Last Life

WAIT!I froze stock still.

That was a fragment of Max’s memory piping up. I personally was not about to fall at anyone’s feet. And the person I’d spent my whole life loving had already died in another world...

Just in case, I whispered a witching purification hex, reinforcing it with a slight surge of energy and instantly felt reinvigorated. Whew... Much better...

How infatuated did this guy have to be that his body still started writhing just from the smell of her? Although, partially, it was my fault — I had started actively developing the energy nodes governing sense organs, and that was how I fell into this trap.

Honestly though, I still didn’t know exactly how the lady was able to keep Max on such a short leash. It couldn’t have been any kind of hex, charm, or mumbo jumbo. I had scanned my physical shell for such standard “viruses” on day one. Could it all really have been so simple? He was in love? Now I’d have to be doubly on guard. I got the sense the surprises from Max’s memory weren’t over yet.

I was even curious to catch a glimpse of the object of his affections. I’d have bet my hand the woman who’d come to visit was Vivienne Leroy herself. The same woman who pledged her eternal love to Max and who had essentially caused the death of this body’s former inhabitant.

Hm... It had after all been over a month. And only now she thought to show up. What could it be for?

Quickly glancing at the coatrack, I grabbed Max’s autumn cloak and threw it over my shoulders so I wouldn’t shock her with my gaunt naked body.

“Let’s see,” I whispered and, shaking off the water like an animal, walked from the small entryway into the main room of the residence Bertrand and I shared. And indeed, the woman responsible for my deluded state was standing inside.

Her wavy light chestnut hair, put up in an elaborate style, glimmered faintly in the rays of the sun. Fine cheekbones, pointed chin, big slightly sloping eyes the color of dark amber — her face was arresting and, based on the smug smile, she knew it perfectly well.

The look of the devastating beauty who, beyond all doubt, had more than just Max crazy for her in this town, was topped off by a chic dress with deep neckline, which favorably emphasized her voluptuous curves.

The only area where, to my eye, she took it too far was the abundance of jewelry. She was so weighed down with expensive bijouterie it was like she was trying to prove something. Perhaps it was an attempt to make up for the flaw of a humble origin? Over the last few weeks, Bertrand had repeated over and over like a madman that she was no match for an aristocrat like me, afraid that his master would again get carried away by the woman.

On top of that, he told me a few pieces of mean gossip about the object of Max’s affections. He knew all kinds of dirt. Starting with her intimate relationships with highly placed civil servants and ending with having recently terminated an unwanted pregnancy.

I quickly scanned my visitor out of habit, and immediately found the answer to my biggest question. Despite not being gifted, she could use magic. True vision revealed a reservoir clear as day — a slight emerald glow on her neck, along with on her wrists and in her hair.

With every flap of her ornate fan made from the feathers of an exotic bird, a cloud of semitransparent green energy spread throughout the room. And there was the answer to the riddle — magic perfume.

Very curious... I again breathed in through my nose and, along with the air, stole a bit of the green energy. Again that smell of pine needles and forest flowers. It was pleasantly refreshing and made the energy circulate through my channels more quickly. It was a very subtle, but unmistakable effect — my reservoir started filling up faster for a second. Striking! So the green energy was some kind of stimulant.

Hm... There was just one thing I couldn’t understand — why Max’s body had such a violent reaction. The first explanation that came to mind was that the insignificant effect combined with Max’s personal feelings for her to cause the spark of passion. In other words, the magic spirits were just an enhancer of my lookalike’s feelings, nothing more. And given I didn’t harbor any deep feelings of love for my visitor and the timely incantation I’d recited, her charms had no effect on me. Except perhaps that I found it pleasant to breathe in her green energy.

And as for the rumors... Based on what I saw in her energy structure, they were believable. Vivienne Leroy, if that really was who was standing before me, had clearly been pregnant before. And at least twice. The last time meanwhile was very recent. Thanks to Vadoma’s arts, I was able to tell such things.

Beyond the woman I took for Vivienne Leroy, there were two more women in the room. One was Trixie, who was standing perfectly still holding a broom in the far corner. The maid now looked like a terrified little mouse. The stunned look in her fixated eyes let me know that she and everyone else in the room had seen my little show in the back yard. Or at least part of it.

The second woman was standing in the middle of the room next to Vivienne and, seemingly, was her companion. Her dirty blonde hair, blue eyes, and sparse constellation of freckles on her nose and cheeks made her look somewhat like Trixie. But unlike my maid, her physique was more refined and, based on the dress and expensive jewelry, belonged to a more privileged social class.

