"The guard to the right will be with you. Just show him your card and you should be fine."24Please respect copyright.PENANAnoKvHWTTLx
24Please respect copyright.PENANAqLRcHGSQwd
The coachman bowed before us. He was kind and polite, so I felt a little wrong about what I was about to say.
"Thank you. Can I make a report on the man who rode with us? He attacked me and my friend."
The coachman released an exhausted sigh. I lightly chuckled.
"I apologize, sir, but I'm currently unable to do anything about it."
"...I don't mean to be rude, but he attacked us. No, 'attacked' isn't right, he assaulted us. I can't just stand by and let someone like that walk away scott-free."
"As we are in the realm of His Majesty, we cannot reprimand him. However, after the ride back, we will gladly put him under arrest."24Please respect copyright.PENANAs2xiGsBWSH
24Please respect copyright.PENANAEq6pEfGpnD
I felt a vein bulge in my head.24Please respect copyright.PENANAfzAhuZ64LK
24Please respect copyright.PENANATlkYfhRPV1
"Are you serious? Why are you letting him in the palace anyway? He's dangerous–"24Please respect copyright.PENANAXA6jxZSrvk
24Please respect copyright.PENANAlTzSeQBi6e
The coachman put a hand over my mouth and leaned in.24Please respect copyright.PENANAXx41GHfBuN
24Please respect copyright.PENANATQeHmDZFB3
"Listen, we're perfectly aware. But that man is a special person, and we are in very special times. I promise that you won't go unheard, okay? Just avoid making a scene."
"...Fine. Flinty, let's go."
Figuring that arguing wouldn't get me anywhere, I turned back to motion Flinty. She had her face pointed to the sky. After I called her, she awkwardly shrunk.
"R-Right. Sorry, it's just that this place looks way bigger up close."
"Wait until you see the inside."24Please respect copyright.PENANAlWFlDorUIr
24Please respect copyright.PENANAQJlM43dZE0
"I-Inside...?"24Please respect copyright.PENANAKwU9B8tJZr
24Please respect copyright.PENANAlowporOQ56
She repeated my last word with an astonished breath. When we made it to the guard, I handed him my card. After a short inspection of our bodies, he gently bowed to us and led us through one of the three doors. Flinty covered her face for a moment before taking in the view.24Please respect copyright.PENANAMWPyb5SBfb
24Please respect copyright.PENANAyGA69ojexA
"It's so... shiny."24Please respect copyright.PENANAMdIIJE01Jj
24Please respect copyright.PENANAWaSahkEwRl
The interior of the building was clad in marble and avant-garde designs scribbled throughout the floor and ceiling. No one column holding the interior had the same design; they each possessed an exaggerated illustration of an animal, some I didn't recognize.24Please respect copyright.PENANA2S2G2RwjCA
24Please respect copyright.PENANA1vR8KLcmPz
"You young ones have good eyes," the guard said, "Now if you two would follow me, I'll take you to The Garden."24Please respect copyright.PENANAh89NNw9dlD
24Please respect copyright.PENANAhpaAdETFFw
"The Garden?"24Please respect copyright.PENANAkEQEM9RikH
24Please respect copyright.PENANAUmhknnV9tI
"That's where the plants are," I replied, "It's a lot smaller than you'd expect, and it's all indoors, but they have some wonderful specimens in there."24Please respect copyright.PENANA8Ru9rTLDXo
24Please respect copyright.PENANAnfGRLcYysW
"I could've guessed that the plants were in a place called The Garden, Kenny."24Please respect copyright.PENANAzSLEsbWqyx
24Please respect copyright.PENANAtTc0FPSBlD
We traveled up a set of stairs. Even the steps were polished and spotless, which made me feel slightly guilty about stepping on them. Once we arrived at the second floor, we traveled down a lengthy hallway.24Please respect copyright.PENANAOtb2nM8g6y
24Please respect copyright.PENANADYWIFxHUlu
"Hey, Kenny."24Please respect copyright.PENANA1XPwMtLPzG
24Please respect copyright.PENANApKt7NQ9rZU
"What's the matter?"24Please respect copyright.PENANAbD9uZKdBNl
24Please respect copyright.PENANAv4xAh0TYdr
"Do you see that thing hanging from the ceiling?"24Please respect copyright.PENANAh4bbrs2ZRt
24Please respect copyright.PENANAvgLClAEp9i
She pointed to the left at a chandelier. It was grandiose, undeniably, but I wasn't particularly impressed by it.24Please respect copyright.PENANATjkBWxxVx8
24Please respect copyright.PENANA8N7jxOIeHf
"The chandelier? What about it?"24Please respect copyright.PENANA2IftRUYkc5
24Please respect copyright.PENANAnR3i5W4XGt
"That's called a chandelier? W-Wow... it's so shiny, and big."24Please respect copyright.PENANAA83umDXDcR
24Please respect copyright.PENANAB1sPdtQXFY
"It's pretty, but I can't help but think it's overkill. And just look at that lone little chain keeping it hanging; it looks like it's gonna break any second."24Please respect copyright.PENANAAsIryHtIw3
24Please respect copyright.PENANAYxHySWej1V
"That chain is reinforced with the head royal mage's mana," the guard interrupted, "so despite its small stature, it's very sturdy."24Please respect copyright.PENANAVelLfjnjAy
24Please respect copyright.PENANAf62Zsbg6BA
"Ah, that makes sense."24Please respect copyright.PENANAQ8D5ZeFy6D
24Please respect copyright.PENANAUvNDyYtMsv
I wouldn't put it past royal mages to know mana suspension of that degree. It was likely an earth infusion, or maybe the mage just had dense mana. Either way, it made me wonder how many more appliances in this building had mana in them. I immediately thought of the doors, but considering how many we've passed in this hallway alone, that seemed unlikely.24Please respect copyright.PENANAs5QRPXUYvH
24Please respect copyright.PENANAcuEwFidywV
"...Then again, this building is quite old, isn't it– oop!"
