"We are here!"
Audelia made such statement as the carriage arrived in capital town, Roarz. Her eyes roamed around after getting off the carriage. Roarz town was big, the typical capital town that Audelia saw on manga or anime in her previous life. Well.. it was previous, previous life but let's not get into that much detail..
The group headed toward the adventurers guild, along the way they visited stall after stall. Even though they didn't wear clothes that showed the state of their status, but people stared at them nonetheless.
It could be seen those people knew that they were nobles by the way they behave or talk. So Audelia's plan for walking around inconspicuously kind of failed.
'And here I thought I can avoid people's eyes..'
Audelia mused such thought without realizing that she WAS the heavily doted princess of Grand Duke. People already knew her face thanks to the Grand Duke who announced it to the world. If Audelia knew about this fact, she would rage at the Grand Duke so much that it would make the Grand Duke wept in despair.
"Looks like we can't escape people's eyes after all." Jonathan made such remark, adding more stab to Audelia's heart.
"Ye-Yeah, well it's blunder on my part." Audelia smiled stiffly while screaming internally.
'Don't come with me then! You are ALSO part of the reason why we catch people eyes!'
"Oh! I am not putting the blame on you, Lady Audelia." Jonathan added, fearing that she would take offense on his words just now.
'TOO LATE!!'
However Audelia gave a sweet smile instead, sweet but cold. "It is fine, your highness. After all it is JUST me who catch people eyes. I might have to ask advice from your highness on how to walk around inconspicuously."
"Ah no.. I.." Jonathan became panic as he heard Audelia's words.
"Oh here we are!" Audelia ignored the scumb-- *cough* annoying prince and looked at the three stories building in front of her. There was a wood plank with words on it. They had arrived at adventure guild!
"Let's go!" Audelia said and entered the guild first, followed by Natalie while Prince Jonathan and Caius were left behind.
"Your highness.."
"..I am fine, Caius." Jonathan said with wry smile, "I was wrong at first anyway."
"But.." Caius frowned, wanted to say that Lady Audelia's words were too much. After all it wasn't in the prince's mind to offend her.
"It's fine. I want to learn more about her so maybe seeing that my words offended her somehow, it's a learning material for me." Jonathan smiled bravely, "Anyway, let's go. We can't leave her and the maid alone."
After all it was THE adventure guild, it was filled with rogue men. Despite her young age, Audelia was a beautiful girl. She could be harassed or hurt by those men.
"Uwaaaah, so this is adventurer's guild." Audelia's eyes scanned around as she walked toward the reception table. The moment she entered, Audelia and her maid already caught many eyes. Even more when they saw how she looked around.
"Ojousama, please mind your manners. We have become the center of attention." Natalie who walked behind her, gave a warning.
"Well it can't be helped, Natalie. This is my first time in adventurer's guild after all." Audelia retorted lightly.
"Even so.." Natalie glanced around, noticing some gazes that bore ill will toward the two of them. No.. maybe more toward her lady.
"Lady Audelia! Please wait!" Jonathan who just entered the building along with Caius, walked faster to catch up to her.
"Oh, Hello your-- I mean Sir Jonathan. Long time no see~" Audelia said with a sweet smile.
"Yes, long time-- wait.. we went together, didn't we?!" Jonathan made a protest.
"Oh my, I wonder what did you mean by that. Ohohoho~"
"My lady.." Natalie sighed softly upon seeing her lady playing prank on the crown prince as a revenge for his words.
"Oh? Isn't this the youngest princess of our beloved Grand Duchy?" Suddenly a gentle voice could be heard and Audelia stopped her feet near the reception desk but turned her eyes toward the source of voice instead.
Midway of the stairs that led to second floor, a man who looked like in his late twenties stood. Long hair with emerald color that reached to his waist, gentle blue eyes that looked warm but hid many mysteries. Audelia knew this man, she had met him on the ball several times in her previous life.
Harold Frenzier..
The Guild Master of Rozenkrenzt..
An S rank adventurer and also known as, Harold 'The Storm'.
Hmm?
Wait a minute..
How this man knew who she was?
The confusion must have shown on Audelia's face as Harold chuckled softly. "The Grand Duke has shown me your portrait, My Lady."
"Eh? My.. Portrait…?" Audelia muttered the question as forbidding sensation started creeping up in her heart.
Sure enough.. It came true..
"Oh? You don't know?" Harold smiled at the little girl, amused by her reaction.
"The grand duke spread your first portrait when you were five years old, announcing to the whole grand duchy of how beautiful his youngest daughter is."
'I KNEW IT!!!!'
'Father what have you done?!'
'Do you know that is a breach of privacy?!'
'Stupid father! I am going to punish you when I got home later!!'
"Looks like the grand duke's doting behavior has started so early." Caius commented dryly.
'And you! Stop making me more embarrassed than I already am!'
"No, you are wrong Sir. It started the moment my lady was born." Natalie corrected it.
'Natalieeee! I know you want to support me but those words are NOT helping me at aaaalll!!'
"Caius, don't be rude. It's a given for the grand duke to dote on Lady Audelia. She is so beautiful after all." Jonathan smiled at Audelia reassuringly, showing that he was on her side which was NOT the thing Audelia needed at the moment.
"Thank you for your kind words, Sir Jonathan." Audelia replied with a stiff smile.
"Ah, where are my manners." Harold smiled as he walked down the stairs and stopped right in front of Audelia.
"My name is Harold Frenzier, The Guild Master of Rozenkrenzt." Harold knelt and reached for Audelia's hand as he planted a soft kiss on it.
"It is an honor to meet you, Lady Audelia."