Glancing at Susan with a grim expression, I sigh and shake my head.

“Can you tell them to let her in? I trust her.”

“Certainly. I do apologise, unless told we will not allow any to enter.”

“For future reference, let the following enter as they please, I trust them with my life.” Telling Susan of the others, she nods firmly and walks over to the gates to our land. Sighing, I walked inside and made a pot of coffee.

“Alice?” Calling out, I heard running coming from the basement as the cute, smiling face of Alice appeared.

“Mum? Can we play now?”

“Soon, Aubrey is here.”

“Yay~! Auntie Aubrey~!” With a bit of excitement, Alice came over and sat down on a chair as I heard footsteps from the front door. Susan enters with an angry looking Aubrey behind her. Susan bows slightly before leaving with Aubrey walking up to Alice and I with her hands on her hips.

“Why did you ignore me earlier?!” Her question causes me to frown slightly as I tilt my head.

“How did you know it’s me?” My hair and eyes had changed colour, along with my System information being disguised no one should know who I am with a glance.

“How would I not know my best friend? It hurt when you ignored me.”

Pursing my lips while I felt guilty, I then found myself a bit confused. “Aubrey, don’t you know what’s happening?”

This time Aubrey tilts her head. “What do you mean? Why did you change your hair and eyes? Did you evolve again? And who is that?” Aubrey looks at Alice with a bit of confusion.

“It’s me, Auntie Aubrey!” Alice jumps up with a big smile as she hugs Aubrey, causing Aubrey to look confused before realisation hits.

“Alice?” Aubrey turns to me and after I give her a nod Aubrey only becomes more confused. “Wait, what happened to you two?” Aubrey returns Alice’s hug as she sits down.

“Well, where to start…”

***

Silence swept through the room as I finished explaining everything to Aubrey, who sat there looking angry again.

“Useless bastards. So this entire facade is to appease the Royals?”

“Mm, Roland said it’s so they can come out and say that they carefully investigated, proving my innocence while also punishing those who are actually guilty, it has nothing to do with the Royal Family and more so the common person. The problem is that I did kill a Silver Grade, which is being used against me by those spreading rumours. I don’t think Roland is wrong, he has after all only arrested me in name. I can still move around and do what I want, I can’t fault him.”

Currently Aubrey and I were sitting on the couch holding hands while she laid her head on my newly grown shoulder. I didn’t know why, but I always found comfort in sitting like this with Aubrey ever since The Blade’s attack at Zalus, her warm hand had a way of comforting me for some reason.

“I know that. It’s those idiots spreading the rumours, you did nothing wrong yet they’re just willing to smear your name through the mud. Though it’s weird…”

“What do you mean?”

“It’s so sudden. Majority of the word around the place had been of praise for conquering the Battlefield of Eternity and a lot of adventurers saw you as a future Black Grade, plenty were planning to befriend you early.”

“They did?”

Aubrey giggles and sits up looking at me. “You really didn’t spend much time in the Guild did you? Well, can’t fault you, for me it’s like a second home. Summer, Xeno and I had been bombarded with people wanting to meet you. For them to so suddenly turn on you like this, it’s really strange. Usually if one were accused of foul play they would still have supporters, yet you have none, at least from what I’ve seen.”

Tilting my head slightly, causing me to bump into Aubrey’s antlers by accident, I thought over her words. Roland had said the same, that it’s likely a third party that swayed the public against me, but so quickly?

“Why didn’t you know when you saw me earlier?”

“I had only just returned, I hadn’t even reached the Guild when I saw you. I had been surprised at your hair and eye colour, but I thought it had just changed again.” Aubrey giggled lightly. “I never expected it to be a disguise.”

“Well, one thing is for sure, I’m tired of this city.” I sigh as I lean against Aubrey.

“Are you leaving?”

“Mm, after the war. Four years max, I want to earn money before I leave so I don’t need to worry about requests or anything.”

“I’m coming with you.” Saying so in a way that wouldn’t take no as an answer, I looked at Aubrey’s eyes and for some reason felt a tightness in my stomach, as if I became nervous. Strange.

“Sure, it’ll be good to have you come along.” I felt relieved for some reason, happy that Aubrey would stay by my side when I left Vale.

“Why not sooner? We don’t need to protect this city, you know.”

“Mm, I want to make sure my friends are safe and I still need to get to Black Grade. I want to use the teleport gates to head closer to Crater. I don’t plan to really go to Crater, but it’ll be nice to travel the world slowly while I head there to see the others.”

“Mm, I want to meet those friends of yours.”

