As Lotus made her way slowly to the lake as a fairy drifted by a whispered curiously, "Will that reincarnated boy actually help you drive him out?"
"Nah." Lotus huffed is dismay, "Ortho is a kind child but he isn't all too naive. He will try to talk the guy out of his grudge if he heard what was going on rather than help me force an expel paper on him. If I did that, I won't hear the end of it from Idia too. Also…"
Lotus grasped the fairy by the ear and smiled, "What a surprise to find you here today… Mr. Announcer."
Though initially in pain from having his ear pinched, the fairy froze and avoided her eyes as he hesitated, "Ah… W-well, you know. The last day of the fairy gala is approaching, so I just thought it would be better to return home and invite the two chiefs over. T-that's all!"
This fairy that suddenly popped out of nowhere was the announcer of the fairy gala. The very one who dared to proclaim her as the depressed princess. At first, she was unable to find him after the gala starting event, but now…
She smiled. Now, this little one ended up appearing before her…
Shall they see what idiotic excuses this little guy will give her?
"I see, you must've thoroughly enjoyed yourself on the first day of the gala then…" Lotus sneered with an evil grin, "It was quite unfortunate that you didn't stay too as mother wanted to meet with you."
Hearing this, the fairy stammered nervously, "B-b-beloved princess, your smile seems a little…"
"Oh? Is there something wrong about my face that needs to be mentioned out loud too?" She smiled sickeningly sweet, "Is it also 'depressing'?"
"N-not at all! Nope!"
"Really?" Lotus motioned a sigh in despair, "For a second there, I thought something was wrong for our people to suddenly call me depressed. Looks like I got a long way to go… Would you like to help me?"
"No! I-I mean not no for helping, but it was just a joke, princess! I'm so sorry! I won't do it again!" The fairy cried out bitterly in fear once he heard this.
"And now you act as though I'm a tiger!" Lotus lamented, "Am I really that scary that you would try to run from me? No, I really do need some help! If you may, Mr. Announcer…"
"Eek!"
It was then that their pleasant time was interrupted by a voice.
"Princess…"
Hearing the familiar voice, Lotus released the fairy and turned as her eyes brightened gleefully, "Aunty!"
"I was wondering why you were taking so long…" The two chief emerged as the forest chief sighed is dismay, "It turns out you were having fun with one of our villagers. Seriously…"
He turned to the fairy and frowned, "Hold your tongue. I will have a word with you when we return."
"Uncle Fern. It's all right. The current situation with the mines are already as taxing as it is on everyone. You and the villagers don't have to extend more of your energy to help me personally like this as well. I'm already so indebted to the lake fairies and forest fairies as is and to the chiefs as well."
"There's no such debt." Uncle Fern sighed worryingly, "Besides, being an announcer of the fairy gala is very important to the birthplace as it is for the individual. They can't just go around and embarrass the entire area by pulling an improper joke. Ha…"
"I would also like to speak with this year's announcer as well." Aunt Ripple scowled, "What is this about 'the depressed princess being roused' going around half the fairy kingdom? Care to explain, young fairy?"
"Uh…" The fairy shivered under their harsh gaze like a leaf in the wind before Lotus sighed breaking the tension.
"Uncle, Aunty. Please? It's his first time being an announcer, after all. The matter is not too serious that it's irreversible. Can we just put this aside this time and give him another chance? As even upset as I was as the victim, I'm not as mean as to not hand out second chances. Can aunty and uncle let him off with a warning, please?"
"Princess…" Aunty sighed in disapproval as uncle shook his head in disappointment.
It was as they feared. A history of being undermined as made the princess weak in punishing others.
"Then, we will leave him with you. However, after we had a talk." Uncle Fern relented.
"Well, okay…" Peony muttered sadly.
The poor fairy announcer was bewildered! Okay, my arse! She simply wanted to do whatever she wanted from him! He simply can't let this happen! However, the chiefs have already let him go and they're very firm about it too! What can he do?!
"Now perhaps the princess could get back to your classmates? It would seem they are struggling by the lake. Seriously, it feels like the second batch is worse than the first…" Aunt ripple sighed.
Lotus giggled, "Well, unlike the first, the second does not prioritize athletics or survival knowledge as a priority. Then, I'll get going. Uncle, aunty, please don't get too harsh on Mister Announcer. He simply wanted everyone to have a grand old time after all."
"Hmph… We shall see depending on what he says." Aunt Ripple huffed in disdain.
"That and we will have to send a formal apology to the royal family after all. This is politics." Uncle Fern reminded her.
"Yes, sir. Then, I'll get going! See ya later!"
Acting all humble, Lotus left the fairy under the eyes of the scary looking chiefs as she made her way to the lake much to his confusion and horror! He no longer can tell which is the lesser of two evils but he doesn't want to go with either of them! God, why didn't he just kept his mouth shut back then?!
…..
Satisfied with her interactions, Lotus quickly made her way down to the lake before poking her head out from behind the familiar figure, "Ah! Prefect! Are you and grim here to record scores here?"
Startled, Yuu nearly dropped the writing utensils as she popped out of nowhere, "Lotus?!"
"Ah! You're finally here!" Grim scowled, "While you were gone, we found this guy explaining how to fish to the arts and literature clubs! Ain't that you're job?"
"Ah that guy." Lotus sighed, "He was unwilling to help the science club earlier and I had a feeling he was struggling to get along with others, so I thought it would be better to task him to help others. It won't be good if he doesn't contribute, after all. So I'm thinking of asking coach Vargas to assign him a task to help him get along with the other members."
"Eh, not getting along?" Yuu raised a brow in confusion.
As she explained the situation she made up on the spot, Lotus nodded, "It's fine if he follows under me but I wanted to know what he thinks should be done with his situation. After all, he's the teacher here. I just pulled him out before it affected the remaining students. Even Trey and Rook were at a loss on what to do which is rare."
Yuu nodded, "Then, I will give my approval too at least if it counts anything."
"Thanks, Yuu!" Lotus smiled wide hearing this, "So how are things going on here?"
"Well, isn't it obvious?" Grim smiled as he pointed to the buckets Jade, and the Lights Club were holding in their hands.
A swift look and Lotus could see the number of fishes in the buckets as she smirked, "Thirty. As expected, you are the thinker of the two."
"Oh?" Jade looked up in surprise, "What makes you suggest that?"
"Well." Lotus chuckled, "Probably because this is the first I've seen someone prepare rations ahead of time like this."
"But I'm sure others would think the same way I had." Jade smiled courteously.
"Would they?" Lotus notes curiously. Even when cultivators prepared for a long journey, eating was simply for entertainment purposes or even should they come across a situation where they are rendered into a mortal state. It was never for actually consuming to feed their stomach. Cultivators no longer feel the pains of hunger once they reach a certain stage of power and, for Peony, she had already reached such a stage. Now, eating is for entertainment purposes or to calm their mental state. To relax and experience the excitement of tasting food.
Lotus hummed curiously, "Drying so many would be a problem. If you have no problem with waiting, why not smoke them?"
"Oh! You know how to smoke them too?!" Kalim looked to her in awe.
"Too?" Lotus raised a brow, "Was that already in your plans?"
"That's right and Jade said he knows a way to smoke them!" Cater added.
"I'm curious as well." Lilia added with a wide smile, "Shall we go?"
"Very well." Jade chuckled eagerly for his experiment.