Chapter 13
Amadeus chuckled and glanced across the greenhouse grounds, serene as always. Bunyan did an amazing job keeping the plants thriving, maybe a little too much, to the point there were flowers that Marie could easily hide in if she felt so inclined. His eyes fell on the koi pond, one of several, and the couple sitting beside it-.
It took all of his willpower not to straight up stop in his tracks when he did a double take.
Yang Guifei was sitting on the bench, gazing down fondly at none other than Salieri, who had his head resting on her lap, asleep it would seem while the Foreigner stroked his hair.
Amadeus was struck with an odd mixture of emotions, the most notable thing being confusion and this inexplicable sense of betrayal. It was like a knife twisting in his gut.
When did…? Why did…?
He didn’t understand. Why did he feel so jealous? Hurt? It wasn’t like he fancied Yang, beautiful as she was. Salieri though…
No, no that couldn’t possibly…
The more he thought about it, the more it seemed to drive the knife deeper.
They were both his friends, and more to the point, adults, if they wanted to date, there was no reason to stop them and yet…
Some small, ugly part of him was so bitterly jealous. He’d known Salieri longer, he knew his music inside and out and vice versa. A strange sort of intimacy only they knew…
Amadeus cut off that train of thought. He should be happy for Salieri, he’d found someone special like so many Servants in Chaldea had. Avengers were fickle creatures after all, Yang’s carefree nature seemed to be a good balance to Salieri’s rigidness.
Yet...and yet…
He bit his lip. Why did he feel wronged? He didn’t love Salieri...didn’t…he didn’t, right?
“Amadeus?” Marie’s voice cut through his thoughts, in which he’d been so absorbed he’d actually forgotten he wasn’t alone.
“Aha! Sorry! Just spacing out,” he tried to laugh it off but his gut was churning uncomfortably. The image of Yang and Salieri was burned into his brain and all that did was upset him more.
Don’t be stupid! He mentally scolded himself, How many times do I need to say it?!
He smiled at Marie.
I love Marie Antoinette, not Antonio Salieri. Even that felt forced and unnatural. He wouldn’t have gotten so upset if that were true...right?
Why did he feel like the more he reminded himself that he loved Marie and not Salieri it sounded less and less genuine? It was like a robot spitting out programmed phrases and words. That bothered him more than anything else.
He noticed D’eon was regarding him with a curious expression.
“I would say you’re being weird, but you’re always weird,” Marie said.
Thankfully, they had walked far enough away that neither D’eon nor Marie noticed Yang and Salieri...and Amadeus didn’t have to keep trying to avoid staring. Either that or barging over and intentionally interrupting their...’date’. That was perfectly within his own naturally petty and immature personality to do something that stupid.
Oh, yes...this was jealousy, pure and simple. Ugly, ugly jealousy...and he still didn’t fully get it.
Well, no, that was a lie. Arguably, he did get it, he just...didn’t want to admit such things. Especially not when Salieri would just be repulsed by him. Amadeus was painfully aware that Salieri despised him and if these ‘feelings’ amounted to anything, confessing them would accomplish absolutely nothing.
He’d be safe with Marie and his feelings for her. A few squabbles with Sanson didn’t mean anything.
“Oh Maria, you wound me!” he said, mock swooning in response to her comment, “But as usual, you’re correct!”
“Do you...get some perverse pleasure out of having Marie verbally abuse you?” D’eon asked, Marie giggled.
“Perhaps.”
Better than Salieri’s hatred, he thought. Getting lightly bullied about his behavior by Marie was commonplace and welcome.
“He’s hopeless, D’eon. Just ignore him.”
“I’m afraid Amadeus is a hard man to ignore,” the Chevalier pointed out.
“She’s also got a point,” Amadeus agreed.
Despite the playful teasing, Amadeus was still stuck on all those negative emotions towards Salieri and Yang, since they had well and truly lodged themselves in the back of his mind.
At this rate, a few bottles of wine would be more than enough to help forget. He still had some hidden under his bed he’d stolen from the kitchen. Ah, nothing quite like plans to get utterly sloshed first thing in the morning. Marie would disapprove but she didn’t have to know about it.
Maybe he’d even create some pathetic, depression-ridden song...wouldn’t be the first time anyway.
“Are you two, er, busy?” Amadeus asked, trying to divert his attention elsewhere and hoping he didn’t sound too desperate.
“I was invited to tea, so I’m preoccupied, sorry,” Marie replied.
“That’s...that’s fine,” Amadeus tried to hide his disappointment.
“Saying you don’t intend to interrupt and drag her off again,” D’eon interjected.
“Oh no! I would never!”
“Why do I not believe that…” Marie hummed, looking up at the ceiling, “Come along, D’eon. We’ll be late.”
“Oh, the Chevalier is invited but not me?” Amadeus asked, unable to conceal his annoyance, childish as it probably sounded.
“No, she wasn’t. She just happens to be going in the same direction,” Marie replied but she sounded...evasive? Odd. Then again, maybe she genuinely didn’t want Amadeus to drag her off again for an emergency.
“In that case, I think I’ll retire to my room for a little while,” he said, “I can...go check on Antonio later.”
“Good idea,” Marie nodded as they exited out into the considerably cooler hallway.
“Farewell Monsieur Amadeus,” D’eon bowed slightly and Marie gave him a small wave before the two of them walked off.
Check on Antonio...Amadeus hummed. He did say he would retire to his room...but would a different room be really so bad?
Amadeus smiled. After all, where better to wait for his dear friend?
Chapter 14
“I just...I wanted…” the Caster trailed off, looking away.
“Yes?”
“I just...wanted to congratulate you!”
Salieri blinked, “For what?”
“F-for getting with Yang Guifei! Didn’t see that coming at all!” he laughed uncomfortably.
“What.”
Quite honestly, Salieri was at a loss for words. What on earth gave Amadeus that idea of all things?
“I’m...Yang and I are not together,” he said finally, shaking his head.
“You don’t have to lie about it, you know,” Amadeus carried on, “You two looked...so comfortable...on that bench.”
Oh.
Salieri flushed. He had really been hoping no one had seen that for exactly this reason. Yang could claim it was platonic until she was blue in the face, people would draw conclusions regardless of how blatantly false they were.
“There is nothing going on between us, Amadeus. You’re an idiot if you assume otherwise.”
“Eh? But…”
“And I’d appreciate it if you didn’t stick your nose in my business anyway.”
“Then why did you look like that?” Amadeus asked, sounding irritated. What right did he have to sound like that?
“Why do you care?” Salieri demanded, frustrated by the Caster’s childish display, “The way you’re acting, it’s almost like you’re jealous.”
Amadeus recoiled in shock, “No! I-!”
“But if I hadn’t seen your incessant and irritating pursuit of Marie first-hand, I’d almost say you were the one fancying Yang Guifei.”
That triggered an almost immediate change of behavior, “Don’t drag my friendship with Maria into this, I love her-.”
“Oh, do you now?” Salieri snapped, “Then why are you so jealous, and of what? Because Yang was kind enough to offer me a place to rest?”
“How could I not question it?!” Amadeus snapped back, “How would you feel seeing two of your friends together and having not told you anything?”
