Chapter Four

The Reosra barony currently known for their bountiful harvest over the past few decades due to the baron's hard work of using his power to enrich the land.

However, those who have lived in the barony before William married Annabeth, the Reosra family was known for their power of communion with animals.

Magic that allows an individual to communicate and earn the trust of animals.

And now, a little past midnight,

"Come on in"

Before Lalaine could have knocked on the door, the baroness commanded with a cold tone.

"Understood"

As Lalaine opened the door she immediately saw a man's neck about to be eaten by the baroness' pet tiger.

"Cats are so useful. They prevent diseases from spreading by getting rid of the pesky vermin before they could even taint our land. Don't you think so, dear?" Baroness Annabeth asked as she comb her pet's shiny fur.

The two tigers behind the baroness went towards Lalaine and shut the door.

"Rrrrrr!"

Despite knowing who Lalaine was, the two tigers were seriously intimidating her under the command of Annabeth, the one who raised them.

"I do believe that is the case, mother. But... may I know why uncle Robin is being held down?"

"Nothing much. This is just my way of venting out my anger about you leaving"

Lalaine was shocked, thinking that one of her mother's cats was monitoring her.

"...? By any chance, did-"

"If you are thinking either Nathan or your father said anything about it, my answer is no. It's just that for some reason, there is always someone who wants to run away from the family, like you and your uncle over here. Another good example is my aunt.

I suppose it is in our blood"

Annabeth scoffed as if she was reminded of all the stress the runaways caused her in her younger days.

As I sat down, I felt like a child who was caught red handed after doing something mischievous for some reason.

"If that's the case, can you now please tell Scarlet to back away, sis?"

The man who was on the floor, pleaded without moving his head.

"Scarlet, my baby, come here~"

The tiger with an unusual slight reddish hue who was pinning down uncle Robin by the neck happily went to mother's side and purred like a kitten.

Lalaine handed a handkerchief for Robin which he gladly accepted.

"For someone whose power is stronger than mother, how come you didn't talked your way out yourself?"

Lalaine whispered to Robin as he wiped the saliva on his neck.

"That's because sis was the one who raised Scarlet. It doesn't matter if I have a stronger power when Scarlet is loyal to her mother, does it?"

That does sound reasonable.

Their power only allows them to 'communicate' after all.

"Seriously... haaa.... Lalaine, where are you planning on going to?"

As soon as Annabeth spoke, the two instinctively looked down and avoided eye contact.

They could tell how pissed and tired of dealing with the same matter Annabeth was.

"To the Lerdin countdom. I want to further increase my knowledge in agriculture in their public library"

"Alright. Then, Robin, since Vualen is nearby I'm going to trouble you with taking care of my daughter"

"Rest assured that nothing will happen to my niece. Besides, its better that someone will be helping her unlike me who had to venture outside without receiving any sort of help from anyone"

Annabeth glared at Robin for a moment as if she wanted to raise argument but decided to back away.

Hearing them talk, I can tell mother had a tough time because of uncle's adventuristic side.

"Lalaine"

"Yes, mother?"

"Tell me your plan as to how you will be staying in Lerdin"

As she asked that question, Lalaine felt an overwhelming pressure from the piercing gace her mother casted upon her.

"About that... I have decided to change my appearance by using my experiments and work as an apothecary"

"You can change your appearance?"

Uncle asked, his eyes shone with great interest.

"Yes. I have created a dye that can be applied to my hair to change its color as well as makeup that can temporarily change my skin tone. That way, I won't be recognizable even if I were to wear a veil"

"Lalaine!"

Uncle Robin grabbed my hands.

"Sell the recipe and the process to me! I will be sure to pay for it well!"

"...? Is it that valuable?"

Mother asked with genuine curiosity. She was deliberating whether this was a ploy by uncle or not.

"Of course it is! N'hara is at war with the dukedom of Caxia. If there is a way to create a long lasting dye for hair, the people of N'hara can infiltrate Caxia after fabricating a false identity!

Instead of wigs that can be removed, if the color of their hair itself were to change into something that is common in Caxia won't it be useful to us?"

"I also have contact lens that can change your eye color"

"REALLY? That's even better!!!" Robin smiled to the point his smile started to become similar to a clown's smile.

"....."

As Robin kept on talking to himself about the use of the products, Annabeth was at a loss for words as she was being ignored in the middle.

Uncle then became busy explaining to mother the potential that hair dye and contact lens possess, while mother was busy contemplating about what to do.

"To begin with, is it even possible to mass produce them?"

After asking that question, uncle stopped and looked at me.

"It is possible but the problem is the shelf life of the dye. Especially since it is hot and humid here in N'hara. Unless you were to apply it quickly, the dye itself will go bad if stored poorly"

"Does it have to be stored somewhere cold?"

"It has to be stored somewhere dry and cool, just like now"

Lalaine spoke about the current temperature in the room was which got Robin thinking.

As someone who lives in N'hara and as a merchant who values the quality of their product, Robin begun to think of methods he could do.

"...If so, then it is manageable. With that said, will you sell it to me?"

"Of course. We can talk about it later though"

"Gladly!" He answered with a smile.

...

A few days later after persuading mother, I finished saying my goodbyes to the others as uncle's merchant group was preparing to leave to go back to Vualen.

"My lady, can you really not bring me along?"

"I cannot Layla. I apologize for leaving you so suddenly. Without prior word at that"

"No. Do not apologize my lady.... sniff" Layla held back her tears to appear mature in front of her young lady but failed to keep it all in.

"Make sure to take care of my sister for me in my absence"

"Naturally!"

A group of carriages were forming a line, with each carriage being drawn by a horse or two.

I have to say, the carriages are in a more stable looking state than I initially thought.

The wheels of the carriage had a layer of rubber like film, which was weird. Not only because of how it was being used but because of the markings it has which is identical to the ones in Earth.

I then got on the carriage as uncle's group headed to Vualen.

With his arm as an invitation Robin cheerfully said, "Come on in"

Lalaine grabbed onto his arm and went inside the carriage as she casted away her thoughts regarding the carriage wheels.

"I hope you didn't forgot anything"

Uncle Robin kept on stealing glances at my suitcase that was filled with my research since I was a child.

"Please do not think of anything that may force me to cut ties with you"

Lalaine said with a serious tone.

"I don't have any intent of stealing it... I am just curious to see what sort of other things you may have come up with!"

Robin looked at Lalaine with fascination, like a weirdly unique toy that keeps on surprising you about its hidden uses.