Chương 240: Chapter 223. Entering Zana

" Yay! We're next!" Ellie cheered as the carriage we were all in moved past the giant gates that have gotten closer and closer after the last few hours of waiting in traffic. Once Max Sark was healed up, we gave our introductions and farewells and headed back to our carriages. Since the snowfall had started to pick up as time went on, we felt it was best to forget about the pleasantries and wait for another time. Lord Sark did say something about inviting me for dinner sometime, but who knows?"

I wonder what the inside of Zana looks like?"" I hear that there's a lot of livestock around. So, I'd expect a lot of chickens, pigs and horses, Wendy."" Oh, I wonder if we'll see any dogs and cats?" Ellie and Wendy started talking about what they hoped to see in this new town. It'd be nice if we could sightsee before we have to attend the party. Now that I think about it, the winter solstice is in 3 days... Maybe I will fit that into the schedule?

I guess it'll be up to Sarah and Anna if they're okay with doing that? I guess I should ask around now." Darling, after we arrive at our living quarters, how about we go sightseeing around town?" Anna beat me to the question. She looked at me with her dark-green eyes glowing in anticipation to my answer. I almost wanted to laugh since she did the work for me." I was about to ask that myself. I'm all for it, how about you, Sarah?"

I turn to see a jovial smile on Sarah's face as her purple eyes glistened in amusement at my question. She then looked over at the 2 Temporary Maids for this trip and began to speak." Well, I guess we can? And because Anna and I both are going to head out, our Personal Maids for the trip will have to go with us as well. Prepare yourselves, Ellie, Wendy."" Yes!" Ellie and Wendy smiled brightly as they responded to Sarah's words. After she spoke, Sarah turned and winked at Anna and me. We enjoyed the moment together.

I think this is what it'll feel like once we have kids of our own. To be honest, if that is the case, I think the future's definitely something I'm looking forward to. /Knock! Knock! / And then a loud knocking disturbed the happy atmosphere that was present in the carriage. The knocking came from the window next to Anna. I turned to see a pair of dark-blue eyes in a helmet staring at me. I opened the window and the person in the helmet began to speak."

We'd like your papers that confirm your identities, Marquess Matthew Drake."" Ah, I see. One moment please." The man's gravelly voice filled the carriage and to answer his request I turned to Sarah who held all of the important things for this trip in her Mana Storage." Here you are." With those words, Sarah handed the identification papers to me, I then passed them to the guard, since Anna had moved to the seat with Wendy and Ellie since she didn't want to be stuck in the middle between me and the guard.

Now that I think about it, we should've switched seats since we were so close to the city. We'd need to go through customs regardless, so it would've been easier all around, but oh well. Anyways, I handed the man the papers and he returned not long after and wished us well and told us to travel to the building called "Sissi's". That was our designated lodging for the time we were here. With that, we did as we were told." Hm, it's just gray buildings..."" The people don't really look that happy either.

Wouldn't you be excited when a bunch of guests visit? Isn't this Birthday Celebration supposed to be like a Festival?"" I thought it was just a birthday party for the Nobles in the region to attend though?" I asked a question as Ellie and Wendy went back and forth. Sarah answered my question happily." Well, usually yes, but for every 25 years, we Demons throw a bigger party than usual."" Why 25 years?"" Apparently that was our life expectancy during the dark ages.""

Ah, all of the battles meant that most died young."" Yes, so now, if you can live a quarter of a century, then you've made it longer than most of our Ancestors."" Strange to think at one point such a long-lived Race died so quickly."" Just more of a reason to praise Bloodboon The Wise. I doubt we'd ever find out that Demons could live for thousands of years without his Laws that protected us." Everyone nodded in agreement to Sarah's words.

With some small talk here and there, the carriage moved further along our journey to Sissi's. While we were talking about trying out the local food during our sightseeing, a knock came at the door." Lord Matthew, we've arrived at Sissi's, would you like to go in yourself, or would you like us to handle it?" Edmon spoke to me with a hint of fatigue in his voice, seems the past few weeks of travel have worn him out?

Meanwhile, I couldn't help but notice Flare was getting amped up as she looked around our surroundings. I guess this is the difference between the stamina of a lifelong Martial Artist and someone who just had the aptitude for it. I looked back at Edmon and began to give instructions. The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there."

Let's have Heather, Brick and Flare accompany us inside, Edmon, you take the rest and take care of the horses and the carriage then go and rest for tomorrow. Okay? You guys are staying here as well, make sure you eat your fill of dinner tonight."" Understood, Lord Matthew... Also... If you could, Lord Matthew..." Edmon looked at me awkwardly. If I had to take a guess, I've noticed that he and the rest of the Guards had a rough time walking since around a week ago. I think it's safe to say they're all quite sore."

Gather everyone and the horses in the front of the carriage. I'll cast a Holy Heal on everyone."" Thank you! Lord Matthew!" Edmon smiled in relief. I healed everyone, including the horses, since they did such a good job getting us here after all. I then turned to our Guards and began to speak." Everyone, before we get excited about being in Zana, I want to just say a few words.

Thank you all for your hard work in getting us here, I want you guys all to rest and eat well today, I'm sure we're all going to be busy moving forward for the next few days. Also, our horses worked just as hard. Make sure they're seen to. I'd like for a squad of you to bring them to a Horse Groomer and have them looked after, you don't need to do it all at once, a few a day for our 11 horses over our few days here should do.

