Before long the conference was adjourned before Yoo-Sui returned. Leaving the King, Queen, and Princess Ye-Ri at the throne room while the other leaves. Crimson Guards and black shamans are still present until...
"Grand Uncle... It seems he hasn't forgiven what father did."
Softly the king whispers to the queen and she replies:
"I don't think anyone in his coat would forgive what your father did. At least he knows that you're not to blame."
"Or maybe because I'm the only blood related member he have now... I need to talk to him again. Our brothers to the north don't deserve such a fate, how will we ever unify if we keep antagonize each other."
"Hehe, I suppose he doesn't choose you because you're the only one left."
The King and Queen moves out along with many of the crimson Guards and all of the shamans leaving only a few handful left and... Ye-Ri who seems hesitant for something as I wonder where her guardian might be?
Not wanting to get lost or being searched, I decided to stay here and wait for them. I take a sit at the side of the fountain when Ye-Ri approaches me saying:
"So, this is what the famous Owlian adventurer becomes?"
"Um... Sorry?"
Ye-Ri who seems to be quiet and silent during the conference sits beside me saying:
"I suppose we're not so different."
"Excuse me?"
She moves closer as I see her blue eyes closer than ever. She stares deeply before saying:
"I'm talking about your actions, Sova. We're just fools who would throw ourselves just for the sake of being accepted somewhere... Anywhere."
(This could really lead to a much bigger misunderstanding).
"H-Hold on a moment-"
"You don't need to be in denial! I honestly thought someone like you who can go anywhere are worlds apart from someone like me. But I guess that facade is more fake than those noble ladies and their chest pads!"
"C-Chest pads? What?"
(What in the world are chest pads? And I feel like I learned something very crucial there).
My head tilts ever so heavily before Ye-Ri extends her hand saying:
"I learn a thing or two about Owlians here. They greet by shaking their hands right? Let's start over, I'm Golae Ye-Ri, I'm glad to know you better."
"..."
I can't help but smile and shake her hand replying:
"Likewise, I'm Sova Anmao. And for the record, I think you misunderstand. I'm not throwing myself or whatever it is you're saying or thinking. I'm just someone who failed at... Her mission."
She grips my hand with both hers and smile saying:
"That's what I always say back then too! Since you're out I suppose they deemed you not a threat anymore right?"
"I-I guess?"
"Good! Follow me then, let's have a better place for conversation."
"B-But..."
"I got many sweets to share and besides, I'm sure the Guards here can just inform them where you are. As Princess of this royal castle I have some authority after all!"
"W-Well... I suppose that's fine."
"You're more easier than i thought, to my private residence! I'm glad I found someone I can actually talk this about. And since you're a girl that's a plus too!"
"Right..."
(Didn't think I would be getting along with her but...)
"Say is the sweets here considered Royal dishes?"
She drags me along and I follow her lead as she turns and says:
"Of course! All meals to the royal family are royal dishes! I think I have enough leftovers at my room."
*************************************
"Woah! It's impressive how you can be so strong while looking so feminine. I thought you would grow big muscles or at least toned bodies like Jin-Juha Unnie, the famous Jin-Yeon nim or... Demon granny- Brrr! Saying her monicker make me shiver."
The princess had me lift dumbbells twice heavier from the training grounds, showing my strength while she watch from her bed. While magnificent and grandeur in size and shape... This doesn't look much different than a room for a guest to stay with minimal utilities and the only thing personal here is the Princess' extra pillows and her art supplies tuck at the corner.
"I actually have a much toner body and even callouses in my hands before. It's just that... After awakening I suppose my body changed, (And so did my voice)."
"The hell! Is that possible?! Then you gotta teach me your techniques! After all, that means I can just train till I become full of muscles before becoming to look like you! Now, how did you do that move... Like this?"
The princess jumps out of her bed to imitate my movement but ends up looking foolish... Looking around, I notice the area around the princess is pretty much unguarded. Compared to the prince or even the King, she doesn't have any Crimson Guard around her at all.
(Maybe I shouldn't ask. But more importantly...)
"No, Ye-Ri. You have to widen your legs more and make it firm by digging your feet to the ground. Widen your leg space as well..."
I made her spread her legs to a shape of a vertical (π) before arranging her hands when Ye-Ri loses her balance and holds on to me saying:
"Eh? Whoa! I can't believe girls are even allowed to spread their legs this wide, it looks weird! Urgh... This is tougher than I thought."
