CHAPTER 65: Northern Dukedom.

"Zain,"

"Yes, I know. I'll take care of Ali and Eri, you don't really need to tell me about it, Big Bro," Brother Dae said annoyingly when Brother Heli called him. That's because Brother Heli's been telling him to take care of me and Eri for a week now. Yep, a week. Sis Kae decided to stay here for a week, while Uncle Clovis went back to the dukedom because he can't leave it unattended for a long time.

"Are you done bidding farewell to Dad?" Brother Aeli asked. Both Brother Dae and I nodded our heads. Brother Aeli's questions sounds like we're not coming back to the Imperial Palace anymore, haha. 

"Greetings, my dearest children," Ohh...we just said goodbye to Dad earlier before we came here, and now he just teleported here to see us off?

"Just thinking how this palace will be a lot more quiet now gets me sad," Well, it is quite noisy here for the past week because of us. I can understand where Dad is coming from. He's someone who enjoys watching us having fun, and I love him for that.

"Don't cry, Dad," Brother Dae spoke, giving our father a smirk. Seriously, Brother Dae? Dad smiled at him and then faked crying.

"I will miss you both, my dear youngest children, and Eri too," Dad even acted as if he's wiping a tear on his face. Seriously? If one of his vassals is seeing him like this, they'll be so done with him.

"Hehe ~" Eri giggled. She's on top of my head, and she was meditating to have my mana under control until Dad mentioned her name.

"Geh—I didn't expected him to go along with my teasing," Brother Dae murmured with disbelief all over his face. I giggled and then look at Dad with a wide smile on my face.

"Dad can visit us anytime, though!" But, I am sure he won't have the time. I'm pretty sure the reason he's sending me to the Northern Dukedom with Brother Dae is not for vacation.

"Indeed. I'll be visiting you three soon," Dad walked towards me and kneel down to match my height. He smiled and cupped my cheek

"Hehehe ~ I'll be looking forward to it, Dad!"

***

I look outside the window of the carriage as I lean my head on it. The surroundings looks really beautiful. I'm with Sis Kae and Lia right now, while Brother is outside and riding his horse. My brother decided to be an escort of this carriage, so he stays out there riding his dear horse.

"Are you excited, Miss Eri? Your Highness?" Sis Kae asked. I faced her and gave her a wide smile as I nodded my head.

"I am! I am! And please just call me Eri!" Eri answered. She's on my palm, sitting while gesturing her little arms. Sis Kae smiled at her.

"Understood, Eri," Sis Kae covered her mouth and then chuckle softly. She's so pretty...

"I've never been to your place, so I am excited, Sis Kae!" I replied cheerfully. She smiled and poked my cheek.

"You're really adorable in person," I tilt my head as I creased my forehead. What does she mean by that?

"Adorable in person?" I heard Eri asked. After all, she knows that Sis Kae has been visiting us even before.

"Ehh? But we've been meeting in person?" I replied. Her eyes widened and then suddenly—she started panicking.

"Y-yeah—that...that's right! Of course! Don't mind me! Hahahaha!" She said, waving her hands in front of me. What's wrong with her? Is she alright?

No. More than that. What she just said...it's kinda sussy.

'You have some interesting friends, Ali,' I blinked for a couple of times as I turn to Lia. Interesting friends? Well, Sis Kae is absolutely interesting, beautiful, and kind. But I feel like she means more than that...

"Are you alright, Sis Kae?" I asked. She stopped panicking as she looks at me. She took a deep breath and then smiled at me again. That smile, it's obvious. It's forced. Is she alright?

"Y-yeah...I'm sorry, Ali," she said, grinning forcedly at me before she turn her head away.

Hmm...I wonder what she's thinking?

Eri stood up from my palm and then flapped her wings as she flew towards Sis Kae. Sis Kae faced her and then forced a smile.

"Can I call you 'Sis Kae' too?" Eri asked, Sis Kae's eyes widened as her mouth gaped.

"A-a mana fairy wants to...of course, you can!"

"Yaaay!"

And then they started a conversation. Looks like they'll get along well after this.

'This girl is hiding something,' I turned to Lia. Hiding something? What? Why is everyone hiding something from me?

Before, it was Asher who told me that Ziel is hiding a secret. Now, it's Sis Kae?!

"Well, uhm...we all have secrets we can't reveal," I replied, smiling at Lia. She stared at me for a moment, and then gently formed a smile.

'You're right, Princess. You're already so matured...guess that's how a 20 years old think?' I almost choke on my saliva when she said that, good thing I managed to prevent myself from it.

"Y-yeah...of course, you know that as well," I avoided to sigh in disbelief.

I'm well aware that she already figured that out, but that surprised me. I never thought she'll bring it up. I wonder if she feels cringe everytime I act like a kid?

'Of course, I do,'

Yes. Of course, you do.

"Uhh...Princess? Are you alright?" I forced a smile and turned to Sis Kae, with Eri hugging her cheek and also looking at me. They look worried, what facial expression did I made again? Dang this uncontrollable expression of mine.

"Yes...I'm just a bit sleepy, that's all," I replied and then leaned my head on Lia's shoulder. She giggled before she spoke.

"Then please sleep well. I will wake you up once we arrived. Doctor Lia should rest as well," Hehe, she called the Selene 'Doctor Lia'.

Lia smiled at her as she nodded her head.

"Then, I shall take your offer, Young Lady,"

Right, I do need rest. I've only been reading the book about the hidden era. I plan to continue reading that book once we reach the Dukedom, but I want to hang out with Sis Kae too. I've never been to the Northern Dukedom, but Brother Dae said there are many shops and stores there that may catch my interest, so I'd like go visit all of those.

