Chapter 40 – Princess Mere’s invitation – part 1

By the middle of the afternoon, Nozomu was in the kitchen, making the dough for the next day, and Seta Azusake was near the stove, tasting the chocolate mix.

The Guild Master arrived with a big smile on his face. “Nozomu, if this keeps up, soon we will have enough money for some necessary repairs of the building! Did you guys see the line today? It was even bigger than yesterday! If your food has this success in other Cities, you will be filthy rich in a few months, Nozomu!”

“The Guild Masters of the two Cities that we went to today also said the same thing. I wasn’t expecting such a reaction from the people, actually. I thought the pizzas and the chocolates would be appreciated because they are tasty, but the side effects are probably the reason for the success.”

“By the way, while you and Koyaga were out, I got a message from Princess Mere. You and Taisetsuna were invited to go to her Castle today to have dinner there because of your contract for your new version of the chewing gum. It seems Takanari gave her your message, and the Princess was ecstatic. I already got three Adventurers to help serve dinner, so you and Taisetsuna can leave when you are ready.”

Nozomu jolted. “So soon? I thought she would wait for tomorrow or a few more days! But what about tomorrow morning? I am still finishing the dough, and I was going to make more tomato sauce!”

Seta Azusake spoke with a smile while he was creating a small Wind Tornado inside the pot, to move the two wooden spoons he had in there. “Finish that dough and I will take care of the tomato sauce. You better not make Princess Mere wait for you. If she invited you for dinner, it’s better if you arrive there at least two hours before. If you get there right on time for dinner, you will disrespect her.”

“Right… Let me finish this, then. What about Taisetsuna?”

Udo Eskola spoke while taking a chocolate cube from the bowl over the table. “She went to the stable to get the Unicorns. Remember that last time the Princess was so surprised when she heard about them? Taisetsuna thought it was better if you two arrived at the Castle with Rampage and Furnace, and it would for sure annoy a bunch of jealous Nobles in the Princess’ court.”

“Yes, I am sure the Princess will like it. Very well, let me just finish this and I will go get ready.”
…

While they were riding the Unicorns towards the Magical Circle, Taisetsuna asked, “You didn’t tell me how your morning was with all the work in the Guild. You didn’t get into any trouble?”

“More or less, I think. I met an annoying kid that kept on asking how I got the Unicorns, and I then found out that he was the son of the Guild Master of Kolga-Jaani. After teaching the Cook, I was about to leave and that kid grabbed my shoulder and pulled me because I didn’t tell him about Rampage and Furnace. My body moved by instinct, and I knocked him out. He is also going to apply to the Academy of Adventurers, and Miss Koyaga told me I had to keep an eye on him. It seems she and the Guild Master are old friends.”

“Ahahah! Yeah, you never liked to be taken by surprise. It’s nice to hear that even if you don’t remember stuff, your body remembers. You only went to that City? Weren’t you supposed to go to two Cities each day?”

“I went to another City, Tabivere, and you won’t believe who I met there.”

Taisetsuna raised one eyebrow, wondering why he was disguising a smile. “Who? Someone we met in the Princess’ Castle?”

“No, a Gailie named Tresuria and her pet plant, Draiky. She also wants to apply to the Academy and be the first Gailie Adventurer.”

“No way! You met a Gailie? And she wants to be an Adventurer? But they don’t like violence or fighting! If someone tries to attack them, they put them to sleep and run away! Why in God Raluth’s name would a Gailie want to be an Adventurer?”

Nozomu answered while caressing Rampage’s mane, “She told me her mother is a Gailie, and her father is Human, a former Adventurer. It seems she grew up hearing her father telling stories about his adventures, and she always liked that. Because she doesn’t like to fight, she made that weird pet of hers, with one of her seeds and Earth Magic.”

“I see. And… she was cute?”

Realizing the way she asked, Taisetsuna quickly explained, “Because I was told all Gailies are very cute, that’s why so many Beast-kind and Humans marry with Gailies!”

“Yes, she was very cute. She talks funny too, always referring to herself as ‘this one this’ and ‘this one that’. She told me it’s because they consider Nature far more important than them. Oh, and in that City, I also met a Dwarf! A short old man with long and messy red hair and a red beard. He looked tough, Suna! It seems his daughter is the Fighting Teacher at the Academy and Miss Koyaga told me she is an amazing fighter that can teach us a lot of things.”

Taisetsuna forced a smile and looked forward, disguising the anger she was feeling when she noticed the bright in Nozomu’s eyes when he talked about the Gailie. She made a mental note to be sure Nozomu was never alone with that dangerous Gailie if she indeed entered the Academy.
When they finally reached the building of the Magical Circle, Nozomu went inside to talk with the old Mage and to pay for the voyage, leaving Taisetsuna with the Unicorns, and with many people around the Circle watching the amazingly rare Magical Beings.
When Nozomu returned, he went straight to Taisetsuna and waved at the old Mage as the Magical Dome surrounded them. When the Dome disappeared, they were at the Capital again.

