Chapter 40 – The dense Princess

Princess Ebell followed the King with her lady’s maid right at her side, because wherever the Princess went, her maid was always at arm’s reach. Viscount Finley stayed in the dining room, entertaining the Nobles and their wives, who looked puzzled at the King leaving, wondering what they were about to discuss that was so secret.
Alex guided the group along the main corridor, and the guards stationed near a double door opened it as he approached, closing it as soon as everyone went through.
Alex sat in a chair at a big round table with more than enough seats for them.

The King waited for everyone to be ready, and then he spoke while facing Alex, “You did a splendid job today in the Chamber of Lords, Alex. After you left, we voted on all the subjects that were up for discussion, and some Nobles that were against you in the beginning, and the few that were still indecisive about whom they should support, stood by your side. A law is being made about the creation of more Security Forces that will be under the strict supervision of the Chamber and with the votes you gave me and my own, our friends now have a majority on every decision.”

“That’s good to hear. Maybe with more Security Forces patrolling our country, Monsters will be dealt with faster than ever. There is also something that came to my attention. Viscount Finley told me that some months ago, five Nobles tried to invade my lands to recover the commoners that abandoned their lands and probably to spy on my methods. He sounded a little overconfident, and it still bothers me why I was not informed, and if no other Nobles are trying similar tactics.”

The King took one slow, deep breath and spoke after glancing around, thinking how much he could reveal. Maybe it would benefit his daughter because she could learn a bit about such serious matters, but he was not so sure about the others.

Considering that Alex was the one to pull the subject, maybe it was because he thought they could hear it, so he explained, “I discussed that with Earl Kayden, Viscount Finley, Viscount Tom, and Miss Olive. We all decided not to bother you because you already had too much on your shoulders with the responsibility that you inherited from your father. We did some research after that attempt, and we frustrated several similar plans even before they happened. Miss Olive took some violent measures against the extreme cases, the ones that were really losing their minds with desperation, or were violently punishing their commoners and servants, to make them fear leaving their lands. Slowly and patiently, we influenced a great number of Nobles that have a seat in the Chamber of Lords, either with your usual gift offers or by letting them have a weekend here. That’s why I could gather a bunch of supporters to help your case regarding your new lands. We know who is against you, who is on your side, and the indecisive ones.”

“So, I don’t need to worry?”

“I didn’t say that. You should always worry, especially because you are still keeping most of your methods and ingredients secret from all the Nobles. There will always be greedy people, and you should be aware of that fact, and also, be sure to know who is on your side or not.”

Alex went silent, thinking about the King’s words. After noticing that Alex had been quiet for far too long, the King spoke while looking around, “Forgive me if I say something that you already know, but my daughter and her lady’s maid are unaware of this. Given the length of the journey and the increase of Magical Voids, I put up a Quest on my behalf to find a Party of Adventurers to escort you. That’s why I told you last week to pack your things, and they are by now inside an unsuspicious carriage, waiting for you in Alex’s manor. All those Nobles and their wives are returning to our Castle after lunch tomorrow. You will leave with this Party of Adventurers in secrecy, and I will return to the Castle by the middle of the afternoon to disguise your departure. Like that, no one will know when and with whom you left.”

The Princess slowly nodded and said, “You told me I was leaving tomorrow, but I am leaving with them? Because they don’t look like strong Adventurers. Wouldn’t it be better if I went with a platoon of Royal Guards?”

Alex looked at her with a serious face and spoke, “You really should learn how to judge other people, Princess. You already failed to recognise a powerful Earth Mage like Pearl, a High Fairy, and a Mermaid. Together with Mister James, Mister Gabriel, and Miss Bethany, they make one of the strongest Parties I ever met. With me, Suijin, Okami, Miss Olive, and Ghar in the mix, no harm will come your way during our voyage.”

The Princess blinked when she realised Anika was the Mermaid when, all that time, she thought she was just a normal woman. Princess Ebell quickly recovered her usual behaviour and raised one eyebrow, looking with disdain at Alex. “I am to be set at ease by knowing that an Earl is also escorting me? The others may have their usefulness, but aren’t you thinking too much of yourself?”

Alex stared at the Princess, completely blown away by how dense she was and how she was so completely unaware of how stupid she sounded. The King covered his face with both hands and rested his elbows on the table.

He rubbed his face and looked at his daughter, so disappointed that she gulped. “Ebell... you may be my daughter, but you just sounded like the most stupid girl in this World! I am surprised why no one is bursting into laughter by now, but that’s probably because of me! If I wasn’t here, they would laugh their hearts out! Alex, do they know what you are capable of? Can I speak freely?”

“Not all of them, because I only revealed myself to Anika, Pearl, and Wenammy during our trip to the Chamber of Lords. The others may have their suspicions, but I am not sure how much the Princess needs to know. I don’t trust her that much. She sounds like a happy fool, and I don’t want her babbling about me everywhere we go.”

The King slowly nodded, leaving his daughter speechless, surprised by being so insulted right in front of her father, who didn’t say a thing. He rubbed his face again and spoke while looking sad. “Maybe I failed with her. I let her be free to grow up and learn everything she wanted, and I only concentrated on my older daughter. I should have been more present during her studies and training. Maybe I could… It’s too late now. Either she gets there by herself, or her future will not be a bright one. I hope her soon-to-be husband won’t be disappointed with her character. He had already met her a few times, but perhaps he was impressed by his beauty and failed to recognise how dense she really is.”