But, right now...I want to sleep.

***

"Master, please wake up..."

"Your Highness...we're here, please wake up," I slowly opened my eyes when I heard Sis Kae's voice, and her gentle caress on my shoulder.

"Hmm? We're here?" I rubbed my eyes as I yawn before turning my head outside, and my eyes widened when I saw their mansion.

It's freaking huge! The gate is also huge! And the walls surrounding the mansion are thick and huge as well!

"Woah...there's a fountain!" This is not my first time seeing a fountain since we have them in the Imperial Estate as well. But it's just there behind the gate. After you entered the gate, you'll see the huge fountain, and it's almost covered in snow because it's also snowing here!

"What are those white thing falling from the sky, Master?" Eri asked. She's currently levitating herself and leaning her forehead on the window glass.

"Those are called 'snow', Eri," I replied. Her mouth widened open as she watch the snows fall from the sky.

"Snow..."

Behind the walls here are two gardens on both sides. And not just that, their land is wide and huge! I can't see the end of these walls!

The door of the carriage opened, and my brother appeared with an umbrella. Eri flew to my right shoulder and sit on it.

"Let's go, Ali. Let me carry you," He's going to carry me? Why though? I can walk by myself?

"Yeees!" but being carried is a perk only babies can do. I throw myself to his free arm and immediately wrapped my arms around his shoulders. He chuckled and then gave me a peck on my cheek.

"Shall we go as well, Lea?" Ohh...

Ahh, so that's why he wanted to carry me. So he can share an umbrella with Sis Kae as well. Smooth, brother, smooth.

"Hehe, thank you so much, Your Highness," Sis Kae replied, smiling.

Ahh, youth. My brother is already rizzing someone at this age. He must make sure he won't hurt Sis Kae, or I'll hate him forever.

'Haha...your brother's cute,' Yes, he is.

"Well, now that I'm here..." Brother paused, and then he roamed his eyes. All the servants inside the estate are waiting for us at the gate.

"Our arrival in the Northern Dukedom should be announced right away," Wow, my brother is sooo eager to shut those geezers and guys who tried to approach Sis Kae, huh?

"Oh, I can make that happen," Lia spoke, she's lining up with us...and I'm sure Sis Kae is curious as to why this 'doctor' had the guts to line up with the Imperial Family and a Duke's daughter—or not?

When I turned to her it doesn't seem to bother her that much?

"What? Are you going to make it rain posters with the news of our arrival?" Brother Dae asked, smirking. Wow, that sounds really familiar.

"Yep," And Lia adapted in the outside world easily. Now, she's using those words from Earth as well.

"Alright, permission grated," Dang it...now it's gonna rain posters again. Lia and Asher really are siblings after all.

I'm sure tomorrow will be a disaster.

Anyway, the Sigrid Estate is also huge, I can't wait to stroll inside! I'll ask Sis Kae to tour me around once we're done with everything!

"Done, Your Highness," Wow, it didn't even took Lia five minutes to finish the rain of posters, huh? I wonder where she sent those. Hmm, probably at the plaza? The plaza is where most people go, so making an announcement of our arrival there would definitely reach the ears of the nobles who are under Uncle Clovis right away.

"Thanks, Lia," Brother Dae said. I'm glad his personality to Lia is different from his personality towards Asher. Maybe it's because of our first encounter with Asher that be ended up hating him forever.

"Greetings, Your Highnesses. Welcome to our humble abode," Ohh...all of a sudden, Uncle Clovis appeard.

"Dad!" Sis Kae smiled widely as she walk towards her father. She then lined up with him, and then held the left side of her dress as she place her right hand across her chest.

"Welcome back to the Sigrid Duchy, Your Highness the Prince. And Welcome to our home, Your Highness the Princess. We will surely accommodate you properly and give you the best experiences as you stay in our territory," When Sis Kae bowed to us, the servants that's lined up on both sides did the same, as well as Uncle Clovis.

"I can't believe you called all your main servants just to greet us, Uncle Clovis...I told you before I didn't need this formal welcoming," Brother Dae spoke. Uncle chuckled.

"This is for the Princess and Eri, Zain. Not you,"

"Okay, understandable. My dear sister and her sweet guardian deserved to be welcomed like this," I can hear the hint of boastful in his voice.

I turned to Lia who is now behind us. I guess she didn't want anyone to get suspicious of her, huh? And she's smiling as well while staying quiet.

"Ohh, Uncle Clovis, for our room...I would like for Lia to stay in the same room as Ali," My brother did not explain further, as if he just ordered Uncle Clovis to put me and Lia in the same room.

"Request Accepted. And the knights you left here are waiting for you at the training grounds. You should visit them," The knights he left, huh?

"I will. But first...may we enter? It's snowing, and it's cold. Not good for my baby sisters. Especially Eri, look at what you're wearing. You should've wore thick clothes," I stopped myself from laughing. He considers Eri as his sister now, too? And he's nagging her for wearing only a petal-like dress! My brother is so cute!

"It's alright, Brother Dae! I don't feel cold at all! Master is suuuper warm!" Eri giggled, and I felt her body lying on my head.

"Hah...alright, I'll let you off this time,"

Hehe. Now that we're here in the north, I become more excited. I can't wait to fill this vacation with great and amazing memories!

Wait, am I forgetting something?

Yes. Let's forget about the problems for now.

***