Chương 238: Chapter 221. Small Talk During Traffic.

" Is it always this slow? Have we even moved?" Ellie's patience had seemed to dry up as she learned the most important thing about being stuck in traffic. It always sucks." Well, what do you expect, Ellie? Look at the line over there at the Northern Gate. It's just as long! They must need to find out everyone's identity before sending them in, customs always takes so long after all!" Wendy seems to be speaking from her time being a citizen of the biggest commercial trading hub in Promethia." It's always like this?

Thank God we made it to Paradise when we did."" Hehe..." I started to chuckle at her." What, Matthew? I mean, when we emigrated there was a line, but a member of the Iceskin Family just opened a folder and stamped it."

"Yeah, well, the way that customs work is different now. Technically... No, broadly speaking, Van was really bad at his Job. He's doing a lot better as a construction worker now."" Wait, if he's gone, who's doing customs work now?"" Wendy's Grandmother, Pamela. She's doing it now."" What a war that was." Sarah, Anna and I all start to rub our temples as we thought back to that argument." What!? What happened?" Ellie's curiosity let her disregard the faces of my Wives, Wendy and myself.

I looked out the window to my right and saw that even Princess Alice was curious about our reaction. I guess I should just fill them in." Well, you see... As thanks for helping Wendy... And then the rest of the people from Atheis, she insisted on being given a job in Paradise. No matter how much I argued that she should just relax and enjoy her golden years, she argued and argued about debts and how the view of Humans can only change if everyone works together... I gave up and gave her a job as a Customs Officer.

From everything I've heard, it seems she's won the hearts of basically everyone in the office."" How did she do that?"" Oh, I asked Jim to teach her how to make a certain pie crust and then she started to bring a pie as a treat for her co-work-"" No, not that, I mean win an argument against you, Matthew."" Fufufu... How did she do that, Darling?"" Yes, I still wonder that myself, My Love." Anna and Sarah laughed at Ellie's question.

I at first played it off as a joke as well, but after looking at Ellie, it looks like she really wanted an answer. I waited for the laughter to die down and then I gave her the answer she wanted." Well, Ellie, it came down to 3 things. The 1st is that I thought she was right about how she needed to pull her weight. Old Demons still do manual labor. It's strange to me, but common because of how much stronger the bodies of Demons are. The older Humans couldn't just sit back and let the younger ones work.

This would breed resentment for the older Humans from not just the Demons in Paradise, but also from the younger Humans. So, I thought it was best to give them safer jobs that required them to use their heads and not exert themselves too much. Add onto that, there were a few Demons that were suited to clerical work, but hadn't learned the ins and outs of the job and someone from Atheis is a perfect fit.

So, Helena has 3 Apprentices who can do any heavy lifting required of the job and I could safely let her work there." Ellie nodded to the explanation. And weirdly enough, Princess Alice seemed to grow even more interested in me? I guess since the carriage hadn't moved much, she might as well listen to the conversation. But still, she's staring a hole through me." The 2nd reason was that I didn't want her to feel guilty."" Guilty?" Stolen novel; please report."

Yes, she was really thankful for the help I gave to the Humans when I found them. Pamela seemed to feel some kind of debt to me. I figured it was best to give her a job that would help her seem useful. Also... Van sucked at his job. 3rd and last was the fact that she's an elder and I don't have a system set up for her to be taken care of yet. So, she needed a job that she could support herself from and also could support Wendy seeing as they live together."" But doesn't Wendy make a salary as well?""

Yes, but it's a pupil's salary. Not enough to live on for herself and her Grandmother. Right, Wendy?"" Yes..."" Relax, Wendy, I'm not going to punish you for saying you're not making enough. Believe me, I know already that you aren't.

Granted, it's not that big of an issue since everyone is just sharing the food since it's abundant, but when commerce actually comes to Paradise, it could be an issue, but by then, the kids who're Apprentices or Pupils who can't live on their own will be supplemented by either living in the dorms for the school or work as live-in Apprentices with their Teachers." Wendy nodded her head to my words." So, she won the argument from being right and explaining her point?"

