The capital had several places to have fun, from more family-friendly spots to those meant for adults. Elys took me to a sweet shop, there we ate cake and drank something sweet made with milk and some kind of fruit I had no idea what it was.
"Do you know what's the funniest part?"
"What?"
"You just accepted buying the sword and didn't even ask for a discount or say you didn't want it," she said, laughing.
"You're completely right, even I can't believe I just accepted it so passively. He knew how to tame me."
"He's a merchant, so they know exactly what each person really wants."
"You've known him for a long time?" I asked as I called the waitress.
"Yes, I used to sell some items I found in dungeons, he was always a good buyer, that's why I thought he would be interested in your product," Elys chose her words carefully.
The waitress came and we ordered again, I wasn't hungry, but the cake was too good, so we decided to get another slice each.
"I'm going to end up gaining weight," Elys said as she stuffed a big piece of cake into her mouth.
"Don't say that, you'll burn it off soon enough on some mission, your body looks great and it seems like you train a lot," her adventurer's outfit showed part of her stomach, and it was easy to see how well-defined her muscles were.
Elys blushed.
"Did I say something inappropriate?"
"Don't worry, I just found it unexpected," she said with a smile.
She ate another piece of cake.
"You're a little different, but in a good way. You're not like other boys your age, you seem responsible. But at the same time it feels like you're caught up in something at least suspicious, since you have that."
"One day I'll tell you how I got it, and you'll see there's nothing suspicious about it."
"Don't worry, there are many things we should keep as secrets, so don't worry about that."
"Alright."
In a way, I felt relieved, it wasn't like I owed her any explanation, but I still felt like I did. That's why the fact she didn't pressure me calmed me down.
"Now you pay, since it's expected that the man pays for what the woman eats on a date."
So it wasn't really a date, it was a date. A bit strange, but still.
Unfortunately, I had to pay, she knew I had more than enough money for that, so it would have been shameful to refuse. Besides, she had introduced me to that merchant, so I should repay her somehow. While we were walking down the streets of the Capital, my attention was caught by a street vendor, she had several pieces of jewelry, and a hairpin caught my eye, it was green and somehow matched Elys's adventurer clothes.
I went to the vendor and asked the price of the jewelry, 1 gold coin, it was a bit expensive, but I paid.
"Here, I thought it somehow suits you."
Her face turned red.
"For me?" Her voice came out a little shaky.
"Yes, don't you like it?"
"That's not it, I just found it a little unexpected."
"I have to repay you somehow, since you introduced me to that merchant."
"Then alright, thank you," she said with a beautiful smile on her face.
"How was the date?" Jasly asked, she seemed irritated.
She was lying on the second bed in the room and sat up slightly when she saw me come in.
"It wasn't a date, we just went to the black market, I managed to sell all the salt, then we went to eat something."
"You walked her back to where she's staying and then you came here. That was a date, please don't lie to me."
"I apologize for that, but it wasn't a date."
I didn't understand, but somehow I felt the need to justify myself.
"Let's leave that for later, how much did you make?"
"10 gold coins and 20 silver coins."
"That's quite a lot, but it was still a low price."
I had to agree, I wanted much more money.
"I brought you a gift," I said as I pulled out a necklace with a red crystal, somehow I thought it matched Jasly.
She brightened up and the anger vanished, she stood up and turned her back to me, it took me a moment to realize she wanted me to put the necklace on her. I was never very good at that sort of thing.
She thanked me and kissed my cheek.
A ship was flying over the Capital, Silas, Thalya, and Bedelia were aboard. The ship landed on a dock runway, and a carriage was waiting for them.
The destination was the castle.
The carriage stopped in front of the castle gates and a man in blue clothing was waiting, he bowed and guided the three to the royal hall. The King was waiting. A chill ran down the spine when the King noticed the three entering the hall.
Amerael stood up from the throne and Robert did the same, Amerael was calm, but Robert was trembling, he was afraid. Even though it was a crime punishable by death to kill the King, he didn't know if Silas would restrain himself from an outburst of fury.
