Early morning.
Clip-clop, clip-clop...
At a little past eight in the morning, on the main avenue of Sedona City, carts pulled sacks of wheat out of the city, sparking discussions among the passersby.
"What's happening? Why are they transporting so many supplies?"
"Who knows, maybe it's for land reclamation."
"Let's get to work. I hear they're going to build a lot of houses."
"..."
Lucy, chewing on a steamed bun, walked towards the castle with Jones. She had arranged with Elisa last night to meet her at the castle gate in the morning.
"It seems that this Lucas is up to something big again," Lucy sighed. The days she had spent in Sedona City had made her realize just how special, wonderful, and magical the city was.
"This Lucas is not simple..." Jones said coldly. There was something else she didn't say: this Lucas probably had ulterior motives, such as climbing higher. Based on the intelligence she had gathered, his power was already comparable to that of a count.
"Let's not worry about that for now," Lucy said softly. Of course, she had noticed a few things as well; some of Lucas's actions were just too obvious.
Her only concern right now was her father's illness. If her father fell, she herself would be in danger. Who would care if someone rebelled then?
"We're here." Jones looked coolly at the castle gate, where Elisa was already waiting.
"Princess Lu— ahem, Lucy, you're here," Elisa greeted her. She glanced around, having almost exposed the princess's identity.
After talking with Lucy last night, she had returned to the castle. She lived in the castle now, and if she didn't return at night, it would be assumed she had been captured, and a large search party would surely be sent out for her.
"Elisa, thank you for your trouble," Lucy said politely, stepping forward.
"Let's go, Lord Lucas is already waiting for you in the study," Elisa said softly, leading the way. Lucy and Jones immediately followed.
Tap, tap, tap...
Lucy and Jones followed Elisa quietly, their eyes scanning their surroundings. They found the atmosphere inside the castle to be very pleasant, lacking the oppressive feeling of the royal palace or the cautious and wary atmosphere of other noble houses.
"Isn't it incredible?" Elisa said softly without turning her head. "Completely different from other nobles, isn't it?"
"It is indeed unbelievable," Lucy nodded. The atmosphere in the castle was full of vitality and a positive, upward feeling.
"In the castle, as long as you complete your assigned work, you have time to rest. People aren't worked like slaves. If you are outstanding enough, you get promoted and can even be sent out to manage shops and such," Elisa said gently.
"How special," Lucy was taken aback for a moment, then remarked with emotion, "Lord Lucas's boldness is truly incredible."
"Lord Lucas has said that people can only progress when they have hope," Elisa said, the corners of her mouth turning up.
Lucas was treating the castle like another school. The reason he dared to do this was because of the beast-eared girls. The core of the backyard was entirely filled with them, with Nicole and the others in charge, all his own people making the arrangements.
"He is a man with ideals," Lucy said, her breath like an orchid. She thought even more highly of this Lucas now.
"We're here." Elisa soon brought the two of them to the outside of the study and raised her hand to knock.
Knock, knock, knock!
"Come in."
Creek!
Elisa pushed open the study door, nodded to Lucy and Jones, and stepped inside.
"Hoo..." Lucy took a deep breath. For some reason, she felt a little nervous. She glanced at the leopard-eared girl before stepping in.
Jones's hands were already on her finger-blade sheaths as she followed Lucy into the study. Her red eyes quickly scanned the room; there were only three people inside.
"Lord Lucas, this is Her Royal Highness, Princess Lucy," Elisa performed a noble's curtsy and introduced them. "And this is Miss Jones."
"Welcome, to you both." Lucas put down his pen and quietly observed the two people before him. He hadn't expected a princess to come to Sedona City, and specifically to see him.
"Lord Lucas." Lucy nodded slightly. She glanced at the fox-eared girl beside him. Why did she seem a little excited? How could Annie not be excited? This was the author of 'The Noble Girl's Romance Diary' in person. She was a fan of Lucy.
"Please, have a seat," Lucas gestured with his hand and said to Mina, "Serve our guests some tea."
"Yes." Mina's eyes moved away from the leopard-eared girl, and she picked up cups to pour tea for the two guests.
"..." Jones's red eyes stared intently at Mina's movements. From her years of honed killer instincts, she could tell that this cat-eared girl's strength was no less than her own.
"Princess, may I ask what business you have with me?" Lucas ignored the staring contest between the beast-eared girls. Last night, Elisa had said a friend of hers, a princess, wanted to see him.
"Lord Lucas, I would like to invite you to the Capital to treat the King," Lucy said directly, her eyes looking at Lucas with anticipation.
"Huh?" Lucas was astonished. She was looking for him to save someone? The king of a country? Was this some kind of mistake?
"I know this is rather abrupt, but the King is in dire need of your medical skills," Lucy said with a pleading tone.
"What illness does the King have?" Lucas frowned. To ask him to save someone right off the bat, without even knowing the illness, how could he?
"Uh..." Lucy was at a loss for words, realizing her impoliteness. She quickly said, "Frequent dizziness, blurred vision, lethargy, coughing, and vomiting blood..."
"..." Lucas listened quietly to Lucy's words and immediately knew the cause.
It was an old age sickness. In other words, as a person gets old, their bodily functions decline. With the conditioning and medical skills of this era, it was basically a death sentence. There was no cure. Even on Earth, it would only be a matter of prolonging life for a few more years.
"Lord Lucas, I will pay you for your services, as long as you can come with us to the Capital to treat the King," Lucy said seriously.
"No, I refuse," Lucas shook his head.
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