"That dark red-haired woman drinks more than I expected, Lise has a high tolerance for alcohol. I could see the drunkenness in her hazel eyes, but she didn't care at all, she kept drinking and holding a proper conversation right up until I left.
I rub the back of my neck as I sigh, I spent more than I expected on this dinner. Well, it doesn't matter, I have more coins than I can spend. No one from the Owl Group held back when it came time to order, as if they were getting revenge for the training earlier.
When I get home, I find Brendu and Lully making some kind of cookies. I simply greet them quickly before going to take a relaxing shower. For a moment, I thought about going to look for the Brissy Group, but I decided not to for several reasons, I'll make them wait a little.
"I'll stay for a few more days, it's a pretty pleasant place and perfect for escaping the huge buildings and bright lights of the big cities." Lully cheerfully answers my question.
"What about Kensein? I understand he's still in meetings with my grandmother and brother." It's not just him, Grox is also involved in the smaller meetings.
"He'll return tonight. My mother needs him back in the territory, there'll be an expedition to thoroughly clear the future road toward the new city, we need his strength to drive away the other monsters while the runes and enchantments are being placed." Lully doesn't turn around to answer, both of them continue doing their thing.
That means Grox will leave as well, I thought I'd have a chance to practice with him... surely there'll be another opportunity in the future.
"By the way, my mother wants to talk to you." Lully turns to look at me with a giggle. "She told me to have you call her as soon as possible, it was one of the conditions for allowing me to stay a few more days." She uses her Imra to bring her phone toward me.
This device is still enormous, much bigger than what I was used to in my old world. It still drains monster cores like a bottomless pit and its price is high, but at least more people can afford one now, it has also made long-distance communication much easier.
"Call her right away, Aunt Mirtha might get upset if you make her wait." Brendu points a wooden spoon at me, moving the utensil threateningly.
What did she just say? Did she just call Mirtha "Aunt"? There are some battles better left unfought, it's better to accept the situation and live with it. "I'll call her outside, I want some fresh air." I don't get an answer, they simply continue talking about something else as I leave.
"You certainly took your time calling me back, you've been very busy, huh?" Mirtha's charming voice comes through the phone as soon as she answers.
"You know I'm a busy man. Being the face of a territory and its strongest asset keeps my schedule full." I play along with her for a moment.
"I've heard about your exploits these past few days. You can't stay still for even a single day, you're a troublemaker wherever you go." Her giggle through the call makes me laugh. "I'm glad to know your family is safe and healthy; and it makes me even happier that we're closer now." Her voice pauses for a moment.
"But we could be even closer if you married someone from my family. Lully isn't as beautiful as me, but you'll have to settle for her because my time has already passed." Mirtha can't hold herself back and bursts into laughter.
"Nobles always want to arrange marriages... I prefer relationships that develop from affection." I laugh along with her. I know her relationship with Lully's father is strange, it's more about mutual benefit, and that's why Mirtha makes those kinds of jokes.
"Boy, you're also a noble, even if you're sometimes wandering around or neglecting your responsibilities." Mirtha becomes a little more serious. "You know I won't force anything between you and my daughter, I don't need to, it'll become a reality sooner or later." Her decisive voice leaves me speechless.
"Did you want to talk to me just to make fun of me? That's very unlike you." I try to counterattack somehow.
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"You know I wouldn't mind spending a couple of hours from my busy schedule talking to you, well, making fun of you. It's always entertaining to have a conversation with you." She takes a second before continuing. "But that's not the reason; please take care of my Lully, she's genuinely taking a long break and has finally managed to disconnect, I haven't heard this much excitement in her voice in a long time."
"You know how difficult it is for Lully to relax, she only feels calm and safe when she's at home; even here in her own territory, she has to hide her face all the time to avoid being recognized." Mirtha's serious voice is just as sensual, if not more, how strange.
"I know she also has to change her appearance over there, but at least she isn't doing it alone anymore, now she has an accomplice, someone she can call a friend. They've only known each other for a few days, but many friendships are born in a single day and never end." Mirtha is clearly referring to Brendu.
