In the end, Zaos and Drannor were also invited to join the dinner. That seed a bit off… Orleand probably was trying to look friendly, but considering that Zaos didn't see many guards inside the mansion, he imagined that he and Drannor would have to stay outside the dining room. Aria introduced them after the invitation since she had imagined they wouldn't care which family they belonged to, but then Zaos noticed there wasn't a single surprise in their eyes. Either he really didn't care about the heirs of the families who have been working with the royal family of the Sairus kingdom for over two millennia, or he already knew who they were even before the introduction.
"You two are awfully young to be royal guards," Orleand said. "It must be difficult to deal with such a heavy responsibility."
Zaos was too busy to respond since he was stuffing his mouth. Although the maids working for Aria were good cooking chefs, they could use so many variations of fish. Besides, he wasn't really in the mood for a talk.
"Although they are young, they accomplished many things," Aria said. "They might not be part of the royal guard yet, but I have absolute trust in them. Besides, they are my friends."
"Oh? You speak greatly of them, Your Highness," Orleand said. "You really just like them."
"Please, you can call Aria," Aria smiled.
"Thank you, it will be an honor," Orleand said. "Your three seem to be around the sa age. Have you known each other for long?"
"Yes, we have been playing together in getting in trouble practically for the last ten years," Drannor said.
"And yet, I can tell that all of you, despite being so young, have a certain amount yourselves," Orleand tilted his head slightly. "The air of people who can defend themselves. Have you been learning the ways of war as well, Aria?"
"So teachers have been trying that, but I always find a way to escape the lessons," Aria said with an embarrassed smile. "Dad is alive and well, so I can't see why I should learn it. I haven't been training like other soldiers, but I do know how to use a bow. I believe my skills are pretty decent."
Decent… Zaos thought while he was looking at Aria, whenever she had the chance, she tried to show off with her bow. In any case, he saw her smile cracking while he was looking at her. Apparently, Aria was getting angry, and because of that, she also decided to annoy Zaos.
"My skills have been improving a little bit since Zaos began to teach magic," Aria said. "While he looks like soone who has muscles for brains, he is probably the first man in centuries that created new spells. Not to ntion, he developed a fighting style that mixed physical skills with magic."
"Really? That seems pretty interesting," Orleand said and then looked at Zaos.
Zaos wanted to ignore both of them, but in the end, he had a better idea. He nodded and forced a smile while his mouth was completely full of food. Drannor couldn't help but chuckle.
"That ans he taught you how to use magic and archery at the sa ti?" Orleand asked.
"Yes, we can show you tomorrow," Aria said.
We… my ass. Zaos almost said that, but in the end, he didn't. Aria has matured a little bit, but in the end, she still was the sa as always. Since Zaos made fun of everyone who was seasick more than a few tis, she probably built up so stress.
"I can't wait to see it," Orleand said. "Still, we will have so final preparations to make, so if you don't mind, Noemi will watch it for us. Do you want to see it, Noemi?"
"I can't wait," Noemi said.
Although she wasn't talking all that much, it was very clear how excited she was. Aria probably wasn't different since she didn't have many female friends, Noemi didn't see her like others, so the chances of them getting along was pretty high.
After the conversation, they finished the al, and then Orleand showed Aria her room, it was close to Noemi and the other kids, and they quickly fell asleep after dinner. Weirdly enough, he also offered two nearby rooms to Drannor and Zaos, but he decided to sleep where the others were.
"I am going to check things with the others," Zaos said. "But I thank you for your hospitality anyway."
"I see. Well, I wish you good night," Orleand said.
It was hard to say if Orleand disliked or not Zaos's choice, but that didn't matter to him in the end. That kind of mind ga was quite tireso after all, treating them like random soldiers, then treating them as important guests… just stick with one and keep it until the very end.
Drannor seed a bit surprised, and Aria didn't show much emotion, but Zaos could tell before leaving after looking her in the eye that she was a bit annoyed. She still was naive… she couldn't understand that Zaos couldn't relax while his sword was far away. Not to ntion his books and notes.
Once Zaos found the building where the others were, he realized that the place was pretty decent. Orleand sure treated his servants and guards well… regardless, he gave Erean a summary of what happened.
"I see… I thank you for informing us of that, but you shouldn't have refused his hospitality," Erean said.
"Then he shouldn't have made enter the mansion without my things," Zaos said. "Regardless, they don't seem like bad people, but they like to play useless gas."
"That is what rich people do," Erean said. "You aren't used to that because the important families in our country are those that made fa over the years using their military might… Still, you shouldn't relax. I have a weird feeling that has been bothering since we landed."
Zaos had noticed that too, and that only confird that he wasn't imagining things.
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