Ellie tried to summarize my explanation, but it made everyone laugh at the statement." It's amazing how many arguments you'll be able to win by doing that." I laughed after speaking in response to Ellie. after the laughter died down, a surprising voice gave some advice of her own." While that seems to work with that bru--- Marquess Matthew, Ellie. You should be careful.

There aren't many Lords or Nobles who would just let a Commoner beat them in an argument, at best you'd be lucky if they just punish you with house arrest, at worst they might execute you."" Bit extreme don't you think, Princess Alice?"" I'm just stating the obvious outcome. Excuse me for being rude, Marquess Matthew... But your perspective on things as a High-Ranking Noble and as a Lord are almost unheard of in any Country I've visited." Princess Alice seemed to speak from experience regarding arguing with a Lord.

But I've never been the average Lord in the first place. Wendy and Ellie seemed to be looking at Princess Alice and wondering why she would even bring this up." I think she just wants you guys to be safe. To reiterate, yes, you can argue with me in private and I will happily hear you out. In public, just like with my name, I'd prefer for you guys to act like I'm any other Lord. Also, don't try to argue with other Nobles. Even I have to watch my tongue around other Nobles that are older or Higher Ranked than me.

And if not, I need to ask for special permission to speak my mind and make sure they're witnesses to attest that they said it was okay." Sarah began to laugh at my words." What's so funny, Sarah?"" Nothing, I just think Asha would burst into tears of joy if she heard you say that."" And then I'm sure Sharon would want me to spar her. I wonder when the next time we can see them? The last time for each was when they left Blackstone after our Wedding after all. It'd be nice to see them again.""

I'm sure they'd be happy to hear that, if I'm correct, their letters should be arriving at Blackstone soon. When I write them again, I'll ask if they could visit or if they'd prefer if we visit in the future."" If we do visit, I'll be able to open a Portal to their homes, you both would be able to see them whenever, Sarah, Anna." Sarah and Anna were both in a jovial mood after I brought up the fact that I could use a shortcut to have instant access to Asha and Sharon.

The only thing is that I'd need to get permission from Duke Clearfield and Baron Ashblade." Who are Asha and Sharon?" Wendy seemed curious." Asha Clearfield is the daughter of Duke Adam Clearfield and his wife, Penelope Clearfield. Sharon is the daughter of Baron Clark Ashblade and his wife, Tina Ashblade. They're Sarah's Best Friends. They've also become Anna and I's Friends from fighting off the Hero Party together last year. We all were trained by King Warrick and Queen Aqua together."

Wendy nodded her head to my words, Ellie, who had saw Asha and Sharon in Ashneck when we were traveling, already knew who we were talking about. It seems that Princess Alice also knew them. Maybe they had met already through Sarah? Makes sense to me. Everyone continued to make small talk and time began to pass. It was an enjoyable time, temperature-wise at least.

Since the weather made it perfect in the carriage, since the chill of winter had set in, we in the carriage were warm and toasty due to Magical Devices that the carriage was outfitted with. I just wish we had some hot chocolate. It would probably make the time sitting here, stuck in traffic a lot more bearable. During the time, we all heard a loud shriek that made it through the windows that we had left slightly cracked, incase our Guards needed to quickly tell us anything." Lord Matthew!"

A concerned look from Flare greeted me as I looked out my window. I looked forward only to see a congested road and people all gathering in a spot and looking at something in the middle of it. I decided to get out of the carriage and take a look." If you're going, so are we." Sarah and Anna were of the same mind. Ellie and Wendy also wanted to go, but I forbade them. I mean, there was a chance it was something dangerous. For that same reason, I asked Princess Alice to stay seated as well.

She seemed to listen well enough, but it took Sarah whispering something to her to make her stay seated. We had Edmon guide us and had Flare stay back with the carriage. Once we had made it a good distance, I could see 2 Demon children laying on the ground with blood pooling around them. it was a boy and a girl. The girl was crying for the boy it seemed. What a strange scene to view considering how relaxing the day was beforehand. wet... As I walked forward, I noticed that it had begun to snow lightly.

Looks like I need to get to the boy before hypothermia kicks in. I made the decision to act as Sarah and Anna followed my lead towards the children.