"Yy... young sir! The young miss is waiting!"

Ian opened the door of the carriage and bowed deeply.

'What?' The guards frowned with what Ian did.

Naga looked at the guards. He also looked at the gate where he saw a white carriage with the city lord's insignia.

"The young miss is waiting near the lake." One of the guards said and bowed.

"I see. Thank you." Naga nodded and smiled.

He went inside and walked towards the lake.

He saw Bella sitting on the stone bench. She's wearing a simple azure dress and a golden phoenix hair clip. A beautiful young woman comparable to the fairies and elves.

Bella noticed him and smiled, "It is my second time visiting your manor this week."

"What? Sorry." Naga frowned and said.

"Not your fault." Bella smiled and looked at the lake again.

She continued, "I just love this place. It is relaxing."

"That's good to know." Naga smiled and approached her.

He asked, "Something bothering you?"

Bella looked at her and smiled, "I heard that you always visit the commoner's town."

"Yes. I am helping the church in my free time." Naga responded.

He picked a pebble and threw it to the lake. It bounced a few times with a pleasant sound.

"You have a lot of free time then. Do you serve the church?" Bella frowned.

"Let's just say that I am fascinated with the story of St. Pierre of Naris." He smiled and threw another pebble.

"The patron of the poor." Bella said and smiled.

She continued, "Is this the reason why you help the orphanage too?"

Naga looked at him and smiled. He sat down on the gra.s.s and said, "No. I am visiting someone there."

Bella was surprised.

"A lady. A beautiful young woman. I heard that she is a servant of the church." Bella said with a low voice.

"Yes, she is. Do you know her?" Naga smiled and asked.

She lightly shook her head, "No."

"Do you want to meet her?" Naga asked.

Bella was stunned. She doesn't know what to say.

When she heard from their maids that Naga is always visiting someone in the town, she asked one of his guards to investigate. She decided to ask Naga after the guards reported to her that it was a beautiful young woman.

"I don't know. Not everyone have a lot of free time, do you think so?" She lightly smiled and said.

"The mansion won't mind giving you time for it, I guess?" He asked smiling.

"Lillie is a fine young woman." Naga stood up and said.

Bella trembled lightly after hearing it. She clenched her fists but she still tried to smile.

For a brief moment, she saw Naga looking at the lake with a melancholic expression.

She avoided his eyes when he smiled and suddenly looked at her.

She asked with a low voice, "What do you mean?"

"You are one of the people I trust." Naga said and looked at the lake again.

"Huh?" Bella was confused. 'What?'

"I hope that both of you become friends." He picked another pebble and threw it to the lake.

'Are you saying that I shoud act friendly to your wom...' She stopped because she was shocked with what she heard next from Naga.

"She's my only sister." Naga smiled and said.

He saw Bella looking at him with a blank expression.

He lightly bowed and said, "Please be good to her, young miss."

Bella is still not responding. She is only looking at him.

He looked at the lake again and said, "It seems that she doesn't have any friends in the town."

'His sister? Did I hear it right?' Bella is still looking at Naga with a blank expression.

"Naga... She is your sister?" She asked.

"Right." Naga looked at her and smiled.

"Hh... how?" She asked again.

"A long story." He lightly shook his head and smiled.

He continued, "Don't tell anyone. Only few from our House knows about it."

"Yy... yes! Of course! Not a single soul!" She said with a serious tone.

"We will be friends! Leave it to me!" She said with excitement.

'His sister! We will have a great friends.h.i.+p!' Bella happily thought to herself.

Naga was glad that Bella wanted to be his sister's friend too. 'I am thankful.'

They talked more about other things too and it was almost sunset when Bella decided to go home.

The guards and servants of the house were greatly astonished by looking at the two.

"The young miss really like our young master."

"Do you think so?"

"Hahaha! Of course!"

"I heard that she was already betrothed to a duke's son."

"Duke? Haha. They should cancel it. Our young master have dragon followers."

"Yes! Also, don't forget that Lord Willard is powerful as well and he will support our young sir no matter what!"

"You are right. They should not oppose my Boss!"

"Your Boss?"

The servants and guards only stopped when they saw Naga and Bella walking towards the gate.

Bella was about to enter her carriage when she stopped and asked, "I will go to the capital next month. Would you like to visit the great orc?"

Naga was surprised. He said, "Sure. Count me in."

"Thank you." She said and entered her carriage.

"Bye. Take care." Naga said and smiled.

Bella smiled at him and nodded.

The following day, Lillie was surprised when the young miss of the City Lord's mansion visited the orphanage.

Bella smiled and lightly bowed, "Greetings, Miss Lillie. My name is Bella."

"Princess, this..." Lillie was stunned.

"I have gifts for the children." Bella said with a bright smile.

"Why?" Lillie was greatly surprised.

"I know. This may not look sincere." Bella said.

"Th.. that's not what I mean. Sorry, princess." Lillie quickly apologized.

"It is fine." Bella lightly shook her head.

She continued, "Honestly, Naga asked me to be your friend."

Lillie was stunned. She doesn't say anything yet since she is waiting for Bella to continue.

Bella continued after a while, "However, all night I am thinking too if our family is really a good master to our teritory. My grandfather is still a duke but his political power is not as strong as before."

"We have a lot of enemies. We always focus with the military strength. We do not listen to the commoners anymore but please don't blame my sister. She is doing her best."

"We understand, princess." Lillie said with a warm voice.

"I am... I don't know how to help my family. Before meeting Naga, I don't have any goal or purpose. I am just a princess from a duke family." Bella said with a low voice.

"Perhaps with this, I can also help my sister. I can help her gain the respect and trust of our people." She clenched her fists and said with a resolute voice.

'A fine young woman.' Lillie smiled.

"Princess, how old are you?" She asked.

"I am fourteen, Miss Lillie." Bella answered.

"To be at your age and have that kind of goal, you truly deserve to be a n.o.ble princess from a duke's family." Lillie smiled and said.

"Thank you. Please call me Bella and not princess from now on." Bella said with a warm voice and smiled.

"You can call me Lillie. I am only seventeen this year. Let's be great friends." Lille said with a bright smile.

Meanwhile at the City Lord's Mansion.

"Bella went to the commoner's town with gifts and supplies." The City Lord said and looked at her grandfather.

"She is becoming a true n.o.ble lady now. She did find her own way of helping you." The old duke smiled and said.

"It is because of him." The City Lord looked at the window and smiled.

"I guess so." The old duke smiled too.

He continued, "I sent a letter to the House of Lightspear."

The City Lord was surprised, "I thought that we will wait and see?"

"I know but that old b.a.s.t.a.r.d supported the Seven Sword Society. He even let them stay in his teritory. I guess, doing it now is the right choice." The old duke said with a serious tone.

"I see. You are right, grandfather. With this, it will only show that we are supporting Lord Willard." The City Lord said.

"Yes, I hope that Bella will be happy with this." The old duke said with a low voice and sighed.

The City Lord approached the old duke and held his hands, "She will, grandfather."

The old duke warmly smiled at her. The engagement was one of his regrets in life.

The Profound Sky City is declining and this is because of the other dukes. Also, some members of the royal family is supporting the other dukes behind the curtains. There are members of the royal family who hated the Profound Sky Clan. It started when the ancestor of the Profound Sky forcefully asked for a prisoner to be pardoned. The royal family at that time was ridiculed since they obeyed a duke's order. At that time, the duke of Profound Sky controlled almost the whole military.