I broke out of ruminating when I ran into the back of the guard. He stopped moving. and I could tell by the side of his face that he was surprised. I peered around his body to see what it was that he was seeing.
"...Oh no."
White hair, green eyes, crossed arms; these features were exhibited by a young boy in an exquisite outfit. The boy had two guards behind him.
His eyes met mine. His smirk turned from childish to demonic. I took a few steps back and bumped into Flinty.
"Kenny? What's wrong? What are you two looking at?"
She peeked over the guard and saw him. Unlike me, however, her face lit up with an excited gasp.
"It's the prince!"
I already began turning, but before my legs could locomote, Flinty's fingers wrapped around my wrist.
"Kenny, it's the prince!"
"I know! Why do you think I'm trying to–"
"Mister Chambers!"
His squeaky screech echoed through the hallway, reverberating my name.
"I order you all to have dinner with me!"
I looked over my shoulder. Flinty's face was as bright as the sun.
Sighing, I resigned myself to the situation, following Prince Orice's unreasonable order.
–
–
–
Maybe I shouldn't have been so distraught upon meeting the prince. Thinking about it with a calmer mind, it was bound to happen eventually. I was frankly surprised it took over ten visits here for me to meet him.
"I finally had a chance to sneak out this time!"
That was his response when I inquired him, spoken as if he was shamelessly proud of himself. He was shamelessly proud of himself, actually. It only made my impression of him worse.
The two guards who were tailgating him were the same two goons I made total fools out of all those weeks ago. They were also inadvertently the reason why I got my decrepit nickname, but I knew better not to blame them.
If anything, it was me. Though I wanted to berate the prince, it was me.
"So, why have you called us to this room?"
"I already told you. It's so that we can eat together!"
Flinty and I were sitting by each other on different couches. The prince was sitting across from us on one of his own, but I could tell that his was much more comfortable than ours.
"You say it's so we can eat, but I'm not seeing any food on the table."
"Just be patient. It'll come in a jiffy."
"In a jiffy..."
I repeated his peculiar phrase under my breath. It looked like waiting was an inevitability.
"I just wanted to see the plants, man..."
"You'll see them after our dinner, I promise! I just need to discuss things with you. First, some important business, and then some other business."
"Important business? That's hard to believe."
"Then get ready to be surprised."
We sat in silence, intently gazing at each other.
"Aren't you going to tell me?"
"I'll do it over food. I read somewhere that talking over food helps build bonds the best."
"Fine. I'll wait. Yell at me when the food is here."
