As always Giliath demands your power stones!
****
A few moments later.
Some maids came in, bringing in one dish after another. They soon became numb to the amount of plates they brought in as the time passed. It was already approaching 9AM on the 1st. Only now did Sherryl show signs of stopping. Seeing her scarf one plate down after another, a look of amazement appeared in Princess Alfin's eyes as she sat beside her, with me next to her. We took one of Princess Alfin's low-standing oval tables, bringing it here, which allowed Sherryl to sit next to it. It acted as a makeshift dining table.
Let alone seeing amazement in Princess Alfin's eyes, even I was amazed as I continued to watch Sherryl basically eat a five-course meal by herself. Sherryl reminded me of a certain black, spiky-haired boy who was in a very popular anime back in my previous life.
"Sheesh, you really do have a bottomless pit for a stomach, Sherryl. And yet your skin remains flawless. You ate an entire dinner that could serve three or four people, and I don't even see your belly an inch wider! Just where did all of that food go? You know, that's every girl's dream.", Princess Alfin spoke out to Sherryl.
"D-Did I really eat a lot? I stopped counting after the third or fourth plate. I really was starving. I'm sorry for intruding on you like this, Your Highness.", Sherryl responded, feeling guilty seeing the maids do all of this for her.
"Oh please. Don't let it trouble yourself, Sherryl. You have to be well-rested and satisfied for your big day tomorrow! I know how tough reunions can get. Your big sis has been alone for a while now, right?", Princess ALfin asked Sherryl. Sherryl nodded her head.
"That's right. Teacher did bring me to Crossbell once or twice during our travels, but I made him promise me not to get in touch with big sis. I knew the timing wasn't right. Now that I've made a public appearance thanks to those news reporters, there isn't a point in hiding anymore. That's why you are wanting me to take me this time, right Big Brother?", Sherryl asked me.
"That's the gist of it. If it goes well we can even turn our visitation into a date. Would you like that, Sherryl?", I asked, recalling the reward sent to me. The Quest did mention Sherryl would initiate a date with me, I just wasn't sure when this would happen. Seeing an opportunity, I decided to bring the topic up. The moment I asked that, Sherryl's cheeks turned red.
"Oh my, you're a sly one, aren't you, Big Brother? Going alone with just the two of you to one of Zemuria's most cosmopolitan cities outside of Heimdallr. Now you're really making me jealous that I can't go with you, hehe.", Princess Alfin retorted.
"C-Cut that out, Your Highness. It's just a visit, nothing more.", Sherryl responded as her blush remained.
"Uh-huh. I expect full details when you two are back! Plus, I can go see if Lif has returned from her holiday stay. If she is back in town, I'll be sure to introduce you to her, Big Brother.", Princess Alfin responded, mentioning Lif's name again to me.
A person I haven't personally come across, but it sounds like she's one of Princess Alfin's closest friends. She was likely part of the group she often formed with Musse and Elise, gossiping about all sorts of things. I just didn't think this Lif person would have the Bartholomeus name tied to her. Let alone being the first princess.
It's not like I haven't put aside my long-term goal, what Kloe had brought up with everyone else back at Grancel Castle. Even Renne was in on it too. It was what I like to call, the Western Zemuria Unification Plan.
Its initial planning came to fruition shortly after I had escaped the DG Cult along with those who I now call my friends and even lovers. Me assuming my Liberl heritage was the first step. My actual birth mother, who died giving birth to me, was Queen Alicia's sister by blood. She had given birth to me quite late in her life. If Kloe's father was still alive, I would be more of a brother than a nephew to him, but to not complicate things, Queen Alicia declared that I was her grandson, which made me eligible to claim the throne. It's not like I was some outsider to those matters, I had much more Auslese blood flowing through me than a certain Duke did.
The second stage of that plan was to disrupt North Ambria from the inside out. The large war that pinned several Jaeger groups against each other played a crucial role in that. With me and Emma joining the fray, being active members of Zephyr, we were able to cause some chaos inside the Northern Jaegers, even though they were our allies at the time. This caused one of their highest seats to become vacant, a person who went by the name, Jayna Storm. I have met Jayna once when I came to Leiston, and she is quite the beauty. As far as I'm aware, she is now working at Grancel Castle, keeping watch over Kloe while I'm here in Heimdallr.
North Ambria is essentially a doomed country, unfortunately. It has both corrupt politicians from within its diet along with Jaegers strutting the entire country. It would eventually become independent again after the Erebonian occupation, but it was quite ruined by that time. I do plan to work with Jayna sometime in the coming future to see if she can reclaim North Ambria into the unification I have set in mind.
