The next morning...
I slowly opened my eyes once I felt sun rays piercing through the windows of my room right into my eyes.
"Ugh" I groaned since I have slept only for a few hours not to mention that I always tend to oversleep so this is really unusual situation even for me.
I felt something on my chest so I moved my eyes from the ceiling down and saw that Kurome had her right arm and leg over me.
I thought that she would be the one waking me up and not the other way around...not to mention this weird position. Whatever, I need to catch up on my sleep.
I moved my face away from sun rays and once again closed my eyes.
After a few hours...
"?! A...hi Nii-..ma!" I was suddenly woken up by someone's shout so I slowly opened my eyes and can Kurome sitting in the cross-legged position on my bed right next to me while looking at me with a shocked expression.
"Oh? Good morning, Kurome-chan" I said with a teasing smile but acted as if nothing was wrong.
"A-Akashi Nii-sama! You are back!!!" Kurome exclaimed with a happy expression and jumped on me, wrapping her arms around my neck.
"What? Was waiting for me for a few days such torture?" I jokingly asked with a smirk.
"Y-Yes, Ichika onee-chan was really sad so when I confronted her about it, she said that there is a chance that you will face some difficulties so I started worrying too." She replied with a slightly sad expression.
"Heh, have more confidence in me! How was your training those few past days when I was gone?" I told her and ruffled her hair and then asked her without stopping messing with her hair.
"It was all good but...I have made a big mistake during that mission with the warehouse." She answered with a bright smile before downcast expression appeared on her face.
Ichika didn't tell her that I already know about her mistake? So be it.
"No need to tell me, if you have realized it then everything is alright plus you can also trust Ichika and not just me." I stopped her from saying any more with my hand and then said with a small smile.
We continued talking for a while before she finally calmed down her excitement.
I got up from my bed and dress up in my usual clothes.
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"Ichika, can you give this paper to my father? There is important information together with a few things that I require." I said and put my hand up with the paper in grasp.
"Yes, Young lord!" Ichika's cheerful voice resounded right next to me as she took the paper from my hand and slowly left the room.
"Kurome, I need to go somewhere, do you want to go with me?" I asked Kurome who was studying at the desk while I was hiding the ores I found in that cave.
"Oh?! Are we going out~?!" She snapped her head at me with a wide happy smile.
"We can stop at the bakery and buy some cookies on our way back." I said with a small smile while getting ready to leave.
"Eeh~ That's not it..." She puffed out her cheeks when she heard my teasing.
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We made our way towards the Palace.
"Whoa, it looks big from the distance but it looks more enormous from up close." Kurome exclaimed while observing the entire Palace area with open mouth.
"Heh, let's go, we need to meet up with someone and then we can go back." I smiled at her current expression and resumed walking.
The guards at the gate instantly spotted us however instead of stopping us, they bowed to us or more like to me.
Hmm, looks like the information already spread among the Palace guards and higher-ups.
I thought while glancing at the guards we just walked past by.
I had no idea where to find Esdeath so I simply went towards the same room where the meeting was held.
When I arrived, I could already hear 2 women talking to each other inside the room.
Hm, one voice belongs to Esdeath but who is that second woman who is talking to Esdeath on equal standing? Only one way to find out...
*Knock* *Knock* I knocked 2 times and after they stopped talking, I opened the door and walked in before closing it behind me and Kurome once again.
"Akashi!" Esdeath smiled at me before she looked at Kurome with a slightly curious expression.
The other woman was just quietly observing me while I nodded at Esdeath.
Short silver hair with a long braided low ponytail, purple eyes. Black suit with a silver belt and small skirt ending in the middle of her thighs.
"Hi! I have heard that you helped my new colleague not so long ago and apparently you are extremely strong for your age! My name is Najenda, one of the generals of the Empire, nice to meet you." The woman moved closer to me and Kurome's eyes narrowed a bit while keeping her hand on her katana's hilt.
The woman who introduced herself as Najenda didn't mind Kurome's act and completely ignored her. She extended her hand to me.
"You most likely already know my name from Esdeath but I am Akashi, nice to meet you too." I replied and accepted the handshake.
She applied a bit of strength to her grip so I simply followed her which made a smile appear on her face.
She said a new colleague, huh? So does that make Esdeath one of the generals?
"Anyway, who is your overly protective friend, perhaps your girlfriend, haha?" Najenda let go of my hand and asked with a teasing tone.