“Ladies!” I feigned embarrassment and, with a respectful bow, added: “You’ll have to excuse my appearance! If you’d give me a couple minutes to get myself together...”

“Ah, dear Maximilian!” the one I took for Vivienne Leroy said in a sing-song voice. And meanwhile, I could read slight astonishment in her eyes. The way she looked at me, it was like she was seeing me for the first time. “You have nothing to apologize for! As a matter of fact, we’re the ones who came uninvited! Of course we can wait!”

I again gave a bow and quickly ducked into my room. Before closing the door behind me, out of the corner of my eye, I spotted Trixie’s dress flittering in the hallway. I chuckled. She pretended to run, even faked slamming the door shut behind her. But in fact, the little spy was hiding behind the thin wall.

While I eviscerated Max’s wardrobe, I could faintly make out a curious conversation between my visitors. And meanwhile, they were not speaking Vestonian, but rather the language of the Foggy Isles which, as an aside, I also knew just as well as my native language. At least I’d inherited something useful from Max other than debts and problems. I knew several languages, for instance. The kid was a polyglot. Bertrand said that was the only thing that came easily to Max. Based on the fact the women had not lowered their voices, they were unaware of Max’s abilities.

Trixie by the way had been born on the Foggy Isles and, after her father’s death, had moved to the continent with her whole family. For practice, I often listened in on her conversations with her brothers and sisters when they ran over to help her. And now she had her ears perked up and was catching every word my visitors said.

“Vivienne!” the freckled one said with a mocking edge. “Why did you let him run away? Haha, it would have been funny to see him looking stupid and barefoot. What’s going on with you, Viv?”

I was right. She was Vivienne.

“I’m in no mood for jokes right now, Betty,” Vivienne cut off her friend’s laughing. “Something is not right here...”

“What do you mean?”

“Didn’t you see how easily he took down those three dirtbags? How confidently he held himself with that pipsqueak? It’s just too bad we couldn’t hear what they were saying...”

“I did,” Betty confirmed. “But I didn’t see anything wrong. Max just got lucky. The first two were stiff. And frankly, they practically disarmed themselves. Max just gave them a little help. The last one meanwhile was a tiny little pipsqueak! Even a child could have taken him down!”

“Bet...” Vivienne tried to object.

“On top of that,” Betty interrupted her. “You’re forgetting that Max is a noble. He’s been training with weaponry since childhood.”

“How is that possible, Betty?” Vivienne asked in surprise and, with scorn in her voice, added: “This is Max Renard we’re talking about... The man who had to beg Vincent not to kill him at the duel with tears in his eyes, wiping away snot.”

“Viv, sweety,” Betty said in a patronizing tone. “You’re comparing Max Renard and those scumbags with your Vincent, Abbeville’s top swordsman? Seriously?”

“You’re right as always, Betty,” Vivienne shuddered. “I must have gotten carried away... But promise me you’ll keep a close eye on him. I’ll only be happy if you can dispel my suspicions. You cannot deny that he has changed a lot... So thin... Such a confident look... Beyond that, for some reason he’s started telling people he’s related to the Legrands. Even though he used to despise everything connected with his mother’s family.”

“That confident look is all in your head, sweety,” Betty objected with a mocking edge. “And he’s only thin because of the fever he got after being injured. And the reason he started telling people he’s related to the Legrands is to get the creditors off his back, so they’ll stop demanding he be put in debtor’s prison. After all, both of us know what the Legrands really think of Pascal’s daughter’s bastard, including Pascal himself. As a matter of fact, knowing Max’s stupidity, I’m quite sure that Bertrand told him to start telling people. The old man is not so simple. He spent many years at the side of the founder of the Legrand trading empire.”

“I really want to believe you, Bet,” Vivienne said with hope in her voice and added angrily: “This whole story is so exhausting. I just want Vincent to finish what he started. Then I want to forget about Renard and his persistent relatives.”

“Don’t you worry, Viv,” Betty reassured her. “Your Vincent has already sent him a letter reminding him of their unfinished duel and gotten an answer requesting it be delayed until he recovers. Haha! Today, we both saw firsthand that Max is in perfect health and can answer the challenge! Excellent news, don’t you find? It’ll just take a bit of prodding.”

“I can take care of that,” Vivienne stated confidently. “It worked the first time, it’ll work again. He sure is taking a long time to get ready...”

I had gotten dressed a while ago and was now just eavesdropping on their curious conversation. Yep. Max was an even bigger moron than I thought. And, as I suspected, the duel wasn’t totally above board. My “beloved” relatives were somehow behind this whole story. But how exactly? Oh well. I would figure out all this mess.

