Breaking news!! Excafol is a fucking senile old man.
"You senile old man!!"
"Oi, oi, it's not my fault if you believed what I said. I never thought you were serious about buying that book anyway."
"You are just a-"
"Ah, come on now, there is no need to be so angry. I am sure you were joking about your money anyway. If you had that much money, you could buy yourself some nice piece of land and lives comfortably as a third-degree noble. Anyways, if you really want the book, just give me 150.000 wellis. I bought it for less, so it should be enough."
Does this man even realize I killed people and waited patiently for two years? I should kill him. I look at Excafol angrily, with murderous intent even. He simply looks away.
"Ok, ok, I am sorry, alright. I should have told you the real price without jokes."
"Yes, you should have. But I suppose there is nothing more we can do about it. I will come tomorrow to take the book."
"No, tomorrow we have the party remember? You will take it another day. It's already yours. Even if I don't know who you will sell it to. Not that I care since I can't read it."
***
The next day, Rose comes with a paper for me.
"Lanuvel told me you would be at her wedding party. Take this: it's your invitation."
"Is it normal for your daughter to marry at ten years old?" Rose doesn't seem happy about this news. Well, she doesn't look angry, either.
"As a noble Kevin, there are responsibilities you will have to face very early. And she is lucky to marry Romas, who she knows and who is the same age as her. Others are not so lucky."
She looks extremely sad while saying so. Must be a bad story behind that. It's better not to ask then.
"You see, my big sister got married to Mark's father after his mom died."
And there was not even the need to ask. What the hell did I just hear?
"I am not sure I understand."
"Well, it's a very long story, and I don't want to give too many details, but, ten years ago, I was supposed to become the wife of Mark's father. My sister couldn't endure to see that and offered herself so that in exchange, I could at least marry Mark instead. After all, me getting married to the Grandcross was unconditional."
Her eyes are wet; she is ready to cry. I don't know the details, but I see that everybody has his own problems.
"Now, Kevin, let us start. Today, you will put on the 5 kilograms bag around your waist and defend against my attacks while moving as little as possible."
In the afternoon, I go to the library to see the old man. We should go there together since we are going to the same place. I have put my apprentice's trousers with the winter coat they gave us—a thick and rough coat made of deer pelt and fur. I look very typical, I think.
"Wow, kid, where are you going dressed like a vulgar thief?"
Excafol's clothes, however, bring me back to reality. He is wearing a sparkling blue marine coat. Inside, he has a blue and white costume. There are a lot of designs on it, and even feathers are attached at the left corner of the chest. Truly noble-like clothes. I never thought about wearing clothes here since they gave us the necessary.
"You look fine old man. I suppose I can't go to that party then. Good night." Since I don't have any clothes, I can go and sleep, right?
"What are you saying? We will go and buy your clothes, of course. We might be a little late, though." When I was about to close the door of the library, Excafol says something I didn't want to hear.
"Okay, let's go." I don't have much choice.
***
In town, we go to a clothes shop: THE ELEGANT FLOWER. There, we buy a black coat with gold lines going up and down but also a blue and grey costume with frills on the hand's parts. I quickly put them on, and then the carriage brings us to the GRANDCROSS mansion. It is located at the far north of Onklah.
A massive mansion, at least five times ours back in Tatradum. With a fish pound even. Inside, there are already a lot of guests. In fact, everybody had arrived already when we came. People are chitchatting about things that I either don't understand or can't be bothered to understand. On the second floor balcony, I see Mark talking with Borgas and an old and withered man. I wonder who he is. Suddenly, my vision darkened. Somebody has put his or her hands in front of my eyes. But I think it must be a girl, no, a woman.