She moves the teacup handle to her left and hesitates to lift it.
"Your Grace. You could've left me alone codeless, why help me?" She opened her mouth after deliberation
"Personal Reasons" Konrad didn't bat an eye and answered.
"I see." She lifts the hot chocolate and cups the side.
'It's still warm.'
They saved her and provided code for her. She wondered if someone else picked her up will they do the same?
'The Count is too smart not to notice the things I hide. My code Information might be unreadable but it is evident that I know about the existence of my titles but nevertheless he never pressured me for an answer. Does he respect my wishes or does he already know?'
"What do you want from me?" She mumbled in resignation, she can never read the count's expression.
No one said anything. She glances up to Konrad and his sight is focused at a heavy curtain hanging in the walls.
"What is in there?"
"My life."
She was taken back. His expression didn't change but his eyes showed longingness.
'...?!'
*bzzzt* bzzzt *
"Argh!" She dropped the hot chocolate when her head started to beat hard. Her vision starts to distort.
'Why now?' She grit her teeth. This pain is different from what she suffered after getting the code.This pain is familiar to her.
*bzzzt * bzzzt*
"Child!" Konrad reached up to her as she knelt on the floor with her head down. She suddenly looked up and met his eyes. The tears fell down in her cheeks.
"What is wrong, child?"
"Haaaa!! haaa! Please! st,stop" She dug her nails in the carpet and grabbed her tightening chest. Flashes of images run in her head. She cannot make anything out of it but a rollercoaster of emotions wash her, a sudden surge of overwhelming sadness fills her.
'Ha---s it al-way--s lo-oked th--is be-a-utif-ul?' There is a distorted voice ringing in her head. It sounded lonely. She can't stop herself from shedding tears.
'What was that?'
The visions stopped and she is catching her breath.
Unable to say anything, Konrad watched her tears fall continuously. He was reminded once again of her daughter, his beautiful Kaleena.
Konrad first knew the existence of this child. He hoped and prayed that it was his long lost daughter but when he finally saw the child he instantly knew she wasn't her. He was disappointed, angry and sad at the same time.
He was determined to know if that child is somehow connected to his daughter's disappearance. His acts are for his own reasons but for the first time, today, he saw how scared she might have been all this time. A girl with no memories and ignorant of the ways of the world.
Konrad reached out to her when the door burst open. Theo and Gio are standing at the door looking at an unexpected scene unfolding. Kaleena on her knees gasping for air and their father with a raised hand.
Theo, who acted first, disappeared from his brother's side and swept Kaleena away. He retreated to the other side of the room and held Kaleena's head and buried it in his neck like he was hiding her. Theo frowned as he felt the wetness of her cheeks. Konrad is greatly appalled at the situation.
Gio went to his brother's side and checked on Kaleena. Her tears continue to flow.
"Father. What is happening here?" Theo asked.
Konrad wanted to laugh at this ridiculous situation. He stood up and ran his hands through his silver hair.
"You got it all wrong, morons"
Gio and Theo didn't know what to do with their father's relaxed demeanor and their father called them 'morons'.
"Child, How are you feeling now?"
Kaleena flinched at Konrad's soft voice. She slowly looked in his direction.
"What happened?" She missed a few seconds of her life trying to get back to reality. She gives Theo a questioning look on what she is doing in his arms.
"You cried, Child and your stupid brothers are thinking of something stupid."
*bathump
'Brothers?' a ticklish feeling is scratching her insides.
"Ah. . . . terrible headache."
"Was it because of the code again?"
"No."
"You didn't shed a single tear after getting stabbed but you cried because of a headache?" Gio asked with an unbelieving tone.
"It's a terrible headache."
" And a stab is not terri--?"
"Son." Konrad cut his son's words and had his arms crossed while giving his son a cold smile.
Gio flinched and stepped slightly away.
"What exactly are you thinking I did to that child?" Theo and Gio grit their teeth after feeling the sharpness in Konrad's voice.
