Tulipa, Amethyst and Lun Re arrive at the prince chambers, where they already found Aya and Nayoto(Chibuko), chatting in whispers to not wake up the prince.
They feel the presence of the others in the room, stopping their chatting and going on them to greet.
Tulipa leaves Amethyst from her grip once she is sure she was standing still and balanced, giving a small bow towards the dragonet and the woman. Lun Re does it as well, after adjusting properly his uniform.
Both of them bows at Tulipa and the others in a way of greeting, Nayoto whispers.
"It's good to see you all here." Her face suddenly drops into a serios expression. "Now... Amethyst, in charge of the breakfast, Tulipa and Aya in charge of the chamber's cleaning, and I with Lun Re will be in charge of his Highness' dressing." Nayoto started, clapping her hands to start the work.
***
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I came back to the chambers with the prince's breakfast tray, closing the door with my back. As I approach, the prince yawns, having his hair dried by Nayoto with a towel, and Lun Re putting and adjusting his clothes neatly on his body.
The prince was still feeling drowsy, resting his head on Nayoto's belly as Lun Re and her prepares him for the day.
Huh, not mentally prepared person would go crazy if they had a sight of the prince in his preparations. A woman would have her knees weak as a wave of lust passes over her, while a man wouldn't be able to control what has between his legs and pounce over. Certainly, the prince has a beauty that, if used right, could seduce anyone and everyone he wants.
Wait, is this why he only has 5 assistants? He must have chosen his personal servants wisely to such situations not happen.
Aaand that must be the reason why he was doing such silly and playful flirtations moves and jokes after discovering the clans I'm part of in that night— It was a test, i'm glad that he's not like that.
Suddenly, I hear Lun Re snapping his fingers in front of my eyes and Tulipa shaking me faintly by the shoulders. I snap from my thoughts, looking at them confused.
"You were looking nowhere at his Highness' direction." Says Aya, chuckling softly.
"with frowned eyebrows and a fish stare." Adds lun Re. "You surely were lost in thoughts."
"Oh... My apologies."
***
The prince, while eating his breakfast, starts the announcement and orders.
He clears his throat. "I will be direct. I, and my sisters, want to eat something new." He announced, which makes me and the others react in different ways.
"In the middle of every month, exactly at the middle of the day, me and my sisters eat lunch together in the middle of the palace's garden, and one week before this siblings event happens, we decide what we will eat in this lunch." He explains. "And we decided to eat monsters."
We gasp collectively, not at all expecting this choice.
"Not just monsters, but also exotic plants like vegetables and fruits. We really wanted something new, so I will send you 5 for this mission. We don't have any preference of what monster we will eat, but the meal must have starters, main plates and desserts."
The siblings dinner or lunch event is pretty common in every society, truly, even I had it with my siblings when I lived with my parents. But when is nobles or higher people doing it, they normally choose they favorite foods for the others try out, so they are very serious about what plates will be put on the table. But monsters and exotic vegetables and fruits? That's new.
"Use your own hunting outfits and equipment, you'll have 5 days of hunting, 1 day to arrive back at the palace, half of a day to do the cleaning of the monsters if necessary, one night and one morning to do the cooking."
***
As we leave to go to our chambers and prepare ourselves, the third princess was walking by, and pass by us. The princess is in the front, with one lady-in-waiting each side, three in her behind with the one of the middle holding an closed umbrella. The princess look at us up and down with a scrutinizing look before let out an "Hmpf.", look away and continue walking. Brat.
"That's the third princess, princess Daia, she is known for her meany personality, but don't let that put you down, she's like this with everyone she considers 'not of her level'. even with the her siblings." Whispers Aya for me, but since i was with my 'I Don't Give A Fuck' face, she noticed my indifference and just smiled.
***
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"Alright girls, and Lun Re, since i'm the General, i will be the leader of this hunting! And also i will be the one carrying the monsters we collect. Sounds good?" Shouted Nayoto, receiving a 'Yes sir!' from the others.
"We have 5 days of hunting, so in the day 1 to 2 we will hunt medium level monsters, day 3 monstrous plants, day 4 to 5 the most dangerous ones. After passing through the Lion Gates, beware and be ready for what we will find."
They pass the gates, entering in the province of South forest, where the most concentration of monsters can be found. All of them were on their 50% animal form, which gives more advantages to hunt quickly and efficiently.
"Amethyst, Tulipa and Aya, you're the only creatures we know who have experience in monster gastronomy. So, you're gonna be in charge of showing the locations of the monsters, exotic vegetables and fruits you three put on the list."
The three were already chatting between each other with enthusiasm, yapping about the plates they could do with a griftons, scorpions and lizards, walking mushrooms, giant bats, slime monsters, goblins, and many more.
They all, by the three guidance, walk towards a big ominous cavern, who almost everyone that enters. Never. Leaves.
