Chương 21: Chapter Twenty: A Dragon Nanny?

"Save that for the next few contenders." A group of women joined the line. Huh, they all seemed to be dressed similarly and walking in unison. Their attire resembled that of the Queen and Azrian. They wore flowing, figure-hugging gowns, accompanied by various sets of armor, and adorned with ivory and purple accents. Some of them even appeared quite old. W hich is unusual for the Fae.

"These are candidates from the Palace. Any one of them could best a Knight of the Crimson Army. They are the best of the best." I nodded in appreciation and waved at them.

"Hi." They nodded back at me and said some polite greetings. Niathe piped up from behind me." Shall we start with Freesia?" Azrian nodded." We shall." A middle-aged woman with faint lines on her face bowed slightly at the knee to me. Usually, everyone bows at the waist. Why is she different? Her face and posture reeked elegance. Her red eyes pierced me and from behind her back, she brought out something I hadn't expected. A covered dish. No way. She opened up the dish and I almost jumped off the table.

There's no way. That smell… it's impossible.

"Your Highness, one of my most valuable skills is neither swordsmanship or magic."

"Instead, it's cooking. I have prepared a new dish for you: tomatoes, cheese, and blood sausages on bread. Please enjoy." It's not pizza, but it's close enough. The bread is similar to hot dog buns, and in the middle is cheesy, ooey-gooey goodness. I make grabby hands, and the Queen helps me serve myself. With a large spoon in hand, I take my first bite and fall in love. It's both nostalgic and new at the same time. The bread is cooked evenly and just right. The sausages are salty and mildly spiced.

The sauce is heavenly—sweet and savory. The cheese is oily, and I drool at the thought of my next bite. That settles it. I clear my throat.

"You're hired." Illyria jumps and tries to change my mind."What?! Child don't be rash. Freesia is not to be underestimated. This is most likely a ploy to—" I ask unceremoniously."Is she qualified?"

"Absolutely! But her personality is—" Freesia interrupts."Irrelevant. Don't badmouth me to the child your majesty. Besides I raised you and you came out alright. Didn't you?" Illyria shuts up instantly. Woah. I asked her some more questions."You were the nanny to the Queen?"

"Yes. For thirty-seven—long—joy filled years. Are you enjoying the sauced bread?" Mhm."Yeah. Can we call it a cheese sandwich though? Sauced bread sounds weird." Freesia muses over it though."Hmm. A cheese sandwich. Sure. That'll do. Excellent name."

"You're an amazing cook. Can you do this all the time?"

"Of course. With the right ingredients I can cook anything, anywhere, anytime."

"Yeah. You're hired." I can't wait to introduce pizza here and you're going to help me do it. The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. From the beginning this completion was about finding the best nanny. Not the best butcher or sword swallower. Everyone else showcased a skill that didn't really fit that description. She brought her A-Game to the table. Besides, she raised the Queen. That's an amazing feat. Speaking of her.

The Queen looks at me blankly and sighs to herself.

"Okay. Don't say I didn't warn you." She then cleared her throat and bellowed to the crowd.

"The Princess has chosen the Honorable Lady Freesia to be her nanny. The Nanny competition has ended. The next contest will begin shortly." Gasps rang out. I even heard a few people remark with some choice words. The dragon lady? What does that mean? [One requirement was completed, congratulations.] The Penguin piped up again. [They're most likely referring to her race. However Ria please be advised that I cannot see her level.] A sense of foreboding came over me and I stopped eating. What does that mean?

[She is at least at level one hundred.]"Milk your grace?" She hands me a goblet with milk in it and I drink it while thinking of what he just said. What are the chances of her figuring me out? [Not good. For you. However she most likely isn't baptizing you. So that's a good thing.]"Drink slowly." I narrow my eyes and drink a little faster. Just to see what she would do. I fucked around and found out. She slapped the back of my head and I choked.

"What the—""Defiant and greedy. We'll fix those habits in time." A chill rolled down my spine as she massaged the spot she had just hit. I looked up to the Queen for help and she looked away. Her hand was touching the back of her head like she too had felt the slap. Oh my god. Is this what she was talking about?

"Don't look at her. She can't help you. By the way, I can't wait to discuss my salary with your father. How do you think he'll feel about five hundred gold a month?" I hiccuped. My mother and Druvis stopped breathing. I forgot she was even there. I couldn't turn around though. Something about Freesia told me if I even dared to turn around I'd get slapped again. The Penguin teased. [You picked her.] You didn't warn me! [I'm sorry. I'm just a useless flightless bird that needs a throttling.] Petty fake bird.

