Flap Flap Clack Clack
The curtains danced by the tune of the winds as the sun continued to descend down the horizon. As the silent afternoon progressed, subtle sounds clicked and clacked, clothes hung inside the closet one after another.
Conrad had just finished touring everyone throughout the mansion, and in a logical turn of events, they were soon led to their own rooms. Grey and Yuna shared theirs as one would expect, whilst Iris stayed in the room next to them.
Now, Grey and Yuna are arranging their things, starting with their clothes and daily wires, all the way to the miscellaneous luggage they had. It was a task which wasn't too difficult with the help of magic, finishing in only a couple minutes.
"Phew... We're finally done..." ［Yuna］
"Yuna, take off your shoes before jumping on the bed. That's bad manners." ［Grey］
"Ehh... But I'm too lazy... Just this once, please～!" ［Yuna］
"No, and that's final, young lady. Take off your shoes now. You're gonna get the bed dirty at this rate." ［Grey］
"Boo! This is abuse of authority! Boo!" ［Yuna］
Yuna booed and booed, but she diligently took off her shoes. She wasn't really even complaining in the first place, she just wanted to bother Grey for a silly reason, simply wanting to get a little bit more of his attention albeit childishly.
As for Grey, he simply chalked everything in order. Though they were quite overwhelmed by the luxury of the place at first, they have now calmed down and settled with things. It was a bit burdensome, but there wasn't much they could do about it.
Well, on the plus side, they could see a lot of artworks and observe the culture of Erdea from the mansion's aesthetics alone. Not to mention the place was actually very comfortable as well. It was of the highest quality.
"Yuna... What are you doing...?" ［Grey］
"Nothing... Nothing at all..." ［Yuna］
And just as he was contemplating about the place and admiring its beauty, a certain someone suddenly embraced him from behind, burying her face on his back, happily smiling as she snuggled with him. Of course, it was Yuna.
The young lady was smiling so brightly, but the same couldn't be said about Grey. He was happy, he really was, but he was also a little concerned about Yuna. Her doing such things when his mind is in turmoil only served to fuel his desires, his strings of reason snapping one after another.
"Grey, I love you. Hehehe!" ［Yuna］
Especially when she does attacks like such. He may not see her face, but he knew full well how adorable she was right at that moment. Topping it off with her adorable antics, it packs quite the blow. It was a dangerous situation.
It was especially worrisome when they were alone in a room with such a comfortable-looking and inviting bed just right before them. Grey was really tempted to just erect a barrier and eat her up. A starved beast inside of him was awakening.
"Grey...? Are you okay? What are you looking at?" ［Yuna］
"Umm... Nothing...? I just think the bed looks comfortable is all." ［Grey］
"Ehhh?! Your girlfriend is hugging you and all you can think of is how comfortable the bed looks?! Pay more attention to me!" ［Yuna］
That was exactly the problem, but Grey didn't say it out loud. It wasn't that he wanted to keep it a secret from Yuna, but he just didn't want her to get disillusioned about him. He didn't want her to think he was just a wild beast only filled with dirty thoughts.
Especially when Yuna was acting so adorable and innocent like a little rabbit pining for his attention. Each time she beamed a bright smile at him with such sparkly eyes, an arrow of quilt strikes his conscience, making him feel bad about his impure and corrupted thoughts. He felt tainted.
'Haha... I wonder how long I'll last...' ［Grey］
Grey couldn't even laugh as he wanted to. There was only concern in his eyes as he thought about their future. His desires will only continue to grow and so will Yuna's adorableness. He was stuck in a rock and a hard place.
"Ah, right. I wonder if Iris is done unpacking. We should go help her." ［Grey］
"Grey, don't change the topic! I want more attention!" ［Yuna］
"Sure, sure. After we're done helping Iris out, that is." ［Grey］
"Ehh... But I want it now..." ［Yuna］
Yup. It was really dangerous. Thankfully, Grey managed to keep himself, or rather, his desires, under control. He simply decided to fill his mind with thoughts about blacksmithing and enchanting, not thinking of how cute Yuna was acting.
The doors were soon opened and as soon as they stepped foot in the corridors, Yuna quickly changed her attitude into a more collected one. After all, acting all spoiled and clingy in public was still too embarrassing. A treat for Grey, and Grey only.
Knock Knock Knock
"Iris, it's us. Can we come inside?" ［Grey］
"Y-Yes! Wait a moment, please." ［Iris］
Just a couple steps away and they finally arrived in front of the doors of Iris' room. A couple knocks echoed, soon followed by the sound of footsteps. Soon, a subtle clack echoed as they were let inside her room, Iris welcoming them warmly.