"You'll definitely feel sore but that just shows you're learning."
"Hehe! Since the both of us share the same situation I guess we can call our secret group... The throwaways!"
"T-Throwaways?"
"Yup! Just extras on the grander seem of things! Yeah... Now I remember why I quit martial arts training."
As I correct her posture Ye-Ri stops me and dive back to the bed as she says:
"Magic's much suited to me."
I take a rest near the table where she prepared the dishes and eat some replying:
"Well, that's up to you."
*Stomp* *Stomp* *Stomp*
Hearing loud steps from the outside even without heightening my senses, Ye-Ri seems to hear it as well saying:
"Haah... At least you have someone who would always make you feel accepted."
I put my meal down and walk up to her which spook her a bit as she backs away hugging a pillow asking:
"What?"
I reach my hand out saying:
"If you feel that lonely then just come along. I mean you did approach me after all."
The princess hides behind her pillow replying:
"Well, I hope you take that word seriously then."
(I wonder why does she feel so much different than when we first met? Is her putting up all that air really make her that different?)
As the stomps get closer the princess lowers her pillow saying:
"At least come visit me when I invite you next time."
"Sure! For those art project stuff right? Fuuuh... Haa..."
Feeling like I know what will happen with the one approaching, I open my arms wide and prepare for landing...
"I'm ready."
*SLAM*
"Sova!"
Yoo-Ah appears as she leap across and I catch to embrace her asking:
"Why am I getting used to this?"
"This just means we're very compatible!"
(I suppose that's kinda true. Her act of always hugging me really is like May).
Yoo-Sui soon follows after as she grabs Yoo-Ah by her head saying:
"I know we're now residents of the imperial palace but you have to show some respect to the imperial family!"
*Grip*
"Owieowieowie! Ah! Too hard, Sis!"
Without letting her go, Yoo-Sui's glare lands on me as she silently says:
"(Don't touch her, you fucking pervert)."
Reading her lips, I let Yoo-Ah go but she still sticks close.
(She definitely hates me).
Yoo-Sui closes her eyes, turning towards Ye-Ri saying:
"I'm sorry about this, Princess. We'll escort ourselves out. Thank you for taking care of, Sova."
"O-Oh! Okay, no problems!"
Yoo-Sui let Yoo-Ah's head go as she bows down and left first while I turn back saying:
"Well, I'll take my leave then."
"Take care."
I drag Yoo-Ah along as she hold me tight while she's rubbing our cheeks. But as I take my first step, I stopped and turn around asking:
"Ye-Ri, why don't you come with us now?"
"H-Huh?"
Ye-Ri isn't the only one confused as Yoo-Ah seems to be bewildered as well as I then continue asking:
"You don't have any plans right?"
"W-Well... No-"
"Then join us. That would beat just sleeping alone. It's fine right, Yoo-Ah?"
"Hmm, I don't know when you two get together but the more the merrier!"
I give my hand out and Ye-Ri slowly reach out. As the tip of our finger's about to touch I grab her hand and drag her along. Wondering where Yoo-Sui will lead us I follow along as I see turn her back to look at me. She glares and clicks her tongue before continuing.
(Is this part of her act or something?)
"Hm~Hm~!"
"Ah... Um..."
Seeing Yoo-Ah happy as she clings to me and Ye-Ri being lead by hand, our trail stops when Yoo-Sui halts her step at some grand door. Wondering if this is her new room I follow along when I notice both Yoo-Ah and Ye-Ri becomes wary as their grips become tighter when Yoo-Sui opens the door and reveal something very familiar.
A man in his late twenties with long curly blonde hair wearing the Theocracy clergy cloak with their emblem at his chest alongside a Templar in full plate armour bearing the same emblem at her chest. The moment we enter, we caught their attention and the man sipping his tea almost drop his glass when he saw me.
They both fell to their knees grasping their hands and in the common tongue shouting:
" "Hail Libera! We greet thy Holy Cardinal!" "
"Eh!?"
(Cardinal!?)
Confused by what happened Yoo-Sui proceeds to take a sit first. Speaking in the common tongue she says:
"As you can see, we already have a kin to your kind to spread your ideals."
They both look at me as I realize the situation. I let go of Ye-Ri and rip Yoo-Ah off me before saying:
"Um, hello. My name's Sova Anmao."
