“So…you see, I’m not really a fan of mountains…”

Daisy said as she sizes the mountain where we are supposed to venture with a perplexed countenance through the inn’s window. It is as they said, this is that town, Feirr Town, which is closest to the tall mountain called Alfen.

As expected, the sky is dyed ashen with clouds hovering the sky. Halfway of the mountain is actually covered with clouds and even from here, you can’t see the top. Since the town is eight kilometers away from the mountain, the safe zone if ever an avalanche happens, it’ll take us quite a time when walking.

And even with that distance, the mountain’s summit is not visible to our eyes.

Currently, Daisy and I are in a room in an inn in Feirr Town. I’m just lazing in the warm cozy bed while taking an occasional glance at the guide for City Inspection while Daisy just stares out of the cold window with a sullen expression.

For Alstroe and Miss Cecille, they are out in town to buy necessities such as preserved foods and tools for mountain climbings. Not only that, we are in need of clothing for cold weather, especially for Daisy and me.

Miss Cecille is a former adventurer so she knows what she is doing and Alstroe, without a question, doesn’t need much maintenance. Even though I wanted to go shopping with them too, they forced us here because we are supposed to be here for being princesses.

It’s really awkward to be treated as one, to be honest. Daisy is one but for me, it’s really quite unpleasant.

“Hey, I’ll brew some hot cocoa. Do you want one too? I’ll serve it with marshmallow.”

“Eh, ah, ehem! If you insist, I shall partake on your offer.”

I smiled at her and give her a warm glance as she put up a majestic front again. I don’t even know what to say but I don’t particularly hate how she acts around me. In fact, it’s better than being gloomy all day.

I quickly prepared the powdered cocoa and took out marshmallows from my dimensional storage and as the powdered cocoa dissolves in the hot water, I dropped a couple of marshmallows.

I carried the two hot cup to Daisy and handed one to her.

Daisy’s face gleams in a rather pleasant smile as she caught a whiff of the cocoa with marshmallow while her tail wags in excitement. She brought it close to her lips and blows at it several times before taking a small sip.

Her eyes slightly widen from the taste but nonetheless, savor the bittersweet taste of the cocoa and further indulges herself. Finding her reaction satisfactory, I then proceed to carefully sip on my own cup to feel a little warmer inside.

With faces flushed and drunk in warmness, our eyes met momentarily, however, she immediately turned away from my line of sight and continued sipping on her cup while trying to avoid my watchful eyes.

For some odd reason, I don’t feel awkward about this lion girl. Oddly enough, her expression alone is quite entertaining.

Good thing we were able to set out as soon as Violetta confirmed it with Fon. She immediately warped us here as she gave Miss Cecille our fund and now, we wait until tomorrow before we climb the mountain.

“Hey…”

“What is it?”

“What…are you actually to Beast Queen?”

“Friends.”

“I don’t believe you.”

“…I don’t need you to.”

“That’s…that’s so mean…”

“Ehehe, I’m just kidding.”

She immediately puffed her cheeks to redness as I laugh at her. I never thought being a little mischievous has its merits.

“Well, if I will describe our current relationship with each other in one word, that would be…”

“Would be…?”

“Complicated.”

“That’s too vague!”

“There are times where one should seek an answer by themselves.”

“I don’t think I can get any better answer than yours. I don’t have any inkling desire to burden my Beast Queen with such question.”

“And it’s fine to ask me?”

“I don’t have any other choice.”

She is quite playing with her words a little and subtly pushing questions at me while also pressing for answers without showing impatience or aggression.

Very well, although I think I won’t be able to answer her accurately.

“To me, Higan is a dear friend but, there’s also a part of me that wanted to accept her feelings.”

Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

“Feelings?”

“Yeah, her mad love for me. I know it myself it’s fine to accept it but there are some various factors that I needed to consider as well.”

“L-Love!? Wait! This is…the first time I heard of it!”

“She clearly stated it in the congregation.”

“I really thought it is just as a friend!”

“Well, it is not…”

“But you are both girls!”

“Doesn’t matter for her…”

“Wait…but…but…!”

“Does it ruins her image?”

“…But it should be boys for girls and girls for boys…”

“You actually need to broaden your thinking.”

“That’s why she was so obsessed with you…”

“Yeah…”

“Then that means, in the future, you are also going to be our queen? Wait, two queens? What about the heir? How will the marriage arrangement proceed?”

“You are thinking that far ahead? In the first place, Higan and I talked about it and settled with just being friends…. In the meantime.”

KNOCK

KNOCK

“Asagao! Daisy! It’s us!”

“Alstroemeria! You should at least add honorifics!”

Alstroe’s call resounded together with Miss Cecille’s scolding.

I took off from my seat and rushed towards the door and unlocked it. Miss Cecille did tell us to lock the door upon leaving earlier.

So, with a click, the door opens and there, Miss Cecille enters and Alstroe carrying tons of boxes. Seeing a little girl carry this much must look like she is being abused but in reality, this doesn’t have any significant weight for her.

“We will be leaving your clothing and some stuff you requested on your table. I and Alstroemeria are staying next to your room so just give us a knock or call when you need something.”

“Um, what did you found?”

“Ah, you mean my information gathering? Very well, let’s discuss it now before dinner comes.”

Since I urge for the fruit of their investigation, Miss Cecille obediently nodded and pulled a chair from a corner and sat. Following her gesture, Alstroe also dove on the bed with a plop and covers herself with the bed’s thick sheet.

“To start with, about the town. I found no problem. It is as the files stated, they have stable income despite located in a snowy region. They have steamed bun with crystal herbs as one of its major spice for it that made them self-sufficient.”

“That’s interesting. It did say that they have their specialty and that’s steamed buns but I have never read anything about the crystal herb.”

