Chapter 73 – Banquet

Aile then headed to the first hall. Once he arrived, there were more murmurs of conversation and laughter. Aile realized that most of the guest were already here.

Even though he has arrived 20 minutes before the agreed start time. Once the big door opened, it got the attention of a lot of people as they looked at his direction. There was a one second of silence then the conversation and discussions continued.

Aile looked around and noticed quite a few familiar faces of the young nobles he had seen today.

Soon he saw Sara and the princess coming to his direction. Without any indication, Sara jumped for a hug. She held him tighter than before, and it lasted for many seconds. Without letting go, she asked, "Aile, I missed you. What took you so long?"

"I am always informed by you, today you were not there, so I was late. So it was your fault."

"Haha."

She then realized that the princess was behind her and let go of Aile and just stood next to him.

Aile bowed a little to her, then extended his hand with the alchemy grinder. The princess took the gift and started to examine it.

She looked at it with a smile and surprised expression. She then composed herself and said, "You did listen, your gift is ok. Next time you do better."

Contrary to what she said, she held the grinder with the utmost care. She then excused herself by saying that she will put the gift away. While a maid was standing behind her and she could do it for her. It seemed she really liked the gift.

Sara did not follow her and talked about her day. She had seen a lot of royalty and was mostly bored with so many traditions. The princess had sneaked out with her, and they ended up eating some food from the stalls, which was the highlight of her day. Then they came back here and apparently the princess had asked about Aile a couple of times. Sara thought that he might be in trouble with her. She then sighed in relief, seeing that the princess did not do anything to him.

She asked about Aile's day and his two new wives, Sara had an annoyed expression, as she mentioned them.

Aile gave her a brief recount, not dwelling too much on them. It seemed that it would be a while until she gets used to them. Sara held on to his hand and walked around. She squeezed his hand, exerting some pressure to prevent him from leaving. Of course, this was done unconsciously, and she did not notice it.

Sara walked around with him and gave him somewhat of a vague understanding of royalty and the nobles that were invited. Soon Princess Alice returned.

"Hey, thank you for the gift."

"I hope it was to your majesty's liking."

"Why are you so formal in front of me now?"

Sara noticed the displeased look that the princess was giving Aile. Instinctually she interjected, "Princess Alice, please forgive Aile, if he has been rude in front of you."

"Can you two please stop being so formal in front of me, and what is wrong with you, Sara? You were not like this a few minutes ago?"

Sara replied, "I just do not want others to think that I am rude to you."

Princess Alice sighed, "While we are alone, can you talk normally?"

"Ok."

Princess Alice then said as she looked at Aile, "And you, can I talk to you alone."

Sara looked very worriedly at Aile and then at the princess as she walked away and stood there, keeping her eye on them. She seemed to have a worried expression expecting Aile and the princess to fall out.

Aile then suddenly felt the bad omen again.

The princess asked curiously, "I know you were in the northern garden a few days ago. If you tell me what happened, I will not tell anyone."

"I am sorry princess you must be mistaken."

"Stop lying to me."

"Princess, why would I go to the northern garden, do you think that I am part of that group, that caused chaos in there?" Aile was surprised at Alice's question and reminded her to keep quiet, or he might be lumped with everyone else that started the chaos.

"Ok, since you are not going to answer, then tell me, do you hate me? Why did you save me and then leave me? Do you not like the royalty like Duke White? Are you really, my friend?"

Aile did not know what happened to her, but he was not going to hesitate after all he genuinely had no qualms with the royalty. They seemed pretty good so far, and she was friendly to him and Sara. "Why would I hate you, and why would I hate the royalty? Yes, of course, we are friends."

"If we are friends then why do you not trust me, tell me how are you so strong and how did we get away from the northern garden so easily."

Aile was not going to admit his involvement in the northern garden, no matter what it was risky. Nor was he going to mention how they got away without meeting many people there. Although her keen perception did surprise him.

"I am strong because I train every day."

Princess Alice realized that he was avoiding the Northern Garden topic and started to tear up because she felt he did not trust him.

Aile sighed, looking at the princess cry, but he was not going to risk his safety and allow other people to find out about his scheme in the northern garden. In fact, he was not even sure why the princess wanted him to admit. He was there, and she knew it.

But he did not want to see her cry, because it would make him the centre of attention and who knew if there was a crime in making the princess cry. So he tried to come up wit ha way to show his trust without admitting anything.

The princess was about to leave when Aile remembered something. He gently tapped her cheek, where he had kissed her and said, "Remember this."

He did not want to get to see the princess being mad again and quickly escape to Sara. Initially, the princess did not get it, but soon she remembered, blushed and started to stare daggers at Aile. But the little smile in her face remained.

She then changed her direction and was going to head towards Aile and Sara, when the door of the hall opened, and the royal army barged in.

They quickly spotted the princess and whispered something to her.

Aile had not enhanced his senses, so he did not hear it.

Then the princess shook her head and said something while running to the location of the gifts. There she picked up the old looking grinder as she followed the guards towards the exit. On the way, she looked at Aile and blushed a little. Once she reached the door, one of the royal guards shouted, "Quiet."

Then princess Alice talked with her gentle voice, "I am sorry something came up, and I have to leave. Please feel free to stay and have dinner before leaving."

Then the royal guards hurried her to leave.

Aile kept on feeling something was not right. He turned around and looked at Sara and whispered to her, "let's go."

Sara had always trusted Aile, and while everyone else was trying to figure out what was going on, they slipped out.

Aile wanted to be together with everyone at the tavern as the sense of danger kept on reminding him that something was not right.

Holding Sara's hand, they quickly walked out of the cottage.

"Is everything ok, Aile?"

"I feel something is wrong, It is better if we go back to the tavern and stay close to each other and not separate."

Sara held his hand even tighter as they almost jogged out of the tavern. They were heading back towards Siren's Song when the street food's smell drifted to their noses, making their stomachs grumble.

Aile quickly stopped in front of one of the stall and bought all the ready foods. They would need to have food for tonight anyway, so it was best to go back prepared.

They reached the tavern and quickly headed upstairs. Aile then told Sara to invite Hazel for dinner and ask her to join them in his room.

Sara was surprised, but she agreed.

Aile then entered his room and greeted Laila and Leia. He also told them to get their things packed and ready to leave if necessary. Aile had felt the unease for a while now, from his inherited memories, he knew that these warnings are generally accurate. It is better to not take them lightly.

Laila and Leia asked him why? Once they heard his explanation and how the princess was also gone in a hurry. They panicked a little and started to pack. They did not want to take the risk either, they knew many stories of how these premonitions had saved soldier's lives. Thus the new stuff that they bought were all packed and ready for transport.