That was how Kurtis and Ultear met each other. Though, it was clearly not a pleasant first meeting but it sure had left an impact to the both of them. Kurtis couldn't remember how Ultear's ass felt on his hands, all she could remember now, was how ridiculously strong she is for a girl. For a human even.
She's even stronger than gramps, Kurtis thought to himself while swiping the floor inside the store. For someone who's aspiring to be a knight, Kurtis can tell that Ultear has a great potential if she ever enters the Knight Squad in their Kingdom. Even if she's a girl, with her talent she can rose to a higher rank much easily. Additionally, she looks like a daughter of noble birth.
The bell rang, indicating that someone enters the store. Kurtis look and greeted the customer but suddenly stop when he saw the person who enters. Ultear. Speaking of the devil.
"I came to order some wild black roses," Ultear scan the whole store, looking for the old shop owner wearing an old back beret hat. But she couldn't find him.
"If you're looking for gramps, he's not here." Kurtis said even if Ultear never ask. This time around, Ultear was not alone. Beside her was another lady.
"Where's he?"
"I'm not telling." Kurtis turn his back to her as he takes care her order.
"Insolent! Her Ladyship's asking you!" Rita snarl. Kurtis steps back in surprise. Surely, birds with the same feathers, flock together, huh. Kurtis thought.
"Rita, it's fine." Ultear stop her.
"But My Lady..." Rita closes her mouth and dare not continue speaking when she saw her lady glares at her. She dares not go against her master's will.
Kurtis continue packing her order and while he's doing it, Ultear walks around the store. Looking at the displayed products. There were herbs being displayed inside a class cabinet that she never heard of.
"My Lady, here's your order. A pot of healthy wild black rose, perfect for a wild lady like you. A total of 13 silver and 2 copper coins." Kurtis handed the flower pot.
"What do you mean by a wild lady? Wanna get kick?"
"It's a compliment... really." Kurtis hands was even raise as if he surrenders when he saw Ultear glaring at him. Every time Kurtis heard the I'll kick you or Wanna get kick? from Ultear, he felt like he suddenly lost to her. Well, considering how he experienced first hand how frightening Ultear's kick is, he just can't argue anymore.
And so, their meeting doesn't end with just that. As if it was fate, their path cross more often than expected even though Kurtis came from humble origin and Ultear came from the high and mighty nobles. Their status wasn't enough to stop them from treating each other as casual as casual gets...in private.
Commoners casually talking to nobles in public is taboo. So they keep it private.
"You sure has guts, touching a lady's butt, especially a noble, huh, Kurtis." Ultear teases him as they reminisce their first meeting. Three years has already passed and a lot of things already happened and surprisingly, they both click with each other. Creating a unique kind of friendship between a commoner and a noble.
"Tear! You're back?" Kurtis exclaim in surprise after seeing Ultear walk inside the store in casual clothing. "It's been a long time!"
"Yeah, it's indeed been a long time. How's the Knight Academy?" the store has just closed since it's already late at night. Kurtis recently came back from the Knight's Academy and is helping in the store. The old owner was in the storage room checking the herb stocks.
"It was hard as hell but worth it. Thanks for the help." They fist bump.
A year ago, when Kurtis turned 15, the age eligible for applying in the Knight's Academy, Ultear helped him get his recommendation letter from one of the Knight's commander. Golden Knight's Commander, Nathaniel Thorne. After she introduced Kurtis to the commander they crossed swords. The commander has taken a liking to his swordsmanship skills and so, he gave him a recommendation letter to enter the Academy.
"Talent is nothing but trash when it remains as it is. Go and cultivate it inside the most prestigious institution solely made for us, knights. Goodluck, young man!"
That is the words Commander Nathaniel gave to Kurtis after he was beaten almost half to death.
"It's nothing. You also did your best. I heard all your achievements all the way to the castle." Ultear ravage through the pile of tea boxes. They're inside the private room of the store. It was the same place where Kurtis was laid when he fell unconscious after Ultear kick him.
"Castle?" Kurtis ask.
Ultear stop on her tracks for a moment.
"I mean...uhh, mansion?" she suddenly realizes that even though they're friends for three years now, Kurtis still doesn't know that Ultear is their Princess. The Kingdom of Betania's one and only princess. Princess Ultear Merlione Betania.
"I've also received every gifts you sent." Ultear continue ravaging through a pile of tea boxes looking for a specific type of tea. "You're still fond of wild flowers, aren't you? All the letters and gifts you've sent was accompanied with wild flowers."
"They just reminded me of you." Kurtis shrug. "You're still taking so long picking tea. Just take anything, they're still the same."
"Wild?" Ultear chuckle when a certain memory flash her mind. "Hey, don't just take picking teas so lightly! They're not the same! Golden Tips Imperial Black Tea is different from Earl Grey, Hibiscus tea, Lavender tea, Chamomile tea, Peppermint tea, Green tea, White tea, Black tea Oolong tea and too many too mention!"
"Ohh, I know lavender tea. I always drink it when I have an upset stomach."
"Lavender, chamomile, hibiscus, and peppermint are some of the most popular herbal tea flavors and for good reason. These teas offer a wide range of floral, fruity, and spicy notes to suit your preferences. Lavender tea is a great way to induce relaxation and unwind after a tough day. It's packed with healthy compounds that can boost your immune system and alleviate pain by reducing inflammation. And just like you said, consuming lavender as a tea can help digestive issues such as vomiting, nausea, intestinal gas, upset stomach, and abdominal swelling. While Chamomile tea can safely improve sleep quality thanks to it's sedative effects. It also helps lower your cholesterol levels and blood pressure, however, you might get allergic reaction to it because chamomile is a flower, it's more likely to cause an allergic reaction than when drinking other teas. You'll want to stay away from chamomile if you're allergic to flowers in the daisy family. And even though it helps improve sleep, it didn't significantly affect insomnia. Just go and consult a doctor."
Ultear suddenly stop talking when she realized she said too much. Kurtis was staring at her with an amuse look on his face. He's sitting with his chin in the palm of his hand and his elbow rested above the table.
"Why'd you stop? I love your lectures more than anything else."