John Ericsson's Point Of View
" Relax, Darling. It's all over now, we can only move forward now."
" I know, Anna. It's just... A lot."
Anna tried to comfort me with her words and by rubbing my back as I rubbed my temples to try and make the stress headache I was having go away. Sarah, Anna, our guards and I were currently in the processing building for entering Darkheim. The causes of my headache were currently wishing their parents goodbye before leaving with us and our guards.
" My Love, what's done is done, you need to relax, Paradise will accept her with our approval."
" That's not the cause of my headache, Sarah. It's the complications that are going to arrive from this all."
To be honest with myself, I really didn't want to bring Princess Charlotte back to Paradise with us but seeing as I had to agree last night, considering the situation, I was stuck between a rock and a hard place. To turn her down and have that come out to the public, which would've happened since the guards and maids were watching with intent. And our sparring match caused that big of a stir with a huge stadium filled with people. Or, I accept her and have to deal with the problems that come. With Sarah and Anna also wanting her to work for us. I agreed. After I agreed, the family seemed happy, I suppose that was a good thing. It was on my way back to our room that night that the hypothetical future scenarios started playing in my head. I know that my people can be trusted, but what about when others visit, like that Dartz guy from a few weeks ago? Since the Dark Elves are a very solitary people the chances of anyone knowing what Princess Charlotte looks like are slim, but not an absolute 0. My head is hurting from all the security measures I'm going to have to implement if I want to make sure she's safe. From either Demons or Elves. Let alone if any Elf tried to sneak into Paradise like the ones that were tracking the Humans. That could be the absolute worst outcome. That summit can't come soon enough.
" What's wrong with Marquess Matthew?"
I hear the 2nd cause of my headache approaching us.
" My husband didn't sleep too well last night, Prince Delcan."
" What a shame, a well-rested body is needed to start a journey."
Ah, to be free of any decisions that affect people's lives! How I miss last year! Sarah and Anna were rubbing my back in an attempt to soothe me. I can't speak to if rubbing my back was really the correct method to help with a headache, but it did offer me some form of comfort. Let alone all the issues I'll be having with Princess Charlotte; I now have to worry about this guy! He just decided to come with us to visit Paradise. With the expectant look on his and his parent's faces... I ended up nodding my head as I felt something crack in my head. That's when the headache started. I was able to hold back until they were out of sight.
" Oh dear! Should we bring a doctor to see to him?"
Queen Crystal offered to bring a doctor. I would usually be appreciative of something like that, but to be honest, she's the main cause of all of this! Had I known the family saw an economic opportunity when it came to my ice cream, I would've happily hashed out a deal the first night we were here. Thankfully, they were pretty fair with the terms of the business deal even though I was technically at their mercy. It was almost like the business deal was of secondary concern to them.
" I appreciate the thought, Queen Crystal, but it's just from how bright the sun is and my lack of sleep last night. I think the best thing we can do is to begin our journey back. Being home, I feel would be the best medicine for me."
" You make it sound like you're in a rush to return."
" My home is important to me, Queen Crystal. Let alone the fact that I have several ongoing development projects that need my oversight."
" You don't have subordinates who can authorize things when you're not there?"
King Leonard spoke to me this time, he sounded genuinely confused at my explanation. I squinted my eyes at him trying to keep the light from the sun from aggravating my headache.
" Quite a few of the projects are dependent on me in one form or another, outside of those, I have a secretary that I left in charge for any day-to-day problems that might occur. But the other projects are already slow moving when I'm there working on them, they've screeched to a halt with our leaving of Paradise."
" You're quite busy for a Town Lord, do you know that?"
The King spoke again after absorbing what I said.
" Had I realized how much work it took to enact all of these development projects... I would've still done them, but I would've done them 1 at a time."
The King laughed at my words. How are they that funny?
" Sorry, it's just that I've said similar things when I was younger, Marquess Matthew!"
The King catches his breath as the Queen comes from behind him with an envelope in her hand.
" I'd hate to interrupt my Husband while he's having such a good time, but here, Marquess Matthew."
