Free Web NovelChapter 263: Three Young Maidens
In the manager’s office of the inn where Lucas had set up this particular soup kitchen, a very confused Audrey Carlson was trying to figure out why the kingdom’s Genius Princess had suddenly shown up and was seemingly best friends with Eris Newton, the Baron’s daughter from Redwood Town she had just met yesterday.
Suffice it to say, it took a while for Christina to explain, especially while having to filter out some of the more sensitive details of her recent experiences.
An hour later, Audrey was still somewhat dumbfounded, but she at least wasn’t totally lost anymore.
One thing that did catch Count Carlson’s favourite granddaughter’s attention was just how different the girl before her was today compared to the princess she had met last year.
Christina had been far more aloof back then. She wasn’t unfriendly or impolite in any way, but the princess had been far less approachable.
Of course, they had gotten a bit closer as a result of their interactions during Christina’s public birthday celebration, but the change from when they last parted to today was still so drastic that it stood out to Audrey.
Oddly enough, despite the princess’ speech and attitude being more open and relaxed, Audrey didn’t feel like Christina’s bearing had become less noble; quite the opposite, in fact.
There was now a kind of steadiness and maturity about Christina that only made her appear more regal and elegant. It was honestly quite captivating.
"Is there something wrong, Audrey?" Eris suddenly asked, noticing the strange look on her new friend’s face.
"H-Huh?" Audrey stuttered before shaking her head, "No no no, I was just... thinking about something."
Tilting her head slightly, Eris pursed her lips but didn’t question her any further, instead turning back to Christina and asking, "So, did Lucas or Master tell you what’s going to happen next?"
"Ah..." Christina suddenly froze, her casual composure giving way to embarrassment as her cheeks flushed slightly.
In the excitement that followed after she walked into the soup kitchen, Christina had actually forgotten to do something very important, something she should have done immediately after meeting Eris.
Standing up, Christina cleared her throat lightly before performing a formal salute, "Greetings, Senior Sister." fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm
"Oh, right!" Eris also hopped up from her seat and returned the gesture, "Greetings, Junior Sister."
The two girls then lifted their heads, their faces both solemn and serious.
However, that only lasted a second before Eris cracked, bursting into laughter.
Christina also failed to resist the urge to smile, even giggling a little bit at her Senior Sister’s silliness.
Although it was only proper etiquette for Junior Disciples to greet their Senior Disciples whenever they met after having been separated for a time, the single day Eris and Tina had been apart hardly counted.
Still, after just performing her first greetings with her Senior Brother, Christina felt it appropriate she at least pay her respects to her Senior Sister Disciple as well.
For Eris’ part, she was happy to go along with it any time Christina called her ’Senior Sister’. There was just something about those words that tickled Eris’ fancy, making her want to hear them whenever possible.
It might have something to do with Tina having to hand over the last cookie to her when Eris pulled rank a few days ago, but who could say?
"Um... does Princess Christina calling you ’Senior Sister’ mean she too has become Marquess Balfour’s Disciple?" Audrey asked hesitantly from the side.
She had heard about Eris’ status as Celestina’s Second Disciple, but this was the first time she was learning about Christina also becoming a True Disciple of her idol.
"Yes, that’s right," Christina nodded before tapping Audrey on her forehead gently, "And it’s just ’Tina’ here, remember?"
"Ack... right, I apologize, Your High... I mean... sorry, Tina," Audrey corrected herself, still finding it a bit difficult to speak to a royal princess so informally.
She might have grown up in a more laid-back environment and been a bit spoiled as the little princess of Iron Rock, but her mother Giselle had still made sure to drill proper court etiquette into Audrey’s head.
Breaking such habits was proving hard for the young girl, especially when this whole situation was sprung on her so suddenly.
