Chapter 259: Go to the Palace
"Thanks for waiting." Ella just came out of the bathroom in a modest yet elegant honey-colored dress.
Elysia and Evelyn were also no longer wearing their pajamas. They were already clad in their modest dresses. A charming white dress with purple embellishment for Elysia and a dazzling white combination sky blue dress for Evelyn.
"Uhm, Rosie and Fran haven"t arrived yet? Yesterday Rosie said she would be here when noon came, right? Grandpa hasn"t come back either... Aren"t we going to Aeddoterra Palace for lunch with the Royal Family?" Elysia crossed her fingers for good luck as she stared at the entrance.
"Yes, let"s wait a little longer. Maybe Rosie, Fran, and grandfather still on their way. We still have about 90 minutes before lunchtime." Evelyn looked at the clock and a.s.sumed the positive.
"Hum-hum, how about we play riddle questions while waiting for my grandfather and Rosie? I have something hard to guess. Sir Maximilian and Miss Ariel, will you join in this little game?" Ella came up with a suggestion to fill the free time.
"With pleasure, let me partic.i.p.ate in your riddle game." Ariel immediately agreed without a second thought.
"Oh-ho-ho, are you sure, Holy Princess Gabriella? I"m known as a wizard for obvious reasons, you know?" Maximilian laughed lightly, worried that the game would lose its point because he could answer it so with ease.
"It"s okay, Sir Maximilian. I"ve thought of some difficult riddles. However, if you already know the answer, please don"t answer at once. That way, everyone will have their turn to guess." Ella didn"t mind that, but with a note.
Elysia and Evelyn nodded in agreement because the game sounded pretty fun to play as they waited for the others.
"Alright, let"s give that a shot."
After the old wizard agreed, the five people in the room played by Ella"s rules. One person made a riddle question, and the other would answer in turn. The riddle maker also took turns because Ella"s stock was quickly running out.
Several minutes pa.s.sed in the game until the entrance opened. Rosie and Fran had just arrived.
"Excuse me, I came as I said yesterday. Sorry for making you wait. Oh my, the three of you are already dressed in beautiful and charming dresses. Are you going on a trip wearing a dress?" Rosie greeted with a smile, but she was a little confused when she saw Elysia and co.
They wore modest dresses that were usually used for formal events or parties. Wouldn"t that be inconvenient for their trip after this? Rosie wondered in her mind what these three girls were thinking.
"Welcome, Rosie, Fran. Oh my goodness, Rosie, did you stay up all night? You look quite tired, and your eyes..." Elysia responded with a reflex welcome, but she was quite surprised when she turned to look at Rosie"s face. Ella and Eve also shared similar concerns afterwards.
The student council president had a paler face than yesterday, and there were thin dark circles under her eyes.
"Ah, it"s nothing. It"ll go away when I get enough sleep after this." Rosie wiggled her hand to calm the three worried girls. She planned to catch up on her sleep during the trip.
As she walked closer, she realized the two people"s ident.i.ty with these three girls.
"Oh, my G.o.ddess, Saint Wizard Maximilian Young and Saint Holy Knight Ariel Evadne! It is my honor to meet you." Rosie exclaimed with an expression of joy and respect. Fran was likewise, but he was at a loss for words for a moment.
"Hum." Ariel responded with a short, subtle nod.
"Ho-yes, Deterry Academy of Magic"s student council president. Abundant in every good work... Well, looks like you really need adequate and quality sleep, young girl." Maximilian gave thoughtful advice to the girl who had just arrived.
"Yes, thanks for your suggestion. I will rest after this. Umm... If I may know, why are two Saints like you here? Did something happen?" Rosie appreciated that, and she asked because she was a bit uneasy.
"Because we are a.s.signed to look after the girls you invite to Cuttexus City, Miss Rosie." Ariel gave an answer without beat around the bush.
"Oh, heaven..." Fran muttered softly in surprise. But, that was to be expected because of Ella and Evelyn"s clause. It was only natural that the Saint-level experts would be a.s.signed as the princesses protector.
"Oh-yes, ha-ha-ha, why didn"t I notice that." Rosie scratched her cheek and laughed awkwardly.
"Oh, right, we"re going to a luncheon at Aeddoterra Palace, with Royal Family before leaving. Please come with us, Rosie, Fran. We are allowed to invite anyone to go there with Emperor Arthur"s permission." Evelyn thinks it"s best to invite Rosie and Fran to go to the palace together.
Hearing that, Rosie looked at the clothes she was wearing. Such casual adventurous outfit, it was rather inappropriate to come to the imperial palace in such attire.
After that, she looked at the three girls again. No wonder they were wearing such formal dresses. It wasn"t for the trip, but because they were going to the palace luncheon!
"If that is the case, and it has been decided. Then, allow Fran and me to come with you to Aeddoterra Palace. However, before that, allow me to change my attire." Rosie said that to represent Fran too. She knew her little brother would agree.
Yet, before Rosie had time to walk to the bathroom for that, Elysia held her back. "No, no, let Fran change his clothes first. For now, please sit here, Rosie." Elysia stood up and took Rosie"s hand. Then, she led Rosie to sit on a chair.
"Ah-uh, Fran, can you change into a formal suit first?" Rosie could only obey and ask Fran to go first because Elysia insisted on making herself sit down. Even though she didn"t know what Elysia was going to do.
"Oh, okay." Fran nodded and went to the bathroom.
"Umm, Ely... What"s wrong?" Rosie looked back at the girl who was standing in front of her.
