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“Thank you for meeting up with me today. I really do appreciate it whenever you come up here”, Neuvillette glanced at Wriothesley as they walked past the little shops in the city. The Duke seemed a bit off today, like something was plaguing his mind. Should he just ask him? But then again, Wriothesley isn’t the most open person when it comes to his own feelings, which seems odd to Neuvillette. Wriothesley has such a deep understanding of the human psyche and loves to talk about others. He gets the way people act, even if it isn’t according to the law. He always tries to see things from the others perspective. Yet when it comes to himself, he is like a hidden treasure chest, locked in five different ways. The Iudex only knows snippets from his life, little anecdotes he once was told in fleeting conversations.
“Ay, Iudex, tell me something, alright? How can a freakin being from another world, or whatever, judge humans, huh? How does that make any sense?!” A drunk man had put himself in front of Wriothesley and Neuvillette, slurring his words as he waves his bottle of beer in front of them. Wriothesley, who was already tense before, now stepped up, looking down on the man.
“I give you 10 seconds. If you are still here afterwards, I will personally escort you to the Fortress of Meropide for harassing the Iudex”, he already had his hands balled into fists and his stance was fight ready. Neuvillette felt like no matter how this was going to continue, there would be physical fight. And it wouldn’t end well for the drunkard.
But instead of making an escape, the guy threw the half-filled bottle of booze towards the ground, basically signing his death sentence. The glass exploded, liquor staining Wriothesleys boots and pooling beneath him. Neuvillette feared that the beer won’t be the only thing staining Wriothesleys clothes today.
“Looks like someone can’t listen. But don’t worry, we can do this non-verbally”.
That was when the first hit landed. Right into the guys face. Blood was pouring out of his nose, crimson red streaming over his face onto his clothes. The punch was precise, filled with the intention to knock him out. He tried to recover but Wriothesleys fist was already buried in his stomach. Red was flying through the air as he fell to the ground, coughing viciously.
“Let’s make this easy, for the both of us. When the Duke says he wants you to fuck off, you do as he says. Understood?”
Wriothesley towered over the man, raw anger glistening in his eyes. It is like the shine they usually have, has been extinguished and was replaced by clouds of rage. The drunkard crawled backwards across the floor, stumbling over himself as he was trying to get as far away from the Duke as possible.
“I think this is enough, Wriothesley. I told you, petty comments like that do not bother me. Just let him go”, Neuvillette stepped up towards the Duke, putting one hand on his shoulder in an attempt to calm him down. Though his voice seemed unbothered, the Iudex was shaken by what just happened. He never saw Wriothesley like this, so furious, so uncontrolled. He wasn’t scared by it, rather, concerned. Something seemed to be troubling the Duke, something big.
After a few seconds of lingering eye contact with the man, Wriothesley stepped back, relaxing his balled up fists again. There was a tense silence in the air as the two men made their way towards a quieter place near the sea. They halt on a little beach area, looking across the calm water as they decided to rest here for a bit. Neuvillette was the first one to pick up the conversation again.
“May I ask why you reacted this way? You are a very calm and collected person usually. This seems a bit out of character for you”.
Wriothesley let out a long sigh, seemingly breathing out pent up frustration with it. Neuvillette knew something was up with him and this proofed it.
“I don’t want to be violent. I don’t want to use my force against people. Not outside of the ring, at least. But sometimes it seems like there is no other way, ya know? Ah, I don’t even know what I am rambling about here…sorry”, Wriothesley fumbles with the bandages tied tightly around his arm, loosening the wrapping absent minded. Neuvillette couldn’t let the conversation end here. The Duke opening up about himself is a rare occasion and it seems like he really needs it, he is just too scared.
“Please, let me be there for you now. I want to listen to you, Wriothesley. Just let me”, the Iudex took the Dukes hand in his, gently stroking the fingers with his gloved thumb. He could feel Wriothesley tensing up for a second but then giving in, not only relaxing his body but also his mind.
“Sometimes I think the whole world has a grudge against me, like I did something wrong in my past life and I need to be punished for it now. Just getting beaten down over and over again”.
Neuvillette looked at Wriothesley, trying to meet his eyes. But it wasn’t the grown man looking back at him. It was a little boy, bruises all over him, tears fueled by anger running down his cheeks. A child, hurt by everyone he ever met. A punching bag for the world.
“It isn’t easy being the Duke, I am not gonna lie. I don’t mind the responsibility or the amount of work I have now. For me, it’s the feeling that people are afraid of me. People see me as this god-like entity, scared to get close to me. But, honestly, that is all I want. Friends, people to talk to, people to love. I never really had that before, complicated childhood and all that, ha…Anyway, I’m fine, just kinda…in thought about this all at the moment. Sorry about this outburst. That was very dumb”, the Duke took his hand away again, fidgeting around with it while giving Neuvillette an apologetic smile.
“It wasn’t dumb, Wriothesley. You are hurt and have been for way too long. An injured dog also bites, even when it means no harm. But I want to tell you something, something you have not realized just yet. There are many people who love you now. Even I can see that. Clorinde, Sigewinne, the Traveler and me, of course. We aren’t afraid of you. Even after this, I could never fear you”, and it was true. The Iudex felt like, no matter what, the Duke could never actually scare him. Not with the amount of love and compassion he sees him spread all the time. When talking to Sigewinne, when joking around with Clorinde or when they are just enjoying each other’s company.
“You love me, huh?”, the sarcastic tone was unmistakable and Neuvillette couldn’t help but smile at it.
“Well, in a way, yes, of course. Do not think too much of it, Wriothesley. I also mentioned a bunch of other people in my statement”, his tone was playfully upset and Wriothesley smiled back at him.
“Yeah, well, you were the most important one”, Wriothesley looked right at Neuvillette as he said that, his blue eyes now shining like snow on the mountain tops again. The Iudex felt his face running hot, breaking the eye contact in an attempt to calm himself.
“Ahem, this is not about me, Wriothesley. Stop distracting from yourself”.
“No, I know…thank you. That was…good to hear…Now, shall we grab something to eat? This is getting too emotional for me, personally”, Wriothesley stretched his back as he said that, walking a few steps away from the water. He might be a great talker, but not when it comes to himself. But that was okay with Neuvillette. He was glad that Wriothesley could confide in him this time.
“Sure, let me treat you to a cup of tea and some cake. I invited you here after all”.
“I won’t say no to that”.
As they spent the rest of the evening together, Neuvillette was feeling extremely grateful to have learned more about Wriothesley’s feelings. And maybe even about his own, though he won’t admit that to himself. For now. In the end, neither of them were masters at talking about their emotions. But that was okay, because they could learn that together.