Chapter 40.1 - Princess Mere’s invitation – part 2

Nozomu noticed and whispered, “A friend of yours? He seems happy to see you.”

“He is just a stupid brat that thinks too high about himself. Can you believe he tried to convince me to join his bed and after I refused, he acted all nice to me, as if nothing had happened? No idea what is inside that empty head of his.”

“Judging by the way he is smiling at you, he probably likes you. Hey, don’t make such a face to me, I was just saying!”

Taisetsuna was making a grimace after his words, and she then glanced at the group of Nobles again, and saw a certain Noble young woman trying to kill her with her eyes. Taisetsuna threw her a kiss with her lips and Nozomu faced to where she was looking. “She seems to hate you, or it’s my impression?”

“Yeah, I think she likes that blond guy, and she didn’t like to see that he was always trying to talk with me. They are good to each other, a nice pair of dumbasses.”

Nozomu saw a few young women smiling and waving at him, especially the one right next to the girl that kept on frowning at Taisetsuna. He made a slight bow with his head at them and whispered again, “At least I don’t seem to be hated, except for that blond guy. He seems to be looking at me in the same way the girl is looking at you. Strange, he is envious or what?”

“No idea, and I really don’t care. Do you mind not talking about that weirdo and look ahead? The Princess is watching us.”

Nozomu looked at the throne, and made a big smile, returning the beautiful smile the Princess was making at them. When they reached the stairs that led to her throne, Nozomu and Taisetsuna put a knee on the ground, and they greeted the Princess. She in return signalled them to get up and welcomed them. “I am glad you came. How was your first day, Nozomu?”

“Amazing, and weird at the same time.”

“Really? Something happened?”

“Well, I kind of knocked out the son of one Guild Master because he surprised me, and I met an amazing Dwarf and a Gailie girl, together with her weird plant pet.”

The Princess bit her lower lip and attempted to maintain her smile. “Really? I bet you fell in love with the Gailie, then. Most Humans fall at first sight.”

“I don’t think so. She was cute, but to me, not half as you, my Princess.”

The Princess jolted and quickly returned to her smile. “You do really have the perfect answer to every question, don’t you? Do you make some kind of special effort, or it comes naturally to you?”

“Regarding you, my Princess, I don’t need to make any effort. By the way, I think no one informed you yet, but I brought something for you to see.”

“Oh, a gift?”

“Not really, because I don’t see how you could convince my mean Unicorn to stay here with you. He is in your stable, together with Taisetsuna’s Unicorn. Since you said the last one you ever saw was years ago in the Academy, and he tried to kill you, Taisetsuna thought it would be a good idea to bring them with us. They know how to behave, so I think you will be safe near them. As long as you don’t insult them, of course. Being a Princess means nothing to them. In their eyes, you are just another Human.”

The Princess jumped from her throne with her face glowing in happiness. “You brought them? Let’s go, I want to see them!”

The Princess’ older servant, that was silent on her right side, approached and asked, “Princess, do you think it’s wise? I mean, Unicorns are deadly. I hope you at least take a big contingent of Royal Guards with you.”

“And do you think that would do any good? A big group of armoured Royal Guards would only irritate them, and they would all be killed in seconds. You never met a Unicorn, do you?”

“No, my Princess, I can’t say I did, but I know their reputation. They are one of the most dangerous Magical Beings in the World, and I think it would be unwise to approach them without any kind of protection.”

The Princess walked down the stairs and raised one eyebrow at Nozomu. “I believe you won’t let them hurt me, am I right?”

“Of course, my Princess, that goes without saying.”

“Good, now guide me to your four-legged friends, will you?”

Nozomu smiled and pointed with his open hand to the doors on the far wall behind them. “As you wish, but allow me to escort you to the stable.”

The Princess held his right arm, surprising not only him and Taisetsuna, but every Noble in the room. “You were going to let me walk all alone, weren’t you? That is not what a gentleman does, Nozomu.”

“Maybe not, but wouldn’t you be better with one of the Nobles? Aren’t you breaking some kind of rule, by holding the arm and walking side by side with a mere commoner?”

“I am this country’s Princess, remember? I kind of make the rules. If one of my Nobles doesn’t like that, it’s just a matter of impressing me at least half of what you already did.”

While walking along the corridor to the exit of the Castle, Nozomu whispered, “Did I impress you that much, Princess? I don’t think I made anything different from what I normally do when dealing with people.”

“Just the fact you didn’t ask for some sort of advantage, a position on my court, or a fortune to pay for your creations is impressive enough. You don’t have ambition or you don’t care about any kind of the most usual mundane things?”