[Defiant greedy host.]"The Guardian Competition is commencing." Basically, the same people demonstrated their talents again. Most of it was sword fighting this time, which was cool at first but got a little boring later on. The palace ladies, though—o h my god. They are so scary and cool. Each one has an entirely different skill set. Right now one of them is fighting against a child. Oliqua's bladed chains were on another level. She could propel, attack, and defend herself with them.

"What do you think?"

"She's awesome." Freesia corrected coolly." Sit up straight." Both of our spines became as stiff as rods as we watched them all fight each other. Niathe asked from her seat behind us." Mother, who do you think is the best fighter?" Illyria replied without taking her eyes off the deadly dance." That's hard to say. Besides that's not what we're looking for." Niathe asked candidly." What do you mean? A guardian is supposed to protect their charge. Naturally, I would like the best to protect my child."

Illyria decided to make this a teaching moment." Well, l that's one aspect of being a guardian. However, one of the other aspects is compatibility. What are Miseria's strengths, weaknesses, and characteristics?" Niathe remarks thoughtfully, "She's curious, a quick learner, and sometimes clairvoyant in certain ways. She often strives for independence and dislikes boredom as well as heights. In fact, she hates heights."

"Good. What else can you tell me?" Freesia chimes in, "She's resistant to authority but compliant with those she respects. While she doesn't like attention from strangers, she craves it from her loved ones." I flinch and silently beg her to stop. That hits way too close to home. Lady, you just met me. Illyria nodded." That's enough on that front. Someone like her needs a soft hand to push her and a friend. A companion rather than a steward. Oliqua's a great fighter but I don't think she's the right fit for Miseria.

We should be looking for someone compatible with Miseria's natural disposition and of course competent enough to protect her in due time." We continue to watch the fights in silence but my mind keeps playing that conversation over and over again. Oppositional defiance maybe. Starving for attention? That's… That's just not true. I don't need that. I don't need anyone. Freesia's calloused warm hands rub my back and silently remind me to sit straight. I straighten out and frown at the thought of me being weak to her.

Maybe I should replace her? [Not possible.] Damn it.

"Does vulnerability scare you?"

"…"

"Hiding from someone doesn't make them go away."

"…"

"Look!" A child. Illyria broke me out of my trance so I could watch that child continue to fight against Oliqua. They're still going? They wore a cloak that concealed their features but their height couldn't be concealed.

"She's holding her own." In his or her hands were nothing but daggers. But with them she parried and evaded Oliqua's all reaching chains. Then in a blink she had broken through Oliqua's offense and swiped at her neck. Oliqua reared back but the damage was done. A thin layer of blood dripped from her chin.

"…" Azrain gasped."She did it." She? I watched in wonder as the child kept her dagger raised. Oliqua raised her hands, lowered her weapons and nodded. Cheers were heard as the child officially bested one of the best fighters in the kingdom.

"What about her Ria?" I looked up at Illyria's knowing eyes and nodded. That felt right. Whoever that was. They feel right. What about their level? [Below level one hundred. She's safe.] She? How can you all tell? Illyria whistled and waved to the girl. She stood still for a moment before running towards us. She stopped just short and bent at the waist.

"At your service your majesty."

"How keen. Meet my granddaughter. Unveil yourself as you do so." The cloaked girl hesitated before nodding. She turned to me and walked forward a few steps. She's as old as Erichean I think. At least I can assume from her height she is. She removed her hood and strands of turquoise became visible to everyone. Her face is decorated with scales of the same color. Honey gold eyes gazed upon me and scrutinized me thoughtfully. I waved at her." Hello." She bowed slightly towards me." Hello princess.

It's my honor to meet you."

"Likewise. My name is Miseria. What's your name?"

"Kissae."

"That's a great name. How old are you?"

"Twenty seven years give or take." My face must have betrayed how surprised I was. Twenty seven! What?!

"Is something wrong?"

"No. You're just older than I thought."

"That's not a typical response that I get. Let me just be clear. Am I hired? Can I be your guardian?"

"Do you want to be my guardian? I'm not going to make you do something you don't want to do."

"I want to be your guardian. If you'll have me."

"Are you available?"

"I am."

"Then you're hired." A brilliant smile stretches across her face and she takes a short sword from her waist. She then proceeds to stab it into the ground and kneel before me and it. Then she got up and came to my side in front of Freesia. Who was ignoring everything and everyone around her besides me.

"Don't slouch."

"Got it. Got it." I straightened up and cracked my joints.

"That's a bad habit that we'll have to correct soon as well."

"..." Azrian announced in the Queen's stead."The winner of the guardian contest has been chosen. The last two contests will commence. The Baptismal Acolyte and The Tutor Competitions will begin at once. Each contestor will give the princess three reasons as to why she should allow them to guide her. She will choose a suitable candidate immediately for both roles."