Whoever sees to it will get a small gold coin added to their pay when we return home, okay?"" Understood!" With my commands finished, Sarah, Anna, Princess Alice, Wendy and Ellie followed behind me with everyone in the positions befitting Official Wives, their Exclusive Maids, and a Princess whose also a guest for us. In this case, that meant that Sarah was to my left and Anna to my right, but around 2 steps behind me. Wendy was Sarah's Maid and Ellie was Anna's, so they followed the respective Wife.

Brick, the first male Guard who swore his life would end before anyone would harm me, followed behind Sarah and Anna as my Guard but also as someone who would protect my Wives in the case of a sneak attack. Flare was at Sarah's side, since she was her Guard. While Princess Alice was on the left side of Sarah. On the other hand, Heather, the one who looked at us like her personal Heroes, walked side by side with Anna. Brick and Heather were cousins and come from a small village called Yaka.

it's closer to Blackstone than the Northern Border. I healed them as Brick had lost his leg due to a hunting accident and Heather was disfigured during a fight against a love rival. With my leaving for Blackstone so we could move on with my Marriage to Sarah and Anna, they never got the chance to thank me, so they migrated with the rest to Paradise to repay their debt. They both had the same light-green hair and eyes, but the difference came from Brick being around 8 feet tall and looking like a pro wrestler.

Heather on the other hand, looked like she could be a supermodel back in my world. These appearances could be on my tv back in my world. As long as you discount their light-green skin color and 3 eyes on each of their faces of course. Well, unless it was a movie or something, I guess?" I promise no one will harm you, Sir Matthew!"" Thank you, Brick, though I hope you'll keep an eye out for Princess Alice, Ellie and Wendy as well."" Will do, Sir!

But honestly, looking at the game they've been able to hunt, I think they should be alright."" People are different than Monsters, Brick."" Your words are true, Sir." Brick's high pitch voice betrayed the fact that he was quite strong. The hunting accident in question was actually an attempt to clear out a Harbinger Wolf population that had migrated near his town around 3 years ago. Brick thought he could do it on his own, he probably could have.

Harbinger Wolves are only C-Rank Monsters, the problem was that an Alpha Harbinger Wolf was there as well. They can range from B to A-Class. Brick, who was busy fighting 5 wolves at the time, didn't see the Alpha's fangs covered in fresh saliva as they rushed towards his leg. One bite and his leg was gone. Thankfully, he had help at the time, in fellow hunters who were rushing towards the sounds of his fighting. But they were too late, so he had to stop his hunting and martial pursuits since he had no leg.

He was a miserable wretch when I visited his farm with Sarah and Anna, we heard from the village clinic that he could really use a Miracle to gain a leg before he drank himself to death. Our first meeting was quite rough. Sarah wanted to cut him up when he insulted me. Once I healed him, Brick shed many a tear. We ended up leaving as it was late at night and we needed an early start to the day. The man he was when I met him was gone. Now, Brick was happy as could be.

The only time I haven't seen him smile was when I scolded him and his fellow Guards about the crazy oaths they were taking." Oh, really? Just from cooking?" Anna and Heather seemed to be discussing something with Ellie joining in every now and again. My thoughts were interrupted by Ellie's surprised reaction to something they spoke about. As Heather spoke, I was happy to see her speaking with joy in her voice. When I first met her... It was pretty bleak. She was looking for a way to die.

She had even slapped me when she heard that I was a Marquess-in-waiting. There were two things that Heather prided herself on, her looks and her strength. Her opponent who fought her for the man they both wanted to marry, used a deadly poison that nearly killed Heather, she was very lucky to survive it. However, as she tells the story, she was unlucky. At least, that was how she explained it at the time we met her.

Now she rants and raves that it was the best thing that happened to her, since it led to us hearing about it. She says the day I healed her was when her life truly began. Since now, she has a goal aside from becoming a great mother. And that goal is to repay me with her service. Of course, she means that as a Guard for me. Sarah and Anna had quite the cold look in their eye when Heather originally said that to me. Since she was just a woman from a backwoods village, she doesn't really know how to watch her words.

Once I asked some follow up questions however, Sarah and Anna returned to their happy joyful smiles, though I think that had more to do with the fact that Heather swore that she would work as a Guard and nothing more to me for the rest of her life." No, you need to attack as much as possible, that's how you conquer a heart." Sarah, on the other hand, seemed to be handing out love advice to Flare and Wendy as Princess Alice was shocked at what Sarah was saying.

I decided to just ignore the laughing that was coming from them as they saw that I looked back at them for a moment. With the group seeming to be in a good mood. I walked up to the door to Sissi's, and I was shocked at how nice the interior was. It looked like a high-class hotel on the inside. Guests were speaking to each other in the lobby and lounge with drinks in hand.

There was an open bar to the left of us with bottles of liquor and the like, to the left was a table filled with little finger foods to have as snacks. Straight ahead was my destination however, it was the reception desk that was currently manned by a yellow skinned Demon, her hair was light-blond and she seemed to be in a good mood, she seemed quite... Bubbly, I guess would be the word? Of course, that all changed as soon as she saw who walked in." A Human!?"

What once seemed like a cute clerk's face, who was happily working her job, turned into the look a cat gives when it's preparing for a fight. Or at least, that was the impression I got. Worse even still was the fact her scream made the eyes of all the patrons of Sissi's turn to look at me... Well... This just became awkward.