Laif's Intentions

Laif peeked at the girl beside him and suddenly hesitated. The truth was, he had other intentions when he tried to get close to her.

When he had found out that she was working with the Princess's palace, Laif has wanted to get close to her and hope that someday, she will help him in finding the magical artifact that he was looking for.

As someone who had worked in the palace for a long time, she should know the palace very well. She should have her connection in the palace.

Moreover... he had saved her life once. She wouldn't mind doing something for him to repay his kindness, right?

However, as he continued to interact with her, Laif was worried that she might be too naive and trustworthy. For someone like her to be placed beside the Princess, then, wouldn't the Princess be in danger next?

"Why did you traveled to Noa Kingdom and applied as the Princess's knight?"

He snapped out of his thought when he heard her voice again. "Hmm," Laif frowned as he took some time to ponder. "I love traveling. And living among the non-practitioners is pretty good too."

"You love traveling?" Amelia watched him for a while and continued. "But with your martial arts and swords skills, you could easily climb up to the highest position in your country. You could easily become a general and lead any battle. Why would you apply as a Royal Knight?"

It was no secret that wars were going on between some countries in the Western Continents. Even as a non-practitioner, with good skills, Laif would no doubt be able to hold a high position in his country.

"You flattered me too much," Laif smiled. After a while, his smile disappeared with a sigh. "You're right. I could easily climb up to a high position with my skill. But to climb up to a higher position I will need to be involved in politics. And I had enough of politics. That's why I came here and applied as a Royal Knight. As the Princess's Royal Knight, we are forbidden from involving ourselves in politics. Our sole purpose is to protect the princess in any kind of danger. We only obey the Princess and not even the nobles can move us, isn't that right?"

Amelia nodded at his explanation. "But why Noa Kingdom? There are a few other countries in the Eastern Continents."

"Hmm… I wonder why. I don't know. I guess," Laif paused. He had a cheeky expression on his face when he turned to look at her. He shrugged and answered, "Maybe fate brought me here?"

"Fate?"

Amelia gave him a confused look. She decided that Laif was a strange man. She still couldn't comprehend why he joined as a Royal Knight, but she could tell that he wasn't a dangerous man. Her instinct told her that he didn't try to get close to her to cause her any harm. At least not for any political benefit like Commander Irvine had suspected.

"You know, you still haven't told me your name," Laif said, snapping her out of her trance. "Or is your name is as secretive as your position in the palace?"

When Amelia looked up, she could see a small playful smile on his face. Amelia clenched her hand into a fist to control her anxiety and breathed. "Amelia. My name is Amelia."

"Amelia?" Laif watched her head bobbed up and down. "That's a very pretty name."

"Thank you," she said meekly. Amelia stopped her pacing when she heard a noise not far away from them. She turned around and noticed a small crowd of people lining towards a shop.

Seeing this situation, Amelia could not help but wonder why people were gathering around. The surrounding was too lively and noisy. It almost looked like a festivity was going on.

Laif noticed that her attention was somewhere else and decided to follow her gaze. A smile appeared on his lips when he saw some people were gathering in front of a pub.

He had visited that pub with Kain when they first arrived in Noa Kingdom, and therefore, Laif was aware of why those people were gathering around.

Laif turned to the girl and smiled. "Would you like to hear some stories?"

"What kind of stories?"

Laif grabbed her wrist and pulled her towards the pub. "Come on. You will know soon."

Amelia did not even have the chance to utter a protest. However, when she saw that he was taking her to where the crowds gathered, Amelia began to relax.

With Laif's help, the two of them go through the people and stopped in front of the door where two burly men stood to guard.

One of the burly men with a scar on his right eyebrow raised a brow when he saw Laif. "You again? You're here for Storyteller Zak?" He swung the door open and let them in. "Come in."

Amelia adjusted her eyesight as they entered the slightly dark room. A few torches and lanterns were hanging around the place, but still... Amelia thought that there was not sufficient light source in the room.

Her eyes roamed around to look at the heavy wooden table and chairs, then, at the people around the place. Some were sitting alone, and some were with companies. They were mingling and drinking without care, but still, Amelia could see that the people were seated according to their classes.

Afraid that she might stumble into someone she knew, Amelia began to pull at her hoodies.

Soon, Laif took her to sit down at a table so close to a small platform. A plump woman in a tight dress walked over to them and Laif ordered two glasses of lemonade cider.

The plump woman gave them a look over but soon walked away once she grabbed the silver coins that Laif had placed on top of the table. It did not take her too long to come back with two glasses of those drinks, along with a small bowl of nuts and seeds.

Laif pushed the bowl to Amelia and said, "Have some. It's good to munch on these while we're listening to the stories."

Amelia took a piece of peanut and studied it as if she had never seen it before. Then, she turned to look at Laif. "What is this place?"

"Have you never been to a pub before?"

Amelia shook her head and Laif stared at her with surprise.

"Not even once?"

"I told you that I wasn't allowed to get out of the palace often," Amelia lowered her head.

Laif had thought that she was only joking. After all, he did catch her sneaking into the palace once. It turned out that this girl was even more naive than he thought.