And even worse than they expected, Iris' room was quite a mess. The luggage was all over the floor and clothes and dresses all over the bed. It was the total opposite of Iris' tidy and beautiful contour. It was quite chaotic.
"A-Ah, s-sorry for the mess! I-I will clean this up shortly." ［Iris］
After all, it is Iris's first time traveling without servants, so she was quite inexperienced with unpacking things. Though she managed at Grey and Yuna's house just yesterday, it was only because she only unpacked a couple things. Now is completely different.
At first, Iris was enthusiastic as she started taking out her luggage from her storage ring, and she fared well in the first half. But as soon as she opened all the luggage, it was only then did she realize how much she brought. Things quickly got out of hand.
"Hmm... So our princess also has this side of her, huh..." ［Grey］
"Fufufu! You're so cute, Iris～! Here, let me give you a hug." ［Yuna］
"Uuu... Please stop teasing me... It's embarrassing..." ［Iris］
It was really quite surprising. Grey and Yuna had already expected Iris would find herself in a little bit of a pinch, but they never knew she would be worse than Julius. Seeing a gap in her usual image only served to make her even more adorable.
"Well, we can't just leave these things be, can we now? Let's get all of these sorted out, shall we?" ［Grey］
"S-Sorry for troubling you both..." ［Iris］
"Fufufu! Don't be so down, Iris. You can always rely on us on things like this. Rather, we'd love it if you do. Call us next time, okay?" ［Yuna］
"Y-Yes! I will rely on you next time!" ［Iris］
All the teasing aside, Grey and Yuna then helped Iris out with her luggage. Iris has a lot of things, but with the help of magic, they weren't too much trouble. They simply waved their hands and flicked their fingers, letting magic do the rest.
Before long, things were finally placed to where they belonged and the room was brought back to order. Iris could finally take a break and appreciate the beauty of the, a little proud of herself to finish things even with the help of others.
"Thank you very much, Elder Brother Grey, Elder Sister Yuna." ［Iris］
"Fufufu! Don't worry about it. You can count on us anytime!" ［Yuna］
Things were finally finished, but now that they are, they really have nothing much to do left. They simply lay down the bed and chatted about any topic they could think of, wasting their time away in one another's companyー or so it should have been.
Clop Clop Clop Clop
But just as they finished cleaning things up, the sound of footsteps echoed in the air from the corridors. And it was quite the fast pace too. The owner of the footsteps was not simply walking, but was running as fast as he could.
Sound enough, the doors creaked open and a familiar figure appeared before them. He was a well-built middle-aged man everyone had the pleasure of meeting before. It was Gerald, the very mayor of the city of colors, Erdea!
"Your Highnesses! You're really here! How have you been?!" ［Gerald］
"We've been well, Lord Gerald. How about you?" ［Grey］
"Hahaha. I've been very well. No bandit attacks or anything of the sort these past few months so far. Hahaha!" ［Gerald］
He was just as lively and friendly as they remembered, even able to joke about the misfortune he experienced before. He soon entered the room and shook their hands and greeted them formally, bowing his head to show a sign of respect.
"How have you been as well, Your Highness, Princess Iris?" ［Gerald］
"Life has been good, Lord Gerald. Thank you for asking." ［Iris］
"I see, I see... That's good to hear." ［Gerald］
Of course, it wasn't just Grey and Yuna he gave his greetings to. He also greeted the young princess with them, giving her the respect she deserved. She may be young, but it is already well known that she was very capable. Respect is only natural.
"Oh! Speaking of which! I heard from Conrad that you already had a tour of this mansion. If you are free for the day, I would also love to take you around the manor as well." ［Gerald］
"Ah. If it isn't too much of a bother then we'd love that." ［Grey］
"Hahaha. Not at all, not at all. Rather, it would be my pleasure." ［Gerald］
There was no time to waste. With everyone agreeing to the Mayor's suggestion, they then headed out of Iris room and started their tour of the manor, bright and excited smiles plastered on their faces as they went around the place.
"This is the pride of our manor! Our jeweled gardens!" ［Gerald］
"Ooh～! So many! Do you have magic plants as well, Lord Gerald?!" ［Yuna］
"Of course! They're right over here. Please follow me." ［Gerald］
First and foremost, there was the beautiful garden, which as one would expect, had a beauty which was out of the world. No, it wasn't just beautiful, it was mystical with all sorts of rare and beautiful flowers blooming here and there.