Taisetsuna made a big smile and said, “We are back to Maardu. A lot of people around, like last time.”

Nozomu took the paper with the list of Cities from his side pocket and wrinkled his upper lip. “I didn’t realize it the last time I read this list, but I am supposed to come here to the Guild and teach the Cook. We went past the Guild to reach the Castle last time, didn’t we?”

Taisetsuna answered while pointing to a big building a few meters ahead. “It’s that one. Maybe I could go with you one morning instead of Miss Koyaga. This morning was so tiring! The Guild Master told me he found some help for the next mornings, but I sure would like a morning off like you!”

As they were riding the Unicorns towards the hill where the Castle was, Nozomu spoke, “I don’t see a problem with that. Miss Koyaga came with me today to make sure I didn’t make a mess, but even with her around, I knocked out that kid. I don’t mind if you come with me instead of her, actually. Who knows, maybe we meet an Elfian next time!”

“Oh, I would like that! But… You are spending too much time with Miss Koyaga, and she seems to enjoy your company. Are you sure she won’t mind if I go instead of her?”

“Well, it’s just a matter of asking her, right?”

Taisetsuna bit her lower lip, but after some seconds of silence, she couldn’t hold her curiosity. “You know, I am not dumb. I know you and Miss Koyaga are doing… some stuff. I saw her putting aside pizzas that she then took to her room when she said she was going to punish you. She even gave me two pizzas, and only in the middle of the night did I realize it was for me to not ask anything.”

“Well, it’s… I just… Listen, I don’t want to lie to you, but I also don’t want to say anything because it’s not only me involved. I don’t talk about those things with other people.”

“So, that means you two are in some sort of relationship? Is that it? At least you can tell me that, no?”

Nozomu sighed and looked straight at Taisetsuna, who was doing her best to remain calm. “We are not in a relationship at the moment. We are just enjoying each other’s company. Let’s just say that me and her, we are friends with special circumstances. I think you don’t need to worry about anything.”

“The problem is, I worry. I like you, Nozo, and I don’t want to see you get hurt. I also like Miss Koyaga, and I also don’t want to see her getting hurt. Doing that kind of stuff can lead to deep feelings, and if one of you doesn’t feel the same for the other, one is bound to get hurt.”

“Yes, I see your point. You are probably right, and I am being dumber than I should. It’s just… I am not making up an excuse, but Miss Koyaga is a gorgeous woman, and I suppose I can’t believe my luck in having her see me as a man. I need to talk with her, and see if something changed since the last time we talked about our circumstances.”

Taisetsuna made a bitter smile, feeling her heart squeezing inside her chest. “As long as you get it straight before it’s too late, I suppose it’s alright. Sorry, I know I should stay out of your life since it has nothing to do with me, but…”

“We are family, Taisetsuna. You have every right to question me, to warn me, or meddle with my life. But you also need to be aware that I might act like that to you. The moment I see a guy, or a girl, after you, or you after him or her, I will want to know everything.”

“A guy or a girl? I don’t like girls, Nozo!”

Nozomu made a slight smile. “When you meet Tresuria, let’s see if you still say the same. I think she is just your type. Cute, innocent, and frail... The kind of girl a strong woman like you would like to protect. I wonder if there are couples of two girls, like a Gailie and a Beast-kind.”

Noticing his dreamy eyes while staring into the emptiness made Taisetsuna burst into laughter. “Ahahah! You are daydreaming, Nozo! For as much as you would like to see that, I am pretty sure I don’t like girls, so your dream won’t come true.”

“Ahahah! Yeah, probably not, but if you do get a girlfriend, I won’t judge or annoy you. As long as you are happy, I am happy. But if that guy or girl makes you cry, I will slice his or her head in two.”

“I think you won’t need to do that because I will be taking his head first. And stop thinking about me and a girl with that dumb smile on your face, will you? Stupid…”

Nozomu raised both open hands and asked for forgiveness, while still smiling.
When they finally reached the gates of the Castle, the moment the two Guards saw the Unicorns, they froze and only nodded at Nozomu when he said the purpose of his visit. Seeing that they asked nothing, Nozomu and Taisetsuna entered the front patio, gathering the attention of every Royal Guard in there.
A stable boy came running, and he stared at the Unicorns after rubbing his eyes, unable to believe what he was seeing.
Nozomu and Taisetsuna dismounted and the stable boy pointed to the stable, unable to mutter a single word. Rampage nodded, Furnace neighed, and they went to the stable, with the boy running to follow them.
A servant opened the front door and called Nozomu and Taisetsuna to follow him. As they were walking along the same corridor, Taisetsuna looked at the paintings and saw some that she didn’t notice on the first visit because she was talking with Takanari.
When they reached the two double doors with two Royal Guards on each side, Taisetsuna made a slight, nervous smile at Nozomu, who smiled back.
As they entered, like what happened last time, the Nobles of Princess Mere’s court stared at them. Some of them whispered amongst them, and a few smiled at Nozomu and Taisetsuna. She frowned when she noticed a certain blond young Noble waving at her with a big smile plastered on his face.