"Hum-hum, let me touch your face for a few seconds, Rosie. Allow me to do magic to deal with the thin dark circles under your eyes. Or do you want to go to the palace just like that?" Elysia hummed, asked for approval. She intended to help because she couldn"t bear to let Rosie just like that.
"Ah, it turns out like that. Yes, you can touch my face. Please help me, Ely." Rosie didn"t have any objections whatsoever. She was happy to receive help from Elysia because she did not want to present herself with an unsightly display.
After getting permission, Elysia touched Rosie"s cheeks with care. She applied the healing magic to treat Rosie"s eye bags as she gently ma.s.saged Rosie"s cheeks. Apart from that, she also relieved Rosie"s fatigue a little. It only lasted a few seconds, but Rosie had closed her eyes in comfort.
"Nee, Rosie... Please don"t sleep here." Elysia patted Rosie"s cheek lightly.
"O, Wow, Ely. Thank you so much! I feel fresher than ever." Rosie immediately opened her eyes and caught the hands on her cheeks. She swung Elysia"s hands with delight and appreciation because she knew very well what had just happened to her body.
"En, you"re welcome. Glad to help, but you also still need enough rest later, mkay?" Elysia gave a piece of advice with a smile.
"Yes, I will." After saying that, Rosie freed Elysia"s hands.
"It"s amazing to see. Instant healing magic cast by a young mage. It still surprises me that Miss Elysia is still at the Apprentice level." Maximilian watched it all with bright eyes as if he had just seen a miracle of the world before his eyes.
"Miss Elysia is talented beyond reasons. She has Grade 5 Holy Magic affinity, but the difference between myself and Miss Elysia is like the earth and the sky. Miss Elysia is a living miracle. As expected of the G.o.ddess"s disciple. I really admire you." Ariel clasped her hands with admiration and sparkling eyes.
Elysia knitted her brows due to Ariel"s remark. "Miss Ariel, I don"t like you to speak of me like that."
Ariel was astounded at Elysia"s words. She didn"t understand what was wrong, but did she offend the G.o.ddess"s disciple because of her unorganized statement!?
The room suddenly fell silent. n.o.body said anything as they just looked at Elysia and then at Ariel with a worried expression.
"Please forgive me if my words offend you, Miss Elysia. I don"t mean anything other than to say what I think. Please punish me for my disrespectful behavior." Ariel sincerely begged for forgiveness.
On the other hand, Elysia was instantly overwhelmed. For some reason, she felt like a bully. But, why was this holy knight lady quite obsessed with punishment?
"Ah, I didn"t mean that, Miss Ariel. It"s just that your words sound harsh. Please don"t call me the G.o.ddess"s disciple like that because it will cause trouble for me depending on the circ.u.mstances. Not only, Miss Ariel, I hope everyone also understands my situation and position. Please don"t call me by any nicknames other than my name." Elysia tried her best to reconcile the atmosphere with Elena"s help.
"I understand my mistake. Thank you for enlightening the ignorant me." Ariel put her hand in front of her chest and gave a slight bow.
"Uhm, yes, we"ll be careful not to mention that."
"You can count on us, Ely."
Ella and Eve responded positively. They were relieved that it was just a misunderstanding. Rosie and Maximilian also responded with approval because Elysia had already said so.
A few moments later, Fran, who had just come out of the bathroom and dressed in a formal outfit, was also not free from this. Rosie reminded her little brother about several vital points so that Fran"s muscle brain would not cause trouble for Elysia.
Not far from them, a white cat was just watching everything in peace. Vanessa laid down in one of the serving trolleys, struggling to eliminate redundancy.
*Munch* *Munch* *Munch*
Scoop out, bite, chew, then swallow.
It was a repet.i.tive motion to devour the food, but it never bore her no matter how many times it was repeated. Well, sometimes step one was skipped and went straight to step two.
Maximilian accidentally noticed the white cat who was eating cakes and cookies there with great pa.s.sion and enthusiasm. It was as if the cat had to devour it all to uphold justice. But, wait, something was wrong, and he could feel it.
"Oh, gracious goodness. Since when does a cat eat a cake? As I recall, they are carnivores. Has that changed over the last few years?" Maximilian smacked his forehead when he remembered what was wrong with the cat on the trolley.
"Ah, that... She is Vanessa, Ely"s contracted beast. Even though Vanessa is now a cute and adorable little white cat, she can turn into a huge winged white tiger. My grandfather said Vanessa is a Spirit Beast over level 150." Ella informed the old wizard generously.
"Hmm... So, the contracted beast named Vanessa in question is that white cat. That"s understandable, and it makes sense now. No wonder the cat that turned out to be a Spirit Beast to eat any food like humans." Maximilian nodded in understanding while stroking his long white beard.
A few moments after Rosie changed into a formal dress, Pope Alexander came back to the room. He was already wearing his signature white-gold Pope robe.
"Alright, everyone"s here. Rosie, Fran, come with us to the palace for lunch with the Griffith Royal Family. After that, you can immediately go to Cuttexus City with the special Gravy Ark. I"ll leave this to you, Ariel." Alexander handed a s.p.a.ce Bag to the holy knight lady.
"Yes, Holy Grandfather. I"ll be responsible for this." Ariel immediately stood up and came closer to Pope Alexander. She received the s.p.a.ce Bag with respect.
Besides that, she knew what Pope Alexander meant. The s.p.a.ce Bag contained a wide variety of exclusive items, supplies, and more for their trip.
"Good, it"s almost time. Let"s go. I"ve prepared a carriage for us outside." Alexander gave a subtle nod, then turned around.