And they enter :D
"We arrive at our main point. One of the most concentrated monsters cavern that exists in this country." Says Tulipa, with a big smile. "Here we will find main of the monsters we are searching for, so get ready to not lose your sense of direction, it's very easy to get lost here."
Lun Re, who was reading a book about monsters a moment ago, chimes in.
"Since we will cook monsters and exotic plants, does it mean that we will also use seasonings from them?"
"Correct," agreed Amethyst with a thumbs up. "Monsters and exotic plants can provide the same thing as animals and normal plants can, the only difference is in the flavor, how we can possess it and consume it. It's no wonder why cavern explorers, in their kit, comes the book about monsters and how to cook them. We will use mostly the exotic plants, which are monstrous plants, to have the seasons and spiceries." Her smile then changes, to a more open one that doesn't appear to have good intentions. "If it's monsters they want to eat, then we will give to them, Literally."
***
[Day 1]
"The first thing we will hunt is green and purple grape scorpions." Says Tulipa. "Oh, here's one." With her spear, she knocks out the monster without dropping blood, killing it by the neck, and giving it to Nayoto, who puts it inside of her infinite backpack.
Amethyst started to explain to the others. "They are very easy to find, and their meat is very soft and sweet to eat, their blood can be used as a sauce for other meats and soups." She kills a scorpion that tries to jump at her with her sword, throwing the monster to Nayoto. "We will need at least more five or six of them, the bigger, the better."
"Here." Says Lun Re, holding 8 scorpions at once. The others were surprised and impressed by his quickness, and clap.
Nayoto grabs the scorpions and puts on the backpack. "We completed the first one on the list, now 7 left. Tulipa, lead the way."
***
Now heading towards the area where the seven head Peru, Tulipa leads the way by using the sensors of her head, which are the pink circles in the top of the hair.
"Is always good to have an exploration partner that is purely or mixed spider, they are experts when it's about walking and exploring caverns." Says Amethyst to them, who nod in understanding.
"We should move here next time..." Tulipa ponders to herself, thinking it's a good idea to give for the Queen of her species when changing household again.
But their little chit chat is interrupted by an unexpected guess.
Amethyst and Lun Re stop walking when they hear a crawling from miles away. They signal to enter in combat position, ready to fight if the thing that is coming is hostile.
The thing that was crawling towarss then was a giant, crawling rose. It is blind, but with a good vibrations sensor and audition.
They relax slightly, looking at the monstrous flower with blank and confused expressions.
"Oh is just a monstrous flower. It is not hostile-" Comments Tulipa with a reassured smile, but her reassurance is met with a petal flying in a fast speed towards her face.
Gladly, she dodged just in time, bending her back backwards. Her face was white as a ghost, even though her skin is white as a ghost, with a shocked and scared expression.
"Yes, it is hostile." She quavered.
The flowers roars loudly, sending flying big spikes towards the creatures. They dodge swiftly, thinking in a plan to defeat it.
But, Nayoto took no time to already have a very quick plan to deal with the flower.
She taps at Amethyst, Aya and Lun Re's shoulder, points at the flower, at her ears and starts doing screaming motions.
The dragonet and the tiger understood immediately, the bird was confused at first before quickly understanding what she was implying.
The three inhale a good amount of air, puffing out their chests, preparing their attacks and roar their chest out, or for Amethyst, scream her out, since she's a bird.
The roar, and scream, was loud enough to stun down the flower, making it's head fall against the ground.
***
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I, Tulipa, Aya, and Lun Re, had climb the rose, starting to search the fruits it possess on the petals.
I was too excited to find the fruits, because normally a monstrous rose possesses red fruits, specifically the type of fruits my mother would use to make her red mix pie, which I and my siblings loved.
As I search, I localized something... Shiny?
Quickly, I separate the petals in the way until I found something I wasn't expecting much.
"A rose Coat of Arms?" I mutter to myself. Isn't it the same Nursery Roses use as a collar pendant?
I quickly hide in my Boar hat discreetly, keeping it safe. I need to find this alone, I will not involve the others. Yet.
***
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"How weird, normally the plants are on the right side of this cavern, why this rose appeared on the left?" Questions Tulipa while throwing the red fruit in the backpack, making the others wonder for a moment.
"Based in the book, flowers are known to be friendly since you don't have the need to kill them to collect their fruits." Explains Lun Re, also throwing the red fruits at the backpack. "If this rose was hostile, then it must have happened something pretty worrying to cause such behavior."
"Poor little flower." Aya laments, only to receive a hateful tsk from Amethyst. She raises an eyebrow, questioning if was for her because of her comment or for the flower.
"We resolve this on the day of going to the right side to collect fruits and vegetables." Says Nayoto, closing the backpack once everyone finished the collecting. "Tulipa, continue."