“I need little, Princess. Being alive and being able to enjoy life is already a struck of luck for me. As for a fortune for my creations, if everything works as flawless as it did in the two Cities I visited today, I will get money from every City that I visit, and it will be a small fortune in a few months.”

Princess Mere slowly nodded. “Yes, I remember that you almost died when you hit that rock that caused your memory loss, so I think I understand why you seem so happy to be alive. Still, I find it surprising that you didn’t question me why I didn’t offer you a position in my court, or a minor Noble title for services to the country. That chewing gum that affects Beast-kind grants my country such a tremendous advantage, that it wouldn’t be too far-fetched if you got a title just for that.”

“If receiving such a title would grant me more opportunities to meet you and walk with you like this, I wouldn’t say no, but I have no idea how to act like a Noble, or what are the minor Noble titles.”

“Well, I could probably explain that to you during a cup of tea after dinner. Or during the signature of your contract. You brought a sample for me to see, I hope?”

Nozomu took one chewing gum from his belt purse and showed it to the Princess. “It looks similar to the ones I made before, but I tested a few ingredients to reach this. It has an unexpected side effect on Human men, but I don’t know what are the effects on women.”

“Really? What kind of side effects? Something unbelievable I bet.”

Nozomu glanced back and saw Taisetsuna frowning at a certain young blond Noble that was walking near her, and he whispered. “I don’t know how to say this without sounding rude, but it makes a man’s best friend stand up for as long as there is a flavour in the chewing gum. On women, I have no idea what might happen.”

“Oh! Really? Interesting… I am rather curious right now, so I hope you brought one for me to test. I want to know what happens.”

Noticing the surprise on Nozomu’s face, the Princess quickly explained with a red face. “I would ask one of my maids to test it, of course!”

Nozomu cleared his throat as he answered. “Aham… Yes, that was what I was hoping you would do for security reasons, of course, because the effect could be totally different.”

The Princess slowly nodded and looked forward, trying to disguise her nervousness.
Behind them, Taisetsuna was trying to control her increasing anger, because Robert Keskula was trying to engage in a conversation, but instead of making Taisetsuna interested in what he was saying, she was becoming more and more annoyed.

By the middle of the corridor, she faced him with her eyes glowing in anger, and she spoke in a low, icy voice, “Why do you think I am interested in knowing how many types of dances you know? Or that your parents and friends keep on telling you how outstanding you are with a sword? Do you have any idea of how annoying you sound when you brag like that?”

“No, I wasn’t bragging! At all! I was just… telling you what I can do… I just… None of these interests you? Nothing?”

“Why would any of that interest me? If you go say that to the future Countess Diana, she might be impressed, but to me? I don’t give a damn about any of that! Why do you insist on talking to me, anyway? Remember what you said last time, that I am a mere commoner that should be honoured just by having you talking to me? Guess what, I am not impressed!”

“Hey! I didn’t say any of that! I remember saying I don’t mind if you are a commoner or not! I still don’t!”

Taisetsuna clenched her fists, and Robert sensed the amount of Magic around her, and gulped. He slowly raised his hands and quickly explained, “Alright, I might have also told you I wanted you in my bed, but that was all I said! I now know it was the wrong thing to say, because you are not like most women I met. My looks do not impress you, or what I know, so I am trying to find out if I have something that might interest you.”

“And why are you so worried about what I think about you, or if I get interested? You are the one-day-to-be Viscount Robert Keskula like you said to me last time, so why are you wasting your time with a mere Cat-kind commoner? Do you want to mock me that much that you are willing to risk your life if I get angry?’

Robert glanced back and lowered his voice, trying that his friends and the Nobles behind didn’t hear him. “No! It’s just… Listen, I can’t be myself most of the time. I have to always worry about what other people think of me, because I am the heir to my family’s name. With you, I don’t have to worry about any of that!”

“I am not sure if you are complimenting me or insulting me by saying you don’t give a damn about what I think of you… But considering I think the same, I guess it doesn’t matter.”

“I… thanks, I guess? This means that you at least will try talking to me without always looking as if you are about to take my head off?”

Noticing that Taisetsuna was clenching her teeth, he quickly explained. “If you don’t want to talk, that’s also okay, you can just hear me, then! Maybe I will find a subject that you like to discuss with me.”

“And if you can’t, will you shut up and stop annoying me?”

“Would you be mad if I said I won’t? You are very intriguing, Taisetsuna. You don’t seem to mind saying whatever is in your head and all my money, lands and title don’t matter a single bit to you. And… You also don’t seem to be looking to take any advantage of me. It’s… refreshing, to say the least. Not to mention that you are also gorgeous.”