My body sank into the couch. I closed my eyes and leaned back. The couch put me in a tranquil state, and despite my intentions, I could feel myself lulled to sleep. My senses were being severed from the outside world.24Please respect copyright.PENANAgr7rBxssNd
24Please respect copyright.PENANABZjTWmdqut
"...Did he seriously fall asleep?"24Please respect copyright.PENANAmRvZG5l87w
24Please respect copyright.PENANARbhxCZ6Alg
"I-I think he did."24Please respect copyright.PENANAcSoV01QCqi
24Please respect copyright.PENANAxbtLq8C3TB
The prince's and Flinty's voices dragged me back to consciousness. However, noting that they thought I was unconscious, I decided to play the part and see what would happen. I had a bubbly feeling in my chest. I was becoming giddy. I was convinced I had devised the most meticulous scheme ever.24Please respect copyright.PENANAk9y6BHWeao
24Please respect copyright.PENANASlhQME9Cmd
"That's rude of him."24Please respect copyright.PENANASdQb8ickbL
24Please respect copyright.PENANAOPDfgbK7Sy
"I-I'm sorry for my friend's rudeness, Your Royal Highness. He's had a long day."24Please respect copyright.PENANAMsifBHOSLH
24Please respect copyright.PENANAt5n6Nvurk1
"It's trivial anyhow. Since he's sleeping, why don't we introduce ourselves?"24Please respect copyright.PENANAHrzPVbo5Y9
24Please respect copyright.PENANAmXNMKFawTU
"H-Huh? You don't remember me?"24Please respect copyright.PENANA7Po6WIvKTi
24Please respect copyright.PENANAR3E8tuNBDc
"Of course I do, I'm just pulling your leg! You're the girl who was kidnapped by those two corrupt knights. What was your name again?"24Please respect copyright.PENANAdwRYuX2bwy
24Please respect copyright.PENANA3djykTbGn0
"F-Flinty. It's an honor to meet you, Your Royal Highness."24Please respect copyright.PENANA5oZvTQg4m0
24Please respect copyright.PENANAqwLJqlhxXB
"And it's a pleasure to meet you."24Please respect copyright.PENANAqUYCgmiRx3
24Please respect copyright.PENANAexkWGmskRG
Flinty let out a weird noise.24Please respect copyright.PENANAkurkeZW3zV
24Please respect copyright.PENANAXySBR6TS7C
"Mhm!"24Please respect copyright.PENANAJtcmAk8TIB
24Please respect copyright.PENANAUUFnEnNUa7
"Now... tell me, how'd you do it? How did you befriend him so easily?"24Please respect copyright.PENANAx31D6BKS6h
24Please respect copyright.PENANAo7JrNU5QxU
"Huh? I didn't do anything special, I just spent a lot of time with him."24Please respect copyright.PENANA4lksQmAUWa
24Please respect copyright.PENANAoYd93B2dyo
"That was it? Wow, of course, that's it! It's so simple, and yet, it's so challenging."24Please respect copyright.PENANAz4iPBqsC6B
24Please respect copyright.PENANA2nCkaOkbxt
The prince was bemoaning over something.24Please respect copyright.PENANAuUkct6i39n
24Please respect copyright.PENANAbDcRqG9t6q
"Uhm, if you don't mind me asking, why do you want to be friends with Kenny so bad?"24Please respect copyright.PENANA9ZI6aZdtYR
24Please respect copyright.PENANAM0KbRPK97T
"Hmm? Well, you see... uh..."24Please respect copyright.PENANAzk5EeQtqk1
24Please respect copyright.PENANA22Do5wueD6
He stumbled over his words. I was listening far more earnestly now.24Please respect copyright.PENANApJYb10nMgQ
24Please respect copyright.PENANAMIf6C2O4ET
"...It's a little embarrassing, so don't tell him I said this, but it's because I think he's pretty cool."24Please respect copyright.PENANA2obzDlG7ci
24Please respect copyright.PENANANoJkgX4kuP
I almost jerked 'awake' when I heard that. He's been pestering me every time we've met because he thought I was cool?24Please respect copyright.PENANAWZjcZfL9kR
24Please respect copyright.PENANApah7HK0BtA
"I see. Well, you're right, Kenny is pretty cool."24Please respect copyright.PENANAUuJYMhgnOL
24Please respect copyright.PENANAQIUJAOnVye
"I've never seen anyone as brave as him; just think about it, he saw two adults ganging up on one kid, and he beat them up! He was much smaller and younger. By all means, he should've turned his tail and ran, but he didn't! I've only ever seen Skylark act like that. Everyone else is too big of a wuss, but not Mister Chambers– and even better, he's just a little older than me! He's not some adult who scolds me for everything I do or watches me like a hawk. He's a little boy, just like me!"24Please respect copyright.PENANAOUjYnPT6Id
24Please respect copyright.PENANAF3hUn4qHyC
"That's... surprisingly sweet."24Please respect copyright.PENANAkk6maoRP8d
24Please respect copyright.PENANAcmIPxabTGl
