「 Heee.. so you’re the new hire? 」
The man in front of me says, all the while assessing for whatever my worth is. The place is rather normal, a lounge full of low comfortable seats reminiscing so close to the Veinardian classic architecture back at home that makes me wonder whether I’m actually in a foreign place, Kasanra.
The man however, is quite the oddity. He wears an outfit that could very well be fit for an upper-class circus performance with its exorbitant myriad of flashy colors. To top it off, a tall hat with feathers that screams nobility status.
I can at least understand his skepticism but not his fashion sense. For even the most extravagant nobleman in Veinard wouldn’t be wearing that kind of style.
「 My name is Werner Duvine. No need to be so formal. I might be more senior to you in experience, but we are relatively of the same age. 」He says as he offers his hand.
He have a last name, but didn’t delve into his nobility lineage as the usual noble custom. Quite odd, but not unusual. Aston Marcht rarely mentions his noble lineage either. Who knows, perhaps there’s an unwritten trend of not mentioning it outside of the nobility circle.
「 As you might know from the letter, I’m Renald Alderhide. 」I return the gesture and shake his hand,「 I look forward to working alongside you. 」
An attendant comes to our table, tray in hand with two porcelain cups. On a closer look as he places the pair of cups on the low table between us, the porcelain is indeed quite the elaborate luxurious kind. The kind you found in typical noble houses. While I’m admiring the tea, Werner takes no hesitation and immediately drinks it, in which I follow his lead.
Gosh… Even the tea here is exactly similar to the ones I have back at Veinard. With its familiar bitter and spicy feel, and as I enjoy it, the taste highlights the silentness between the two of us. And the way he drinks the tea.
Crooking his pinky very high up in the air. I might not be an expert in noble etiquettes but I’m very confident that is not the way to drink tea. Sure, the pinky shouldn’t be involved in holding the cup but pointing it up high in such an obvious way, is to put it light, quite condescending.
「 I was wondering how long my onboarding training would be. I presume two months? 」I ask, diverting my mind from his obnoxious eloquence.
「 Months of training? 」He says casually without much thought,「 No need, a week or two is enough. The Woso and Sujan Canids, although might be different, are in the end all the same simple Canids. 」
I might be of a noble background, but that’s not a great excuse to skip training, even more so when I rarely — if ever — have been taught more than the basic noble etiquette. Unless there’s something in play such as timing or speed.
「 Are we in a rush or something? 」I curiously ask.
「 Obviously the faster, the better. 」He simply shrugs it off, rolling his eyes,「 besides, speed is of the importance. That’s why the diplomatic missions we were assigned are handled by just the two of us. 」
「 Are you being serious?! 」I can’t help but raise my voice,「 for such a crucial mission to be dealt with merely the two of us? 」
Wait, maybe I’m too quick to judge, as I don’t have much experience in the diplomatic field either. Perhaps two personnel is indeed enough.
「 That is right. Not a lot of people would like to venture into the unknown, that applies even to some of our seasoned envoys. One could argue that some of our members got into contact with the Woso Canids merchants, however, this will be the first official contact to the very kingdom itself. 」
Apparently having only two people is quite normal, however, he hints there could be more personnel to join this mission.
「 If what you mentioned is right then, why are you volunteering to join the diplomatic mission to Mojowoso kingdom? 」
「 Before that — tell me. 」He puts down the tea, crossing his legs. A knowing and innocent smile makes its way on his face.「 How’s Veinard? I’ve been dying to get fresh news from the people that actually have been there very recently. 」
From the guild master, now to my peer. Is avoiding the question a common culture around these guild officials?
「 Well… 」I start, as I ponder what kind of news that he wants, perhaps the general kind,「 the second princess Vivienne Veinard reaches Master level in the Aegis magic. The elven people are becoming more aggressive within the Veinard border. There’s also- 」
「 No, no… Not that. 」He cuts me off, shaking his head out of pure disbelief.「 The Hasten city scenes, the latest Veinard nobility fashion trends, the new cafes that revolutionized Veinard culinary! Those kinds! Not the boring news that everyone would’ve known by now. 」
Really? But the news that I’ve mentioned happened before I departed.
「 If that’s the case, I remember fashion shops and cafes are popping up everywhere around the Northern Hasten district. But other than that I don’t really know much. 」
「 How come you do not know? Aren’t you a noble son? 」
He looks quite perturbed to the point one of his eyebrows raises. Well I’m sorry for being a bastard son.
「 Unlike most nobles who love to have tea parties, I prefer adventuring and practicing my magic prowess. 」I say trying to hide my annoyance at him,「 and I am not the only one who shares the same inclination. 」
「 Ohhhh… And may I know just who this person might be which I’m pretty sure is a nobleman? 」From the words alone it doesn’t mean much but the way he asks it with him leaning closer and stops crossing his legs. He’s displaying a look of disapproval and challenge.
「 The Honorable, Elras Reinhardt. 」
「 Woah.. 」A quick stop full of doubt from him,「 you’re Reinhardt only son, confidant?! 」His eyes wide with surprise. His once shortly-lived arrogant nature completely disappeared.
「 Yeah, you could say that. He needs company in his occasional adventure quest-taking. 」
「 No way… I heard the Reinhardt son is quite the reclusive type… 」
「 Even the most solitary adventurer knows they need company in dealing hard quests. I even remember saving his life on a quest in dealing with《Kualitatem》a terrorist-like organization. 」
My plain reply is all it takes for him to go back to leaning on his chair. Aftermath of bewilderment clearly plastered all across his features. Was it really that shocking?
