Brought back to reality by the frail, smiling young man whose cheeks are so red he might catch fire, Nina nods in answer to his question.

"We can leave immediately. I've done my duty, but if it's possible, I'd like us to make a stop on the way."

Seeing the smile on this small young man's face widen even more, Nina fears his too lips may split.

Her brief anxiety disappears when the human who presumes too much of his own abilities reaches for her.

Certainly hoping that that she will gladly accept his gallant invitation, he moves closer to the beautiful girl watches him very briefly, then without even bothering to wait for him, heads for the long driveway.

"My family likes to receive guests, so you can expect a very lively evening. Royal Protector, why are you unaware of my presence? Let's walk as a couple would, it'll be friendlier."

…

Janius, son of Duke Aurel is very worried. In order to answer favourably to the desires of the beautiful woman he wants to marry, he ordered his driver to park his magnificent carriage in the middle town.

In this popular place where people devoid of any morals and ignorance of good manners live, it is not uncommon for n.o.bles to be victims of aggression.

Janius directs his gaze to his right. The insignificant little arms store built of rough stone in which is enter the one that is already in his mind, worries him.

Could it be one of those gang hideouts that attracts bandits from all sides?

Moreover, when he will become her husband, Janius is determined to make Nina a woman who will take a liking for more feminine outfits.

She has very s.e.xy long legs. Her waist is thinner than the columns in the garden at rest, and expose in the public eye her ample b.r.e.a.s.t.s is the duty of every good husband.

"In which sort of unsavoury place your dreams taken you for that your face has this that lecherous expression?"

Caught in the act of lewd daydreaming, Janius cannot fight the purple that invades his still slightly childish cheeks.

In order to defend himself against his beauty, whose words are often as sharp as her sword, the embarra.s.sed 18-year-old boy, shakes his hands in front of him.

"I was simply thinking about our delegation that is to travel to the Kingdom of Esope. In order not to hide anything from you, I am a little afraid to cross the borders of Antomea. Who knows what we'll find in unknown territory? I've heard the world is full of monsters and bloodthirsty killers. I've been thinking about it for a week and maybe it would be wiser to reinforce our protection with 10,000 extra troops."

Satisfied with her new purchase, Nina looks at the Adamantine wrist guard that the one who is considered to be the best blacksmith in the city has specially made at her request.

She doesn't deny that this Janius isn't a bad guy. Compared to many other humans, he is even a nice boy, yet Nina often wonders what's inside his pants.

"Mr. Aurel son, if indeed we would deploy such an army, there is no doubt that the neighboring Kingdom will consider this to represent a an aggression. Rest a.s.sured, I know few monsters who would dare to show their fangs in front of four hundred soldiers on horseback. As for these so-called bandits, when they see us, will run away immediately after wetting their underpants."

As he has often noted, when his self-proclaimed girlfriend laughs at him, she tends to call him by his last name.

For now, this detail is not the most disturbing thing for Janius who has just asked his coachman to go to his mansion.

He would like Nina to avoid talking like those rustic knights. That she be gentler, less masculine in her words, but if he mentions it, his future wife might yell at him again.

"So I'm rea.s.sured. I have in mind that to celebrate your presence, Dad will have asked the cook to prepare these little quails that you love so much. What a beautiful evening looms on the horizon. "

"Indeed! So beautiful that I wish it was already over."

…

Sitting at the end of the long oval table made of exotic wood, Duke Aurel is pleased that his son, weak as he is, has convinced this wild young woman to honour them with his presence.

The forty-four year old man, renowned for his elitist side, who, above all else, likes to rally to those who obtain the King's favours but don't hesitate for a second to abandon them as soon as the wind changes, has never shown mercy to the people.

With his eyes set on this beauty to whom he addresses a charming fake smile, the hypocrite is convinced that if this Miss could join his family, no more n.o.ble men would dare to stand up to him.

Indeed, she who protects their young King carries all the treasures of the Kingdom on her body.

From the holy armour of Antomea that would have been forged by dwarves six hundred years ago at the lion's sword whose rumored to claim it's a gift from the G.o.ds, in addition to being the daughter of a former General of the Knights promoted Viscount, everyone knows that if King Rasen refuses to take a wife, it is only in the hope of marrying her.

The past attests to the veracity of this fact. Two years ago, when the King was still only the Crown Prince, the whole Kingdom laughed discreetly when this young woman then aged sixteen, rejected his public request.

"Royal Protector, do you enjoy the quails accompanied by cha.s.seur sauce the cook has prepared especially for you."

These tasteless little birds covered with this sauce so thick that it masks their faint flavor...

As Nina taps these tiny winged creatures with her fork, her spirit carries her to a lonely little house.

When she was a child, she could devour a whole pheasant that her mother had prepared for her.

No sauce was needed to season those big, strong-tasting birds. The family didn't employ a cook, yet Nina is convinced that she will never again enjoy her meal as much as she did then.

In those happy times when she laughed around the table and fought food battles with her older brother at the risk of getting spanked, her family was ignorant of these useless good manners that often hide the worst thoughts.

Joy, simplicity, sincerity and love were enough to propel her regretted family far above all this human beings deceitful and ill-intentioned beings.

As this often happens when she lets her mind wander, a faint red tint hunts the yellow of her eyes.

Wandering in a past that will never return, seeing her family ma.s.sacred, Nina clenches her teeth.

Her fork presses so hard on the bird that after pa.s.sing through the tiny carca.s.s, she comes into contact with the porcelain. Under the excessive pressure of the silver cutlery, the thick white plate bearing the s.h.i.+eld of the Aurel family finally breaks into pieces.

"I hate those sneaky looking birds. They're frail, small, weak, tasteless, and they make me sick. Forgive me, but if I don't go home immediately, my father will be worried."