Thirteen

"Hey brother!" Historia waved her hands as she was running closer to Redam. 

"Hi, my sister!" Redam exclaimed, sprinting towards her to hug her. "My beautiful sister is here!" he exclaimed. His grip became increasingly tight, preventing Historia from breathing. Typhis simply laughs at Historia's face. 

"What are you doing here, My Lady?" The knight who had called her name approached her and bowed in front of her. He looks at Typhis, who is sitting on the ground beside her. "A fox with a mermaid tail? What a weirdo," he asks, which irritates Typhis and causes Historia to snicker.

"I came here to pick myself a knight, Father told me to pick here," Historia said, smiling as she looked around. However, no one piqued her interest except the man who was cleaning earlier and has now left. "Can I observe first?" she inquires. 

"Yes, you can, My Lady." 

They are now walking with Redam on the training ground, where the knights were training. "I don't like them, they're not good; could you train them harder? They lack skills," Typhis says in Historia's mind. He keeps yapping about how bad their knights are and how they need to improve, despite the fact that, as he previously stated in her grandmother's home, Crane Duchy knights are far superior to Royal Knights. Historia quickly asks her brother about it, and what Typhis has repeatedly said is accurate as Redam started to talk about Crane's History. 

She also asked about her grandmother and wanted to talk about it. Historia learned something new from her brother about their history. She hadn't read anything about the Duchy's history yet and it was a good chance that her brother was able to talk about everything. He even gave her books to read from the library. 

It's been hours and she still hasn't chosen a knight, so she walked away from the training grounds and decided to stay in the pavilion to drink tea with Sally and Typhis in his human form. 

"What if someone sees you?" Historia asks. Typhis is just sitting in a chair with his arms crossed. As usual, his expression is cold and intimidating. 

"I can easily sense their presence if they're near, you dumb," Typhis replied, looking at her seriously, which enraged Historia.

"I am just concerned, you know! You don't have to call me dumb, weirdo!" Historia yelled as she ate a piece of cookie. That's when the fight began again. Sally touches her forehead as they continue to fight, as if they are not tired of each other. She can't even count how many fights they had today.

It has been days since then, and the Duchess' Birthday Celebration will take place two weeks from today. She wanted to choose a dress on her own at the expensive and famous clothing store, but her father won't let her go alone, and she still hasn't chosen a knight. 

She's looking for the man they saw a few days ago, but she can't find him anymore. When she tried to ask his brother Redam, he said he was on his way to join the other knights on an expedition in Schuvenia Forest, near Baron Dasch's residence. They believe that monsters lurk in the forest. Since winter will arrive in the coming months, a ferocious winter monster will emerge from the Schuvenia forest. 

Fortunately, Zion pays a visit to the Duchy, which makes Historia happy, and she dashes towards Zion, grabbing him to accompany her, along with Sally. 

"You haven't chosen a knight yet?" Zion asks, sitting in front of her with his hands on his chin. They were now at Crane's carriage, along with Sally and Typhis, who had taken on animal form. "What kind of beast is that?" Zion asks, noticing Typhis sitting on Historia's lap.

"Why?" Historia looks at Typhis, who is irritated by Zion's words. "I just found him in the garden. I pity his situation so I took him in my room and took care of him," she went on to say. The word pity irritated Typhis even more, and he wanted to fight Historia, but he couldn't because he needed to hide in his animal form. 

When they finally arrived in Crystalmire. This place was only open to aristocrats and not to the general public. This place is only for aristocrats with the highest authority, particularly the big five families wielders of elements. Zion assists Historia in exiting the carriage. She was dressed in a stunning white and blue dress with ribbon laces and diamond crystals. With a blue beautiful ribbon in her hair that made her look adorable and even more beautiful.

'It's best if I don't meet Lady Vivian here because if we do, I'll run and hide from her!" Historia thought to herself as she walked around, looking for a clothing store. There were many women, daughters of aristocrats, strolling around with friends and maids. 

When they noticed Historia's presence, they immediately began gossiping, and they were even surprised that Zion was with her, which was extremely unusual. 

"Why is Zion with her?" Isn't she the rumored Historia Crane? I can't believe I can see her here!" 

"Cheap people must go to cheap places, she doesn't belong here."

All of the rumors she heard from them were simply repeated, and she isn't bothered because she is used to it from her previous life. Zion just looked at her, concentrating on finding a store that piqued her interest. When she finally found one, she went inside, where she saw a young maiden approach and greet her cheerfully.

'Good choice, this is your grandmother's favorite store. People here are nice,' Typhis speaks in her mind which amazed Historia. 

"Good day, dear customers! What can we help you with?" the young maiden asks and looks at Historia and quickly looks for a dress that she thinks suitable for her. When she finally found one, Historia's eyes were mesmerized at what she had seen. It was a beautiful peach and white dress with flower design and crystalized pearls on top. 

"This dress cloth made from Xianxu Empire from the Left Peninsula which is the Empire's greatest asset. This dress suits you, My Lady," the young maiden said. 

Historia now puts on the dress to test it out, and she is astounded to find that it fits her perfectly. The style complements her upbeat personality, which includes pink rose accessories and a peach brooch with white crystal. She looks at herself in the mirror before turning to face the three people staring at her. 

Sally was astounded by the Lady's beauty, while Typhis looked at her with disgust, which made her pissed off, and finally, Historia looked at Zion, who continued to stare at her with his shining eyes. Historia was surprised to see Zion staring at her with his dark brown eyes, which made her heart race. "Uhm, Duke Zion?" Historia asked, jolting him back to reality and causing him to shake his head. 'Sh.t.,' Duke Zion said to himself. 

"I'm sorry, well, it's just—" Zion couldn't finish his sentence when the young woman interrupted.

"I guess, My Lord was amazed by how beautiful you are, My Lady! How cute a couple you are!" Historia and Zion blushed as they heard this. However, Sally simply chuckles at what the woman has said. 

"We are not a couple!" they both yelled, surprising the young woman before smiling again. 

"Then I guess both of you will be a great couple someday!" She exclaimed, making the two blush even more. Sally, on the other hand, fluttered at what the young woman had said, while Typhis simply rolled his eyes.