Not just the flowers, the fountain, the benches, the paved roads, and all that could be seen around the place. Each one was a work of art which was not only good aesthetically but purposefully as well. The mayor was very proud as he spoke of the garden.
And as any other fancy manors, there was also a large maze in the gardens, hedges as tall as two meters and the smell of flowers wafting throughout the whole thing. Of course, they had a go at it for fun's sake.
"Ohh～! So many fishes!" ［Yuna］
"So wide... Oh? Are these begonias?" ［Iris］
"Hmm... I wonder how many knights can train here..." ［Grey］
After the gardens, they then headed towards the pond, the greenhouses, the outdoor relaxation place, the training grounds, the mini park, and many more. There was a lot to see, and a lot to admire, everyone gaining inspiration from all the beautiful sights.
Last but not the least, there was the central mansion which housed the family of the mayor, the Tobias household. It was just as grand as the mansion they were from before. It was a totally different style, but just as beautiful.
But unlike the ones from before, the place was not as wastefully extravagant. The layout and design of the place was just right, aesthetically pleasing but not too overbearing. Seeing the place, Grey and Yuna felt much more comfortable.
"I apologize if the place is not as grand and luxurious as the others, but I assure you, it works just as fine as others." ［Gerald］
"No, no, there's no need to apologize. Rather, we quite like the place. It's so simple but it's also elegant. Just the right balance." ［Grey］
"Un. It feels more cozy and comfortable. I love it!" ［Yuna］
"Hahaha. Hearing all that praise makes me really happy. Thank you for your words, Your Highnesses." ［Gerald］
The tour continued, and from the entrance hall to the kitchen and bedrooms, they explored the whole place. But perhaps the most exciting part was the wide and hot baths. It was practically a large, indoor swimming pool, wonderful decorations all over the place.
Well, it wasn't only present in that mansion. There was also one in the mansion they were staying at, and needless to say, they were all very excited to try it out. After all, there's nothing better to heal one's fatigue than a good old hot bath.
"Oh? Gerald...?" ［???］
And just as they continued their tour, they met two unfamiliar figures walking near the entrance hall side by side. One was a woman in her late thirties and the other was a young girl who was just a couple years older than Iris.
There was even no need to guess. Guessing by how the young girl looked a little bit like Gerald and the woman beside her, everyone could clearly tell that they were his wife and daughter. Both were as gorgeous as flowers.
"Oh my, it seems we have guests over." ［???］
"Yes, that's right. Let me introduce you to Their Highnesses, Archduke Grey, Archduchess Yuna, and Princess Iris of Alfrione." ［Gerald］
"As Lord Gerald had said, the name's Grey. A pleasure to meet you." ［Grey］
"And I'm Yuna, Grey's partner. Nice to meet you." ［Yuna］
"Iris von Helvor Alfrione. It is a pleasure to meet everyone." ［Iris］
One after another, everyone quickly introduced themselves. As for the other party's reaction, they were quickly taken aback, but not for long. They quickly composed themselves and soon introduced themselves to their guests.
"It's our great pleasure to finally meet the fabled heroes of Alfrione and Her Highness, Princess Iris. I am Gerald's wife, Cynthia, and our daughter, Violet." ［Cynthia］
"It's a pleasure to greet Their Highnesses. We bid you welcome to Erdea." ［Violet］
After Grey, Yuna, and Iris' introduction, the other party then greeted them formally and politely as they could, lifting the edges of their skirts and bowing their heads with grace. Even their mannerisms were beautiful.
But strangely enough, as she greeted them, Violet's eyes were fixed towards them, unwavering as he bore a hole through their heads with her passionate stares. It was even more overwhelming when she was just staring in silence.
"Umm... Is something wrong, Lady Violet?" ［Yuna］
"A-Ah! I-I am very sorry! Y-Your were all just so beautiful that I couldn't help but stare! Please let me have a portrait of you!" ［Violet］
And apparently, the reason was that they were simply too gorgeous. They felt a little happy that someone admired them, but they don't know how to feel about giving her a portrait of them. It was the first someone asked that of them.
"I'm sorry about that, Your Highnesses. This child just loves beautiful things so much that she sometimes says things like this." ［Cynthia］
"N-No... It's alright... We were just a bit surprised..." ［Grey］
"Well, it's the first time we got such a request, after all." ［Yuna］
"The same goes for me too. I never had someone ask for my portrait." ［Iris］
"S-Sorry... I'm really sorry..." ［Violet］
An extreme love for beautiful things... It wasn't that everyone couldn't understand her feelings as people naturally tend to seek those which are beautiful. But still, they were taken quite aback by her words. It was the first time they encountered such a person.
