Chapter 100: A Trip to Springrock

The following morning, a passenger carriage rolled out of the capital, taking the left fork in the road toward the west. Inside the carriage,

"So we really decided to take a vacation in the West Land, huh?" Dion noted.

"What’s the harm? Since you’re all visiting Eredor anyway... consider it an early honeymoon," Mei replied.

"Huh... we’re not married yet, just engaged," Dion countered.

"Same difference... but let me remind you all of one thing: please don’t get drunk like yesterday and stir up trouble for the locals," Mei warned.

The carriage went dead silent. Dion turned to find Mei standing right in front of him with an expression that was dead serious yet pleading.

Sigh. Dion let out a breath. "Why are you saying that directly to my face? Shouldn’t you be lecturing them?" Dion asked, gesturing toward Cleo, Sheila, and Luna.

"Oh... right," Mei realized, turning to look at Cleo, Sheila, and Luna, who all lowered their heads, blushing furiously in embarrassment.

"Hey, hey, why so quiet, airhead princess? Embarrassed that you can’t hold your liquor?" Aria teased, sitting beside Luna and poking fun at her.

"Shut up, brat princess, don’t talk to me," Luna snapped back testily, turning her flushed face away.

"Hehehe... I finally found your weakness, you shameless airhead princess," Aria giggled, thoroughly enjoying herself.

"Grr... just you wait. I’ll find your weakness and expose it to the world, you spoiled brat princess," Luna growled back.

"Give it a rest, you two are always bickering. What’s so great about fighting all the time?" Sheila scolded.

"This is all your fault! If you hadn’t gotten drunk, I wouldn’t have taken a sip!" Luna yelled, pointing right at Sheila’s face.

"Hey... hey... passing out after a single glass of ale isn’t on me," Sheila retorted, bringing up the incident all over again.

"Ugh... this is so annoying," Luna pouted, slumping back in a huff.

"So, Mei, what were you trying to say?" Cleo asked, turning her cool gaze toward Mei.

"Sigh... while we’re in the West Land, nobody is allowed to get drunk. The locals there are far more sensitive than the folks in the capital, and I don’t want us all getting banned," Mei explained.

"We’re heading to the city of Springrock, right? I know plenty of merchants there... and Mei’s right. Making one wrong statement there can be fatal, they might even refuse to sell you food," Aria added, familiar with the local customs.

"Kyuu?" Gina squeaked, looking confused.

"And you better not go flying around recklessly. Over there, they’ll catch you, skin you, and sell you," Aria warned, pointing at Gina’s nose.

"Kyuuuu!"

Gina gasped in terror and instantly dove headfirst inside Dion’s shirt, peering out nervously through the buttons.

"Hey... Aria, can you not tease Gina like that?" Dion chided.

"Hehe... she’s just so cute and squishy... those scales of hers would fetch a fortune," Aria smirked.

"Look... look... Mama Aria wants to sell me!" a little girl’s voice cried out inside everyone’s heads.

"Relax, nobody’s selling you. She’s just joking," Dion reassured her.

Hearing Dion’s words, Gina paused and looked innocently at Aria once more. But Aria was already muttering to herself, "One scale for one gold coin... hehehe."

"See?! Mama really does plan on selling me!" the little girl’s voice wailed in their heads again.

Dion could see Gina’s pleading eyes and her tiny hand pointing straight at Aria. Sigh. Dion pulled Gina out from inside his shirt and held her close.

"Aria, stop teasing Gina," Dion said sternly.

"Okay... okay... I was just joking," Aria replied, throwing a playful glance at Gina.

"Mama’s eyes do NOT look like she’s joking!" the little girl’s voice shouted in everyone’s mind.

"Anyway, once we get there, no one gets drunk, behave yourselves, and mind your tongues. Got it?" Mei reiterated, changing the subject.

"Understood. I am a dignifying and refined former royal mage. There is no way I would act unseemly," Cleo stated, her tone cool and collected.

Everyone turned to look at Cleo, including Gina. In their minds, yesterday’s scene played back on loop: Cleo slamming her glass and yelling at the bartender for refills, crying while spilling her tragic backstory, bursting into laughter to mock people, screaming for more drinks, and throwing a full-blown tantrum.

"Huh... so much for a dignifying and refined royal mage."

That was the exact thought running through everyone’s head as they watched Cleo sit quietly at the far end of the carriage, legs gracefully crossed and arms folded elegantly over her chest.

Sigh. Sheila rubbed her temples. "Fine... fine... I get it. Yesterday I only drank because I was pissed at my kingdom, that’s all," Sheila grumbled.

"Yet no matter the occasion, you’re always the one drinking the most," Mei called her out.