"I promised you, Mirtha. As long as I'm near Lully, you can be certain nothing will happen to her, I won't allow anyone to hurt her." She's in a pretty safe place after all, the house has many enchantments and two Diamond Ranks take turns guarding it.
"I know, thank you for that." Her voice sounds genuinely grateful. "I feel much more at ease now. Now let's move on to the next topic." Her voice sounds excited.
"I'm sure you know about the large plot of land we've acquired in that noble villa your family owns, but I also want to acquire something smaller, something more private." I already knew about it, Lully's family bought an enormous space in the villa.
"Tell me where you want it and I'll make it happen, I can go talk to my brother today so he can arrange it as soon as possible." It's a request I can easily fulfill.
"Well... regarding the location, I want it to be inside your villa." Mirtha's voice leaves me speechless. "My daughter told me it's quite spacious, with a beautiful small lake and several simple decorations around it that make it feel very homey."
I had a small lake built near the house, it cost me a fortune, but it was worth it. Now I can go cool off with the girls whenever I want. Ever since I "walked" on water, I realized how fun it is, now I do it more often.
"You want a house inside my villa? Are you serious?" The property is large enough to hold several houses if I want.
"Yes, is that possible? I want to make it clear that it'll only be a small house with two bedrooms at most. It'll only be for when Lully stays alone in your territory or... for me when I come to visit; on any other occasion, my family will stay at the small castle currently under construction." I can hear a little embarrassment in her voice.
It's obvious she'd feel a little shy making this kind of request, Mirtha is asking to "invade" my personal space.
I let out a sigh. "There wouldn't be any problem if it's only for you or Lully, I'll have construction start tomorrow. Don't worry about anything, I'll take care of it." I accept after thinking about it for a moment.
I thought about refusing, Mirtha wouldn't have been upset at all, because I was planning to offer her the option of letting Lully stay in one of the guest rooms in my house, we have plenty of rooms. I only accepted because I'm sure Mirtha will use that little house to relax many times throughout the year, she'll fall in love with the atmosphere of this small villa.
I can't really refuse from the beginning, this is one of the safest places in the entire territory and Lully is important enough to stay here. It's especially safe when Brendu and I are here. I'm certain of one thing, the King has stationed a Herald near the territory, and the same thing probably happens whenever Marga or Arisa are nearby.
Would the Camux family have Heralds? I imagine they have at least one Diamond Rank and the rest must be powerful Ruby Ranks. I'll have to ask Uncle Camux when I see him, which should be soon when our territory is promoted and my father becomes a Baron.
"No, no, no. You don't have to cover the expenses, I already owe you your reward for helping us, I can't accept you paying for a house that Lully or I will use." Her voice is firm.
"Regarding that... I want to claim my reward, I have something in mind and I want you to tell me if it's possible. If the payment exceeds my request, let me know and we can reach an agreement, I don't mind doing some extra work to make up the difference." I bring up the subject that's been on my mind for so long.
I explain my grandmother's situation to her, without the necessary details Mirtha wouldn't be able to help me. My grandmother already gave me permission to tell her why she's still at Ruby Rank, it isn't anything unusual, her case is actually quite common.
"I understand, I promise I'll give you an answer tomorrow." A giggle comes through the phone. "I'll do everything in my power to help you, I have a few ideas in mind that could help her, I just need to make a few inquiries, expect a positive answer."
"Thank you." A huge smile appears on my face. My hopes of helping my grandmother soar after hearing such a positive response from Mirtha.
"But it won't be cheap; to be honest, what you're asking for comes at a fairly high price. I'll speak with the lord of the territory before making that decision, if he thinks the price isn't fair, I'll tell you what he decides." Her voice sounds a little discouraged at the end.
"I don't mind owing you another favor if it can solve my grandmother's problem." I shrug.
"We have a deal." We talk a little longer about casual topics before ending the call. This has been more fruitful than I expected, now I'm glad I made the call.