***

(Casimir Kismet.)

I sipped from the cup of tea I was holding and put it over the white metallic table before veering my eyes towards the massive open grasslands in front of me.

"I'm glad to see that you are fine now, Leal." I turned my gaze to Leal sitting across from where I was sitting.

We were currently in front of his mansion.

"I am always fine, it's just I had a small problem recently. On that note, pardon me for not attending the celebration for our victory."

I shrugged. "It's fine. If you came, you would probably end up going home in all four. That party was an alcohol poisoning session." I raised my index finger. "And don't let me start talking about the golden thrones they built. They're made of freaking gold for Pete's sake, wasn't it a little bit ridiculous and over the top!"

Leal chuckled. "Ridiculous? Perhaps, but I will say, you deserve it."

"No. No. You people are just giving me too much credit, you all are just making it sound like I am an outstanding ruler, which is if I would say, I'm just an average leader at best." I shook my head. "They have been planning to put those thrones inside the municipal hall. Those guys."

Leal's chuckles become much louder.

I just stared at him as he laughed at my complaints... this guy... and here I thought he's the one with more sense to talk to.

I turned my eyes towards the massive tree far away from us. It was completely visible from here.

"I assume, they already told you... about the tree of Erela." Leal asked while expressing no emotion on his face.

I nodded. "Yeah, Tanya told me."

Leal's eyes slightly narrowed. "She did?"

"Yeah, Tanya did."

"Hmm, that's surprising. As far as I know, Tanya really hates talking about anything that has something to do with the kingdom of Erela. Just hearing the kingdom's name being mentioned could easily make her lose her composure." A puzzling smile emerged on his face as he stared at me. "I see now."

I furrowed my eyebrows. "You see what?"

"Nothing." He shook his head and grabbed his cup of tea over the table and took a sip.

"Now that you mention it, don't you have a family in that kingdom?"

For a few seconds, he remained silent while just looking at me, as if he was trying to analyze something before saying a single word. He slowly nodded. "Yes... I had."

I tilted my head sideways. "You had?"

"Yes... I used to have a family, but not anymore." He sipped his tea.

Welp, there goes my curiosity!

I scratched my head and unleashed the fakest laugh I could make. "My bad, I should not ask such a personal question."

"Don't worry, I don't mind."

"Ah... I see."

Then, a deafening silence occurred to us, we just drank our tea while just looking at the scenery in front of us. Feeling the gentle wind going through us.

[Boss!]

I almost jumped out upon hearing a voice right inside my skull. Maybe due to my impeccable chunni instinct, I put my index finger on my ears as if I was some kind of secret agent with an earpiece.

"Leo."

[Pretty boy is here.]

"Ah... Let him be, I'll go meet him."

[Aye.]

I exhaled before veering my eyes toward Leal who was just staring at me while holding his cup of tea.

"He arrived?"

I nodded. "Yeah, I'll go meet him."

"As much as I want to accompany you, I have things I need to work out at this moment."

I stood up. "Don't mind it. Besides, I have someone in mind that I could bring that I know who's really good at socializing."

Leal just slowly nodded and didn't say a word. He just waved his hand while watching me walking out from the proximity of his mansion.

I hopped into the carriage and watched the road while traveling towards the Fang faction. But before reaching the marketplace, I stopped at one of the ongoing construction at the Fang faction. Upon walking down the carriage, I already saw the person I came for.

"Mister Casimir!" Karoon waved her hand at me while expressing a huge smile on her face. She's standing right in front of the building that was already in its finishing process.

I stood beside her and put my hands in my waists. I stared at her with an assured smile on my face.

Approachable and non-violent. The perfect person to go to.

She stared at me with her narrowing eyes. "Is there a problem, Mister Casimir? Why are you examining me from head to toe?"

"Are you busy?"

"No. This is the only thing I need to do today, and I'm already done here, and about to leave and go home. Why?"

I smiled and repeatedly nodded. "Good."

Her eyebrows furrowed. "Good?"

"Let's go, I need you to help me with something."

"Ah?" She immediately followed me and hopped inside the carriage. "Where are we going, Mister Casimir?" She asked as the carriage started to move.

I leaned my elbow to the window and smiled at her. "We're going to meet Prince Dieter."

"The Prince of the kingdom of Inizio?"

I nodded. "Yeah."

She scratched the back of her head. "Mister Casimir, I appreciate that I am the one you have chosen to accompany you for this... uhm... meeting. However, why me?"

"You are approachable, non-violent, and cute. Also, I need an eye-catching person on my side while talking about diplomatic matters with him."

"The last one you mentioned sounds alarming and dubious. Are you sure you're not planning to sell me or something?"

"No?" I veered my gaze outside. "Maybe?"

"Ehh! You are lying! I can see it in your face!" I felt her hand tapping my arms.

I just laughed. "I'm just teasing you, but for real though, I'm not. It's just that I'm not good with royalty etiquette, so I need someone to help me. And before you ask, I asked Tanya but she just gave me a death glare."

"If you told her the same exact words that you said to me just now, that's probably the reason why Tan-tan gave you that glare."

"Yeah, that must be it." I cleared my throat. "Leal is not in a good mood for any courtesy as of this moment and Leo and Mehrad are a little bit questionable options. So... would you help me?"

She closed her eyes and smiled. "As if I have a choice. We're already on our way."

I raised my thumbs up. "Good, good. You really are a reliable friend, Karoon!"

She just chuckled and didn't say anything. A silence occurred inside the carriage and I veered my eyes outside.

Prince Dieter Inizio, what does he's after this time?