"We came in peace, don't worry about that. Someone who survived several of Bedelia's blows wouldn't die to an old man who can barely use magic," Silas said as he approached the King.
The three knelt and bowed. The King asked them to stand.
"We only came to see how things are, we're not angry about the little accident, it was bound to happen eventually," Thalya said. "But we are a little worried about other people who might try the same at some point."
"It's normal to worry about your children's safety."
"It's not about their safety, but about whoever tries to attack, I don't want the responsibility of dealing with some damned noble."
A noble in the hall laughed, Silas looked at him, and the noble felt embarrassed when he saw Silas showing no expression.
Bedelia used an ocular assessment, she was wearing a magic item that allowed her to analyze people's abilities. She whispered something to Silas.
Silas approached the noble.
"Are you good with swords?"
"Of course I am," he said arrogantly.
"Do you accept a duel? Not with me, but with my 12-year-old son, you two will fight with swords, no magic, except magic to boost defense and healing."
The noble smiled, "I accept, but what will this duel be worth?"
"What do you want?"
The noble thought for a moment, "you will join my army and be one of my mages," he knew Silas was a powerful mage.
"Alright, I want your mansion."
The noble was surprised, but he agreed.
The King realized the great mistake of the noble and the plan of Bedelia and Silas, they didn't want the mansion, they just wanted to humiliate the noble somehow.
"A private duel isn't fun, how about we call other nobles to watch?" Thalya said.
The King agreed, inside he was laughing, besides feeling relieved, he was afraid of how Silas might act, but everything ended with Silas focusing his anger on a noble, specifically Carlton Zano, a marquis the King hated.
The marquis left the room, then the King signaled for the guards to leave.
"He has no idea what he got himself into," the King said as he sat back on the throne.
"Is everything really alright?" the Queen asked.
"Yes, don't worry about that, I know the son I have and I was already prepared for something like this to happen, I just didn't expect it would be with Prince Arnold."
"Prepared?"
"Yes, something similar happened to me many years ago. People who don't seem strong and stand out end up causing that kind of reaction in others."
"Is your son really strong?"
"Of course he is, he defeated Arnold with just a few blows," the King replied. "Besides, he broke Kalil's ice wall."
"I didn't know that," Silas said, resting his hand on his chin.
"Do you have a place to stay?"
"We'll look for an inn."
"No, you'll stay in the castle, stay as long as you like," the King said cheerfully.
"As cordial as always," Silas said kindly.
"Now be honest, you came here for some reason, if it wasn't because of Arnold, then what was it?"
Silas began to explain about the monsters and the giant hordes, while he spoke, the King grew angrier and angrier, at least that's how he appeared.
"How did no one tell me about this?"
The King called one of the ministers and asked if he knew about the attacks, the minister nodded.
"How come you never told me about this?"
"I'm sorry, but your majesty asked me to send a request for troops and to send them to where the monsters were sighted, then you asked me to hire adventurers to strengthen our combat force."
The King remembered that was indeed how he handled some matters. He asked the minister to leave.
"Bring me more information about this, I'll send some troops to deal with the monster hordes."
The King had already done that.
"Alright, we'll do that as soon as we have more information, for now let's just rest."
"May I ask for something to eat? Bedelia asked.
The King agreed.
"Will you see your children soon?"
"Not yet, we'll wait a while before talking to them."
"I see, when you do, ask them to come to me, I don't want anything formal, but I want to reward them somehow."
Silas agreed, and the three were taken to their rooms.
Bedelia entered Silas and Thalya's room.
"You scared me, I thought the King might order our heads cut off, but he's actually kind and lets us treat him like anyone else."
"Actually, no, he only allows a few people to do that, you were a little disrespectful to him."
"What do you mean? Is there a chance he'll send me to the guillotine?"
"No, but it's better to treat him with more respect until one day he allows you to speak normally with him."
Bedelia was sweating nervously.