Elsewhere in Golem Coast.
Saya was driving the sedan real slow for May to take in and enjoy the view outside, they were moving further from the coast into the jungle. The tar road came to an end and ahead of them was a sand path filled with dried grass and plants. The car started jumping as the street was rather rough and sandy, and on each side were huge trees that stood tall as a mansion with broad trunks and heavy branches spread across that it was hard for them to see what was inside the jungle, of course, more trees but how far did they grow.
"I'm surprised that you can still remember the way!
May complimented Saya,
"Even though I'm supposed to know all these places under my nose!"
She was a bit disappointed by herself that she sighed leaving Saya to smile playfully.
"Or you could just ask me to show you around the entire Golem Coast or better yet all the lands owned by Grandma!
Saya replied holding her smile,
"There is so much to know and see about the lands Grandma Athoya holds, some of them are historical!"
"-I... like the Farle grounds- where the last war against Oosal kingdom took place!
May break in,
"I've been there once with Sir. Howl of course!
She paused for a moment and continued,
"Hmm...seems like only a Howl can take me to places teehee!" She joined a happy Say laughing wholeheartedly.
The sun was touching the horizon behind them, as the duo rode into the dense jungle slowly.
Athoya Mansion, Granny's office.
"Greetings Lady Athoya!"
Both of the Rulenns bowed their head and greeted granny Athoya as she walked in holding her pet, James the cat.
"Please take a seat!" Granny Athoya's aide greeted them as she took the seat opposite them.
"Oh oh...where are my manners-
Granny Athoya stood up,
"Let me congratulate you, Lady Kariyya and Mr. Kalt! I've heard about the royal marriage proposal!"
Hearing it made Lady Kariyya's already pale face drop to darkness. In reality, her plan of visiting Granny Athoya was to rearrange Kalt and May's promised meeting which she purposefully once discarded. But, after hearing Granny Athoya's words it was evident that she doesn't even remember such a thing.
"And Kalt, I heard you met with Princess Kourii, have you two talked yet?
Lady Athoya smiled,
"She's a bit shy on the outside, just like May but, as far as I know, she's a kind-natured young woman!"
"We have decided to meet individually on the day after tomorrow!" Kalt replied with a coy.
"Lady Athoya, let me apologize for being rude earlier- the other day!
Lady Kariyya stood up bowing her head,
"You should know that in front of the Queen's order, a mere Duke family could do nothing but obey!
She kept her head low with a regretful voice,
"If it wasn't for the Queen's sudden order, Kalt would've met Young May already! Please forgive me for my hasty decisions."
"Lady Kariyya, I don't even remember those things forget about the past, you should be rejoicing, that soon Kalt is going to be the 3rd prince."
Granny Athoya's firm voice brought Lady Kariyya close to tears of desperation, she realized that she can't win this battle like this.
Elsewhere in Golem Coast, behind the forest.
May's eyes widened as the sedan came to a halt in front of a busy village. It looked more like a tiny town, there were cars, bikes, streetlights, and even stores.
"The last time I came here, this place looked way too small...
Saya gasped,
"How can such a place exist inside a jungle?"
"When was the last time you visited?"
"4? Or maybe 5 years ago?"
Saya opened the door for May and held her hand.
A bunch of children came mobbing the duo as soon as they stepped out of the car. And Then came a few adults and an old man.
While May was busy entertaining the children with her playful expression the old man stepped upfront and bowed his head along with the men.
"Greetings to Young Miss May! I'm the town's chief." He smiled,
"Welcome to Kaus, we are honored by your presence! Please follow me to the tow hall."
Saya held both her arms like shields around May as they followed the men to the center of the town, while the children joined the bandwagon alongside Saya circling May and singing silly songs and playful laughter.
"Please send our regards to the Elder Howl, we are indebted to him for all of this." The chief bowed to Saya.
She could only smile thinking back she couldn't remember much of what she and her grandfather did around here other than eating and fishing.
"We have been waiting for your arrival!"
The chief continued looking at May,
"Our tribe has an old and long relationship with the Athoya clan, it is said that during the old ages, the Athoya family shielded us from dangers of the world, even during the Renaissance when the world was turning over to a new direction, it was Athoya clan that brought us upfront from our usual habitats."
He smiled.
"I've heard about those from Sir. Howl... but I can only live up to your expectations of my ancestors. " May had an awkward smile, usually she would shy away from communicating with strangers like the chief she only just met, but for reasons unknown, she found herself able to calmy process everything.
"The glory of the Athoya clan long lasts, but how do you know that Miss. May is an Athoya? Granny never disclosed her image to the public,
Saya inquired with suspension visible on her face,
"Miss. May have you ever met him before?"
May shook her head oblivious to Saya's concern.
"Oho ho ho...
The chief laughed out friendly nodding as he realized what Saya was going for and raised his hand as he answered,
"Young Miss! Don't be alarmed, indeed, I have never met Young Athoya however, I've seen her a few times while I visited Lady Athoya in the Mansion!"
"Oh!" Both exclaimed.
"And I've always wanted to personally meet Young Miss once before my day!"
He laughed while everyone joined them.
Athoya Mansion, Granny's office.
"Lady Athoya, I came today with Kalt acknowledging our pledge and the Rulenns' future in mind,
Lady Kariyya stood up and continued with a stern voice,
"It only seems right to keep my promise and let Miss May and Kalt meet, even if it's late..."
She waited for Granny Athoya's response but her expression didn't even change.
Lady Kariyya nudged her son, who in turn looked around with no clue as to what he was supposed to do, that in the end, Lady Kariyya herself had to continue,
"Kalt keeps wanting to know Miss. May, I mean we can't blame them it was us who gave them ideas and now we are pushing them awa-"
"Our young miss though went on a vacation with her friend, she wasn't even a bit curious about the man she was to meet...
It was Granny Athoya's aide who finally spoke, in a rather sassy tone she continued,
"Furthermore she even wants to postpone the idea of marriage and such, after all, she's onl-"
"Lady Athoya, why aren't you saying anything?
An impatient Kariyya demanded,
"Have you already forgotten our promise? Or are you too afraid of the Queen?-"
"Lady Kariyya!-"
Granny Athoya's aide exclaimed.
"I apologize, but Lady Athoya, I came to you staking my reputation on Elder Sanna's request-"
Kariyya couldn't finish as Granny Athoya finally spoke.
"Lady Kariyya, I gave my child my word,
She said calmly,
"That no talk of marriage or proposals...and I intend to keep my word!"
The room fell into a scary silence after she finished, and Kariyya could only stare blankly at the table, too ashamed to even move, all the while Kalt kept sipping the tea as he should of course.
It was Miss. Koller Granny Athoya's aide who was rejoicing all along with a huge grin on her face,
'Hmmm thank god! this man doesn't look good enough to be Young lady's bodyguard...dare dream of being standing beside her!' She thought to herself, 'Not in a million years!'.