Chapter 261: Before Leaving
Chapter 261: Before Leaving
"Are you trying to seduce my granddaughters?" Alexander said that with a little accusation.
"That's a misunderstanding, Holy Grandfather. I only paid my courtesy to the guests my royal father invited." Theo was sweating a little, but he didn't dampen his polite smile at the old man who had made his life quite difficult in recent years.
"Is that so? Then, how about you three years ago?" Alexander stroked his long beard, trying to remember some events in the past. He really didn't like this prince who was trying to hook Ella's heart at that time?
"It was the past me who was still foolish and ignorant. I just came back from the Cuttexus Kingdom and failed to recognize the beautiful girl I accidentally met is Holy Princess Gabriella. I have learned a valuable lesson from that." Theo shook his head, remembering his old foolishness.
"It's great if you have a better personality as the one and only prince of the Griffith Royal Family. Then, who are you after now? Elysia, Evelyn, Rosie, or even Ariel?" Alexander patted Theo's shoulder once with a smile. He didn't realize the girls flinched a little because of him.
"No, no, It's only my polite greetings to build good impressions and relationships. To be honest, I am more focused on building a strong and mighty faction to help my royal father. Since then, I left my naive and stupid nature behind to achieve future glory." Theo eloquently denied while giving a no-no hand wave.
He was aware of the responsibility he would carry as the only prince and the crown prince of the Aeddoterra Kingdom. Great strength and formidable abilities were required to achieve his dream.
Finding a soulmate could be done later when he was sure of himself and everything. However, he was really interested in Elysia, the Goddess's disciple, for other reasons, and it wasn't because of her beauty.
Elysia and Evelyn turned to look at Ella. Still, the girl just shook her head because she didn't remember anything meaningful about Prince Theo.
"No, no, don't look at me like that, Ely, Eve. The last time I met Prince Theo was three years ago. Uhm, that was before he went fishing in the river with my grandfather. After that, I never saw him again." Ella waved her hands in front of her body in her defense. She could not stand it when her friends gave a small smile as if they were teasing her.
No one noticed or cared about it. After hearing Ella's words, Theo felt that several arrows and spears had suddenly pierced him, especially his heart. Ella said that as if she had no meaningful impression of himself.
A flashback occurred in his mind about the events of three years ago. When he had just returned from the Cuttexus Kingdom to seek experience from the battlefield, he met a beautiful and charming girl.
He didn't even know the girl's name at that time, but he wanted to get to know her better. It was something like being drawn at first glance. Yet, she only responded to his approach respectfully with brief pleasantries before leaving and forgot to leave her name.
When he stalked the beautiful golden-haired girl secretly... He arrived at the Holy Cathedral and met Pope Alexander.
The beautiful girl turned out to be Gabriella Celestine! It was more than eight years since he met the Holy Princess, so how did he know that little girl had become a dazzling beauty?
Did he go fishing with her grandfather? It would be nice if it were true, but sadly it was the opposite. He was thrown into the river to catch fish with his bare hands...? Instead of fishing on a boat with a fishing rod.
The sad thing was he couldn't swim. He actually became a bait to catch fish, so it was far from fishing. It was the last time he went to see Gabriella because of absolute rules in the Celestine Family. He didn't stand a chance because of that. After that, he moved on and focused on something else.
"Ha-ha, I think that's enough with greetings. Old man, it's been a while since then. Let me pour a new cup of herbal tea for you. For everyone, feel free to have this luncheon." Arthur announced with a laugh and invited everyone to the long table.
"Oh, right, I heard you are going to your hometown this afternoon, Rosie Reinhard, Fran Reinhard. So, make sure you enjoy this meal to your heart's content before you leave. Don't hesitate or be embarrassed to eat your fill." Arthur turned to look at Rosie and Fran. He gave pleasantries before walking towards the table.
"Yes, Emperor Arthur. Thank you for your concern." Rosie replied politely, albeit feeling warm when given such casual pleasantries.
After that, they all ate lunch together, without exception. Arthur sat beside Pope Alexander to pour a cup of herbal tea for his half-teacher. Then the others sat as they pleased because there were plenty of chairs available at the long table.
