"What did you just say!! Someone saw them together?!?" Diane exclaimed as she repeated the words her attendant have just said."Ye- Yes Miss, they were walking together as they walk to the city."
Diane sat back down in front of her dresser. She then bit at her nails, she was completely agitated.
"Natsuki isn"t someone to just walk with someone in the opposite s.e.x. That means he knew who that woman is. That"s right he had even called her name. I really need to get that woman out of here."
"Where"s my father? I need to speak with him."
After getting the answer, she went to the duke"s study and saw him there doing some paper works.
"Father, I have something to tell you."
*****
"So she really went so low, the Duke have some authority in the training ground. Making the targets move way faster than how their soldiers train with it?" Suzuki, who was with Nana in the inn, said after hearing the report.
Nana laughed upon hearing this, "Are we in some kind of romance novel? Am I the evil mistress? Is she a child?"
Suzuki was even more shock to see Nana just laugh it off.
"You don"t seem worried at all. What if you don"t hit them at all?"
Nana smiled before sipping from her cup, the tea in Confederate have a different taste from the one in Aurora, nevertheless it is still delicious. After putting her cup down to the sauser, "Have you forgotten who it was that trained me? The best among the best, the one and only?"
Suzuki was soon enlightened, she had forgotten how rigorous Nana was trained. Though she was first trained by Theo and the others, after returning, Eureka personally guided her making her one of the best archers out there.
"I have no more words then. I"ll just make sure that if she stoop lower and tamper with the weapons, I"ll help you change it back," Suzuki replied as she calmed down and drank from her own cup.
Nana looked out the window with a smile on her lips. She liked this, how different it felt when she was not in the castle, where only a few know her and most people treated her as a normal person and not as a royal.
She felt free, she was glad she took this trip. Her first long trip that is, she was able to see more of the world and meet more people. She wanted to enjoy this while it lasts, for she has no intention of not standing beside Natsuki. For now she just wants to enjoy.
Another day pa.s.sed, she was either walking around or just leisurely drinking inside the inn, "Maybe I should have asked for the duel to be held earlier? Despite getting the chance to walk around, I couldn"t be with Natsuki at all. Then what"s the purpose of coming here?"
She then heard a chuckle from the door, "You just thought of it now?"
Her face lit up upon seeing who was her visitor, "Natsuki!!"
And like a chihld she rushed towards him and threw herself to him, "How did you get here? You do know people are watching right? Oh have you heard? She actually went and asked her father to change a few things regarding the targets. Tsk Tsk she underestimates me too much."
Natsuki listened quietly as Nana talked non stop, this is something he had loved about her. She really didn"t care about the people doing such underhanded things as long as no one gets hurt.
But that is in the premise that those underhanded methods were thrown at her. If it was someone else and someone who she holds dear. Then surely she would go berserk.
"Don"t worry, no one have seen me come. Plus even if they do, there"s nothing they can do. What happens tomorrow is just a simple slapping of a fly away. Your victory is set in stone in the first place," he finally answered as he guided her back to the sits.
If Diane were there she would surely want to throw a tantrum, she was actually compared to a fly by Natsuki himself.
"Did you do something to the targets that she had done something to?" Nana narrowed her eyes as she asked inquiringly.
"*chuckles* No, I just know of your strength. She can try but she can never win you."
Nana nodded as she told him that he was right. This is child"s play for her, for them that is. They have after all came out of a war that could end the whole world. The battle they"ve been through is nothing compared to those who were revived after Reset.
Her boredome was gone, she was able to spend the whole day with Natsuki. Though they"re just inside the inn, they were able to talk about so many things. Like the things that have happened within the more than two months they were apart.
"Come to think of it, how is it here? The number of rebels, does it exceed your expectation?" Nana asked seriously upon remembering the next problem each kingdom have to face.
"We still don"t have the complete number but I must say, there"s a lot of them. We really can"t face them now for we are still establis.h.i.+ng the new laws and rules, taking into consideration that we no longer have abilities."
Nana nodded upon hearing this, "And how was the livelihood? We all were using abilities on those right? Even the planting and all."
"The hardwork was indeed new to everyone, but thanks to your people they are able to adapt much faster than if they didn"t get your guidance."
"Then I suppose some of the laws will have to change, especially the wages," Nana tap on the handle of her cup as she spoke.
"Each kingdom have different types of livelihood, the prices in the market should be considdered as well, especially since the labor have changed. You"ll have to add that in the price, it was not like before where in a flick of your finger the crops would grow. This time you"ll have to wait and patiently take care of the crops."
After sipping another mouthful, "So how are you planning to develop the market?"
Natsuki couldn"t help but stare at her, he was used of her not wanting to talk about official business like this. She was playful and wanted to do things at her own pace. But seeing her seriously thinking about this matters, shocked him so much. He couldn"t react at all.
"Natsuki?"
"What happened?" he asked as he look at her intently.
Nana understood his question as she blushed, "I just thought I need to learn these things if I wanted to stand by your side. And as time goes on, I found it enjoyable. Talking about future plans and developments. Rino and I would sometimes used up most of are days talking non stop about this matters. Uhmmm Is that strange?"
"No, its lovable."
There"s no need for other compliments, just that was enough for him to tell her how much he liked this development of hers.
Nana scrathched her cheek as she sip more of her tea. She was so engrossed in talking about the things in the kingdom, she completely forgot that Natsuki have heard her speak about this for the first time.
"Should I ask you to marry me now?"
She almost choked when she heard his sudden question. She was so red that Natsuki couldn"t help but to laugh.
"I"m just sad I didn"t see how you started off in this maturity of yours. Now I just want for you to stay here with me so that I can see just how much more you"d grow," Natsuki continued as he look at her with a gentle smile.
Their chat continued as he told her more about their current condition, her reactions and suggestions delighted him even more.
*****
The very next day, people gathered in the long range training area. Ichiro and the other n.o.bles were on their special sits. Natsuki and Suzuki were there as well.
"I never thought that the prince can use the bow and arrow as well," one n.o.ble complimented as they noticed a bow beside Natsuki"s chair.
"No, someone just entrusted it to me. This was a precious one after all," Natsuki replied politely with a smile.
Of course these n.o.bles understood who he meant, they"ve heard about him walking beside a girl as well. That is half of them didn"t know while the other half smiled knowingly. They were already informed not to disclose Nana"s ident.i.ty until the matter is over.
"I must say Duke Banji, to have such a talented daughter. You really are lucky," some who were clueless started complimenting the duke intending to make Natsuki hear them.
"That"s right, I suddenly feel pity for that girl, who knows where she came from. To actually challenge one of our best archers. Tsk tsk she"s overestimating herself."
"I feel bad for these people, they were comparing an ant to an elephant. Best archer of Confederate? How is she supposed to battle one of the three best archers of the world?"
Those who knew could only shake their heads for these people.
Eureka, Theo and Nana, were deemed the best archers of the four kingdoms. Their achievements back in the war far exceeded the generals. Well Eureka was said to be the teacher but they haven"t seen her use it themselves.