And though they would love to fulfill her request, a portrait was just a little too much. Not only would they have to stand still for a couple of hours, the result would also be uncertain. It was quite impractical for them.
"Well, it's not like I couldn't understand Violet's words... Their Highnesses really are very beautiful, after all." ［Cynthia］
"Hahaha. You can say that again. I dare say that they are the most beautiful in all the lands. It also makes me want to ask for a portrait of them myself." ［Gerald］
"Oh my. I would also love that." ［Cynthia］
And in a strange turn of events, somehow, both Gerald and Cynthia ended up talking about wanting portraits of themselves. Thankfully, everyone else managed to change the topic of the conversation. It took them all their might.
Of course, with the camera around, they also have the option to simply give them a couple pictures of them. But their guts were telling them that others might start asking of such if they ever did. They tried to avoid it at all costs.
"Well... Though can't give you a portrait of us, but if you're alright with it... I could give you this instead." ［Grey］
"A bracelet...?" ［Violet］
"Yeah. I made that quite some time ago. I hope you like it." ［Grey］
A simple wave of his hand and Grey easily retrieved a bracelet from his "Inventory". It was one of the few trial products Grey made as he tried to make hand-made accessories for Yuna. It was light and durable.
"Amazing... So beautiful..." ［Violet］
And though it's a simple trial product, Grey still tried his best to make them. Not only were they durable, they were beautiful as well, cleanly polished jewels and intricate engravings carved all over the thing. Engravings so intricate it was hard to believe it was made by human hands.
Of course, it was only possible because of Grey's eyes. And while he was at it, he also made sure to enchant the bracelet with rust and cut resistance, also making it so that the wearer stays healthy. It was both beautiful and useful.
"You're so lucky, Violet. Make sure you take great care of it." ［Gerald］
"Y-Yes! And, thank you very much, Your Highness!" ［Violet］
"Well, as long as you're happy." ［Grey］
The young lady's eyes were sparkling so brightly as she continued to stare at the bracelet in her hand. There was a sweet smile blooming on her face, extending from ear to ear as she wore the bracelet on her wrist.
"Then, we shall get going now. We still have a tour to continue." ［Gerald］
"Okay, then we'll alsoー Ah, wait! Gerald, have you seen Garret?" ［Cynthia］
"Garret...? Did he go out again?" ［Gerald］
"I'm afraid so. I haven't seen him since this morning. I'm afraid he's gotten into trouble again. Seriously, that child..." ［Cynthia］
They were about to continue their tour around the mansion when Cynthia suddenly stopped them on their tracks. She and the Mayor then engaged in a conversation on their own, leaving everyone else out.
They were both lost in their world, traces of worry and anxiety on their faces as they talked about a person neither Grey, Yuna, nor Iris was familiar with. As for the other young lady, she was still mesmerized by the bracelet, also lost in her own world.
"Lady Violet, could I ask you something?" ［Yuna］
"A-Ah, yes! You can ask anything!" ［Violet］
"Then, if it isn't too much trouble, could I ask who this Garret person Lord Gerald and Lady Cynthia are talking about?" ［Yuna］
"Ah, Garret..." ［Violet］
At the mention of the name, Violet' s mood was filled with a little bit of gloom as her voice died down quite a bit. Worry soon brewed on her face as she frowned, trying to think of a way to answer them as best as she possibly could.
"Umm... Garret... He's my older brother, but..." ［Violet］
"But what?" ［Yuna］
"Umm... Well... He's been rebellious as of late, so Mom and Dad have been quite worried about him... And me too..." ［Violet］
Said Violet as her voice died down even more. Her eyes which were once sparkling brightly were down dyed with the shade of gloom. She didn't have to say anymore, just a single glance and one could tell how anxious she was.
And just as Yuna and Violet were talking, Grey saw a certain figure approaching using his "Heaven's Eye". He doesn't even need to use appraisal, just seeing how much he resembled Gerald, he could tell that he was the son they were talking about.
"Seems like someone's not in a good mood." ［Grey］
"Hm? What do you mean, Elder Broー" ［Iris］
Clop Clop BANNGGG
Iris couldn't even finish her words, when suddenly, a loud bang echoed from the entrance as the doors were forcefully opened. Everyone's eyes were on the entrance, focus shifted to the figure before them.
He was a young man with eyes sharp as daggers, hair roughed and ruffled up, and a face which was full of rage, clicking his tongue all the while, A single glance is all it takes and one could easily tell he was nothing but trouble.
"Tsk. We have guests, huh..." ［Garret］
Or rather, trouble was already upon them...
CHAPTER 263 END