Some people also opened the light conversation to enliven the warm atmosphere. It didn't take too long before the luncheon was over. The dishes on the table were also not finished, so much to Vanessa's regret.
The white cat only enjoyed the meal when her master fed her because she could not eat at the table as usual. Table etiquette outside of casual events, and she had no choice but to follow the rules.
"Thank you for your delightful lunch, Emperor Arthur. I apologize in advance, but we had a bit of a time constraint. Henceforth, we better head to the Cuttexus Kingdom immediately." Rosie immediately opened a speech for self-excuse. About an hour had passed, and she was worried that it would be too late to arrive at the stopover city.
"Hum, then, I won't hold you back any longer. Your long journey will take time. Hmm, are you going to stop over at Rarora City? You'd better take a little detour, don't go past Avrora Forest just in case." Arthur answered after wiping his mouth with a tissue. He made a suggestion for the common good.
"Thank you for your kind advice. But, yes, we will take a little detour for our safety. It is estimated, we will arrive in Rarora City near midnight." Rosie nodded with a smile. It was her itinerary.
"You're making a little error, Rosie." Alexander suddenly said in response.
"If I may know, what mistake did I make, Holy Grandfather?" Rosie tilted her head slightly, completely clueless.
"You forgot that you were going to use the Gravy Ark specialized for long trips, last year's magic device release from the Holy Church Research Center. If you are stopping over in Rarora City, then you will be there at dusk." Alexander raised his finger slightly, emphasizing one thing Rosie had forgotten.
"Oh my... I really forgot that. If so, I can breathe easy with a calm heart." Rosie breathed a sigh of relief with her hand on her chest.
"Even so, you should really go now. Travel in the dark sky is not good." Alexander leaned back on his seat.
Hearing Pope Alexander's suggestion, Rosie nodded and stood up. Followed by Fran and their four knights.
"Hum, looks like it's time for us to go. Grandfather, thank you so much for giving me permission to go to Cuttexus City. I'll be careful, and I'll be back in three days." Ella looked at her friends, then said goodbye to her grandfather.
"All right, this will be the first time for you to go out of Aeddoterra City, Ella. However, never go alone or separate yourself for whatever reason. Always make sure Ariel is with you. Elysia, please protect your friends." Alexander reminded his granddaughter.
He categorized Elysia as absolute protection because of her Goddess master. Otherwise, it would be impossible for him to give Ella permission to go that far, even if she was sulking.
"Yes, grandfather. Ella understands. Please take good care of yourself while I'm gone. I also won't forget to send my news regularly." Ella nodded with a beaming smile.
"Hum, thanks. I just need to trouble Arthur brat for everything." Alexander responded casually, but Arthur almost choked on hearing that.
After that, the others also said their goodbyes to Pope Alexander, Emperor Arthur, and Prince Theo. Then, they went out of the throne hall escorted by one of Emperor Arthur's trusted men.
"They've left." Arthur said that then took a sip of his drink.
"Hum." Alexander only responded with a short hum. Meanwhile, Theo and Lawrence just sat in silence.
"It still surprises me that you allowed your treasured granddaughter to go that far with only Ariel as her bodyguard, old man." Arthur turned to a more sensitive topic of conversation.
"Ariel, Maximilian, and the four Reinhard Family's knights. Two Saints and four Spirit level experts are with them." Alexander corrected the wrong assumption, then he finished his herbal tea.
"Is it really like that?" Arthur smiled mysteriously. He had second thoughts about it.
"You're noisy, Arthur brat. Elysia and her Goddess master will protect everyone in the group from any harm." Alexander frowned, but he still answered because it was not a secret he needed to guard against this reddish-black-haired brat.
"As I thought." Arthur snapped his fingers as if to signal that his assumption was correct.
"Arthur brat, tell the other three Emperors for a high-level meeting. You know why and how. Do it neatly." Alexander gave an instruction lightly as if the one he ordered was not an Emperor.
"All right. That's easy, and the meeting will be held this evening." Arthur gave a small nod, then sent a cue to Lawrence. The latter nodded in understanding and stood up to carry out the order.