"I'm trying to get in his good graces, but for some reason, nothing I do seems to work. I'm starting to think that he just doesn't like me."24Please respect copyright.PENANAe8uAPm2RCz
24Please respect copyright.PENANAFBKs51Hy5L
"O-Oh, I'm sure it's not that. It's just, well, from what I've heard of him, you always seem to meet him at the wrong times."24Please respect copyright.PENANAsIGp4SMYVe
24Please respect copyright.PENANA2qkwuwPG8m
"...Really?"24Please respect copyright.PENANAs4d7DXipx1
24Please respect copyright.PENANAH6RczUtzpY
"You're also incredibly obnoxious."24Please respect copyright.PENANAkH12Td5R6t
24Please respect copyright.PENANAx2U7CDtF4s
"GAH!?"24Please respect copyright.PENANAYaw5S4Bnl3
24Please respect copyright.PENANAQfOTBB7iXh
"Huh!?"24Please respect copyright.PENANA4EQOv8zoBe
24Please respect copyright.PENANA1k8azU8jtN
I rose from my slumber and barged into the conversation. The prince pointed a finger at me accusingly.24Please respect copyright.PENANA0v7Ai0LnDd
24Please respect copyright.PENANAo8x6NmydpK
"You weren't asleep!? But how!? You looked so convincing!"24Please respect copyright.PENANAQD5uXiw7uU
24Please respect copyright.PENANA0f0dUtCbNg
"Nevermind that. What Flinty said was right, but what you said was even more right. I don't like you very much, I'm sorry– ack!"24Please respect copyright.PENANAzS2HOtIVQo
24Please respect copyright.PENANAcCeNupnT1S
I felt something blunt hit my shoulder. Flinty was looking at me with beady eyes with her fist against me. I looked back at the prince, who had a perturbed expression. He quickly looked down at the table and pinched his chin, whispering something to himself.24Please respect copyright.PENANACRzUlxDpDv
24Please respect copyright.PENANACfObrFbKhE
"Kenny," Flinty said, "what are you thinking talking to the prince like that? Especially after he's being so nice!"24Please respect copyright.PENANAKZubXuWWdN
24Please respect copyright.PENANAsfGlxx3Qvh
"I-Is he really being so nice? He barged in and forced us to eat with him, and he still hasn't apologized for chasing me last time!"24Please respect copyright.PENANASQJivROCGm
24Please respect copyright.PENANAmfTVhtq6pT
"Oh, that? I thought my sister told you everything."24Please respect copyright.PENANA5GG8fJNvTj
24Please respect copyright.PENANANhd6dzKQrA
"You still don't just chase people like that! I could've seriously hurt someone!"24Please respect copyright.PENANABCsKu3v975
24Please respect copyright.PENANAGkeHITfcRS
"...You're right. Yeah, you're right."24Please respect copyright.PENANA2fRbhTupY1
24Please respect copyright.PENANARRXRBmRUhe
The prince stood up from his couch and bowed.24Please respect copyright.PENANAkljhnbOfxR
24Please respect copyright.PENANAM0Vsn8xLbD
"I apologize. Not just for chasing you relentlessly that one time, but also for barging in and forcing you to eat with me."24Please respect copyright.PENANA0zZPkHdVXo
24Please respect copyright.PENANAX2pK70lvYd
"That sounds inauthentic– ack! Stop punching me!"24Please respect copyright.PENANAOLULvDUapa
24Please respect copyright.PENANAHHIZVbSiKO
Flinty stuck her tongue out. Something about this felt strange; why was I being painted as the enemy here? I looked at the prince, who was still bowing. He kept lowering his body. His hands were balled into fists. They were quaking.24Please respect copyright.PENANAbQQMlteMq1
24Please respect copyright.PENANAV2gFuEhEkZ
"I really am sorry. I didn't know it bothered you that much. I promise to be more considerate."24Please respect copyright.PENANAoHQ0j9HpGG
24Please respect copyright.PENANAW2wc5bMLkj
If I didn't accept this, I felt like it would've ruined my day.24Please respect copyright.PENANA87MkQs8BY4
24Please respect copyright.PENANATc40PWjYC9
"Fine, you're forgiven. Now sit down, please. Having royalty bow at me is more weird than it is gratifying."24Please respect copyright.PENANA539qrzFlaM
24Please respect copyright.PENANAtr7GuirYaR
"Yeah! You've forgiven me! Does that mean we're friends now?"24Please respect copyright.PENANAMATBo7b5UQ
24Please respect copyright.PENANA9YjemjLely
"No."24Please respect copyright.PENANATM5Mrb2ImE
24Please respect copyright.PENANAo5cyA5JaYE
He sank into his couch with a deep frown. I looked at Flinty to gauge her thoughts and she just lightly shrugged at me with a sigh. The situation was satisfactory, then.24Please respect copyright.PENANAB0LfXcvIbz
24Please respect copyright.PENANAZFKT30XzWi
"Hey, Flinty, this Kenny guy stinks. How about you and I become friends?"24Please respect copyright.PENANAuwlThRTYUu