The King then faced his daughter and spoke slowly, trying his best to not let his disappointment and anger got in the way of his words. “Ebell, I told you that Earl Alex Brim is the son of Yahei, the former Hero of Beliersia. I am sure you heard about his father’s deeds before the war and during it. I was with the Hero on the battlefield several times, together with Miss Olive, Viscount Finley, the recently deceased Earl Kayden Burke, Viscount Tom West, Shinatobe, and Sarutahiko Okami. Despite looking so harmless, Alex is more powerful than anyone realizes, and I bet he has become even more powerful during these last few months. He likes to hide his true strength and power so that his opponents and enemies underestimate him. I don’t know why he thinks he will need any help from the others that are also here, because I know very well that only he would be more than capable of escorting you to Bouria.”

Princess Ebell looked at her father, then at Alex, who was fiddling with his fingers over the table, and then at her father again, stuttering after he went silent, “B-but… he is just an Earl… not older than me…”

“Indeed, he is, and also the creator of all the wonders you saw until now, and a few that you are not even capable of dreaming of. You use some of them without even knowing, like the shampoo, the hair conditioner, and the skin products. All of this, and much more, has resulted in him amassing an enormous fortune, which he tries to conceal and not flaunt. Don’t you find it strange that the Nobles that came with us are full of luxurious clothes and jewellery, and Alex is dressed in a simple suit while living in this immense Castle with more servants and maids than me? Not to mention his highly trained army, which is almost as big as our country’s army! I am not even pointing out that he gave an enormous Magical Orb to Miss Pearl as a gift! She can buy a country with that, and she carries it as if it is a toy! For sure, you had to find some of this strange, no? Please, tell me you didn’t brush it off as if it was not impressive!”

“I… got a few surprises, with the High Fairy, that Magical Orb, and the food, but… I thought we came for a visit to what you said was your favourite place, and… I don’t understand why you said that. This is just a normal Castle...”

The King slowly shook his head in disbelief. “By all the Kami… How did you turn out like this? Didn’t you notice the wheat and corn fields that stretched to the horizon? Did you ever go to another Noble’s estate and see something like that?”

The Princess turned pale, thinking about the scenery that had puzzled her since they left the dusty main road, where they had travelled for quite some time. “Now that you mention it… I thought the scenery was strange, but then… You said that you couldn’t wait to come here, and I forgot to ask about the scenery… and that paved road… I have never seen such a road in a Noble’s estate. Normally they are all dusty and bumpy.”

The King covered his face again and said in a muffled voice, “Alex, please try to enlighten her during your voyage, okay? If she arrives like this in Bouria, her marriage will come to a sudden end and the Prince will repudiate her, throwing my family’s name and our country into the gutter. It will definitely cause a diplomatic incident, so please help me out, will you?”

Alex stared at the Princess with a serious face. “Can I scare her a little if necessary? Because she seems like someone that only learns after a good scare.”

“I think you can do what you deem fit, as long as she learns something. She can’t stay like this, so distracted and so dense about everything around her! How will she survive in the court of Bouria with all those Nobles taking notice of her littlest mistake?”

Alex intertwined his fingers over the table and glanced at Olive Andrews while signalling with his head to Ghar. Olive immediately turned into a tiny ball of light, startling the Princess and her maid, and flew to Ghar, disguising her light in the necklace made of Orbs.

Alex made a slight smile at the King and said, “This might be a little too surprising even for you, my King, but I need your advice on an important matter. You know I never do a thing without thinking about all the outcomes, right?”

The King slowly nodded, and he looked at Ghar, who was still hiding her features with the turban. Before Alex could say anything, a tiny ball of light appeared at his side, which turned into the grown-up form of Shinatobe in full battle gear but without her helmet and with her hair floating free, scaring the lady’s maid and making the King turn pale.

She looked directly at the King and gave a slight smile. “I see that you still have your ugly head attached to your shoulders, Otto. Not even retirement and dealing with a bunch of Nobles made you take your life. How have you been, you ugly thing?”

The King stuttered, “I-I am well, S-Shinatobe… Thanks for asking… Why are you…”

She turned to Alex as if the King was not there. “Alex, that assassin told me a bunch of gibberish, but among all that foolishness, a word came out frequently. Or should I say a sentence? He kept on repeating, ‘The Consortium shall cleanse this World! The Consortium shall cleanse this World!’’. I thought I took care of that group of crazy Dark Mages almost three hundred years ago, but maybe a few escaped my wrath, and they went underground and are still active somewhere.”

The Princess muttered, “The Consortium… my mother told me about them when I was little. It’s just a scary name to make children behave!”

Shinatobe looked at the Princess with disdain. “Spoiled brat, you know nothing of the World! Shut your mouth before I shut it for you. Grown-ups are talking here!”

Shinatobe faced Alex again, who looked puzzled. “My father told me something about them… He said it was your greatest regret. I never asked you about it because I always thought you were ashamed of it. I remember some bits from when we made our contract, but that memory was well hidden in your mind…”

“Maybe when we are alone, now is not the time to explain any further, Alex. And I gather my courage… It’s difficult to talk about something like this. Please be patient.”

She then stared at the King and gestured with her head to the angry-looking Princess. “You did one heck of a job with this one, Otto, you stupid fool! I have dozens upon dozens of children, and none of them is a single bit like her! This Quest is going to be so much fun, guarding such a treasure!”