Reincarnated as the Lady Prodigy

Twenty-Eight

Return to Griselda

"Are you sure about this, my lady?" Elise questions glancing in the kids' direction.

She followed her eyes' before she nods her head. "We can't leave them here. The nearest village is almost six hours from here, besides, look," she sighs, "the kids are looking at us... like that. They're like little dogs, don't they?"

"My lady...!" Elise reprimanded her with a stern expression. She cleared her throat, "also, we already helped, why not help them thoroughly?"

Elise glances at the kids then back at her. "I agree with you, my lady. Of course, I don't want to leave them here by themselves but... would it be all right, my lady? Mistress Felicia..." Elise need not finish her sentence for her to understand what her lady maid wants to say. She understands what she meant just from the mere mention of Felicia's name.

"Nah, don't worry about them. I worry for the kids' well-being if we are to leave them in the mansion so we'll take them somewhere else. I don't want the kids to breathe the same air as Clarence's and Felicia, it's not good for their future."

"Lady Jozine..." Elise just sighs but she knows internally, she thinks the same.

With Clarence and Felicia's nasty attitude, the kids may be bullied or worse they might grow up like the two! She can't let that happen. No, no, no, absolutely not!

"Are we ready to go?" She asked when Blake returned after fixing their things inside the carriage. Von, Oli, Irga, and Austin's bodies are inside the storage ring.

The family of three she saved are also coming with them so Odalf, Ice, and Blake decided to use two carriages they found in the village that are still usable, repaired them for them to use.

“Odalf, Ice, and I will be with them, Master, would you like half of the kids to go with us?”

“Well,” she glanced at the kids that are stuck with each other, she shakes her head. “They don’t look like they’ll be letting each other go anytime soon. Let’s decide later tonight.”

Blake simply nods his head without further questions.

After they buried the bodies of the villagers, along with Norman and Skele, Emilla, they prayed for a while and once again let the children bid their final farewell to their loved ones before they set for their journey back to Griselda.

It was a two-day journey, on the second journey, four hours away from Griselda, Mrs. Hera and her children stopped by at Yurone Town.

“Thank you... Thank you so much for saving us and for letting us take my husband’s body back. We are eternally grateful. May I know your name? My children and I would like to pay our gratitude one day, Miss,” she said her head bowed.

Uh, this is rather troublesome. She saved them because they’re important witnesses for this incident, considering the scale of this incident, she doesn’t think it’ll be safe for them if they’re left unguarded. Besides... her children are still too young.

“Well,” she scratches her head glancing at Elise who’s smiling at her as if cheering her on, and Eufema who is looking at her seriously.

What’s with the expectant eyes? She wonders because of the look on Elise and Eufema’s eyes, ah, even Blake has the same sparkling eyes.

“Eherm,” she cleared her throat. “I think it will be safer for the three of you to come with us in Griselda and let the authorities grant you protection. This incident is far from over and you might even be targeted for being witnesses.” Witnesses are important in every case and crime that existed. For criminals, letting a witness go and live is their biggest mistake. Although all of the people involve in the Kalghaya incident are dead, how about their bosses? Their masters? Will they let the witnesses live peacefully? In addition, they might even be questioned, tortured even, for the sake of information. Information regarding them. The people who killed their underlings.

“B-But... our lives,” Mrs. Hera stuttered but she shakes her head.

“Your lives here are dangerous if we let you be. I didn’t bother saving you just so you will be killed again. Think about it carefully,” she then smiled at her. Evilly. “Or, you go with us or you go with us.” She threatened, “by hook or by crook. I can knock the three of you unconscious if need be.”

“Eek!” Hera’s children, the eldest which is a girl squealed, frightened.

“My lady!” Elise warned her, again.

“Erm,” Zaire scratches her head before looking at Hera who wore a troubled expression. Later on, Hera slowly nodded her.

It was unkind of her to threaten her but she would rather knock them and unconscious and bring them to Griselda with than leave them be. It was only out of consideration that she asked them. Good thing Hera agreed or else Zaire might become a kidnapper.

They continued their journey, after several hours, they finally arrived at the walled city of Griselda.

Zaire sighed. It would be nice to just lay in bed, rest, and sleep for more than 12 hours but she still has work to do.

Aw. I want to know the status of the auction house.

{The auction house’s construction is progressing smoothly. We are down to putting the pieces of furniture and then the auction house will be ready for opening.}

She blinked. And then blinked. Then blinked once again.

“WHAT THE HELL!!!!” Before she exclaimed. Mad. Surprised and relieved.

She didn’t notice the people jumping out, frightened by her sudden outburst. That includes Odalf and Ice, the children are all wide-eyed.

Zaire, finally calmed down, cleared her throat before she turned to them, “sorry about that,” and then she proceeds to stare in the air, dazed.

On the other hand, Zaire is busy screaming in her link with Aya.

“WHY THE HELL WERE YOU GONE?! WHERE IN THE WORLD DID YOU GO?! Wait, how about my familiars?! How are they?! AYAAAAAA!!!”

{Ehem. Although I am very pleased that you missed my presence—}

“SHUT UP!!! I WANT TO KNOW WHETHER THEY’RE SAFE! NOT YOU. I DON’T CARE ABOUT YOU! AT. ALL!!!” Zaire is seething.