24Please respect copyright.PENANAc1owAZfBbp
"Insulting me after an apology doesn't make you look good, prince."24Please respect copyright.PENANAAHKyV4ddj6
24Please respect copyright.PENANArl18tJJVNl
He looked at me. I was expecting him to stick his tongue out at me as well, but he just looked deeply sad. Somehow his frown grew even more profound, it almost looked inhuman.24Please respect copyright.PENANAXrtpR23kdo
24Please respect copyright.PENANAcrbCyCjy5o
"Y-You and I, friends?" Flinty muttered.24Please respect copyright.PENANAcZHJEbVjBK
24Please respect copyright.PENANATvYFFbOMVP
"Yeah! That'd be cool, right? Think about how much you can boast about being friends with the prince!"24Please respect copyright.PENANAGzJVDcwYbd
24Please respect copyright.PENANArCEl0BEANT
"...I wouldn't want to be friends with you just for that."24Please respect copyright.PENANAFwn1KjscaS
24Please respect copyright.PENANAL6PvMi7YBu
"I see. That makes sense. Yeah, it does."24Please respect copyright.PENANATDccygQNPG
24Please respect copyright.PENANAu6MIfNkBu8
The prince shook his head in a satisfied manner, the frown entirely departed from his face. I was beginning to wonder why he was acting the way he was, but recalling what he said earlier, I had a clue as to why.24Please respect copyright.PENANAuxgcs1oLUE
24Please respect copyright.PENANAJkUarVROoj
"You don't have many friends, do you, prince?"24Please respect copyright.PENANAvnlMQWSKsB
24Please respect copyright.PENANAO5jYm7AUNt
"--Hrk!"24Please respect copyright.PENANAcoSzRfUnNB
24Please respect copyright.PENANAilEJNpjBXL
I hit a sour spot. I nodded while making an 'ahhh' sound. Of course, it was the only explanation. I was also insufferable when I stopped talking to people, after all.24Please respect copyright.PENANAcXKS3wmaQd
24Please respect copyright.PENANAg38HtyRFNL
The prince looked down at the table again. I didn't have a chance to press him further, however, because a group of people carrying plates and glasses barged into the room.24Please respect copyright.PENANAxzKdVwECzH
24Please respect copyright.PENANAaUOZkvz77Y
"Dinner is ready, Your Highness!"24Please respect copyright.PENANAM6hUZNcXRR
24Please respect copyright.PENANA1qxqNOjBa4
–
–
–
I struggled to comprehend the thing that was before me. Calling it food felt disingenuous because what I was looking at was more like gold painted as if it was food. I was convinced the moment that I took a bite out of the piece of meat before me, my teeth would shatter like glass. My fork would likely bend and bust before that, though. But these were just expectations; I had to confirm them. Therefore, I poked the meat. It wasn't hard, it wasn't heavy; the surface recessed inward as my finger pushed against it. It wasn't a precious metal in the shape of a meal. It was a meal.24Please respect copyright.PENANAZp3dXACxF4
24Please respect copyright.PENANAD3LpfwuDv9
"I can't eat this."24Please respect copyright.PENANAhrBESZGUUw
24Please respect copyright.PENANAXcyhgWCcL1
"I can't eat this."24Please respect copyright.PENANAYvUkAmfCpv
24Please respect copyright.PENANAidBKxngvA7
The sentiment didn't just belong to me. Flinty and I muttered the same thought.24Please respect copyright.PENANADP1caOWyEP
24Please respect copyright.PENANApIWawJmlpX
"Why not?" The prince asked, "I had it cooked just for you two. At least give it a try."24Please respect copyright.PENANAIgifaODKvS
24Please respect copyright.PENANAthHkQq2cBv
Flinty nodded and motioned for her fork but I didn't move. I was comfortable calling myself starstruck. Time seemed to slow down the longer I gazed at the meat. Before I knew it–24Please respect copyright.PENANA1qHRWTJZNb
24Please respect copyright.PENANAgDwMzEB7HI
"Oh my goodness... this is incredible!"24Please respect copyright.PENANAru6Z8wwL2Y
24Please respect copyright.PENANAPQ70CxnzHm
Flinty let out a squeal and began devouring her food. I still couldn't get my eyes off this thing.24Please respect copyright.PENANAHvYySnLfB4
24Please respect copyright.PENANAahZ08d2FS8
"Mister Chambers?"24Please respect copyright.PENANAuw5RAww7Zh
24Please respect copyright.PENANAvql3qwuaVe
"What?"
"Let's talk about the business I mentioned earlier. But first, at least try what was cooked for you. I promise it won't disappoint."
"I feel bad even thinking about eating it, but if you insist."
I grabbed a fork and stuck it in the meat. The chunk came off with little resistance. Blood trickled from the inside onto the plate. I put it in my mouth and slowly began chewing.
"Well?"