The Queen gently places the envelope into my hand. I look at it for a second, the Queen, obviously understanding that I had no clue what it was, began to explain it to me.
" It's a letter explaining how we wish to have a summit and asking for King Warrick's cooperation moving forward. As well as a few... Other topics."
" Other topics?"
Again, I was confused by the Queen.
" Oh, you know, things regarding the future of... Both of our countries...."
" Ah!"
Understanding came over me in that moment.
" From what I understand, besides Sarah, Warrick's children are all single, Queen Crystal! Ow!"
I felt a sharp pulling pain from my cheek. I turned to see my wife's purple eyes staring back in annoyance.
" When it comes to that topic, Queen Crystal, my sister has someone she has her eyes on. She's just waiting for her moment to pounce. Just like other Princesses that we know of."
" Oh, I see."
Sarah and the Queen shared smiled at each other, like they both understood something.
" Other Princesses?"
" Yes, can I help you?"
Charlotte asks me a question from my side as she heard my repeating of Sarah's words. She seemed to be sad as she was splitting up from her parents for what I would assume was the first time in her life.
" Huh? Charlotte, no. Not you, Sarah was talking about..."
" We were talking about how nice it would be to have you with us in Paradise, believe it or not, we could've used someone with your skillset working with us in Paradise from the start."
" Really!?"
Charlotte's face brightened up from depressed to somewhat happy. I guess Sarah wants to avoid talking about other Princesses for some reason.
" Yes. I'm very happy that you're coming along with us. For such a battle loving race, Demons that can lead effectively on the battlefield are few and far between in Diablos... Unless they're already in the military and ergo, not interested in working for Nobles."
Charlotte now had quite the smile on her face.
" Not bad..."
I heard the Queen whisper something to the King after I spoke, it shouldn't be anything too bad considering I'm praising her daughter.
" Well, with you needing me so bad, how can I say no to the job!"
Charlotte seemed to be in a much better mood now. I guess having a place and purpose instead of having to just sit and be judged by people makes her feel happy.
" With that, I do believe it's time for us to leave, Darling."
Anna brought to my attention that it was about time for us to depart. I turned to King Leonard and Queen Crystal and bowed my head slightly to them.
" King Leonard, Queen Crystal, thank you for your hospitality. I'll ensure that your son and daughter are taken care of properly to and from Paradise. And I'll continue to look after Princess Charlotte as she stays with us."
The King and Queen nodded to my words.
" I trust you will do just that, Marquess John."
King Leonard responded to my words first. With tears in Queen Crystal's eyes, she spoke to Charlotte who also began to tear up.
" Go and do well, Charlotte. I know you can accomplish your goals as long as you never lose the determination you have now. Never forget that."
" Yes!"
With Charlotte's affirmation, she hugged her mother and father one last time before turning and walking back to us.
" And with that, goodbye and have safe travels, Marquess Matthew."
I nodded to them and turned around from them. My group of my wives, a Princess who now works under me, Prince Delcan, her brother and finally a group of my guards. After traveling in a carriage for an hour, we made it to the door that brought us to Darkheim.
" Alright, lets head through, I'll set the door to deliver us to the Northern Exit of the forest."
" You can do that?"
Prince Delcan began to fiddle with a pad with buttons on the side of the door. I couldn't help but ask if what he said was truly possible. The door just seemed to be a portal to me. I thought it was stationary and not capable of opening somewhere else. Delcan finished messing with the buttons and turned to me to answer my question.
" As long as it's in the forest, yes, we can go anywhere. We just like to use the door in the containment facilities for outsiders."
" You sure you want us to know then?"
Delcan smiled at me as I asked him that.
" Something tells me it won't be a problem moving forward."
As he spoke, he looked at his sister. Well, yeah. I guess since she's going to work for me now, we're not technically outsiders.
" Del!"
" What? You'd think I wouldn't find out?"
Charlotte and Del started to a little quarrel.
" Relax Charlotte, he was there when you made your request. He already knows you're going to be working with us now."
" No. Thats not..."
Sarah placed her hand on a panicking Charlotte as she began to speak.
