A Journey That Changed The World. - Chapter 1622 - 1622: Edith And Meredith
Archer and Anatoly continued chatting until they left for the capital, thanks to a riot breaking out, causing Yevdokiya to look concerned. He allowed the duo to use a portal, which all of them and the soldiers entered. Once alone, Aisha called out to him. ”Come over here and try some of this pasta, handsome! It’s delicious.”
He rejoined the Dragonkin woman and started eating as the owner began bringing out more dishes. While this happened, he handed the older man a handful of gold coins and spoke. ”Bring me all your best ale, we need drinks to wash all this stuff down.”
”Yes!” the inn owner exclaimed. ”I’ll go get them right now, my lord.”
Following that, the man rushed off as Archer continued dining on all the delicious foods in front of him. Just then, he called for one of the Imperial Guards, giving him a pouch, he said. ”Go buy all the chocolate you can, the city should have some, it’s a trade center after all.”
The soldiers saluted before a group of them left the inn behind. Once they were gone, Aisha commented, a curious expression crossing her face. ”What are you planning to do now?”
Archer was about to reply until something crashed into him, causing chaos to erupt. He looked down only to see a child of the age of six clinging to his side. An angry man and woman rushed toward them, but he noticed the young boy was different compared to others, prompting him to speak. ”What’s wrong, little one?”
”Hungry… Want to try some of your food,” he whispered.
Aisha was just about to react, but Archer held up a hand. ”Okay, let’s get you seated and I’ll sort out a plate.”
The little boy beamed as he hugged him, horrifying the parents who tried to drag him back. The father grabbed the child’s hand. ”I’m sorry, my lord. He doesn’t understand normal ways of behaving.”
”Don’t worry about it,” Archer reassured. ”Join us with him, he wants to try some of the food.”
When the parents heard this, their faces paled, and the mother pleaded. ”We have no coin to afford such luxury; we could afford the cheapest meal.”
”Did I mention coin?” he asked, eyebrow arched. ”Join your son, you can eat some of this with me and my wife.”
The humans looked hesitant, but Aisha reassured them. ”Come, if he offered, I won’t complain.”
Following that, the three sat opposite them as Archer placed plates in front of them, asking. ”Is there any in particular you’d like?”
”Monster meat!” the little boy said.
”Henry! Stop shouting!” his father scolded.
Archer laughed at this and waved it away. ”It’s fine, no one will say anything.”
After speaking, he handed the family a bunch of food just as the owner returned with the alcohol. Aisha quickly sorted it out, offering some to the mother and father, who looked tired. When witnessing this, they looked at him like he was strange, as the woman questioned. ”Are you planning to enslave us? I heard you Novgorod nobles like to do such things.”
When Archer heard this, he started chuckling as the Dragonkin beauty explained to make things clear. ”No, we won’t enslave you, we’ve outlawed that in our homeland, and my husband here isn’t a noble but an emperor.”
The family’s faces dropped, but the little boy was too busy eating the chunk of meat covered in spices. Archer laughed at Aisha’s words, causing him to reassure them. ”Don’t worry, I just have a soft spot for children thanks to having thirteen of my own.”
The mother was shocked but introduced herself. ”I’m Selvina, and this is Roy Highbrood. We came from a nearby village after being run out thanks to little Hay here. People see that he’s different and don’t understand him.”
”So where are you living now?” Aisha inquired, curious at their answer.
”Nowhere,” Roy responded, looking downtrodden. ”I’m a gardener, but thanks to the war, no noble needs a garden.”
Archer’s eyes widened before looking at Selvina. ”And what do you do?”
”A personal maid,” the older woman blushed, and her husband bristled. ”I am a skilled accountant and worked for the imperial family, but was laid off and moved to the village where I met my husband.”
Everyone went quiet as Roy covered Hay’s ears as Selvina offered something that upset the older man, but the couple didn’t care. ”If you need someone to tend to your needs, I’m experienced in such matters.”