Kurome didn't mind her comment and just stood next to me and from time to time screeched at people approaching me too close like a cat. It was kinda funny seeing Kurome act like that.
However, even if she didn't mind it and her expression didn't change a bit, her cheeks still became slightly red.
"Haha" Najenda laughed after seeing this.
"Her name is Kurome and she is...new bodyguard in training." I introduced Kurome to Esdeath and Najenda and she nodded her head at both of them.
"I see, nice to meet you, Kurome. However, if she is still a new bodyguard and still in training then why is she here with you?" Najenda asked with a sly smile.
I think she doesn't mean any harm but what should I say? I can't say that she is my sister because she doesn't resemble me in anything. Whatever...I don't have to care about what she thinks.
"That is indeed the truth but she is also tasked to spend her time with me because she is my potential fiancée." I replied with a small smile and my hand behind my back.
Although I am to marry that girl named Aria, that is in the next 6 years, anything can happen so that's why I said "potential". Not to mention that she shouldn't be aware of my arranged marriage, plus I just wanted her to stop teasing and questioning us.
Kurome widened her eyes in confusion and shock when she heard me but she quickly recovered and when Najenda glanced at her, she just nodded with flushed cheeks.
"I see...well, I just wanted to meet you. I don't want to take any more of your time since I have heard that Esdeath wants to talk to you about something. See you later! The next time we meet, I want to see your Teigu in action with my own eyes!" She said with a small smile and left the room while waving at us.
When I directed my eyes at Esdeath she immediately stared back at me.
"Previously, you told me that there is no love in your life. Were you lying to me?" She asked in a cold tone while staring daggers at me.
"Heh, what should have I said to her? She was going to tease Kurome more and more so I just straightforwardly told her what I have told her. Kurome is...like a sister to me, right?" I shrugged my shoulders when I saw her reaction and explained it to her. Then I looked at Kurome and asked her while ruffling her hair.
"Mmm" She puffed her cheeks that I used her in this way but she still nodded with a smile when I started patting her head.
"I see..." Esdeath muttered when she saw the sight in front of her with a slightly dumbfounded expression.
"Anyway, congratulations on advancing in rank once again! Unfortunately, I didn't bring any gift with me." I told her with a small apologetic smile.
---
'A gift? He would have bought me a gift if he knew about it beforehand?' Esdeath was slightly surprised by Akashi's words.
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"Ehm, thank you, there is no need to trouble yourself with looking for a gift, instead, I have a request to ask you." She cleared her throat and said with a serious expression.
"Hm? Do tell me..." The serious expression also appeared on my face as I told her to continue.
"Well, since I have been promoted, I have the right to choose Teigu from the Empire's secret treasure vault. I would like you to be there at that time when I choose one. It's around 1 month from now on." She explained with a serious expression.
That's it?
I thought and wanted to look at her with a weird expression.
"I don't mind, as long as I won't have to meet with the Emperor. I am bad with royalty, I hope you can understand that." I explained with hidden meaning and judging from Esdeath expression, she probably recalled our meeting with that woman named Mera.
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"...And don't forget, I am Absolute" Esdeath recalled Akashi's words and immediately understood why he doesn't want to meet Emperor.
She herself doesn't care about politics and just until a few days ago, the Empire was just her new hunting grounds, nothing more. But after the talk she had with Akashi...she is starting to slowly look for more meanings and reasons why to become stronger and live life without any regrets. She is slowly starting to perceive the world itself rather than looking at the world only as hunting grounds.
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"Don't worry, only one required to come with me is the Prime Minister." She explained with a small smile.
"Alright, then I will attend your "ceremony" to choose a suitable Teigu for yourself. If that's all, we will be going back, we still have something to attend." I replied and nodded with a smile and got ready to leave together with Kurome.
"Ah- Yes that's all, have a nice day, Akashi...and you too, Kurome." Esdeath extended her hand to me as if she wanted to say more but when I turned at her with a confused expression she said that it's all she wanted to say.
"Have a nice day, too." I said with a smile and waved at her before leaving the room, but even Kurome waved a little at Esdeath before we left the room.
Now...The prescriptions from Babara should arrive in 1 week so I can start gathering the main ingredients so I will be more ready once it arrives. I also need to observe the blacksmiths at their work, I guess this month will be very busy for me. I also plan to create a new underground faction in the Capital. Only the poor would be part of it and they would serve as my spies, this way I would have the entire city covered and no rumors would get past me. Of course, I would need someone capable and loyal to be the leader and he would be the only one connected to me.