Chapter 28: Princess Valora
Setting his thoughts aside, Nith stood up to formally greet the princess.
He hadn’t done so until now because of his upbringing. His parents had never made a good impression on him, and neither had their nobility.
Moreover, Nith had never paid much attention to etiquette, even when he operated as a player. It didn’t mean he didn’t know how to officially converse or behave, but much of that had been handled by his NPCs.
“I ask your pardon for my negligence,” Nith said as he stood on his feet. “My arms are currently inept, much to my dismay. I’ll make amends for my lack of manners when healthy.”
Behind her smile, the princess hid her bewilderment at Nith’s formal tone.
She replied as casually as she could, “There’s no need to go this far for something you couldn’t have prevented. I may have come here officially, but I do also have my own agenda in paying you a visit, Mr. Nightshade.”
‘Straight to the point? I like that,’ Nith thought.
“I’m Valora of the Mythverios Crest, the second princess, the fifth in line to the throne,” the blonde-haired knight princess introduced herself, pressing her balled hand against her chest. “I’m here on behalf of my royal father to invite Ms. Kyouka to the banquet dedicated to the businesses held in our capital’s thoroughfare, which are the key to the prosperity of our kingdom.”
As if with a sleight of hand, Valora conjured two letters under the royal seal, held between her fingers.
One of them was addressed to Kyouka, but what about the second? With the way the princess behaved, the letter must be for Nith.
But why? Officially, he worked under Kyouka and was no more than a full-time employee to her.
What warranted the invitation? Kyouka could always take him as her partner to the banquet, with no need for a second invitation for him.
“I wager handing this letter to you is the best option, given how busy Ms. Kyouka is,” Valora put the first letter on the counter. “The second one, as you must have guessed, is for you. It is not an invitation to the banquet, however, but to my guild.”
“Your guild?” Nith asked, his eyes on the letter.
Valora nodded. “It’s not a secret. I’ve established my own guild, and I plan to weed out the adventurer guilds from my kingdom.”
“…That’s quite a big goal,” Nith replied after a few seconds.
The Adventurer Guild was no longer a mere organization that took in anyone wanting to become an adventurer. While this selling point remained, the adventurer guild had formed their own Commonwealth of Adventurers and had much better knowledge about the world than others.
The Princess’ objective, therefore, could spark a cold war between the Mythverios Kingdom and the Commonwealth of Adventurers.
“Where do I fit into this?” Nith asked.
“The word is that you’re able to concoct the same potions as Ms. Kyouka. I’d never oppose her idea of selling her potions for cheap or try to steal someone as precious as you from here, so I yearn for cooperation between us. I’d like to discuss that at my place, however.” Valora slightly tilted her head and glanced to the side, indicating that there were many listeners in the store.
Nith nodded. “I’ll see to it.”
“I’d also like to buy a few potions,” Valora said with a bright smile.
Nodding, Nith turned to his knocked-out co-worker and kicked her in the stomach. That was enough to jolt her back to life as her eyes sprang open.
The yapper’s lips never stopped moving as she pulled herself up, her hands on the counter’s edge, “The Princess Valora… I dreamed of her! She’s so gorgeous and strong! At such a young age, she’s amassed highly ranked titles to be a famous third grade! And her silky, long hair! It must be genetics! Oh, how I wish I could have been born—”
Valora’s blue eyes and Nith’s grim stare hovered over the poor co-worker. She didn’t even notice Nith’s twisted expression as she gawked at Valora smiling at her. It froze her. She didn’t know how to react or what to do.
Breathing seemed like a challenge.
The co-worker fainted.
Other clients in the store inwardly shook their heads. Respecting someone was one thing, but reacting so poorly to a noble’s presence truly showed how much training she required. Even Valora hinted that she should find a job under a noble, not Kyouka.
That much, however, eluded the sleeping co-worker.
The only silver lining here was that she missed Nith’s contorted expression, which had already frightened a few clients.
Smiling broadly, Valora seemed to enjoy the comedy between the two.
“If you could pick up this case yourself…” Nith swallowed his shame and muttered.
Valora didn’t mind. She went behind the counter and scooped up a case of high health potions. Placing the case on the counter, Valora conjured money out of nowhere as if she had an inventory like Nith, then bid farewell.
The heavy presence evaporated the moment the door closed.
Everyone sighed with relief, except for Nith, who didn’t know how he would sell potions while his co-worker slept.
Could he ask anyone to pick up potions themselves? He didn’t think anyone would try to steal potions from a store perched in the thoroughfare, a highly guarded area, but it was so unprofessional and shameful that Nith looked like he wanted to poison the entire world.
He asked as nicely as possible, “I do hope everyone here understands my predicament.”
Despite his demonic expression, the clients smiled wryly at him. Upon picking up cases of potions, they cast pitiful looks at the woman sleeping under the counter, dreaming of princesses and princes.
Just one look at Nith was enough to tell them that he’d reprimand the woman harshly, possibly even complain to Kyouka. He’d shatter the woman’s dreams of going to a banquet…
After the clients left, Nith awkwardly closed the store. He also stuffed the letters in his mouth and went to his room.
