Appetency

SIXTEEN

   The day when the saint came happened all too fast for Laurent to process.

He thought he'd been prepared, but the day when he arrived to the middle of the capital where Amren was supposed to be in, paraded around as if he were a god and not just the messenger, made Laurent want to back out instantly.

It's because he was scared.

There was something wrong with himself. He was scared of the BOSS villains, the male lead, and even intimidated by his brother, and yet Amren brought about a new sense of dread that made Laurent want to leave the whole scene and run away.

[STRAIGHTEN UP. DO NOT BE AFRAID.]

Laurent unconsciously did what the system said as it floated beside him. The two of them gazed out of their balcony to oversee the streets being packed full of people, eager to see the saint come this way.

[THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE. YOU MUST NOT FAIL ME.]

"And if I do?"

The system takes a moment to response. It makes Laurent worried more than he likes to admit.

[THEN I CANNOT SAVE YOU AGAIN.]

He looks up at the screen. "You have before. Back then in the forest, save me if something happens."

[IT WILL DIFFERENT. I WILL... BE A BURDEN TO YOU.]

"What? Why?"

[I AM NOT ALL-POWERFUL. I WILL DRAG YOU DOWN. DO WHAT YOU CAN TO SURVIVE. WHATEVER THE COST.]

Laurent doesn't understand what it meant. He never does.

He was lucky enough to have it backing him up, but now he was stunned to hear that the system wasn't able to help him as much anymore.

Is the plot really that powerful? Can't the system overcome it in the times of his need? There was clearly a large power gap between him and the system, so it can override the game plot if need be!

There were many questions Laurent wanted to ask, but it had left. Its presence had always annoyed him to where he'd curse and insult it, but now he felt so anxious without it by his side.

It really did feel like he was alone now.

"Is something wrong?"

Valentino appeared next to him on the balcony. Already, he's offering him comforting smiles and places a hand on Laurent's waist.

"No, I was just... wondering when the saint will come down the streets. I heard his carriage was made of precious materials and fused with holy magic. It's supposed to be hard to see his face as well."

"You want to see him?"

Laurent glances at him. Valentino stares right back, and they have a strange silence settled between them.

He ends up shaking his head. "I was just curious. Are you sure you're allowed to be with me? It's an important day. Won't you get in trouble or something?"

"Claude is handling them as we speak. Don't worry, we'll be together all day. And later at night when the banquet starts, we can sneak off early and head home and do what you like instead."

Laurent couldn't help the grin on his face and laughs a little. "How can we do that? The banquet is held in honor of the saint. Even if you aren't down there to help oversee the celebration, we can't skip out on this one tonight."

"No one would mind."

"I think a lot would."

Valentino doesn't seem like he cared. Laurent also knows that no one would speak up if they actually skipped out on the banquet since they were too afraid of the BOSS villain to say anything.