“Thanks to that, they receive a fair amount of tourists and their gross income is stable and the poverty is nonexistent.”

“Have you heard anything about the lord of this town, Lord Risad?”

“Yes, a fair amount of talk among the common people of his generous exploits. The young lord seems to be quite capable and there are no weird rumors going around. To be honest, that’s all there is to it. Even if we do not go through with the inspection tomorrow, it seems that this town is guaranteed to be good.”

“I see, thank you for your effort. Actually…Shouldn’t I be the one who should have done that asking around?”

“Eh? Isn’t this why I am here? Since I am knowledgeable of economics and management is the reason why you called out to me for this job.”

“I was just thinking that I could just bring along Alstroe if you come. It’s not actually in your job scope…”

“…Now, now, I prefer doing something rather than standing still. Moreover, I enjoy things like this. But let’s see, maybe I’ll just let you do some initial conversation while I asked additional information. How about that?”

“You really love working, huh…”

After that, Alstroe and Miss Cecille returned to their room while Daisy and I pass the time idly while waiting for dinner.

Since Miss Cecille insisted that we stay at an extravagant inn that serves both mid and high-class people. As expected, what they serve here is actually good too.

Ah…

But I immediately noticed how our food is a little more dashing and well prepared compared to the other guests. This even costs more than what we paid…

“You see, even commoners have keen eyes for those who have airs of royalty. As such, you two are exuding such ambiance and those are expert in reception can smell even the faintest difference in odor. By the way, you two have a high-class odor that carries a sweet milk smell.”

That’s…a little creepy and outright scary.

I think about the odor thing is more of intuition or something. I won’t doubt Miss Cecille’s words and I think as a receptionist herself, she is also keen on these things.

The first time we met, I think she already has a hunch but as soon as I actually revealed that I am indeed, the sister of Ashfon Astlan Lionheart, she immediately changes her attitude towards me.

After our extravagant dinner, I promptly told the one managing the inn my favor and they were extremely happy with my compliment.

They are too happy that they vacant the whole bath for us.

And then, after a refreshing bath, we all hit the sack…

As morning came, we immediately head out to Alfen Mountain. Since I have the convenient Dimensional Storage, the whole walk is easy peasy.

After around an hour of walk, we arrived at the base of the mountain. This is where Miss Cecille met Alstroe if I remember it correctly. Miss Cecille told it to me once.

Our mountain climbing, long story short, is fairly easy.

Since Miss Cecille seems to know the route and Alstroe knowing the way, it’s safe to say that the only hazard was the cold weather and the occasional break we need to take because Daisy gets a blistered foot

We have our coats and protective gears that help us keep ourselves warm. The food I take out from my dimensional storage is all piping hot too so the thrill of survival was lessened into a mere hill hiking. It was really easy…

Since the path is uphill and slippery, we just proceeded with caution. If anyone falls, it’s actually fine too. I can regenerate any wounds, Alstroe will immediately move to help, and Miss Cecille has abundant of experience in this kind of challenges.

More like, Miss Cecille is a former adventurer, a professional one to boot, so she knows a lot about it. Dungeons, deep forests, ruins, and almost everything where one’s life could be in peril with traps or carelessness, Miss Cecille has experienced all of it.

Seriously, she is amazing. So…why is she still single?

And then, for about five hours, we’ve reached the top.

Not actually top but we’ve gone past the misty part of the mountain and now, we are in front of a long earthen staircase that leads to a shrine gate at the top. Not only that, it’s really warmer here as what Alstroe told us.

Of course, we climbed the staircase fairly easy. As for Daisy, Miss Cecille carried her on her back as she cannot walk further because of her blisters.

Soon, we reached the top.

What beheld us is a vast place with a beautifully paved ground with strange Buddhist markings. Afar, about a kilometer away, is a huge temple and behind the huge temple is another bigger mountain. The sunlight may not actually reach here but it is considerably warmer compared when you are actually climbing the mountain.

What’s worrying me is that there’s only one person standing before us.

A man with a considerable height and fairly built lean muscles that can be discerned even with his clothes meant for monks. He is not even bald as he dons a sullen silver hair and his overall figure seems like he is around in his mid-twenties.

He is just stood there with a smile, however, everything changed when his sight landed on us. It becomes a really joyful one.

“Ah, Master Tzari! You’ve become younger again!”

“Oh my, Alstroemeria! You the one to talk! Come here, give me a hug!~”

“Yay!”

Alstroe dove towards the man called Tzari with a boom. However, he caught her fairly easily. He started rubbing Alstroe’s cheeks in glee.

“My, my, my, how bubbly you’ve become! I did expect this but touching you directly is quite the reward for all the years I’ve waited.”

“Master Tzari, do you have curry?!”

“Of course, I’ve cooked enough for all of your companions.”

“Yay!”

With a sigh, Miss Cecille step up and look at Tzari with a disgusted face.

“Oh, Cecille, fierce as ever! The last time you visited was two years ago but you still have that displeased countenance.”

“Of course. After sending a spam of letters for the past years when I got custody of Alstroe, I grew really annoyed.”

“You never replied though.”

“With all those invasive questions, why would I?”

“I really wanted to keep track of Alstroe’s growth even after chasing her away myself. Truth be told though, I was urged by the other members so I don’t have any choice.”

“You actually planned all of that with your foresight.”

“Oh my, don’t reveal much of my trump card!~ Anyway, may you introduce these cute fellows.”

“Be ashamed of your age, old man. You are already balding and ridden with back pain the last time I saw you…”

“Oh, but I do fancy them right from the start.”

Wait…

So the old man Tzari is actually this guy?!

There’s also something weird about the conversation…

“You see, little girls are the best after all! I’d like to see many of them as much as possible.”

Oh no…

This guy…is he actually a…