Shhhh, don't let them know I like gold (III)

Another beautiful day. I swear the air in this world is cleaner than the world that I come from. I don't remember how I know this, but it seems like I do. Grandma Mary and Phil finally packed up and put their large bags into the carriage. For a noble son, I'm in awe that their carriage looks so rickety and beat up. Even the paint was flaking off.

With their ordeal over, we finally got on the carriage and left towards the destination. It has been two days, going on to the third. My butt was cramping from the rough ride, and my legs were becoming tight. How were these people able to stay in the carriage without being exhausted? This was a mystery in itself.

We arrived during the setting of the sun. I was half asleep.

"Berry. Wake up. We're here." Phil shook me awake. I slurped and looked around, dazed. This was not a lady like at all, but who cares. I'm a dragon, and I'm tired.

"We're here?" I got out of the carriage with the help of Phil. My legs were shaking from the long, arduous ride, that it was difficult to even walk. "I'm having difficulties standing up. I need your help."

Phil sighed as he reluctantly took my hand. "How is it that you can't even sit in the carriage without getting weak. Are you sure you have not been pampered your whole life?"

I thought it over for a minute. Yep. I have been in the castle, but that did not mean I rode carriages everywhere. I could fly, so there wasn't any purpose in riding one.

"I never rode in a carriage before." Grabbing his arms to steady my shaking legs, I took baby steps until finally, I was able to hold my ground.

Glancing around, I noticed that we were in front of a large estate. It didn't even compare to the castle that I lived in. Instead, it looked a bit run down, although the place was well kept. Servants appeared out from the estate and quickly unloaded the baggage.

"Come on, you two." Uncle Jeremy called out to us. He had on a hat, and a black walking stick dangling on his arm like a gentleman and walked towards the building. Grandma Mary was being helped by Uncle Jeremy as she wrapped her arms around his elbow.

I couldn't help but be amazed at the place around me. It reminded me of the renaissance building that you would see in Europe. Information about my past life kept streaming into my mind.

We continued on inwards, up flights of stairs, and finally came upon a large room. Compared to the outside, the inside was much more beautiful with hanging candle lights, paintings of lords and ladies, and expensive-looking curtains.

Jeremy knocked on the door first and entered with Grandma Mary. We trailed behind them and noticed an old man hunched over on the desk. He didn't look sickly at all, but instead was busily working on his papers with a quill pen. Even still, the Duke was in his prime, small streaks of gray hair decorated his head and lines indicate his age. My guess was that he was in his late fifties, just like Grandma Mary.

"Father." Uncle Jeremy called out. "I've brought over grandmother and your grandson."

The old man with his bushy mustache stopped what he was doing and looked up. His eyes gleamed with delight when he saw Grandma Mary.

"Mary. It's been a while."

"I'm surprised that you are still around and kicking." Grandma Mary eyed him skeptically.

"There was no other way to persuade you to come back."

"True, but to lie about your health. You know that I dislike that." Grandma Mary was giving him a death glare.

"I'm sorry. I just wanted to see you once again. I really do feel like my weary bones can not hold on much longer. Is that wrong for me to ask for?"

Grandma Mary's demeanor changed into a caring old woman. "If you have just called for me. I would have replied."

"I thought you were still mad at me."

"I am."

"Then please forgive this wretched soul. Instead, I would like to talk with you later in private."

Grandma Mary nodded and smiled. I could see that Duke Hon loved Grandma Mary by his tone of words and demeanor, but just as quickly as it was shown, it disappeared when he glanced towards me.

"Who might this young lady be?"

"This is Berry. I adopted her into the family when we were living out in the Forgotten Forest."

"Berry, is it?" I could feel him looking me over with skepticism as he glanced over my ears. For a split second, I thought I felt a hostile air around him, but it disappeared in seconds.

"Yes, My name is Berry Drakel. I wish to stay for a while if you permit." I spoke with confidence and stared back, not shaken by his gaze.

Duke Hon was surprised by my boldness and instead was interested. "Living here is not free. What would you do to compensate for your stay?"

"Hons!" Grandma Marry scolded him. He raised his hands to stop her. "She is part of the family now."

"I do not mind working honestly. I can also compensate with money for a couple of months. I was not expecting to stay for a long period." I did not like the thought of being a freeloader to an unknown family, plus I was staying with them because of Phil until I figured out what to do.

"Will you now? Even if the work would be considered unsavory?"

"I do not mind at all. I understand that nothing is given freely. To obtain something of equal value, one must give something back in return."

"How long did you expect to stay?"

"Um...for now six months."

"Six months? Berry, you're part of the family now." Grandma Mary's voice was filled with disappointment.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner. If we were going to stay at your place, I would have stayed longer, but this place is not something that I can impose myself on when I'm more of an uninvited guest."

"Six gold coins for three meals a day, a place to sleep for six months, or will you work off your stay for six months?" Duke Hon quietly waited for my reply.

"Would it be possible for six gold coins, three meals a day, a place to sleep, and a contract for me to work? I do need some extra money." I swear I felt like I was bargaining at an inn just to stay for six months.

Everyone was silent. Phil's face was staring at me curiously, even Uncle Jeremy was stupefied with what I had to say. My guess was that he did not expect me to have anything on me.

I rummaged through my pocket, which was able to hold a large amount of gold. It did have a unique ability to store away many things. I pulled out six shiny gold coins with the imprint of a dragon head on it and placed it on Duke Hon's table. They stared in shock at the gold that was in front of them.

My snack. I wanted to cry, but I stopped myself from taking back the gold coin that was present on the desk.

Duke Hon picked up a gold coin and carefully examined it. "It can't be. Ancient Dragon gold coins." He stuttered in awe. "To even see six in one place, Miss Drakel, where did you come across these?"

"An heirloom." I did not want to indulge any further.

"Six Ancient Dragon Gold coins are equivalent to three gold coins for one gold coin in our currency. Two would have been efficient enough as it is, though I did not expect you to even have any gold in the first place." Duke Hon placed the gold back on the table. "I'm surprised that you did not know this." He scratched his beard, wondering what I was thinking.

I was astonished.

"You may stay here for two years."

That was an unexpected outcome that I did not foresee. It made me realize that I was eating something costly for my own health, and I had a massive horde of gold back in the castle. What was more surprising was that Duke Hon did not cheat me out of my money, nor did I sense a hint of greed from him. I felt like this whole time. It was more of a test to see if I was eligible to stay or not.

"Thank you. I appreciate your kindness." I bowed.

"I look forward to your stay. Phil takes her to the extra room next to yours. She is in your care from now on."

"Yes, grandfather." Phil bowed. Even though Duke Hon did not say anything else to him, he was relieved to get out of the place.

We both left the room and made our way to the room that Duke Hon had specified.

"The one on the right is yours. The left one is mine." Phil pointed. "Though I bet you are hungry from that long ride."

I nodded. Right now, I really wanted to take a chomp out of a couple of gold coins in my pocket. I was not even able to make a single bite these past three days. I was feeling a bit lethargic and woozy from not eating gold. I swore at this wretched curse for wanting to eat gold. This was the one downside that I noticed until now. I did not want to think about what would happen to me if I did not have gold for a month. I would probably look wretched and weak or something. It was a theory that I did not want to chance upon.

"Stay here for a moment. I'll go get someone to bring us a meal." Without further instruction, he quickly left with a goal in mind.