The third stage to the unification has yet to happen, which is what Angelica and I have been working on during our downtime while the two of us were back in Grancel, before she shifted her focus to becoming a Bracer. This will eventually topple the current system of the Great Houses, allowing the nobles to become a more centralized group, very much like that of a government. The names they hold will become a thing of the past. Angie and I aren't planning to take action on this until her rivalry with her father reaches its peak, which took place in Cold Steel I/II.
And now, it looks like a fourth piece had just presented itself to me. I'm currently in good relations with Remiferia, as I personally met Albert during my little stay at Nemeth Island. It happened while we were sailing there, in fact. I have not taken time to travel to Remiferia, considering it was one of the northernmost continents. It was a stretch to get there. But since its princess is currently studying abroad here in St. Astraia, it was very possible I could become friends with her. If I left out Leman and Ored, that would cover most of Western Zemuria. The only other area that I might have to consider was Crow's hometown, which was the autonomous city-state, Jurai.
Jurai was very similar to Crossbell City, they did most things on their own without any outside intervention. A couple students who studied at Thors Military Academy came from there, and likewise, Crow. Yet, it wasn't a place I probably didn't have to worry about on the grander scale of things.
After all, father had already taken action, and forcibly annexed Jurai through economic means. That was the main reason Crow wanted to get revenge on father anyways.
Since I didn't have to worry about that, I could focus more on this new fourth piece at play. This person named Lif, who just so happened to be Princess Alfin's best friend. As if she had sensed my intent just now, Princess alfin turned my way, considering I became quiet for a good moment.
"Something on your mind, Big Brother? Don't tell us you're getting all shy now. It's clear that Sherryl is looking forward to this date you know. It'll be your duty to make sure she has a fun time while you two are in Crossbell. And without me.", Princess Alfin pouted as she said that. Hearing that, I smiled. Reaching my hand out, I patted Alfin's head, to which she accepted.
"Haha, oh it's nothing. It's only one day so we'll definitely be making the most use of our time. I went silent because I was thinking of who this Lif person was to you, Alfin. You may not know, but I did come across His Highness Prince Albert once. You were there too, Sherryl.", I said, recalling what had happened on that boat we sailed in Calvard waters. I saw Sherryl nod her head.
"Uh-huh. I remember coming across Uncle too. Remember the time I told you that our family used to serve the Bartholomeus House before we migrated to Crossbell City? That is the main reason why I want to become a professional maid, to continue what my family used to do.", Sheryl replied, nodding her head as she did. "I Just didn't think I'd come across Uncle's niece like this, and at St. Astraia no less. I knew I had recognized her from somewhere. Do you think she remembers me, Your Highness?", Sherryl asked, placing her last plate down on the table, feeling stuffed.
"Oh I'm sure she'll remember you, Sherryl. It's another thing I can ask about if she's back in town! I'll be sure for us to all meet up together and have a good chat. How does that sound?", Princess Alfin asked Sherryl.
"Mmm. That'd be nice. I really do thank you for taking some time to make this meal for me. Everything was delicious. I feel as if my body is teeming with energy now. It was as if the spar never happened!", Sherryl happily responded, pumping her arm up showing how much vigor she had compared to her back at the dojo.
"You really do look fine now. It's almost as if Big Brother never carried you on his back while coming back here.", Princess Alfin said to Sherryl. Sherryl blinked her eyes at me before her cheeks turned red again.
"That happened? I'm sorry you had to do that, Big Brother.", Sherryl said, feeling guilty again.
"It wasn't an issue at all. Sherryl. Why don't you take Alfin to freshen up for the night? I'll get cleaned up in the morning. Lechter's pretty prompt when it comes to time management so we'll need to act quick.", I said, donning a more serious look.
"Okay! And you're staying here tonight, mister. I know I picked out a room for you and all while you train with Sir Vander, but I'm not taking any no tonight. Besides, we'll have to get used to this eventually. Sleeping together more in the future, that is~", Princess Alfin happily teased, clapping her hands together.
"Right...", I uttered. I could only nod my head at Princess Alfin.
"It's still hard to accept that this is reality now. But at least for now, let's freshen up, Your Highness.", Sherryl said to Alfin. Princess Alfin nodded her head, and I saw the two scurry off to the bathroom connected to her room. It didn't take long before droplets of running water started to echo the room.
I proceeded to get myself ready for bed. Man, today really was a long day, wasn't it? But I felt satisfied. I feel as if I have a clearer path ahead of me, and after tomorrow's visit, I can devote my full time to training.
I know I have some instance keys to use too, and I think I already have my first party member in mind to send an invitation out. The only question is, will they accept?