Hayle raised his eyebrows at this.
"Isn't it famously known that Miss Velasques lives above the clouds, only to take offence at lesser-known whelps who've dirtied her sight?"
"Hayle!"
Pietro's outburst was sharp enough to make Delphina's ear ring, and beneath it she thought she caught the faint scrape of metal- though she couldn't tell where it originated from.
"What? Is it something that can't be said? I've brought those kids over today anyway to apologise, once I heard she was actually out in public."
Following it up with a dirty side eye and a sneer, Hayle was well and truly not giving her any face.
Delphina raised a hand, cutting short Jenkins' subtle move toward Hayle. Letting out an audible sigh, she rested her chin on her fingertips. She could unfortunately understand where Hayle was coming from.
It was best to nip this misunderstanding in the bud now, before it got worse. To begin with, she had thought Hayle was the one responsible for spreading dirty rumours to tarnish the original's reputation.
Though now it seemed he was just misguided by them, and wasn't the source.
"Mr Burgess, let's make one thing clear, I had to train on my own for various reasons- none of which are your business. But just because I decided to isolate myself doesn't make my achievements any less real."
"Besides, my isolation wasn't totally of my own volition… I think anyone can understand that someone who's newly become a Sword Master needs time to adapt."
Frowning as she said this, she glanced at Pietro from the corner of her eye. Noticing how pale he had gone, she knew he had realised that his behaviour towards her had caused problems far beyond what he had known.
"I am and always will be the Heir Apparent for my Family until my Father relinquishes the Ducal title to me. Nobody has any right to disparage me for that decision, especially a handful of Knights who aren't even from de Velasques."
Tapping her fingers along her jawline, her head tilted as she thought.
"Hmm, if I remember correctly, they weren't even Mid-level Knights, maybe Juniors? Since when was it socially acceptable for Knights of that level to even comment on a Sword Master's skills?"
"Shouldn't you be grateful I didn't even kill them?"
Sliding her eyes to Hayle as she said this, she pointed out the crux of the matter- why would she bother attacking random Burgess Knights? When, by right, she could have just executed the original offenders under Knightly law when the situation first arose.
Appearing to agree with this, he nodded his head sympathetically.
"No, no, you're right. But I won't apologise on their behalf, I still support Pietro as the Heir Apparent over you any day."
"Hayle, stop it!"
Pietro, despite seeming to do his best, looked like a white lotus wife standing off to the side, secretly egging on their partner's mischief.
"Oh dear."
Looking to the sky for guidance, but finding only clear, cold-blue skies and a bright, shimmering Sun, she practically let out a growl.
Now she was in a foul mood, and as a result, she let some of her own true thoughts spill out.
"Why is that? Do you think he's more likely to screw you if you do so?"
Curling her lip and scoffing at the two of them, she spun on her heel.
"Pietro, do me a favour, pick better fuck buddies."
Taking a few steps towards Jenkins, she left only an abrupt silence behind before turning back around and rapidly closing the gap between her and Hayle.
Startled by Delphina's fast approach, he stepped back once before frowning, unnerved that he had been briefly intimidated by a woman smaller than himself.
"I have a question for you, Hayle Burgess. Do you really think it's sensible to come here, the heart of de Velasques territory, and declare something like that? To me, of all people?"
Putting her hands on her hips, Delphina leaned towards him.
"Do your words represent how the whole of the Burgess Family feels?"
Watching his face take on an ashen tone, Hayle had finally realised the insensibility of his actions. In retrospect, all she could do was pity him.
Alphas in ABO Worlds were always depicted as hot-headed and short of thought, especially when it came to the people they were eyeing as mates- a trait that Hayle clearly displayed as well.
Did it still tie in with his attitude from the Game? Yes, it did, and thankfully, with her previous experience, she could probably handle this mess.
Not that she wanted to.
"My brother can explain the situation to you himself, seeing as you refuse to listen to me. I hope you have someone with healing skills on hand."
Stepping back once again, Delphina stood back and gestured to Pietro.
"Well, go on then, I'm not going anywhere. I think you two need a good heart-to-heart."
Throwing an ice-cold glance his way, she made it abundantly obvious she still didn't trust him, yet was allowing him to make amends once again.
Heaving a deep sigh and shaking his head, Pietro took a sideways glance at Hayle and the small army that lay behind him.
"Let's discuss this over at my office. It's quieter and more secure, we wouldn't want our… Guests, to feel uncomfortable."
Gesturing to the man next to Hayle, who had remained silent this entire time despite the various outbursts, Pietro ordered him to meet up with the Silverwraiths and assist with coordinating the joint exercise.
Throughout all of it, Hayle watched Pietro and Pietro alone.
Tutting out loud at this sight, Delphina looked towards Jenkins, who had taken a few steps even closer compared to earlier.
My Lady, I shall let the Soldiers know there's been a slight delay. Will you still be seeing them before lunch?
Nodding to him, she deliberately made sure both Hayle and Pietro could hear her answer.
"Jenkins, I don't like to alter my schedule due to unwelcome tantrums. Guests or not, there's too much to do today."
Yes, my Lady.
Executing a flawless bow, Jenkins' smooth strides were replaced with a jerkier automaton march as he left towards the administrative building.
"Hmm?"
Tilting her head at the oddity, she belatedly realised that Pietro was now looking this way.
"All settled?"
Moving to stand beside her, he reached for her wrist once again. Though this time, she swiftly moved it out of his grasp.
"Both you and he, you've really got some audacity going, brother."
There was only silence in response.
Fully turning herself around to see the reason for this, Delphina was shocked to find Pietro looking like a drowned kitten. Well, minus the hair actually being wet.
"Dude, are you actually crying?"
Not knowing what else to do, she grabbed his hand and hurried toward the building, hoping everyone was too busy to notice their Captain bursting into tears.
"Quickly, where is your office?? Pietro?"
All she got in response was sniffling that was slowly becoming louder.
"Fuck my life, I don't have the time for this!"
"It's this way. How do you not even know where your brother's office is?"
Realising the footsteps behind her were also Hayles, Delphina was mildly startled. He was actually walking perfectly in step with Pietro?
"Creepy motherfucker."
Promising herself that she'd push her senses open just a touch more, she jerked her chin towards both of them and explained she'd never been.
"This is my first time visiting, even with the Hunters."