"...It's incredible, but, what type of meat is this?"
"Aviartidae. They're quite common in the badlands. They're like vultures, but–"
"But they're monsters, yes. So, what's this business about?"24Please respect copyright.PENANAN9P9MqYonx
24Please respect copyright.PENANAuDkWkQszdw
"Right..."24Please respect copyright.PENANATG0WL1xeSU
24Please respect copyright.PENANA4ltoeBULzm
The prince put down his fork and adjusted his posture. I did the same, expecting a lengthy explanation.24Please respect copyright.PENANAoULbCpMeaP
24Please respect copyright.PENANAJILfb6VPNo
"The short and sweet of it is that we have a mission for you. The first one you must do per our agreement."24Please respect copyright.PENANAoJveDzAMr1
24Please respect copyright.PENANAgRpcCAc9FH
"I see. And what are the details?"24Please respect copyright.PENANAS7n7BPihR5
24Please respect copyright.PENANA4gD0qODGCs
"I was just getting to that! Well, never mind, it's more or less an escort mission, except you aren't escorting anybody in particular, you're escorting a letter to be sent."24Please respect copyright.PENANArwrfTdDSsZ
24Please respect copyright.PENANAZ9WCTspX4h
"A letter?"24Please respect copyright.PENANA53ase8lbc8
24Please respect copyright.PENANAe5dJxCfLGT
"Yep. There's a town a few days away on horseback called Kommunikatsiya. It's one of the central hubs for communication here in the Southern Country, overseen by The Zariel Kingdom. Your goal is to deliver a letter to the foreign communications center, and that's about it. All the other details will be covered by the letter itself."24Please respect copyright.PENANA0KD84Ez1XZ
24Please respect copyright.PENANAFxzc8mrKga
"...That sounds pretty simple. When do I start?"24Please respect copyright.PENANAiHkAplJXEd
24Please respect copyright.PENANA6seY52cklv
"The mission starts in a week. Oh, and you're not gonna be doing it alone either."24Please respect copyright.PENANAuSJQ7C4qO2
24Please respect copyright.PENANAsqqbBaGZGH
I widened my eyes a little.24Please respect copyright.PENANAUjQjqzhah6
24Please respect copyright.PENANAg630rKNAlG
"Really? Who's working with me?"24Please respect copyright.PENANAqUdDhm8d64
24Please respect copyright.PENANAs6NJkniEhK
The prince gave me a stern shrug.24Please respect copyright.PENANARtqZaOjQH0
24Please respect copyright.PENANAiWGcHucNUc
"I dunno. My mom and sister are the ones operating this whole ordeal. Whoever they'll be though, they'll be on your strength level."24Please respect copyright.PENANAC41f50Qads
24Please respect copyright.PENANAILPSLJ8Fuz
"That's relieving."24Please respect copyright.PENANAHP5xMH8BEN
24Please respect copyright.PENANAhCBYzpeEtA
I leaned back into the couch. The prince took another bite out of his steak as I pondered.24Please respect copyright.PENANAW7XrOtixqY
24Please respect copyright.PENANACDfurh30fy
I didn't have any plans for the next week, but I already knew the Tea Mage was going to be angry hearing this news. It was likely to take well over a week, maybe even two or three if we ran into problems.24Please respect copyright.PENANAMemyHHHBYk
24Please respect copyright.PENANAQjOFttYbrQ
"How far did you say the village was again?"24Please respect copyright.PENANAgHlLoZIMSG
24Please respect copyright.PENANAxUOhwMQY29
"It'll take five days on carriage if everything goes smoothly. Don't worry about travel expenses, by the way, we've got that covered."24Please respect copyright.PENANAsDWrT52F3M
24Please respect copyright.PENANALNw1CuwgpU
"Alright. I'll have to tell the Tea Mage about this, then."24Please respect copyright.PENANA2u0T7AtcFL
24Please respect copyright.PENANARwjoYM9PcE
I picked my fork back up but paused before I stuck it into the meat. I had a sudden epiphany about what the prince was saying.24Please respect copyright.PENANAQ2dMjXgnpL
24Please respect copyright.PENANALHVWky91dl
"Hey, is there any reason why you're hiring strong people for this?"24Please respect copyright.PENANA0IOVEMnoyO
24Please respect copyright.PENANAyEYfOoRrFi
"..."24Please respect copyright.PENANAREAqteorXj
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The prince's expression turned pensive. It was clear to me that he wasn't well informed about this information. If I had to guess, the princess was the one who was supposed to relay this to me.24Please respect copyright.PENANAQAlnMxMRFO
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"...If I had to guess, it's probably because there might be some interference from the Eastern Country."24Please respect copyright.PENANAMXUBQnExAs
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"I see."24Please respect copyright.PENANAkw7vVL58Kr
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Recalling what the princess told me a few months ago, it suddenly put the operation into perspective. I already began making guesses as to what the letter was about. It could've been a call to arms of some sort, or maybe a letter to get a negotiation with the Eastern Country started.24Please respect copyright.PENANAxDqOytKt7z
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"Since the Eastern Country is an empire, they're a pretty aggressive nation. This whole mission is vital, but it's also imperative that it's concealed."24Please respect copyright.PENANA7WCOgxJEyD
24Please respect copyright.PENANAp9152bZSqZ