Aubrey and I continue to chat away, continuing to sit there holding each other's hands, well into the night. Alice had been playing in the training room but came back up to spend time with Aubrey, who had been shocked at Alice’s sudden transformation but happy. I made dinner for the three of us and after telling Aubrey of our request she seemed a bit shocked.

I also learnt she had reached the Crossroads herself, giving me a bit of a shock as well as it had been quite fast. When I asked what she had done, she giggled and told me it’s a secret.

***

Sitting at a table in front of a cafe, I slowly drank the rather bland coffee, my eyes scanning the crowd. I don’t know why, but I found myself looking for Aubrey from the moment she had left my sight. It’s odd, why do I look forward to spending time with her?

Aubrey and I had headed out, with Alice staying at home to train, or play according to her, while Aubrey had headed to the Guild and I waited for her. Spotting her after an hour of waiting, I smile happily. Elise walks beside Aubrey and when they arrive at the table, Elise takes one look at me with a confused look before realisation passes through them.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

“I know a good restaurant, let’s head there.” I nod as I finish the coffee, stand and while holding Aubrey’s hand follow behind Elise, who had given us a strange look, that seems to contain amusement and…happiness?

After leading us for ten minutes, we arrive outside a large building with a sigh above the archway of the day that reads ‘The Red Baron Restaurant.’ Following Elise in, she finds an attendant.

“Welcome to the Red Baron madams.”

“We’d like a Commander room please.” Elise hands her a pouch.

“Certainly.” We’re led through the busy restaurant and into a private room on the third floor. With a bow, the attendant leaves as we enter the rather lavious room.

Sitting down next to Aubrey, Elise sits opposite of us with a sly smile. “We’re free to talk here, there is a lot of security in this room.”

“Weren’t you heading out to pass a message to Xia and the others?”

“Can’t expect me to suddenly leave, I’m only level 65 remember? I need guards and since we can’t trust the average adventure when it comes to a message about your innocence I’ve had to make other arrangements. I’ll be leaving in two days. Don’t worry, I’ll ensure they get the message safely.

“Now, about what Aubrey had asked me about. Those twins, Yin and Yang had left for Hiems after the Blizzard, you were still in the Tomb at the time. It’s been about two weeks since they left according to their advisor. They have stabilised their condition it seems and have headed to Hiems with a group of adventurers in the hunt for an item to help them. They received a rumour that such an item will appear at the Auction in Hiems so they went at the first opportunity.”

“I see…what’s an Auction?” I tilt my head as Elise shakes her head.

“I keep forgetting…Basically an Auction is where merchants will sell very high value items, even those past the Crossroads seek the Auction out. Speaking of which, your items have been assessed…Alisha, they’re worth 74 Diamond Coins.”

Looking at her in surprise while Aubrey gasped, Elise smiled. “What you’ve brought back honestly has value far above what you might think. The number quoted is what they have valued right now, which is roughly half of it. There are books they do not understand which need an expert to value, which will take time, but they said if it’s history, spell or skill books then the value of the remaining loot could be upwards of two to three Jade Coins, which will require the Royal Family to provide them.”

“So much?” I hadn’t expected the value to be so high!

“Equipment, books, spells and more from an ancient era that were held by a Goddess, did you really think the value would be small? I’ll have the coins delivered to your house through the Royal Guard tonight. Now, let’s eat and celebrate the two of you reaching the Crossroads…I never thought you’d reach it Aubrey, I’m so proud of the both of you.”

***

Following behind Susan as we walked through the streets, I once again fidgeted with the clothing I’m wearing. We had met with the young girl who had dyed our hair and she had outfitted us with very expensive looking clothing, intended for nobles. Alice had been grumpy ever since she put it on, mainly because she couldn’t transform into her monster form or the clothing would be ruined.

After some time, we arrived in a shopping district, where a long line of wagons sat, with about thirty Royal Guards that stood alongside the wagons. In the middle is an extremely detailed and lavious wagon, which I understood to be ours. Leading us to a burly man, Susan stopped before him and gave him a nod.

“Leonard, these are the children of the Moonflow family. You know what to do, right?”

“Yes, Madam. I will ensure their safety.” Leonard turns to the two of us. “Madam Roxy and Madam Tali, please board the carriage, we will be setting off soon.”

I felt glances from others around the wagons, notably from the merchants and Royal Guards. There is disdain amongst those stares, though it didn’t affect me. I had been warned by Susan that this would be the case, noble children were seen as weaklings that paid their way into comfort or levels.

Not caring for their stares, I entered the carriage and found it to be rather…luxurious. Two soft seats on one side and a large bed on the other. There is a bench and from the smell a large amount of expensive food is stored in a cold box near it. It’s as big as my room is, which meant we had plenty of room.