Okay. Time to come out.

Pulling down the flaps of my one formal jacket, and adjusting the collar of my white shirt, both of which already looked too big on me, I stretched my feet, getting used to the uncomfortable shoes with stupid buckles, threw open the door and walked hurriedly forward.

“My sweet Vivienne!” I exclaimed, planting my lips on her graciously extended hand. “You’ll have to forgive me for keeping you waiting! I’m still quite clumsy after the injury. And my stupid servant has disappeared somewhere.”

I decided to play the love-drunk fool to extinguish the spark of suspicion that had suddenly been lit in Vivienne Leroy’s soul. I hoped at least distantly I was able to approximate Max. Based on the significant scornful smiles from both of the women, I was pulling it off okay. That was good. The longer they underestimated me the better. The two schemers had just said painfully many odd things.

But I couldn’t resist absorbing the small spot of emerald energy from Vivienne’s wrist. Unlike the brown mana, the green kind went into my energy channels and sunk in with ease. A few short minutes and I saw to my delight that the mana in my reservoir was refilling at an accelerated pace. What a wonderous world! I was starting to like it here!

When I looked up, Vivienne and Betty exchanged understanding glances while still smiling. They clearly had their own explanations for the emotions on my face.

“My dear Maximilian, there’s no need to apologize for what’s right,” Vivienne cooed, fanning my face vigorously without even suspecting that the magic on her right arm was no longer effective. “I’m so pleased to see you in good health! I’m told Monsieur Robert saved your life by giving you his last crimson elixir?”

Just then, a shade of unhappiness flickered in Vivienne’s dark amber eyes. That snake wasn’t going to forgive the doc for his oversight any time soon. She clearly wanted to see me dead in the grave.

“That’s right,” I nodded. “Now I owe him.”

“Chevalier,” Betty entered the conversation. She spoke Vestonian with a slight, barely noticeable accent. “You don’t know the whole truth! In fact, it was Vivienne that convinced the esteemed physician to give you that elixir.”

What shameless liars. They were incorrigible. I was particularly impressed by her use of the word “give.” They clearly took Max for a complete idiot. You want to play games with Dodger? Alright, game on.

I turned to look at Vivienne’s friend and feigned surprise to the best of my ability.

“Oh, my dear Maximilian,” Vivienne thought better. “Forgive me for the oversight. We were told your memory suffered after the injury. Do you remember Betty?”

“Madame,” I responded, and fell at the freckled woman’s hand. “You are correct, my memory is still coming back to me, and I have to relearn a lot of things. But how could I forget your best friend? Good day, Betty! You are looking captivating as always!”

After saying that, I met eyes with Betty. The dark pupils of her blue eyes widened slightly. The corners of her lips raised with scorn. She seemed to enjoy playing the stupid Max Renard for a fool.

Well, let her keep thinking that was what she was doing.

“I want to thank you!” I said, staring into Betty’s eyes. Meanwhile, I gave her thin fingers a squeeze, evoking a hostile wince. “You’ve opened my eyes!”

Then I turned to Vivienne. Oh, how much love my eyes contained!

“My sweet Vivienne!” I breathed out shakily and got down on one knee. “You are my saving grace! I owe you an eternal debt! My soul, heart, and body belong only to you!”

All that time, I was keeping the corner of my eye trained on Betty who, biting her lip in satisfaction, gave a triumphant smile. The sapphire blue of her eyes took on a gray hue, and her thin pedigreed cheekbones turned rosy. Which of these two would be happier to see me dead?

“Chevalier!” Betty said to me with a nearly triumphant air. “Your lady love requires your assistance! The villain Vincent de Lamar took advantage of your unconscious state after the injury and has been pursuing Vivienne like a dog. And because that cretin is Abbeville’s top swordsman, no one dares challenge him. We call upon you to intervene. You were the only man not afraid to fight him last time.”

Vivienne then made herself out like an innocent victim during her friend’s speech, giving bitter sighs the whole time. When Betty was finished, Vivienne was about to say something to me but, before she could, the front door of the room flew open thunderously and, a second later, city guardsmen started streaming into the room, clanging iron and panting. At the head of the warband was Bertrand all red in the face.

“Monsieur, I have brought assistance...” he spouted out, looking at me puzzled.

I then meanwhile, paying no attention to the crowd or Bertrand’s words, quickly got up off my knee. Walking right up close to Vivienne and looking her directly in the eyes, I said quietly:

“If you want it so bad... So be it — I will kill Vincent de Lamar.”

I must have overdone it a bit. A shadow of fear ran across Vivienne’s face.