Chapter 98: Time for Business!

*Celia’s POV*

A few days passed after my date with Nia. Nothing much happened, and I was honestly getting to be quite bored. Rather than go out and train, I would much rather spend my time with Nia and Lia.

Normally, this shouldn’t be a problem, but I feel that resting on my laurels now, would be a bad idea. Currently, I am still just a weak, and killable human. It all worked out, but Lia and I could have easily died during that zombie outbreak…

Only Nia and Ria are deathless… Thankfully, an event happened, that required us to get back into the action! A very professional maid showed up at our door.

She relayed the information, that the queen requested our presence at her castle. I like that she called it her castle, completely undermining the king. Well, I just found it funny.

Celia: “Should we go to the castle then?” I ask after the maid left.

Nia: “I do see why not. And I mean that in more ways than one.” She replied with a cheeky tone.

Right… you just looked into the future, so you know that it will all work out… Cheater! Oh well, she is a cute cheater, so I will let it slide.

Lia: “Well, if Nia doesn’t say anything bad will happen, then I say, why not?” She replied with a shrug.

Ria: “The carriage is already prepared.” She said.

Celia: “Okay… how?” I ask with a sigh.

Ria: “What do you mean?” She asked back.

Lia: “She probably means why you always know what needs to be prepared. Well in advance as well.” She answered in my stead.

Ria: “Telling you all the answer, would just spoil the fun.” She said with a shrug.

It was clear that we weren’t getting an answer to my question, so we all just dropped it. The carriage ride to the castle was just as nice as always. I do wonder what the queen wants to talk to us about? Sure, I could just ask Nia, but borrowing Ria’s words, where’s the fun in that?

Arriving at the castle, I once again just walked around like I owned the place. To be fair, I already knew the layout of this place, and I have a decently good memory. I figured that the queen would be in the same room as before, and I was right. Oh, even Lia’s mother is here as well? What fun!

We all first sat down on the couches, and before any words were spoken, we were greeted with tea and sweets.

Taina: “Lia, is there truly no way for me to convince you to take over the family?” She asked.

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Lia: “As I’ve already said, Mother, I do not wish to become the new head of the family.” She replied with a sigh.

Nia: “That is just her way of saying that she wants to explore the world, and having to stay in one place, would just be suffocating to her.” She said.

Taina: “Suffocating… is it? My apologies for harping on you so much about this. If I realized that you were just like me, I wouldn’t have suggested it.” She said with a remorseful tone.

Lia: “Mother?” She said with a confused expression.

Marna: “Little Lia, your mother hates her job, I am sure that you understand that. Despite how stern she seems, she wouldn’t want to put you in the same position that she hates, if you have the same desires as her.” She explained in Taina’s stead.

Lia: “I see… I am sorry for not telling you my feelings on the matter, Mom.” She said with a remorseful tone.

Taina: “It is fine, dear, I am sorry for putting such pressure on you.” She replied with a smile.

They then got up and gave each other hugs. Um… this is nice and all, but is this the reason that we came here? Surely not, if it was, only Lia would be requested. That maid specifically mentioned all of us to come to the castle.

Eh, I am sure that it isn’t. Back on task, I gave Nia a nudge with my shoulder. This cheeky girl… She surely saw that there was going to be a lengthy conversation between Lia and her mother, and decided to end it quickly by revealing Lia’s true feelings.

Nia: “They’re both blockheads when it comes to emotional things. We would have been here for HOURS if I didn’t tell Taina Lia’s feelings.” She said in my head.

Celia: “I see…” I reply in my mind.

Nooooooo! Now I have three people who can have access to my thoughts! This is enough to drive a person insane…

Nia: “Don’t worry about it, Celia. I can only hear thoughts directed at me. Though, we can talk like this whenever we want.” She said in my head once more.

Celia: “It’s not that I don’t trust you, it’s that Ria and the one who helps me with my System, already have full access to my thoughts.” I say with a sigh.

Nia: “Really? How lucky of them…” She said with a wistful tone.

Celia: “…”

Ignoring that dangerous wish of hers, it took a few minutes for Lia and Taina to settle down. And then the queen got to the main reason we were asked to be here.

Marna: “I managed to contact Evaclearian’s queen.” She revealed.

Lia: “Just the queen?” She asked.

Taina: “Only women can rule in that kingdom, so she means that she contacted the one that rules over that kingdom.” She explained.

Marna: “Correct. Now then, we came to a deal, but to seal it, she wants to meet you, Celia.” She said with a serious tone.

Celia: “Why me?” I ask.

Marna: “It is your dungeon, after all. She said that she also wishes to meet the three heroes of that whole undead outbreak.” She replied.

Celia: “So we have to just head to Evaclearian?” I ask.

Taina: “If you would please. This deal will make both kingdoms, the main powerhouses within this world.” She pleaded.

After talking a bit more, I fully agreed to seal the deal with Evaclearian’s queen. I love exploring, and besides, I might be able to meet Yona again! I mean, I can meet her in my dungeon, but that is really random…

We didn’t need much preparation, so we set off right away. We just had to hop into the teleportation array, and we would be there within seconds! Or, we would have…

A little while ago, the teleportation arrays finally broke down. With no one even capable of maintaining it, it breaking down wasn’t something unexpected. In fact, it was actually quite lucky. There are small arrays in some of the older cities. Some of which were caught in that outbreak of the undead.

It was lucky that the arrays no longer worked, if they did, the world might have completely ended… Regardless, now we had to go on carriage…

Ria: “Carriage? Celia, we shall go by boat.” She said with a giggle.

Ah, yeah, I guess that a boat will be a better idea. I already knew that this was the plan, I was just trying to ignore it… The thing is, I fucking hate boats!