"Are you serious Father? Your hands are in the air and she is crying. What do you want us to think?" Gio said defensively.
"Oh. ho. ho. You think I am going to strike her?" More menacing aura came out of Konrad and only Kaleena didn't feel it. Both his sons gulped their saliva.
"Can you let me down?"
Konrad stopped his aura. Theo regained his composure and let her down. She unwrinkled her chocolate stained dress.
"I am sorry, your grace. It's my usual headache."
She bowed down politely. Before anyone opened their mouth she continued to speak.
"Since everyone is here I want to express my gratitude for letting me have Kaleena's code." She bowed down again.
They all become quiet. Theo was the first one to reach out. He silently patted her head while Gio looked away.
"Ahem!" Konrad cleared his throat
". . ." He looked at his sons with cold eyes. They both know what is coming next.
"Go back and rest." Konrad said to her
". . ."
"Do you have more to say?"
"Yes, your grace. I want to negotiate."
Konrad smiled lazily and guided her back to the receiving area.
"What do you want to negotiate?"
"If possible I want to stay here but of course I will pay for my stay."
Gio frowned.
"By what means?" Konrad asked. Theo and Gio look at their father with an unbelievable look but Konrad remains unbothered.
"By this." She summoned the inventory and a rain down of more than 20 luminous purple mushrooms. Based on their look they already know what she meant. They pick one each and observe it.
"I picked all of these up back in the forest. . . about two months ago"
"Intact and in good condition." Theo said as he observed the purple mushroom.
"How did you preserve them?" Gio asked.
"It's one of my abilities." This is one of the reasons why she insist on coming to the venture. To test out her inventory.
According to what she gathered, Subspace cannot store food but apparently her inventory can. She can store as many as she wants. She can also preserve and take the resources out of the forest without worries of spoilage.
"If this is it, it is still not enough to buy your noble status."
Aside from slight disappointment that it didn't shock the count, the plan went her way. She didn't hate a fair deal. She has the identity of not only a noble name but a count's daughter. It makes sense that the price will be quite high.
"Ofcourse, You can have it tested for purity."
The device used to preserve the resources decreases its purity essence to be able to survive outside the monster territories. The lighter the color the lesser concentration but still it fetches a high price.
The resources she gathered didn't change color so she wondered what if she can also preserve its concentration?
Konrad looked confident.
"Is that it? Do you think this is enough?" He provoked her.
"Of course not, your grace. She released different kinds of herbs, fruits and wild mushrooms. The rain of resources didn't stop for a while.
'Two months ago? She didn't wake up the whole trip back. . . . . was it when she and father got separated? then father would've known. . .' Gio glanced at his father and he saw a slight twitch at his forehead.
'He doesn't know?!'
'Was it when she . . . while killing monsters? When did she ever find time?' Gio was more intrigued on how she managed to gather these resources between life and death situations.
"You will be providing us resources in payment for your stay here.Then I assume you can only pay until our exclusive rights to the resources expire."
The corner of her mouth arched up slightly. "It's not good to assume I can only afford the minimum price for the noble name."
"Are you that confident?"
"Set the price and send it to me, Your grace."
"Very well then."
"Also I have a favor to ask."
"What is it, child?"
"I don't want to be called 'Young lady'" The three of them looked at her questioningly.
"What do you want to be called?"
"Young Master." She said seriously until Gio laughed.
"It's not a problem but why?"
"I am not the Young Lady of your family." She said it was emotionless but deep down being called 'Young lady' irritated her. She doesn't understand why.
They all fell silent at her words and strange enough the atmosphere didn't turn cold.
She added one more thing "Did Kaleena have a nickname or pet name?"
"No, she doesn't have one. She's always been Kaleena."
"I see. Then I would like to be called Kali."
"You don't have to go that far." Theo said soothingly.
"I might not remember my name but I want my own identity. I am not her" Her straight words prick their hearts.
"We understand, Kali." Konrad said.
"and I need your help with my wolf. . ."