”No, thank you,” Archer instantly rejected such things. ”You can be a maid under my wife, but no sexual stuff, I have many wives for such things and don’t expect it from my staff.”
Aisha coughed, giggling. ”Apart from Edith and Meredith,” she teased.
”Shut up, you,” he replied, poking the older woman in the side, making her yelp.
After that, Archer continued. ”You both can relax, I don’t intend to take any more women. I have over forty to deal with, and that’s plenty.”
Roy coughed up some ale he was drinking when he heard that and looked at him like he was a monster. ”How do you deal with so many? Selvina, here is enough for me.”
Aisha was the one to laugh at this; she shook her head, answering. ”Time magic and a lot of stamina. He can tend to all of us and still have some energy.”
The parents gazed at Archer, their eyes wide with astonishment at the Dragonkin’s words. His voice took on a grave tone as he issued a firm warning. ”To serve under me, you both must swear a mana oath, a sacred, unbreakable vow to never betray me, my family, or the empire. Only then will you be welcomed into our ranks, and I promise you’ll be well provided for.”
Selvina agreed without hesitation, her enthusiasm captivating him. As she stepped closer, Archer’s breath caught at her striking beauty. Her long green hair flowed like a cascade, catching the light with every movement, framing a face that was both bold and enchanting, considering she was a villager in the middle of nowhere.
The gorgeous woman’s large red eyes shimmered with a sultry intensity, drawing him in like a moth to a flame. Her figure was a vision of voluptuous curves, each one accentuated by a form-fitting dress that clung to her body in all the right places, the fabric straining ever so slightly against her chest.
Though smudged with the dirt and grime of her life, the faint sheen of her skin beneath only heightened her raw, untamed beauty, making her seem like a goddess emerging from the wilds. Archer’s gaze lingered, captivated by her sensual presence, until he was jolted back to reality by Roy’s sharp glare.
The older man’s expression changed with barely concealed jealousy as he noticed Selvina’s gaze fixed on the much younger man, eyes sparkling with a seductive, almost teasing glint. The air crackled with tension, and Archer cleared his throat, forcing his focus back to the matter of the oath, determined to quell the rising heat in the room.
”We’re willing to do it,” Selvina revealed. ”Especially since you don’t look at Hay like a freak.”
”He seems alright to me,” Archer replied. ”Even though we just met.”
Just then, one of the Imperial Guard commanders appeared, a worried expression on his face as he informed them. ”Empress Olivia said we’d better leave Verdantia now or we’ll be caught in the coming storm.”
”Alright, let’s get back to the fleet,” Archer responded, standing up and looking at Selvina. ”Come with us.”
He then glanced at Roy. ”And the hate you seem to have manifested for me has revoked the offer. Your family is welcome to join unless you take the oath.”
The older man bristled before Archer walked off as Aisha caught up with him, a smirk crossing her pretty face. ”You’re gonna to claim her ain’t you?”
”Maybe,” he shrugged. ”She offered sexual stuff and I’m not into my Charisma charming women forcing them into situations, but now I’ve dialed it back and she shows interest, then I’ll take her off her stupid husband who will end up in a Draconia prison pit.”
”So it was your charm that caused her to ask that lewd question? In front of husband no less, and why do you think that?”
”Yes, it was, it doesn’t affect you women because we’re a couple, but to others it does,” he answered. ”And he’s a drunk and hiding it very well,” he revealed, his violet eyes glowing. ”He stole several bottles when we weren’t looking and will be caught by the soldiers on the ship home.”
”I’ll make sure he doesn’t enter the private quarters,” the redhead reassured. ”And we won’t say anything, just don’t rush into things, there’s enough of us like you said.”
”The only thing that interests me is that she’s like Brooke and Mary, a beautiful older woman who seems caring,” Archer said, chuckling to himself. ”It doesn’t mean I’ll add her to the harem, there are many others who I could bring in, but I don’t, flirting with someone doesn’t mean they’ll join.”
”Yes, I’ve experienced this,” Aisha giggled. ”They come to us complaining, but that was years ago now.”