" I think it's about time for us all to return to the guards with the carriage. Wouldn't you agree, My Love?"
" Yeah, I guess so, they might be angry that it took 3 days to get back."
With Sarah's words I decided to just walk through the door. Anna came with me; Sarah was discussing something with Charlotte as I entered the door's blackness. Before long, everyone made it through. Sarah and Charlotte were last to come through. Charlotte was blushing while Anna was smiling about something. I hope she doesn't think just because she works for us that means she can tease Charlotte. The door disappeared after everyone walked through it.
" So, where's your carriage?"
Delcan asked excitedly. But it was still a ways off.
" It's about 2 miles that way."
" 2 miles!?"
" Relax, we're not walking that distance."
" What do you mean, I told you the door only travels in the forest! Besides it's gone! We'd have to walk back now!"
Delcan seemed to think I was going to use the door. While Delcan was freaking out, a black light appeared before me. Remembering about the bucket of water made me less drained as I summoned Paula.
" Hello, Matthew!"
" Hi, Paula! How are you?"
" Pretty good!"
" It's a Spirit!"
Delcan was surprised as Paula and I greeted each other.
" Prince Delcan, since you told me a secret, let me tell you one. I have a 2nd class. It's the Summoner job. I hope you'll keep this a secret."
"..."
Delcan was at a loss for words.
" She's so cute!"
" Oh, hello Princess Charlotte! This is our first-time meeting, but I've seen everything Matthew has, you fought well yesterday!"
" Thank you, can I call you Paula?"
Charlotte asked this as she was already patting Paula's head.
" Sure."
Paula agreed to be called by her name. I'm glad to see that she's actually able to speak to Charlotte with a relaxed demeanor. It feels like yesterday that she was apologizing to me for being a Dark Pixie, now she's speaking to a Princess for the first time and treating her as a friend.
" An actual Spirit?"
" Yes?"
Delcan seemed to still be filled with confusion.
" Have you never seen a Spirit before?"
Delcan shook his head. I spoke to him as the girls and Paula spoke amongst themselves, Paula seemed really interested in the conversation as I took a few looks as I spoke to Delcan. Turns out, Elves and Dark Elves rarely have Summoners. The last Dark Elf summoner died around 300 years ago. With the 5-minute conversations over, we moved on to why we were here. Paula opened a portal for us.
" Wow, you can make this big a portal?"
" This is amazing!"
Delcan spoke as he saw the bushes with the top of the carriage poking out of them. I nodded my head to his question. Charlotte also was shocked by the portal.
" Have none of you told him?"
He looked back at my wives and our guards.
" You all look confused. No one mentioned that this isn't normal?"
" Are you saying that the portals aren't usually this size, Delcan?"
Delcan nodded his head and continued to speak.
" This is unheard of for a Dark Elf as far as I know."
" It's probably because of my Holy Mana and how talented Paula is."
" Matthew..."
Paula smiled as I spoke.
" Maybe so. Just... Be careful showing this to others... There might be issues."
" Thank you for the advice."
We walked through the portal and met Greg and Sam, the 2 guards I left for the carriage and horses. After greeting them I had something else to say.
" I'm sorry it took 3 days to come back here."
" Lord Matthew! Please! You don't need to bow to us! We're just glad we could do our duty!"
Both of them gave me the same answer.
" Even if you don't want it, I must apologize, I said I'd be back in a day, and it ended up taking 2 more. If I'm not held accountable for my words... It can become a slippery slope. Your base pay will be doubled because of my error."
"Lord Matthew..."
Both of the guards seemed to have a mix of joy and fear. My guess would be because the other guards weren't receiving the same bonus.
" Are you saying my family held you up?"
Delcan asked me that jokingly.
" Just don't tell your parents."
" Lord Matthew, who are these Dark Elves?"
Greg and Sam had some questions at first. After apologizing to Delcan and Charlotte, for using informal language and both of them awkwardly accepting it, Greg and Sam thought I would punish them. I didn't as it was from me not explaining who they were. I began to move onto phase 2 of the plan after Greg and Sam relaxed. After Sarah restored my mana, I turned to Delcan and Charlotte again. Of course, the guards already knew about this. We picked this group on basis of loyalty, after being interviewed strictly by Sarah and Anna. These were the ones chosen. I opened another portal and we all walked through with the carriage and horses as well. Once everyone made it through, I dropped to my knees from light-headedness.