Leonard closes the door behind a pulse of magic surrounding the room that I knew to be a barrier.

“No one can hear us. It’s an honour to finally meet you, hero of the slums.” Leonard bowed with a hand over his heart.

“Please, just call me Alisha.”

“I will when we’re in here, otherwise I will refer to you as Madam Roxy. I am aware of your disdain for being called ‘Madam’ but please bear with it. I have an update from Captain Roland to give to yourself and Alice.”

Alice and I sat down as Leonard stood before us. “The Captain has found that the rumours about you have spread far faster than is natural, as if there is one who is pushing those rumours out. Currently, the Royal Guard and Family are fully aware of your innocence in the case, and while the decree can in theory be released now, they wish to investigate who is spreading these rumours and why. The Captain believes in two theories, it is either a powerful adventurer or a spy from Harrington.

“The reason why we believe this is because outside of the common adventurer or citizens around the adventurer district, no one has heard of the rumours. They seem to be intentionally being spread amongst the adventurers for an unknown reason. Do not fear, once you have returned we will start to organise the decree, for now this travelling convoy had no idea who ‘Alisha’ is other than the Royal Guards. We still require you to maintain your disguise because you are at this moment bait for Harrington scouts, and potentially spies within the Royal Guard.”

I had figured part of the request would be to act as bait, it made sense to have a seemingly high value target being offered to lure out scouts.

“As long as I can get out of this wagon I’m fine.”

“Of course. You can’t just go and train though, but there are some small dungeons along the way that myself and Helen, the other Royal Guard who knows your identity, can lead the two of you to to ‘gain life experience’. Don’t expect anything above level twenty though.” After speaking with Leonard for a little longer he soon leaves the carriage, telling us that we would be heading out in an hour.

In the carriage are two large bags, which had been delivered from my house earlier as according to Susan it would ‘seem unladylike to carry your own luggage.’ Opening one of the bags, I pulled out the coins that Elise had had delivered to me earlier, along with the Spellbook I had taken from Xia’s family, Vortex Blast, a Wind Blast. For Alice, I had bought the Spellbook I had received for clearing the Battlefield of Eternity, Dark Corruption.

***

It’s been about a month since we left Vale. Alice and I had barely left this carriage, staying inside and only leaving twice. Both times Leonard and an older woman, Helen, had led the two of us away from the convoy to dungeons that were…level ten.

As expected, it had been boring, nothing at that level could harm us. The second time Alice and I had ‘played’, shocking the two Royal Guards, but we kept it relatively safe so as to not alert anyone. Other than those two times, we had not left the carriage. According to Leonard, the Royal Guards with us loathed the sight of Alice and I since they only saw us as noble children and the merchants weren’t any better off. I knew this is just how a lot of people saw children of nobles and since it’s not actually aimed at our true identities I didn’t care.

“Mum~ I’m bored.”

“Mm, bare with it. We’ll be in Hiems soon then we’ll go and play a lot okay?” Alice had given up trying to read the Spellbook, citing that she wanted to play instead of read.

“Yes!”

As Alice lays back down, the door opens and Leonard enters the room.

“Madam, there is a monster pack heading towards us.”

“Ok.”

Leonard gives me a nod before leaving once again. This isn’t the first time a group of monsters had attacked the convoy. According to Leonard it’s common for it to happen and he had taken to advising me since there would be fighting. I could sense, smell and hear everything that happened outside, so when the fighting started I could at least ensure that nothing out of the ordinary happened.

The Royal Guards were very well trained. I couldn’t watch, but I could tell from the fact none of them had injuries after dealing with these monster packs. The monsters varied, from approximately level thirty to seventy. They would dispatch the higher level monsters swiftly, before dealing with the ones that didn’t bring harm. The entire time the convoy would be surrounded by a barrier, telling me that this is common enough.

Hearing the sounds of battle erupt, I sigh as I continue to sit there, bored out of my mind. I hadn’t realised that travelling would be this boring, even Alice had given up on being entertained. I had thought of just leaving the convoy behind and heading to Mt Lunaria with Alice, but I decided to carry out the request that Roland gave me. After all, while the situation we had been put in is rather terrible, Roland and the Royal Guards were treating me very well so I wanted to do at least this much in return.

As the sounds of battle died down, I knew that they had once again finished with no one being harmed in the slightest. They were very well trained for these situations, and as I close my eyes, I suddenly sense magic.

Frowning, I turn my head and look towards a certain part of the carriage wall, towards where I had sensed that magic. It’s about on the level as my magic, powerful. It isn't magic that is set out to harm us though, so I didn’t know what it’s meant to do. It disappears as quickly as it came, the door to my carriage opening as it fades.