Shaking her head, Christina knew it would take Audrey some time to adjust, so she didn’t chide her any further, instead answering Eris’ question, "Master said that as soon as all the refugees are settled and order has been restored around the Carlson County, you, me and Lucas will be setting off for Misty City, along with Aunty Sasha and the rest of Redwood Town’s leaders."
"As for how long that will take," Christina averted her eyes slightly, suddenly feeling a bit guilty, "I... didn’t get a chance to ask Lucas about it."
"But, wasn’t Lucas there to greet you when you landed?" Eris asked innocently.
"He was, but..." Christina blushed, remembering how irrationally she had acted back then, and the redness in her cheeks only got deeper when she thought about why she had acted the way she did.
"Oh, was he busy? Lucas always seems busy nowadays," Eris filled in the blanks on her own while also getting in some light complaining.
A month ago, Eris was able to spend as much time as she wanted with her little brother. Whether they were training, playing, or just relaxing and enjoying themselves, they could do that for hours each day without any issue.
Now, though, it was hard for them to even get a chance to talk for more than a few minutes before Lucas had to run off and take care of something.
Eris loved her new friends, and she enjoyed taking care of Yuki, but time with Lucas was still special to her; after all, they had been together pretty much their whole lives and it felt unnatural for them to be apart.
Glancing back and forth between her new friend and the princess, seeing how the two of them blushing, pouting, praising, and smiling while talking about the boy she had met just a few days ago, Audrey was understandably stunned.
Could these two both..., Audrey thought to herself, her recently awakened female instincts screaming to her that there was more between them and Lucas than simple friendship.
Audrey would freely admit that Lucas was unique. He was incredibly smart, capable, hard working, and mature. She had also seen him training a few times and knew that he was far stronger than his cultivation suggested.
In fact, Audrey wasn’t even certain she would be able to beat Lucas in a fight, which was quite shocking to the young girl seeing how she was in the Tenth Step Body Tempering Realm, while he was only in the Third Step.
Even so, to draw the eyes of both Eris and Princess Christina... there must still be more to Lucas that he hasn’t shown me so far, Audrey mused, I mean, sure he’s smart, and cute, but he’s not on Kaden’s level...
Soon, silence filled the office as three young maidens all became lost in their own thoughts, their faces flushed with embarrassment.
It wasn’t until someone knocked on the door that Eris, Christina, and Audrey snapped back to their senses and began composing themselves.
Being the first to recover, Christina called out as calmly as she could manage, "Yes?"
"Pardon me, Young Lady Tina, Young Lady Eris, but I’ve just been informed that General Balfour wishes for you to attend a meeting back at the Manor," Commander Rachel announced.
"Is that so?" Christina steadied herself and nodded, "Very well. We’ll be right there."
Glancing around at the other girls in the room, seeing the shy and somewhat flustered looks on their faces, Christina just flashed a sheepish smile and asked, "Well then, shall we go?"
Eris and Tina both nodded to each other before heading out, Audrey following close behind them.
.....
"So, what you’re saying is you managed to ensnare another impressionable young girl in the 8 days you’ve been here?" Celestina questioned her First Disciple.
Knowing his Master was teasing him, despite how serious her tone was, Lucas just snorted and kept sorting through the pile of documents in front of him, trying to tidy up the room in the villa he had been using as an office.
"Not interested at all?" Celestina continued her offensive while lounging on a rather large couch, snacking on an apple she had snatched from somewhere.
Realizing he wasn’t going to get out of this until he provided his Master with some entertainment, Lucas let out a sigh and muttered, "Audrey is just a friend. Besides, she has someone in mind already."
"Oh, so you have competition?" The Marquess grinned.
"Nope," Lucas denied flatly, "I haven’t met him yet, but from the way Audrey talks about him, it’s pretty clear she’s head-over-heels in love."
"Interesting," Celestina mused.
"Yes yes, very interesting," Lucas replied absentmindedly.
"So, how about Christina?" Celestina suddenly asked, her tone shifting ever so slightly.