I nodded along to his words, taking another bite from the ambrosia before me. I didn't have any strong feelings about the situation, to my surprise. Something like this coming up was always in the back of my mind; I was frankly confused as to why it took this long to happen.24Please respect copyright.PENANA2RvPSYGGst
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"...Uhm, I don't understand what's happening, but you two are talking about a mission, right?"24Please respect copyright.PENANA2Ds3c7YIpx
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"Yes," the prince answered, and then his face suddenly turned pale as he covered his mouth with both hands, "You, Flinty, you weren't supposed to hear any of this! Crap!"24Please respect copyright.PENANAqpXuDrWhHJ
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Flinty took on a similar visage of surprise. I also became a little anxious. I intervened before it grew out of control.24Please respect copyright.PENANA54ilmNhnHs
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"W-Well, it's not like Flinty's a big gossip, right Flinty?"24Please respect copyright.PENANA8cCeSiOPtp
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"Y-Yeah! You won't hear a peep from me about this! Nothing!"24Please respect copyright.PENANAIwr2OfBwGf
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The prince looked a little swayed, but what worried me wasn't him, but the two goons who were behind him. They were giving each other quizzical looks, and I could already guess what they were thinking.24Please respect copyright.PENANAQOKwYJBYgw
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"Ah, it's not a big deal," the prince uttered with a sigh, "just promise you'll keep quiet, alright?"24Please respect copyright.PENANAiBOI6JQfQu
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"Y-Yes! But, I also wanted to ask about another thing."24Please respect copyright.PENANAN7agbmHX1a
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"What is it?"24Please respect copyright.PENANAYtyTknc7r4
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"Can I... maybe join the operation–"24Please respect copyright.PENANAxcF6ZWzpE7
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"Absolutely not," I declared. It wasn't because I feared for her safety, though I did, it was because I already ascertained that this mission was way out of her league.24Please respect copyright.PENANAhec7otE60u
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"Yeah, no shot, Flinty," the prince said "Nothing against you, but if we have two kids on this operation, not only will it be embarrassing, but it will also call our morality as a kingdom into question."24Please respect copyright.PENANAsZaah52PnN
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"...I see."24Please respect copyright.PENANAiNdvvi9A82
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She let out a dejected response, but from the tone of her voice, it was obvious that she expected such an answer. She quickly shook off her disappointment with a shrug and kept eating her food.24Please respect copyright.PENANA6cJ91mDoab
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"Anyway, now onto the other business I was talking about."24Please respect copyright.PENANAehBnhwQnyt
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I recollected my attention, forgetting that he even had a different business to talk about.24Please respect copyright.PENANAquJlXQc1ed
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"So, I heard you're living in an apartment now, right?"24Please respect copyright.PENANA5FhoyvaJDu
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"...Yes?"24Please respect copyright.PENANAhA3KFsXKsq
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"Awesome. Any chance I can come over?"24Please respect copyright.PENANAuEs3aD6cgs
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"No."24Please respect copyright.PENANACvB1vB0Y9b
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"Oh."24Please respect copyright.PENANA8V39zhH0ZG
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–
–
–
"...Ah, here we are."
I finally arrived at my intended destination. Closing the door behind me, I entered a room where the floor itself was dirt and grass. Calling it a room almost felt insulting, because it felt as if I had stepped into a secret facet of nature.
This was the royal palace's garden. I took a deep breath through my nostrils.
I was entirely alone here. Flinty, for whatever reason, insisted on staying with the prince in the dining room. She seemed to be trying to get in his good graces, which I would've called an intelligent and strategic maneuver were it not for Flinty's amiable nature, which made the real reason obvious.
Admittedly, in the back of my mind, I had a suspicion that she just didn't want to see the plants. To an extent, I was probably right.
Anyway–
"Now, which one do I choose?"
I wasn't just here to marvel and study the magical plants. Since it was the second Wednesday of the month, I was permitted to intake one magical plant of my choosing into the tendril. If I didn't have such a restriction, I would've absorbed them all in one week and have no reason to visit again, effectively crumbling the agreement the princess and I made.