It was a lie. She misses and was worried about Aya but she wouldn’t admit that. Never. Not after the headache, Aya have her when she went MIA.

{Apologies. Your familiars are safe and well. If you are worried about Kiera, she, too, is safe. You were unable to call and talk to her, along with me because of certain circumstances.}

She looked at the golden scroll suspiciously for a good one minute before she heaved a deep sigh and nodded her head. There is no point in questioning Aya further because it doesn’t seem like she will tell her the ‘certain circumstances’ she was talking about.

Still, she’s relieved that Aya is back and Kiera and the others are safe.

“We’re here,” Odalf announced. Only then did Zaire realized they are now standing in front of the Griselda’s Hunters Association Head’s office. Odalf knocks on the door before speaking, “it’s Odalf. We have returned from our mission.”

It was silent on the other side of the door before Vicar spoke. “Come in,”

They looked at each other before Odalf turned the doorknob. They left the others in the cafeteria with Eufema, Blake, and Elise.

“Have a seat,” Vicar stated gesturing the seats. Her forehead creases when she noticed something off about him but chooses to disregard it for now. They must report what happened first.

It was Odalf who told Vicar everything that has happened in Kalghaya, all of it. She let Odalf mention about the storage rings.

After listening, the Association’s Head heaved a deep sigh. “It is truly troublesome. In that case, those bodies need to be taken to Konseho for their mages to inspect the body.” Vicar’s expression darkened, “although I don’t think this will be good for us.”

She is right. Something did happen between Konsehon and Hunters Association.

“Did the Konseho demanded the Hunters Association for something?” She asked unable to hold back, “for example, the material hunted by us? Are they perhaps pressuring you to sign their so-called treaty again?”

Vicar’s eyes widen. Bingo. She heaved a deep sigh. “They’re really a bunch of shameless motherfuckers.” She mumbled with a roll of her eyes.

Vicar’s eyes widen.

Odalf on the other hand just smiled awkwardly. Even he, has the same reaction when he heard Lady Jozine swearing. It was unladylike indeed but Lady Jozine doesn’t seem bothered even in a tiny bit. She doesn’t care at all.

“W-Well, I don’t know how you heard about that but that is correct,” Vicar said clearing his throat.

“Pff! I don’t need to listen to rumors to know how shitty those people are in Konseho. I wish they all suffer from diarrhea.” She hissed. She’s tired and now she has to deal with another problem?! Their problem wouldn’t be solved if the Hunters Association is not settled.

So much for a chill vacation after her mission!

FUCK YOU KONSEHO! WITH TEN EXCLAMATION POINTS!!! Zaire thought.

“So, what’s the association’s plan?”

“We cannot listen to their demands. We’ve already signed a contract with the auction house supported by Duke Bernard and Marquis Bellmore. We cannot break that contract no matter what, it also offers better conditions compared to the Konseho.” Vicar explained. She felt smug. Of course! Their conditions are much better, that’s why they chose the association. They’re the key to her chill life so she needs to treat them well! But still, the Association Head still looked bothered.

“But?” She inquired.

Vicar glanced at them before sighing, “all the stores are being threatened by the Konseho and their mages. None of the stores that previously sell their weapons and armors to us are willing to sell them again. We have no choice but to rely upon the Konseho’s items if this continues. The auction house’s opening is due two to three weeks from now, it’ll be too late by then. The hunters will be forced to sell it to them personally if we don’t do something.”

Zaire stared at the Association Head before she sighs. “What about Duke Bernard and Marquis Bellmore? What were they doing?”

“W-Well, they provided better equipment and weapons and bought the materials from us but since they’re against multiple nobles supporting the Konseho, including the Duke of Alerra House from the Asnor, they couldn’t do much.”

Duke of Alerra? That’s a new name. Must have arrived after they left for the mission.

“Duke Alerra?” Ice asked. “He’s here? He’s always been in the Capital, what made him come in Griselda?” Ice added.

“That’s the reason why the Association is pushed to this extent even if it’s only several days that passed?” Odalf asked.

“Duke Alerra’s influence is to be reckoned with. They’ve been with the kingdom from the day it was established. They cannot be underestimated.” Ice spoke.

Zaire stared at the masked hunter, interested. “You know quite alot about them. Say, Ice-bab,” she cleared her throat, that was close. She almost added ‘baby’ on his name! It was an old habit of hers. “Ice... are you a noble?” There’s no reaction. No response either. She then shrugs. It doesn’t matter, she’s not that interested though. Just a little bit.

“I guess we’ll have to wait for a couple of days before we decide then,” she stated. The three of them looked at her, confused. Oops. “I mean, we can’t be rash, you know. This involves not just the future of the association and honestly, with Konseho, this association’s future is so dim. Like, super. That’s just an honest opinion of mine but don’t tell me you don’t share the same opinion?” She asked. The three are unable to answer. "See?" She chuckles and stood up. "Well, I'm off to rest. I'm beat, y'all. See you tomorrow, or the day after, I mean, see you when I see you. Ciao!" Without looking back, she left while massaging her shoulders.

Now then... How should I teach those Konseho people a lesson? Hmm...?

She chuckles. Creative thoughts running in her head. The hunters that saw her smiling and chuckling shudders sadistically upon seeing her. They were scared. The woman's smile tells another story. The story they would rather not listen to willingly.

To be continued...