As the horse walked through the streets, Rinka and Tinka could all around, watching the passing carriages and the storefronts filled with customers.
The two of them had long since mastered the Alephora Continent language, so they could read all the signs, understanding what each place was.
Having come from a small tribe with nothing like this, the idea of stores where one could buy whatever they wanted was mind boggling.
One could buy food, clothes, jewelry, even weapons and pills for cultivation, pretty much anything they could imagine.
"Honey, that dress is so beautiful!" Tinka said joyously, pointing towards a dress that was displayed in a store's window.
"Since you like it so much, let's go buy it." Minos smiled.
"Really, can we afford it?" Tinka wondered, not really sure of Minos's financial abilities.
"Your husband's a rich man, you and Rinka can have whatever you'd like." He laughed.
"Really dad! Then can we buy some toys?" Rinka said with excitement.
"Of course!" Minos smiled.
With both his girls happy, Minos took them from place to place, buying them whatever they wanted.
After buying them dozens of bags worth of stuff, Minos took them to his favorite restaurant, ending the afternoon with an amazing meal.
"Where to next?" Tinka asked as she sat back in her seat, content with the meal she just had.
"It's time I introduce you to my friends."
"Ohh, I'm nervous!" Tinka said, worried that Minos's friends may not like her.
"Don't worry, just be like Rinka." Minos said, pointing to his unperturbed daughter.
"Yeah mom, dad's friends should be worried about meeting us, not the other way around!" Rinka said arrogantly.
"Watch your attitude. Minos's friends are important, so you'd better be on your best behavior!" Tinka scolded.
"Don't worry, when have I ever been naughty?" Rinka giggled, much to Tinka's chagrin.
"You worry too much Tinka, just be yourself, after all, that was the version of you I fell in love with." Minos said, taking Tinka's hand from across the table.
"Minos…" Tinka said, her heart calming as she felt Minos's large hands warming her own.
"Yuck, can you two do that some other place?" Rinka said while she covered her face with both hands, trying to avoid the other customers who were looking over.
Seeing their daughter so embarrassed, Minos and Tinka looked at each other before letting out a laugh.
The laughter seemed to calm Tinka's mood completely, and after reassuring Minos that she was ready, the family left the restaurant, heading towards the mansion.
Enjoying the sights as they rode, they soon arrived at the mansion, Tinka's anxiety once again peaking as they got closer.
Just as she was about to say something, Minos reached over and took her hand, smiling at her gently, his soft eyes melting away her building unease.
Jumping off the horse, Minos helped Tinka and Rinka down before heading to the door, knocking heavily twice.
"Who is it?" Beetus's familiar voice shouted from beyond the door.
"It's me, Minos." Minos replied.
"B-b-b-b-boss!" Beetus shouted, the sound of his feet stomping audible from beyond the walls as he ran towards the door, quickly swinging it open before tearing up as he looked at Minos.
Before Minos could even say anything, Beetus ran up and took him in a huge bear hug, nearly snapping his spine.
"Boss!" He shouted again.
"Calm down, calm down." Minos laughed, forcefully peeling Beetus's arms off of him.
"Boss, you've been gone so long, I thought something happened!" Beetus said, wiping away the tears that had beaded around his eyes.
"You know me, I'm always busy." Minos laughed.
"Well it's just good that you're back, and you came at a good time!" Beetus said happily.
"Oh? How come?" Minos questioned.
"Everyone's here for our monthly meeting, so you won't have to run around to find them." Beetus explained.
"Oh, how lucky of me." Minos laughed, before pointing to Tinka and Rinka behind him.
"By the way, this is my wife and daughter, Tinka and Rinka." Minos introduced.
It was only now that Beetus finally noticed the two strange females following behind Minos, though hearing who they really were was still a massive shock.
"Bosses wife and daughter!? Oh my heaven's, why didn't you warn me, I would have gotten the house prepared for them!" Beetus complained, not wanting to leave a bad first impression.
"It's alright fatty, as long as you have plenty of candy!" Rinka said.
"Rinka! Apologize right now!" Tinka said, not expecting her daughter to be so rude.
"It's alright Miss Minos, I'm sure she was just joking." Beetus said, as he rubbed the back of his head somewhat awkwardly.
"Joke or not, she'd better apologize." Minos said, backing his wife.
"Fine, sorry!" Rinka said, giving in to the combined pressure of both her parents.
"What kind of apology was that? Put your heart into it." Minos said, not satisfied.
"Sorrrrryyyy…" Rinka groaned.
"Not good enough." Minos said again.
It was only after five attempts did Rinka finally apologize genuinely, realizing she couldn't outwit her old man.
Seeing the back and forth between Minos and his daughter, Beetus couldn't help but laugh, never expecting to see such a fatherly side from Minos.
After accepting Rinka's aplogize, Beetus guided the family inside the mansion, taking them directly to the dining room.
Even from a distance, one could hear the chattering going on in the next room, and as they entered, the room went silent for a moment, all eyes focusing on them.
"Minos!"
"Boss!"
"Mister!"
Dozens of voices all shouted out at the same time as they saw Minos's familiar face enter the room.
Despite the thick beard that now covered half his face, his familiar white hair and stature already made him unforgettable, so everyone knew who was instantly.
"Did you guys miss me?" Minos joked, his familiar smile filling the crowd's heart with security as they fully determined that Minos was back!
"Of course!" Zatiana said, being the first one to jump into Minos's arms, hugging him tightly.
"It took you long enough." Rubella said, though her red teary eyes betrayed her true feelings immediately, quickly pushing Zatiana out of the way as she also hugged Minos.
It was only after giving everyone a hello and checking up on them, did the crowd finally calm back down, finally noticing Minos's companions.
"Who are these two?" Rubella asked.
"Everyone, this is the boss's wife and daughter, so be respectful!" Beetus said, taking the lead in introducing them.
"The boss has a wife?" One person said with wonder.
"A wife is nothing, but a daughter! No wonder Mister Minos was gone for so long!"
"So this is Master's wife and daughter, huh? It's good to meet you two." Rubella said.
"It's nice to meet you as well." Tinka replied with a gentle smile.
"Why do you call my dad Master?" Rinka asked curiously.
"Because I'm your dad's apprentice!" Rubella said arrogantly.
"Apprentice? So that means you have to do anything my dad says?" Rinka asked.
"I guess so?" Rubella responded.
"Then you also have to listen to everything I say!" Rinka giggled.
"Rinka, an apprentice isn't a slave, in fact, they are more like a son or a daughter. I see Rubella like a daughter, so you should treat her like a sister." Minos explained.
"Daughter!?" Rubella said, her face going red in embarrassment, causing everyone in the room to laugh.
"A sister, huh? I guess that doesn't sound so bad." Rinka said, though Rubella still seemed too thin skinned to accept such a title.
With Rubella running off in embarrassment, Zatiana came back, taking her turn to greet the two, though secretly her heart fell the moment Minos mentioned who they were.
Though Minos had already been honest with her about being in a relationship, seeing his partner first hand was still a direct blow, directly shattering any illusions she had left.