At least, those were the words my supervisor said, who just so happened to be–
"...Roy, I understand you're only 'fulfilling your duty', but you're far, far too close."
Looming behind me like a demon in my sleep was a gray-haired man in a robe. He was holding a wand about two heads taller than me while the magic stone was nearly the size of my head. It was an exceedingly rare feature for Exotica, but that was becoming of someone like him.
"If I let you become too greedy now, then my status as Royal Mage would be meaningless."
"I'm not asking for much. Just, please take a few steps back?"
Surprisingly, he did, but calling them 'steps' was generous. I sighed and ceased making an appeal. It was obvious I'd be getting nowhere doing that.
So instead, I ventured through the garden and scouted the catalog of magical plants. Most of the garden was composed of common vegetation, but the magical plants were placed in blatant places, almost as if they were begging you to come and tear them off their stems.
Unfortunately, though the garden had a plethora of magical plants, it only had a handful of unique species. I was able to identify them thanks to my tome, and by that, I made a pecking order on which plants I should absorb the soonest. However, as I scanned all these precious Exotica, I began to think about the definitive pecking order I've created.
Ordinarily, I would've gone for the Silk-Bloom, which excretes exactly what the name implies. But in light of the recent mission I've been tasked with, my consideration juggled between the Silk-Bloom and two other ones.
"What's taking you so long? You usually pick one and leave by this time."
"Shut up! Simply admiring the plants is part of my promised time here too!"
Telling Roy a half-truth, I continued pondering the situation. Aside from the Silk-Boom, I had considered intaking the Blover and the Spit-Blossom. I had no doubts that, when pushed to the limits, these plants could perform extraordinary feats, much like the Freeze-Dry. But choosing between the two was possible. They both had their benefits, after all.
"I implore you to hurry up before I grow suspicious and do something by accident."
"Threatening me is just gonna make me nervous. Who do you think I am anyway?"
Blover, or Spit-Blossom? The former could produce harsh winds, while the latter expelled sturdy projectiles.
"...Wait."
When I thought about it that way, and when I considered the plants I already possessed in my arsenal, the choice became clear as day. Therefore, I walked up to the plant in the shape of a gallant clover and kneeled beside it.
"Finally. You were very close to suspiciously and mysteriously bursting into flames."
"Uh-huh."
After I finished intaking the plant, I stood up and walked to the exit. Roy stopped before me and bowed slightly.
"Safe travels. I sincerely hope you found your time at the palace pleasant and useful."
"I certainly did. For the most part, at least. Thank you for your service."
I bowed back at him, and we exchanged nods. I walked through the door and found myself back in the hallway. To my surprise, Flinty was outside waiting for me, but she wasn't with the prince.
"Hi! Did you enjoy your time with the plants?"
"Yeah, my tendril has a new one, too. Anyway, Flinty, where's the prince?"
She scratched her cheek and nervously laughed.
"Commander Skylark found us in the dining room and, well..."
"I can imagine. He must've thrown quite a tantrum."
"Not really? He was putting up a good fight, though."
I snorted.
"Yeah, I can imagine."
Flinty and I traversed the hallway. We met up with the guard from earlier by the staircase. He looked relieved for some reason. We made it down the stairs and traversed the halls quietly. But, before we left, an unfortunately familiar face was standing by the palace doors.
Except, he wasn't alone.
"Mm, yes, Kenneth, girl, I see you two have finished your business."
The man from the carriage was standing there, surrounded by guards who had their spears pointed at him. Except, from their apparel, I could tell they weren't ordinary guards. They were likely elites of some kind. He seemed completely unbothered by it though, wearing the same grin he's always had.
"What... happened to you?" I asked.
"I proposed, but the queen selfishly rejected it. I've calmed down since then, yet these dregs insist that they keep watch over me."
"Really. Color me surprised."
I sighed, somehow unsurprised that things turned out this way. But I suddenly had a new concern appear in my mind.
"W-Wait, how are we going to get back?"
"Mm, well, I'm forced to stay here for the time being, so you two may take the carriage back without me."
"Huh!?"
His face hadn't changed one bit, so his words were entirely serious, but I still couldn't believe what I was hearing. I didn't get a chance to ask any further questions because the guards pushed the man to move.
"Ah, careful, fools, I have no interest in getting my clothes dirty."
"Just move it along," one of the guards responded. The group walked by Flinty and me. I let out a sigh, relieved that–
"Kenneth, before I leave, I must grant you my name!"
I turned my head back. The man was walking backward.
"My name is Kostik Coyote. You'd do well to remember it!"
His voice reverberated throughout the building. The man, Kostik, disappeared into the hallway.
"What a nutcase."
Flinty of all people muttered that comment. I couldn't have agreed more.
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