" My Love!"
" Darling!"
" Matthew!"
" Lord Matthew!"
Everyone freaked out. Sarah and Anna picked me back up to my feet and Anna kissed me. I felt her mana pour into me. When we separated once I was full, I began to speak to everyone.
" Sorry to worry everyone. The portal uses mana based on 2 things. the number of things moving through it, living or not and the distance. I just moved us all as far as we could. From what I see, it looks like we moved 2 days' worth of distance. Sarah, Anna, how much more mana do you both have?"
" I can do it 3 more times."
Anna answered first.
" I can do it 3 more times as well."
" Okay. The traveling will take 3 days. great!"
" Are you insane?"
Delcan asked a question.
" There's a saying I know of Prince Delcan. Time is money."
" So, you'll put yourself into mana exhaustion to get us to Paradise faster?"
" Would you believe that I just want to find reasons to kiss my wives?"
I smiled at him as the women blushed and my wives smiled shyly. With a bit of gusto, 3 days passed quickly. There was an argument the first night about the carriage. But seeing as Charlotte was a Princess, even if she would be my employee, I insisted for her and my wives to sleep in the carriage. She resisted. Until Sarah and Anna mentioned that I would owe her one. Charlotte looked at me with a discerning eye. Since I wanted to pass out from nearly being out of mana. I just nodded my head and Charlotte smiled and agreed to sleep in the carriage. I was shocked how easy it was. Once that was done, I parked myself in front of a tree and Sarah threw a blanket on me and I didn't wake up until the afternoon the next day. This sleep cycle continued until finally, we arrived in front of the Southern Gate of Paradise.
" Who goes there!?"
A male voice called out to me.
" Your rightful Lord!"
Sarah was the one who answered as I let Puala return to her home.
" Lord Matthew!"
The male voice was shocked at who he heard was home. A bunch of shuffling later and a slim looking triclops walked out of the gate to welcome us.
" Welcome back, My Lord! Would you have me send for Ms. Emily and Ms. Ruby?"
" No, at this time they should be working. We'll head there ourselves."
With my words, the guard walked back to his station. The guards handed the carriage and the horses back to the people who look after them and me along with Sarah and Anna guided Charlotte and Delcan around Paradise as we made our way to our home. That was until I bumped into someone.
" Ah!"
I tumbled and fell. It felt like someone put their entire leg out to trip me.
" Ow."
The person I fell from bumping into was also hurt. What the hell am I sitting on?"
" Get off of me!"
I heard a shout from behind me. I must've been sitting on the guy's legs. I got up and turned around to not see a Human or Demon. It was... A kid? No, he has a beard?
" You bump into someone and don't even apologize! Who raised you!?"
The tiny kid with a beard shouted at me. Why's his voice so gruff? Wait!
" Are you a Dwarf?"
" Yes, I am! I'm Lats Steelarm! Who're you!? And you still haven't apologized brat!"
" Hey you!..."
" Sarah, wait!"
I stopped Sarah from freaking out. I turned back to Lats and began to speak.
" My name is Matthew Drake. I'm the Lord of this town. I apologize for knocking into you Lats Steelarm, but I wasn't expecting to run into a Dwarf, before I left, I'd never even seen one. Can you tell me when you arrived here?"
" You're the Lord? The one Lady Emily and Lady Ruby work for?"
I nodded my head to him.
" Emily is my secretary and Ruby is her bodyguard. During the time I was gone, I let Emily work as my proxy and Ruby worked as her advisor as well."
With those words, I heard an interesting tale. Apparently, a convoy came from Kuga on the word of the Humans who were able to make it there. They came to see about my dairy products. That was where it ended for information as Lats was a just a smith not a merchant. I quickly thanked Lats for talking to me and made a b-line to the office. I have some praises and questions for Emily and Ruby as I opened the door to my mansion.