, Daneel was impressed that she had managed to identify such a great opportunity.
Indeed, just as she felt, Daneel knew that need was what drove any business or discussion. Hence, this could very well be the perfect way to spread the NOA to the Black Raven Kingdom.
"Kellor, initiate contact with the Black Raven King's point of contact immediately. Explain everything, and also ensure them that the strength of a Black Raven Fighter will definitely be emphasized heavily. Set up a meeting with me if needed. Eloise, well done. Time and time again, you've proven that you are the best one for the job. I am really glad to have you working with me to make my dream come true."
As Daneel said these heartfelt words to Eloise, he saw her blush and hide her face with her hand.
At the moment, the expression he saw in her eyes reminded him of the one he had seen in Dalia's.
Although the intensity of the adoration was lower, there was a different aspect to it which he couldn't place.
Was it… infatuation?
Not at all experienced in matters of this kind, Daneel really couldn't tell if that was the case.
Regardless, what he felt for Eloise was true gratitude and a growing sister-like feeling.
Besides, there was no way he would even consider any romantic thoughts unless the looming threat on Angaria was resolved.
Thus, he wished that his guess was wrong because if it wasn't, he would feel quite guilty for breaking the heart of someone whom he trusted and admired for her hard-working and smart nature.
As he had been absorbed in his thoughts, he realized that Kellor had asked something which he had missed.
Coming back to his senses, he realized that the question had been: "What if the Black Raven King loses? Won't the entire operation backfire?"
Thinking for a moment, he answered, "The chances of that are very, very minute. The King would only set up such a match in public if he is confident of winning. I've met him, so I know that he is most probably not dumb enough to just rush into the fight without taking countermeasures. Besides, he's a true-blue peak Exalted Human Fighter. Even if he restricts his power, his experience will still ensure a victory."
Although this was the answer he gave, there was also an unspoken reason that he had kept to himself.
As the King hadn't hesitated to try and cheat Lanthanor by giving the Echer seeds without explaining about their effect on the land, he would definitely not think of it as under him to ensure a victory by using dishonest means.
Little did he know that the Black Raven King and the Old Man were arguing about this very same point in the throne room of the Black Raven Kingdom.
.....
"No. I am a warrior, and I would rather die than use underhanded methods to defeat an enemy in an upfront fight. If I don't do so, even if I step into the level that has the same name as the one I call myself, it wouldn't contain any meaning. I will defeat him, no matter what tricks he has up his sleeve."
Hearing the words spoken in a tone that brooked no arguments, the Old Man who had just gotten out of the Natural Energized Training Chamber and heard about the news of the fight sighed and said, "I know. But in this crucial moment, we cannot take a chance. Just carry the trinket I give with you, and go on to defeat him without touching it if you can. But if I see you losing, I will activate it myself."
"NO! Old man, I don't know if you have ever been on a battlefield. It is the desperation of there not being any other way that leads a warrior to give his all in a fight! If I have this countermeasure, I can't fight to my heart's content!"
SLAM
With the last word, the Black Raven King had slammed his fist on the handrest of the throne, making the sound echo all around the throne room.
His eyes were bloodshot, and his face had turned red from the indignation he felt.
Yet, seeing the old man's usually neutral expression morphing into one of utter seriousness, his expression slowly started to turn into one of trepidation.
SLACK. SLACK. SLACK.
The sound of the old man's slippers echoed in the room as he took one step after another in the King's direction.
It was as if each step was tightening a noose around the Black Raven King's neck, as he felt as if the air flow were being cut off from his lungs.
By the time the old man reached him, his red face which had previously been so due to anger now had additional veins popping out as he was close to suffocating to death.
"I did not think that I needed to remind you of our… arrangement. Do what I say, or you die. I won't even bother commanding you through the oath you swore. Don't make me warn you again, or you might find yourself missing something other than the air. Something more… personal."
The last words were said while the old man looked at the crotch area of the Black Raven King.
As the King realized this, he couldn't help but helplessly clutch at that spot after the feeling of being suffocated disappeared.
Seeing the fear that had been renewed in the King's eyes, the old man smiled coldly before turning around and walking out of the throne room.
As he did so, it almost seemed as if the eyes of the enormous Black Raven that stood above the throne flashed, as if it were following him while he made his exit.
.....
"Dalia, enough! You haven't spoken a word or eaten properly in two days! I know you are embarrassed for what happened in the Palace, but this is taking it too far!"
As Helena finally reached the limits of her patience and berated Dalia who was playing with her food, her daughter only blushed again and bent, hiding her head under her hands which she had folded on the table.
After the meeting in the Lanthanorian Throne Room, they had been told that they would soon be called back to the Palace to have their problem resolved.
A few days of delay was something they could still handle, hence the family had gone back to their home while hoping that the call would come soon.
Yet, since that point, Dalia had become someone entirely different from her usual self.
Her talkativeness was gone, replaced by the activity of acting like so every so often.
Helena knew very well how much her daughter had been looking forward to seeing the King.
Thus, she had easily figured out that it was because she had become tongue-tied when she was supposed to explain the situation.
Although she had thought initially that Dalia would be able to get over it herself after a period of time, she had noticed that it was only getting worse.
Hence, she had decided to finally confront her daughter about it.
Yet, seeing that there was no answer, she thought for a bit before deciding on saying something that would definitely elicit a response.
"You know, by acting like you are right now, you are only decreasing the chances of talking to him again."
This statement finally made her daughter look up with a confused expression on her face.
Realizing that it was working, she carried on.
"You know who the King speaks to on a regular basis?", she asked, making Dalia look into the air as she tried to come up with an answer.
After a few seconds, she shook her head.
"To those who work under him, dummy! And do you know what the criteria is for getting a job in the Palace?"
"The head counselor said that…we have to be at the top of our chosen field."
This was actually the first sentence Helena had gotten out of her daughter since the incident.
Feeling happy, she said, "Exactly! Then if you don't eat and question things and be the Dalia from before whom the teachers always praised, how will you get to the top? Daughter, just put what happened out of your mind and work hard while being yourself to become someone the King can rely on. Will you do that for me?"
At the mention of the word 'rely', it seemed that a fire had been born in the eyes of the 10-year-old.
Nodding with determination on her face, Dalia got up and walked to the chair her mother was sitting on before hugging her tight.
"Mom, I'm starving. Can we go get some candy? After that, we should go to the library!"
Laughing at her daughter's cute expression, Helena couldn't help but laugh and nod, making Dalia run off to change her clothes.
Seeing her bobbing head and patting herself on her back that she had fixed her daughter's behavior, Helena also got up to change her clothes and fetch her purse.
She had no idea exactly what path she had set her daughter on at this moment, and how this would end up changing the fates of many in the future.