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[Naoto point of view]
Birdie landed gracefully. This giant steel bird (or pterodactyl I believe the term Ash used to describe it) straight away rest at its giant nest. With its cool body thanks to the constant chilling air surrounding it, the orphans as usual, stick close to it, and as usual, fall asleep. Birdie doesn't even mind it one bit, in fact, it seems glad that they do so. I wonder why
As Kana and Qudus have introduced themselves to Mrs Aries, they tell the results of their investigation in the gift from earth dungeon. As expected there's decline in monsters activity, but what shock us the most (especially Mrs Aries and I) is
"A strange mermaid?" [Haliza]
"Just like at Kiserre" [Aries]
"It's no coincidence then" [Naoto]
"Even in Kiserre... The ancient tunnel aren't fully mapped, and there's rumour that it layout will keep on changing, is there a connection between the two?" [Qudus]
"There's also a report from Estel's adventure guild, a samurai with his receptionist girlfriend mention a strange behaviour of mermaid" [Kana]
"I should ask the Beast Kingdom regarding this matter as well" [Aries]
"Please do" [Haliza]
I wonder what will happen? As I keep on pondering, Mrs Aries here keep on looking at the photo inside her necklace. It's bothering me, but
"I wonder what inside the necklace?" [Haliza]
"A photo of my family" [Aries]
"Did Boss Ash makes it for you?" [Kanji]
"He sure did" [Aries]
"Isn't that Kara and Mara?" [Seo Ah]
"It is!" [Mira]
"Family. Does that mean..." [Kana]
She did not deny nor agree to it. Just her usual warm smile as a reply
"Well, that's all good then" [Kana]
"It will be a distraction in your battle though, so please keep that in mind" [Naoto]
"I see, no wonder Mrs Orphanage Director here ask me about it. I'll be careful about it" [Aries]
"Hmm... the necklace seem a bit frail. Why don't you used our material and asked a smith to forge it and make it stronger?" [Mira]
"Can I?" [Aries]
"Sure, and can I help to choose and decorate it as well?" [Seo Ah]
"I don't mind. I'll be off afterward though" [Aries]
"How about you rest here for a day?" [Mira]
"Sorry, but there's work to do in the Demon kingdom" [Aries]
"Relax, it's only one day. Plus, I'm sure King Druser won't mind it" [Haliza]
"But..." [Aries]
"Can you?" [Youngest girl]
"Sure... I'll take the offer" [Aries]
"Yay!" [Younger group]
She shared the same weakness as Ash now
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King Estel have four wives, with each wives having a single child. Diana is the third child (as well as the only daughter) in the family, born from the third queen. Her support mainly comes from us the citizen as well as the lower ranking noble and knight. Her ever rising popularity can be attributed to many incident such as solving the endemic disease, distribution of several A rank water magic cores as source of water to the citizen, changing the corrupted official, standing up for the Beastman and demon group (a controversial move), supporting the new Saint and Saintess as well as the Demon king Druser, and the Beast King Leogris (again another controversial move). Recent attack to orphanage and her involvement also rose her popularity
First Queen gavee birth to the first prince. Diana described him as someone super serious about everything, especially about tradition and all. He is especially popular among the nobles and high knight as well as among the administrative power of Estel. The Duke's family manage to escape serious consequences mainly because of the first prince backing them up, saying that they're still needed for the sake of the country
Second Prince, born out of the second queen, well, I can only get the impression of your typical useless noble. Alas, the support from the religious group is strong on his side, largely thanks to his mother effort. Again, the old follower and maybe even the Achalasia Externa group escape unscathed due to their influence. The official statement says that the church official have been kicked out by the kingdom but the truth is, they're still hiding inside the country thanks to him
For Diana's younger brother, born from the fourth queen, I don't really know much, and Diana also says that he wouldn't bother us much, so I guess I shouldn't be worry about him
(And aside from Diana, I don't even remember their name. Well, not that I care) [Ash]
As I went down to have a talk with the first prince, he's already seated and makes himself at home. Can I legally kick him out?
