"..."
"Don't worry, I wasn't stupid. After using the broken seal, I added it to the next week's pile and made sure it got burnt into ash."
Zane's jaw hung open, which made Melinda roll her eyes and add that. However, in truth, the safety measures involving the Fenrioette family seals weren't the cause of the servant's concern.
Melinda glanced at Zane's waist and then back at his shocked face.
"Stop tempting me. Someone will show up to escort us to the dock, so we can't have that."
"AH! S-sorry…!"
She declared and caused Zane's face to turn bright red as he realised what exactly was perfectly situated at Melinda's eye level - an accident the monstorus servant addressed by immediately seating back down.
Just as the noble girl said, only a couple of minutes later, a squad of elite guards met up with their carriage. Five raiders surrounded the vehicle and one on the inside, striking an exceedingly polite but somehow friendly conversation.
As they arrived at the dock, and the one guard jumped out to hold the door for the noble lady and her servants, the trio was greeted with the sight of a splendid harbor bustling with life.
Despite the hustle and bustle, one area, a long strip of the harbor, was being warded off by elite guards, just like the ones who ended up escorting the carriage.
The strip, free of workers, travelers, and merchants, was a way open just for Melinda and her people right to a splendid ship. A galeon, not very imposing in size but somehow giving off the aura of an impressively fast vessel.
Truth be told, the free strip of harbor wasn't exactly empty.
A crown-wearing, graying man with distinguished facial features donning a magnificent red coat with spotted black and white lining was waiting in the company of two powerful-looking knights.
As the trio approached, The maid Adrianna was the first one to kneel on one knee in front of the crowned man.
Following her example, the suitcase-carrying Zane kneeled on one knee, too, but in his case, he became a point of interest for the already curious onlookers because despite kneeling and bowing his head, he wasn't shorter than either the crowned man or any of the escorting knights.
Finally, Melinda lowered her head and made the motion of curtsying, even without a dress.
"Your majesty. This young one is exceedingly overjoyed to be able to meet you before her departure."
The girl greeted the king with all the proper mannerism.
"Raise your head, young lady Fenrioette."
"..."
The king responded, putting an end to the official greeting, and smiled at the calme-faced girl.
There was something sad in that smile of his when he looked at her, that Melinda couldn't quite figure out.
"Even though Diamondium already has an embassy and ambassadors in the Emerladios Empire, you are becoming an ambassador of good will, and I believe it will be your involvement and your interactions with the students of the Jade Academy that will bring our two nations together."
The king declared with a solemn look in his eyes.
"I will do my utmost best to fulfill all of the expectations placed upon me, Your Majesty."
Melinda bowed her head once more and promised.
"I…"
"...?"
The king opened his mouth but stopped himself from talking, prompting a curious look from the gold-haired girl.
"The ship is ready to set sail the moment you come on board."
When the king spoke, it was apparent that it wasn't what he originally wanted to say, but the girl didn't inquire, keeping an appropriate distance.
"You might be happy to hear it. I managed to string Ester along to see you off…"
"...!"
The kind smiled with this particular sadness once again as he turned away, looking toward the ship, sharing a revelation that caused Melinda to tense up.
The king seeing her off was within her expectations as she was well aware of how strongly the man was invested in keeping friendly relations between Diamondium and Emeraldios, but the crown prince…
"That boy is off checking out the ship. Ah, there he is back out! He's been in a pirate-phase for at least a month now and… ah…"
The king said while facing the sheep before unexpectedly hesitating, and his smile became obviously forced.
"..."
Melinda furrowed her brows at the reaction, but the next second, she realized that the prince's pirate phase must have been a part of why he ditched his fiancee's birthday ball.
Indeed, in such a case, bringing that up certainly would be awkward…
…if Melinda was the same person as the girl who cried her eyes out for Ester…
"Thank you, your majesty. But I've heard that wasting the high tide is bad luck, so if you excuse me, my servants and I will board the ship so as not to trigger the superstition."
"If that's your wish, my child, feel free to do that."
Melinda bowed her head even deeper before coining an excuse to spare her the trouble of interacting with the crown prince, and his royal highness agreed benevolently, his expression softening as he watched her.
"With your permission, your highness… I wish you the best."
Melinda straightened her back only to curtsy and say proper farewells before leaving with both of her servants - the surprisingly composed Adrianna and the now nine-foot-tall Zane, who didn't bother to readjust his height.
As they were approaching, a youngster with a flaming red hair was disembarking the vessel.
The handsome boy was one year younger than Melinda. He was wearing a ruffled shirt and peculiar baggy pants. He also had a scimitar at his waist, tucked between the shawl he was using instead of a belt.
The boy's flaming red hair was also particular. As a hairstyle, the top was on the shorter side, with sides almost completely shaven clean, and the back left long - very long - and tied into a low ponytail reaching at least his waist.
To be more committed to a pirate wannabe style, he was only missing an eyepatch, a peg leg, or perhaps a hook for an arm, but it appeared that he had enough brains not to go that far.
It was one thing if a peasant child wanted to dress up, but being royalty came with its own set of rules and limitations.
Because, indeed, the red-haired youngster was none other than the crown prince of the Diamondium kingdom, Ester Diamondess.
Melinda's fiance.