Weary and confusion is clear on their eyes when I continue saying:
"I don't know what both of you are here for. But, can you please explain?"
"O-Of course, Lord Cardinal! We're missionaries from the Temple of Augustira, here on the request of noble families of this Kingdom. If you're here to spread word of great Libera Herself then we will excuse ourselves... Or if you wish, serve under you while we are here."
"Eh?"
(Is this how it's suppose to go!? And what in the world is going on!?)
I look towards Yoo-Sui who silently says:
"(Accept it.)"
(Huh!?)
Reading her lips I can only be baffled by all the development as I follow along saying:
"Very well, I will accept you kind gesture. Let's... Spread the teaching of Libera together."
(Yup, got it, this is how Nicole does it all the time. Better yet, I should imitate his speech).
Looking back at Yoo-Sui she nods before saying:
"I hope we can continue our cooperation."
The two missionaries turn to face her when the man says:
"If it is the wish of the Cardinal we'll gladly share our time."
Yoo-Sui then looks at me saying:
"That is all, you are free to do what you wish, Sova. (And make sure not to get too intimate with Yoo-Ah you sorry sack piece of shit!)"
Wondering how her lips move differently with the voice she produce, Yoo-Sui takes her leave but not before she pats Yoo-Ah shoulder saying:
"Don't get so close to HER, okay?"
"You can't tell me what to do with my friends, Sis!"
"Damn, brat."
As soon as she leave I can't help but scream,
(She's just gonna leave it like this!? What am I supposed to do!?)
I look back at the two who still kneels, and Ye-Ri hiding behind the confident Yoo-Ah.
(Right... If it's like Nicole...)
I walk over to the two and extend my hands saying:
"I hope you don't mind my current... Form."
"Oh, no! We're simply awed you're willing to lower yourself! We can learn a lot from your humility."
The clergy replies back taking my hand and stand, taking a closer look he seems to be quite the handsome fellow with clear blue eyes and blond curly hair, he looks like one of those people in the cover of magazines. I can't help but feel his grip on my hand tighten for a bit before he let me go and the Templar beside him stand as well. I urge them to sit and soon turn to Yoo-Ah and Ye-Ri a bit panicked saying:
"(Can you please call Yoo-Sui here!? I have no idea why I'm here! Please help.)"
"Uuh... I don't wanna leave you here but you got it!"
Yoo-Ah rushes out while Ye-Ri who lost her shield now hides behind me. I take a sit across them while Ye-Ri sits beside me and I introduce her in common tongue saying:
"Oh, I don't know if you meet her yet but she is one of the Princess of this Kingdom, Golae Ye-Ri."
Hearing that, she bows her head down shouting:
"N-Nice to meet you!"
"Oh? If Lord Cardinal trusts her then we shall as well."
"Um, I know this may sound rude but can you introduce yourselves?"
The man leans forward shouting:
"Of course! I'm Junia Cisoctavi Augustira, a Bishop of the Augistira Temple!"
The Templar bows her head down saying:
"I'm Anatolia Neptune Augustira, a Templar of the Augistira Temple."
(Now that I compare, Nicole's name is completely different then them).
"I'm happy to hear that... So, can you tell me how much you have done your work?"
"Ah..."
Junia gasp at my question before he answers:
"We have spread our faith across the local villages and towns but with the conflict that arisen in this Kingdom we thought we must leave as even the Nobles who called us are fighting against the Ruler of this place."
"I see... It must've been tough. I'm more grateful that you're willing to serve."
" "It is an honour!" "
They both shout but I can't help but feel the sharp stabbing glances they give me as I realize,
(They're definitely suspicious of me! Yoo-Ah please return with Yoo-Sui... Wait...)
I compose myself and grip my pants asking:
"Say, just an act of curiosity... Do you happen to know the Floreo family?"
"!?!?"
*Nudge*
"(You fool!)"
Anatolia twitch as her armour clamoured and Junia elbows her with a soft scolding before he says:
"Of course we don't! Hahaha! We'll be resting upon our private residence as it has been quite a long day for us. Please, excuse us!"
Junia drags Anatolia with him as they rush out of the room. And as their footsteps grows faint and further, I heightened my hearing as I'm curious to know why she react likes that...
"Control yourself! Shit, I shouldn't have suspected her. She is the real deal! She could even read that deep while we couldn't even read anything of her light. She's the one testing us by making us do the greetings."