"Ah... my bad, alright? Stop digging up the past, I promise I won’t do it again," Sheila snapped, growing irritated.

"And another thing, Mei... why are they here?" Aria asked, gesturing toward the spot beside Sheila.

Everyone looked toward the back of the carriage. Sitting directly across from Cleo and beside Sheila were two men dressed in black with face masks, fidgeting nervously under everyone’s gaze. It was obvious they were Shadow Hand operatives riding along with them.

"Oh, they’re just our escort. Besides, if we need to send a message to the King or vice versa, they can handle it. Don’t mind them," Mei explained.

"Hmm... so they’re basically walkie-talkies?" Dion asked.

"You could put it that way," Mei nodded.

"Fair enough, let them be then," Dion said casually, turning back toward the window.

The journey continued, filled with loud, lively, and cheerful banter. The two Shadow Hand operatives looked like they wanted nothing more than to melt into the floorboards and be anywhere else on earth.

By noon, a terraced city came into view at the base of a mountain. Its buildings were spread out, with thin trails of smoke rising into the sky. Rows of structures at the front made up the commercial district Aria had mentioned, while scattered houses further up the slopes served as inns.

The city looked stunning, blending seamlessly with nature thanks to its scenic mountain-foot location and the absence of dense forest nearby. To the left, a marked trail wound up the mountain, perfect for hiking and taking in the view. The whole city looked like a massive resort getaway.

"Wow... so that’s Springrock, huh?" Dion remarked, taking in the view from afar. It really feels like one of those vacation spots back in Asia, he thought to himself.

"Yep... beautiful, isn’t it? But remember, don’t..."

"Yeah, yeah, we know! You’ve been repeating yourself the entire ride, we get it, Mei!" Luna cut in, thoroughly annoyed.

"Yeah... I know the rules of this city," Aria added casually.

"Still... Springrock is even more gorgeous than I heard," Cleo murmured.

Everyone turned to look at Cleo. Her eyes were sparkling, her mouth parted in a wide, radiant smile, and her whole face beamed with hopeful enthusiasm. Everyone could practically hear her thoughts about wanting to retire here.

Noticing Dion, Luna, Mei, Aria, Sheila, and even Gina staring at her, Cleo’s face flushed bright red. Realizing she had broken character, she quickly straightened her posture and resumed her cold demeanor.

"Not that I actually care about vacationing here. Don’t forget, we’re only killing time until the decision regarding the ruins is finalized, right?" Cleo said, kicking the shin of the Shadow Hand operative sitting across from her, making him flinch.

"Y-yes, Your Highness," the operative stammered, caught off guard.

"Ha... keep pretending you’re just passing the time... anyone can see you’re dying to visit that town," Sheila pointed out, gesturing toward the city ahead.

"Hmph... mind your business, you brutish, unrefined muscle head," Cleo shot back.

"Ha?! What did you just call me?" Sheila took the bait instantly.

"Enough... we’re almost there... I’ve warned you guys so many times my jaw hurts," Mei interrupted, stepping between Sheila, who was rearing for a fight, and Cleo, who was ready to take her on.

"Sigh... please, you two are adults, stop acting like toddlers. You’re princesses, try to show some dignity," Luna chimed in.

"Right... we’re princesses, unlike you, you simple-minded airhead who only plays refined when Dion’s looking," Aria countered.

Luna snapped her head toward Aria, who was grinning cheekily. Luna’s face flushed deep crimson.

"What did you just say, you spoiled, reckless, brat princess whose only skill is running away from home?!" Luna shouted, a vein popping on her forehead.

"Argh... not again... stop it, all of you!" Mei yelled.

The carriage dissolved into chaos once more. Everyone started bickering, and Mei, in her attempt to break it up, got dragged right into the argument.

Dion could only watch as the five grown women with the mindsets of children bickered beside him, all while cradling Gina in his arms. He then glanced at the two Shadow Hand operatives, who were pressing themselves as flat against the carriage walls as physically possible. Though their faces were covered, Dion could read their sheer terror.

"I feel bad for them... but oh well... let them learn what traveling with women is really like," Dion thought to himself.

"Papa... what are the mamas doing?" Gina asked.

"Nothing, sweetie. They’re just talking," Dion replied.

"But... it looks like they’re fighting?" Gina pressed.

"Don’t worry about them. Just promise me when you grow up, you won’t end up like your mamas. Don’t inherit any of those traits, got it?" Dion asked.

"Okay... got it, Papa!" Gina squeaked, raising her little paw cheerfully.

The carriage rolled steadily toward Springrock, drawing closer by the second. Dion and Gina leaned their heads out the window, soaking in the fresh breeze and escaping the noisy carriage as the resort city expanded before their eyes.