He's a Mess of a Man

Book Two ~ Chapter Three

The last rays of sunlight stream through the library's tall windows. Lucio and Leviathan sat at one of the reading tables, waiting. "Stupid guards, dragging us in here," Lucio grumbled.

"That's a tad dramatic. No one dragged us here."

"Yeah, but we didn't do anything wrong!" Lucio whined, "I just wanted to see if the Masquerade had started-!" Just then, the library doors slid open. Countess Nadia entered, followed by Asra. The Countess stopped mid-step, her crimson eyes fixed on Lucio. "Uh... surprise..?"

Countess Nadia closed her eyes and raised her hands to rub her face. When she opened her eyes and brought her hands down, she saw Lucio was still as alive as could be. She looked to Leviathan, "And you have been with him this whole time?" He nodded. "How exactly did he end up coming back to life...?"

"I'd like to know that too," said Asra.

Leviathan sighed lightly, "I can explain... Though, I'm not too sure what happened myself."

"You saved me from scary ghosts! That's what happened!"

Asra's eyes widened, "What? Ghosts?" As succinctly as he could, Leviathan recounted what happened at the Lazaret. The swarming ghosts, the chains binding Lucio, and the moment they broke, the ghosts vanished. Asra broke the long silence that followed. He stepped right up to Lucio, looking him over curiously, "So my guess was right. The chains represented some unusual magic that affected Lucio. Now that they're gone, he's alive."

"Yeah!" Lucio smiled brightly, "And it's about time!"

"Lucio..." the Countess mumbled, "I do not begrudge you being alive. But I wish you had kept a lower profile. In particular, we do not need you suddenly appearing in the streets of Vesuvia, or worse, the palace gates."

"Huh?! What's the big deal?" asked Lucio, "Everyone in the city's partying already! I wasn't the only one who came up to the palace!"

Countess Nadia glanced at Leviathan for confirmation. He slowly nodded, "A huge crowd did gather in the streets. When they started marching up to the palace, Lucio tagged along and—"

"And did not stop to consider the potential consequences," Countess Nadia sighed, "Thank goodness you were with him, Leviathan. The people are presently swarming the gates, demanding that I begin the Masquerade without delay. I cannot turn them away. Not without risking a general riot. With passions running high, the appearance of the supposedly dead Count could easily cause mass panic." She then turned to Lucio, "It is only by sheer dumb luck that the guards hurried you inside before anyone could recognize you."

Lucio's face fell, "Oh... I didn't think of that."

Asra sighed, "Just once, would it kill you to think before you do something?"

"I wasn't trying to cause problems," Lucio stammered, "Honest! I just wanted to party!"

Countess Nadia looked utterly unsurprised, "I am aware," she sighed, "However, if I allow you to remain for the Masquerade, your very presence could cause even more trouble. Especially if you are discovered."

"No trouble! No oopsies or funny business, I promise!" Leviathan could feel Lucio fidgeting nervously next to him, but he looked the Countess straight in her eyes. "Noddy, you're the boss around here now. And if I'm being honest," Lucio scoffed, "I hated being in charge. People were always ruining my fun. Asking me to do stuff for them. Whatever you decide, I'll go along with it. I won't cause a scene." His face then turned into a nervous smile, "I just wanna have some fun, ya know? Now that I'm alive again..." For a moment, there was no sound but the bustle of the palace outside the library doors.

Countess Nadia made a quiet, thoughtful sound, looking over her steepled fingers at Lucio, "I do not need you to acknowledge my authority, but I appreciate the sentiment. Lucio, can you promise that you will be cooperative? That you will not make a volatile situation worse..?"