「 Just between you and me, 」He says in a low voice, his hand covering one side of his mouth,「 I heard some gossip from the merchants that the Reinhardt heir will be wedded with a daughter from a Viscount family. Alena Mainnez is her name, if I remember correctly. It’s causing quite the stir recently amongst merchants. As the only Reinhardt house can gain from this marriage is the Viscount considerable, but still small timber and iron industry. Do you think this marriage will hold true? 」
And why has this conversation suddenly reduced to mere gossip talking? Besides, the Elras that I know of always love to talk about exterminating those ‘damn elves’. Only once does he talk about girls, and that was his once lived crush.
How the fuck does this rumor even get all the way across the ocean to Kasanra anyway? Am I still in Veinard?
「 Ehem, 」he forces a pausing cough,「 anyway. That was a bit out of topic. It would be best for you to take a rest since you have just arrived after a long voyage. There’s some great houses available for rent near the guild. I can arrange and escort you to some of the landlords. 」
「 Sounds fine to me. I’ve been wanting to sleep on a real bed any second now. 」I say as I take my last sip. Finished with the tea, I immediately stand up.
「 Ha! I like your hastiness. Now onwards! 」
He laughs wholeheartedly as if he’s drunk. He immediately leads the way and walks pompously, large hand swings and feet held up high with each step. Looking all like an all mighty person.
Feet held up high is quite the noble etiquette, but it’d only done on important occasions… Should I correct his manners?
To think this is the senior I have to work alongside with….
…
The house for better or worse is actually not that bad. For once I actually experienced something new. Its wooden walls are decorated with elaborate carvings portraying lush leaves with flowing vines and blooming flowers on its corner. Further amplified with golden paint on its carving. Adding beauty to what would’ve been a boring plain wall.
Fully furnished too with equally elaborate carving on almost each of the furniture. The all around apparent wooden carving on almost everything must have meant a great deal of artistic culture amongst the Canids here.
The landlord is even generous enough to stockpile the home with some basic necessities, and even tea. For all it’s generosity I can’t help but notice the landlord’s attitude towards us is far too friendly on the borderline of being meek. Constantly responding towards my question with rapid head nods, and weak replies full of “yes… yes…” makes me wonder whether we are the actual landlords instead of him. It’s not a problem of language either as when I asked him whether the neighbors are Canids or not he fluently responded “there are a few but they are quiet and invisible as a ghost”.
Seeing the house ready for residential use, I didn’t hesitate and we closed the deal shortly afterwards and got our paperwork done. The only thing left is to submit some part of the paperwork to the guild treasury. The landlord insisted on letting him do it. He mentioned that “such a task is not fit for a Veinardian lord”. Werner just lifted his shoulder and said it’s how it is done here. And now the landlord is on his way, leaving the key of the house to me.
「 Are you sure this is enough for you? There’s a much fancier house or even mansion up north to this one. 」He immediately asks as soon as the landlord is away.
A house with a courtyard of any size is already deemed an affluent place, yet this man thinks this is too modest. Besides, it’s filled with never before seen lush greeneries and colorful flowers that I’m sure is native and unique to Kasanra. Trees blooming only yellow and white flowers with no leaves are basically nonexistent in Veinard.
「 Of course. It’s only a couple minutes walk to the guild. 」
「 If you are worried about walking, you could just rent a carriage boy daily. It’s very cheap here. 」He argues.
「 Didn’t you also say there’s fantastic restaurants around the corner? I won’t bother hiring a cook if I’m only staying here for two weeks. Speaking of which, do you have any recommendations on the best native Canids restaurants? 」
「 Uhhhhh.. 」He unexpectedly stumbles, losing the once confidence that he had before,「 honestly I never tried them nor do I recommend Canids restaurants but if you still insist then there’s several good restaurants in the Surna street, just south of this. 」
「 I see.. Thanks for the recommendation. 」
Without further delay, he walks out to the door. Seemingly a bit hastily.
「 No problem. Take a rest, new kid. Ah, 」He stops for a second at the door,「 and welcome to Kasanra. 」
He leaves as soon as he says those words. Words that seem to be ill-temper to whoever it is other than me. What sort of hidden meaning is there in his tone…
At the very least, the evening has come with it’s comforting honeyed dew across the sky. And for once a soothing gusting of the wind silencing and emptying my hectic mind. It’s almost… Quite euphoric.
Now left alone with ample amount of time, it’s the perfect moment to address the matter in hand.
The dragon princess stuck in the sky palace.
Shen….
With a single mere thought of her, a flash but dim purple light flickers right in front of me. From the split second the black portal appears, she comes out; dashingly.
「 Yes…? My beloved master~ 」
The suddenness of her alluring greeting caught me off guard. Then again, she’s always been very into me like an innocent girl intoxicated by a love potion. Bowing down in submission towards me, while maintaining a distinct refined elegance and stunning aura with her slow yet graceful movement.
「 It almost felt like forever since you last called for me. Ohh… How long I’ve yearn to receive your affection. 」
She walks slowly towards me, swaying her hips. Her hand running through her flowing lilac hair with a knowing seductive smile.
It’s almost impossible to stop myself from engulfing in her heavenly beauty.
「 I must say… Why did you choose this humble place? 」Her eyes wander around the place,「 Your divine realm is the only worthy place for you to live in. Just the two of us with no pest interfering with our moment~ 」
Her words might be audacious but what’s more audacious is the fact that she invades further and further onto my personal space. Only by stopping her with my hands on her shoulder. Which she responds with a disagreeable but cute pouting.
It is important to be open and direct with her. Sort out my worries, the destructive nature of our master-servant bond… and the future of our relationship. To do so, there needs to be a comfortable place for a very… very lengthy talk.
「 Shen… Would you like to go on a date? 」