"You're late. Don't you know anything about mannerisms?" [First prince]
Sigh... way to give a good first impression of yourself. Alas, from the way he talks, he's pissed off because of my etiquette (kinda like how Qis usually do). I guess this is part of the reason why Diana described him as super serious. Well, I only "met" the second prince all this time, so I don't really know anything else about this guy
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"So, why are you here?" [Ash]
"I'll be straight. Cancel your help to my younger sister" [First prince]
"And if I don't?" [Ash]
The tension is ever rising in the air. He doesn't let out any malice intention, maybe because he knows about Housey function
"It's inappropriate for a royal like herself to receive help from a commoner, not to mention, from a traveler" [First prince]
"What's so wrong about that?" [Ash]
"Us royal should carry ourselves with utmost dignity. Each class, from Royal to slave, have their own role to play. From ruling with tradition to working for the sake of the country, paying taxes and distributing the taxes, it should be done in a systematic manner that has been carried out like before. What she's doing is simply an extreme deviation that shouldn't be allowed to continue" [First prince]
"And?" [Ash]
"Someone smart like you should understand it. I do believe your rash personality aren't nothing more than a few shortcoming that can be corrected. Here is my order, cancel your help to Diana, works under me, and let my official take care of the orphanage. Diana doesn't pay your salary appropriately, so once I make her my wife, I'll correct her deviant way of thinking" [First prince]
I can't tell whether he is serious, or stupid. Screw that, I can't tell whether he is seriously stupid or stupidly serious about what he just mentioned... I do know incest among the royalty back on earth is a common practice, but hearing it being said so easily by "this guy" isn't a pleasant feeling. Plus, he expects me to just stop giving my support to Diana and somehow jump to the conclusion that I will then work under him. I can't find the logic here, plus, if going by tradition
"If going by this so called tradition of yours, shouldn't I not be allowed to work with the royal?" [Ash]
"Some form of leniency should be allowed as to promote growth. I believe the Receptionist Alice at the adventure guild is a fine example of educated lady commoner for it" [First prince]
"I just don't understand you... If going by your logic, I should just continue my support to Diana" [Ash]
"Sudden changes will only bring more harm than good. Plus, why broke the already perfect traditional system?" [First prince]
"Perfect? Only in your eyes, but for other, it's simply a broken trashy system" [Ash]
"So, do you want to say that this system that has been practiced ever since the foundation of the kingdom by the original ten heroes is broken" [First prince]
Huh... that's a new info. But to counter his argument
"That's correct. You can say the system is perfect because you received all the benefits, while other didn't. Well, to begin with, there's no such things as a perfect system, even the change that will be brought by Diana can become corrupted as generation passed. Than again, it's better for me to support her so that she can bring justice to those oppressed by the older system" [Ash]
Diana wanted an equal opportunity for other to learn, unlike that of traditional system where only nobles and high knight can receive. Diana wanted to promote equality to all the races, something that the old follower freely misuse in the name of religion. She still believes the royal, noble, knight, civilian and all have their roles to play, but at the same time, she doesn't want those classes to be so separated from each other
"The system is perfect! It's the trash within it that needed to be purged. My stance remains the same, don't disturb the already perfect system, and stop lending a helping hand towards Diana who wanted to crush it" [First prince]
Again, can't tell whether he's seriously stupid or stupidly serious. Then again, he did realize of the scum within the system, so I guess that is a plus in his side. But, why don't he purged them out? Judging from what I have been told, he still needs their support to become the king, but what next? What will he do once he becomes the king, throw them out? Kill them? That will surely create chaos. I can't warped my head around this idea.
"Sorry, but I will continue to serve Diana" [Ash]
"Reason?" [First prince]
"No particular reason. I just admire her. Plus, I want the best for my siblings. Under your so called perfect system, they're rather unfortunate, so if I can support Diana, their future will become brighter" [Ash]
"Then just become a noble. With enough achievement, it's possible" [First prince]
"Then what about the other? Most of them aren't that unfortunate to even learn, barely scraping their daily wages for food. How do you expect them to rack up achievement and become a noble?" [Ash]
"Interesting way of thinking..." [First prince]
We sip out our tea. Well, it sure is an interesting conversation. Here I am, thinking that I will lash out instantly
"I don't know the answer for that. I will try to search it up. But my order remain the same, stop helping Diana. That girl deviate too much, and it's my job as her future husband to correct her, even by force if I should" [First prince]
"Negative. Now, I do think we are both busy, so why don't we end our discussion" [Ash]
"It's a shame, but I do believe I have a good conversation with you. It's not often I can talk like this. Sir Ceanu Reaves is one of those people that can indulge me when we are discussing, and now, you join the rank as well, albeit a lower one" [First prince]
"I still have a lot to learn, but alas, pleasure is all mine" [Ash]
He simply gets up, thanks Claude for the tea and snacks and quickly enter his carriage. Now I know what Diana meant when she says he is a serious person. Well, he is someone who believes wholeheartedly in the traditional system and will defend it to the end. Admirable, but alas, from the info that Diana's receive, he also employed some dirty hand to do the job just to keep his influence up.
"So this is the lowly orphanage! Fear not, for I, the Second prince, shou..." [Second prince]
"A loud trash. I'll dispose it" [Mahsuri]
""-.. .. ... .--. --- ... . / - .... . / - .-. .- ... .... --..-- / ... - .- .-. - -.-.--"" [Housey, Calypso tree]
That line alone tell me all I should know about the second prince. Needless to say, none of the second prince and his convoys stand a chance when facing again the raging water from Mahsuri. She then comes back inside and as usual, sit in her favourite sofa, not bothering to move for the rest of the day