"Sir, where can I put this pillow?"
The man with deep blue eyes looked up. He saw Osie standing there clutching the bad pillow that had been there since he bought this house. It was lying on the right side of the door leading to the kitchen. Neither Bika nor Sansega had ever touched the pillow to the extent that it remained there.
"You should just leave that pillow there, Osie."
"No, I didn't. I want to tidy up your house."
Returning the favor? Actually, Sansega felt no need, but it wasn't a bad idea. He observed Osie's expression. It was still the same as the first time they met. Flat.
"Alright, you can throw it away and burn it. I really don't need that thing."
Osie nodded and walked away. Meanwhile, Sansega was still thinking about the right decision. Going back to the Palace was the same as leaving Osie behind. He couldn't create a smile on that little face yet.
Leaving Osie to the fairies was not a good option. Although Sansega had always been privileged there, it didn't mean they would do the same for Osie. Osie could end up becoming an unpaid garden worker—a fairy slave.
However, something suddenly occurred to him. Sansega thought that if Osie was from Inlane, maybe he could return her there. It was also possible that in Inlane, Osie's family was looking for their daughter.
Finally, Sansega decided to meet Osie. His long legs stepped towards the kitchen. The small door facing the back garden revealed a girl burning a pillow. She covered her face as the smoke blew in the wind towards where she stood.
Sansega smiled slightly. When someone comes into your life, even if it's just for a stopover, it's like you've found a hundred lives ready to color. That's how Sansega always felt when someone other than Bika lived with him.
He felt like a poor, lonely man. However, Sansega would deny it if anyone called him that, because he didn't feel that way. His only remaining family was Bika, but that didn't mean he was lonely. They—the Sansega family—will always be present in the quiet nights. They seduced every sense in his body to produce tears of relief.
"Osie."
The girl with shoulder-length indigo hair turned around. Her silver eyes were questioning. Sansega stepped up and paused next to her.
"Are you from Inlane? If so, I'll help you return there." Sansega did not bother to ask why she had ended up in Jegedi, lost at best.
Inlane and Jegedi were separated by forests and rivers. No wonder some people often got lost due to the border being too wide and having only one gate.
"No. I don't want to go back."
This time Sansega's brows furrowed in surprise.
"Why?"
Osie was seen sitting facing the fire that was still burning while hugging her knees.
"Inlane ...."
This is going to be a long story.
✳️✳️✳️
"Didn't you see the price? It clearly shows 2 pieces of silver! If you don't have it, you shouldn't buy it!"
"Uncle, this kind of tasteless hard bread should only cost 1 bronze piece. Why are you selling it for so much?"
The bald man with brown eyes glared at the little boy who had been bidding on his bread. He clearly did not like what the boy in front of him was saying.
"Hi, Manly Man. Would you like to buy some bread?" asked Sansega in an attempt to be friendly after seeing the tough debate between the bakery owner and the blond boy.
"No, no. I want to buy a Jegedi palace." He said, taking Sansega and Bika by surprise.
He knew it was a joke, but it was a little creepy. Even more astonishing, the little boy was dressed like royalty. However, there was not a single bodyguard in the vicinity, not even the owner of the bakery showing the usual deference to a nobleman.
"Two silver coins for hard bread." The boy threw a bag of coins at the shopkeeper.
Everyone looked shocked. Especially after the Bakery Owner opened the bag. A pile of gold coins densely filled the bag. The little blond-haired boy picked up one of the buns and ate it while staring at Sansega.
It truly amazed the entire shop. However, in the end they chose to stay away to avoid trouble when they realized that he was no ordinary person.
Most thought the boy was a noble and nobles often abused their power for nothing. Like punishing them for watching the bread negotiations perhaps?
"Hi, Sega. Long time no see and I still can't buy Jegedi Castle."
Sansega began to get suspicious. He suspected that the boy before him was the Second Prince disguised as a child as evidenced by the nickname. After all, how did the boy know Sansega's name.
However, Hagarino was a man of few words and did not like to be conspicuous. It was different with this child.
In the midst of Sansega's thinking, the world came to a standstill. The people who were carrying out activities became as still as statues. Including Bika as well as Osie.
The child was smiling broadly, displaying a row of neat milk teeth. His brown robe sliced through the air to show off a row of badges on the chest.
"You don't remember me?"
Sansega raised an eyebrow next. Clearly he remembered. That boy was Keroppo, a Palace soldier from Prince Hagarino's Army during the war between humans and monsters some time ago.
He was not fully human, but a half-elf. His mixed blood made Keroppo ageless or rather unable to grow old. His growth and aging had stopped at the age of ten. The rarest occurrence in the entire Cluster Continent that only Keroppo had experienced.
"Yes, of course I remember, but your face is different."
He chuckled.
"Slightly modified to look more mature."
As always, Keroppo was obsessed with growing up. At the age of 90 with the face of a child, Keroppo has collected many award badges that he carries with him everywhere. The badges were earned for his dedication to the Jegedi kingdom from both humans and elves.
The kingdom of Jegedi is divided into two regions. The humans are under the leadership of the King, Hugofara Ramelison, while the fairies have their own queen. None other than Queen Akrossia, a fairy of light whose grace and skill in archery was recognized by the inhabitants of the Cluster Continent.
"Why are you here?" asked Sansega after getting over his shock.
This time Keroppo's eyes turned serious.
"I was looking for you. You must return to the Capital city!" Sansega raised an eyebrow at Keroppo's statement, "A rebellion has broken out in the capital. His Majesty and the royal family have evacuated to the White Rose Fairy Village, but many soldiers have died. I was assigned to pick up the warriors outside the capital."
Because of this news, Sansega concluded that the answer to the letter he read yesterday was this. Without further ado, he snapped his fingers. Time returned to normal.
"Bika, prepare the armor!" Bika looked confused. However, he quickly made his way to the house. As Sansega's assistant for several years, he was used to getting sudden orders and executing them deftly.
Next, Sansega looked at Osie who was watching Bika leave.
"You should stay at home! I'll give you the money. So, you're not—"
"Where are you going, Sir?" asked Osie, interrupting the conversation. This time her gaze looked a little panicked.
"I'm going to the capital. It's too dangerous there. You sh—"
"Can I come along?" Again she cut off his incomplete sentence.
"Of course not! I've already—"
"Who is she, Sega?" Now it was Keroppo's turn to interrupt. Sansega let out a long breath.
"There's no time for discussions and questions! Osie, go home now!"