"But why would a Cardinal be here in this backwater kingdom anyways? And with no guards to speak."
"I don't know! And seeing as how she can distort her readings and going so far as to hide as those DESPICABLE Owlians to even the touch... A C-Ce-Censor?"
"Don't jinx it, Jun! If she really is a Censor, we can kiss our Temple and Family goodbye! We... We might have stepped into a lion's den..."
"Wait, isn't she that infamous Owlian everyone's mad about? If so, isn't she there when that taboo magic appeared on the sky a few weeks back? If that taboo magic is involved, it wouldn't be so far fetched. And seeing as how she's cleaning up Owlians without even lifting a finger with those revolts this past few days, she's brutally efficient with her methods."
"Oh, Libera, please protect my little Sister longer at home."
I contemplate their conversation from afar, I release a huge sigh of relief as I survived this encounter.
(Still... Owlian revolts?)
"Um, what was that, Sova?"
Ye-Ri speaking back to her mother tongue ask in worry and I can't help but answer with a simple,
"I have no idea."
"Seriously?"
"Mm..."
"Then... What's that about you being a Cardinal? I know not of how the Theocracy worked but seeing how they react a Cardinal must be someone very important."
"Yea, it's the second highest rank you can achieve before you become Pope."
"Really!? Mmmgh!"
I can feel Ye-Ri's gaze fill with malice as she pinch my arm saying:
"How could you, and here I thought we're both the same."
"Don't blame me, I don't even know why I have this either."
As she keeps pinching Yoo-Ah finally returns with Yoo-Sui shouting:
"We're back! Don't worry, Sova! I'm here to save the day!"
Yoo-Sui who's being dragged by her arm seems defeated as she then looks around and rejuvenate saying:
"Impressive, I suppose you really have your uses."
"Of course she does, Stupid Unnie!"
*Flick*
"Ahack! Owieowieowie!"
Yoo-Ah who got flicked in her forehead fell rolling in the ground before Yoo-Sui then walk up to us saying:
"Good work convincing those Missionaries, Sova. I suppose that you're from the Phoenix Sector is true. (That slave driver of Empress is right about you having Libera's light, to think she could even predict fate like this. The title of Deity of Knowledge is terrifying indeed.)."
"O-Oh? Thanks?"
Speaking differently than what her lips is saying I can't help but be amazed.
(How does she do that? Should I ask her to teach me?)
Yoo-Ah recovering from her head flick made me remember the time Sis Yuwei does the same to me as I unintentionally rub my forehead as well.
"What was that for!?"
"For calling me stupid, silly Dongsaeng."
"Uuuh..."
Yoo-Ah crawls beside me and as I was about to pat her head I can't help but feel chills down my spine as Yoo-Sui unleash a murderous rage only I can sense.
"Thanks to you, our greatest hurdle has become our strength. But don't think this is over, we have more work to do if you want to earn your freedom. (Don't expect any real thanks, just know that even if you're her precious little brother doesn't mean anything to me)."
(Is she going to keep doing this?)
"If you're going to keep throwing me in such ridiculous situation I think I prefer doing my new adventurer job- oh yea, Yoo-Ah do you still have ny items?"
Yoo-Ah jumps up shouting:
"Of course! It's all with Dal-Yong Gramp! He's keeping it all safe! And right! He also told you he has a good idea on the cloak creation so visit him soon!"
"Great! I'll-"
"Tch, tch!"
Yoo-Sui clicks her tongue before saying:
"That won't do, for your crimes against the royal family, your adventurer right will be stripped along with the confiscation of all your belongings."
"Eh?"
"Huh!?"
Both Yoo-Ah and me stare at Yoo-Sui before she then folds her arms and cross her legs saying:
"Following international law of adventurers convicts. You will be force to comply and work under the jurisdiction of your victim to compensate all the damages you did."
"But-"
Yoo-Sui press my lips to silence me replying:
"You have no say in this, Sova. The people here may be kind idiots but the law doesn't feel the same way. As of today, you're now officially my slave- mhm! Labourer... Yes, I think that sound less harsh. (You're my bottom bitch now. And, just so you know, it's Yuwei's orders, mhm. Simply put, you can suck it!)."
"Urreeee! That's bullshit!"
Yoo-Ah protests but...
"..."
Seeing the sun sets at the distance from the clear window, I wonder...
(Aren't we suppose to be on the same side!? And is she always this scary? She seems to be quite nice when we first met...)