Xiao Ping's suit was reflected in the deep green eyes of Sticky as the cat stared at him with peculiar intensity.
'I apologize for calling you a "bum" earlier and for my behavior... and I want to say thank you for the meal!' Sticky's voice transferred into Xiao Ping's mind... before the cat went back to sleep.
'At least he knows how to say thanks! This confirms what the entity said earlier!' Xiao Ping looked towards where Madeline had been sitting on the sofa, but she wasn't there. The dish that had held the food was gone too. So he quickly said, "James! Where's Madeline? I don't see her." He paused briefly before adding, "Did she go to wash the dishes? So she's not coming with us, right?"
'I wish, but that won't happen!' James hoped inwardly before saying, "That's practically and physically impossible! Believe me, a destructive hurricane would hit the city of Freundenstrem if Madeline didn't come with us!" James showed a smile, but behind it was misery and wishful thinking.
'From what he said, I realize I forgot the common nature of women! Yes, it's shopping and obsession with fashion! Even in a different world, there are still some similarities, almost... But that doesn't mean I'll pay!' "Oh, so where is she?" Xiao Ping acted foolishly in front of James... asking where she was now just to see how James would respond.
'Another attempt at provocation! No matter how well this devil cooks, escapes, or acts innocently, it doesn't mean he's stopped being a devil!' James adjusted his coat slightly before saying, "When I went down to the first floor, she took the dish back and went into her room!"
'Whatever, this person seems naive on the outside, but she's no less dangerous than I am... As the entity told me, I must be wary of James!' "Understood!"
Only seconds after Xiao Ping spoke, Madeline's room door opened and she headed towards Xiao Ping and James, who were standing by the hall door.
She had changed out of that previous crimson dress and was now wearing a pink dress, with a matching bag around her waist and a hat on her long blonde hair. She had applied some makeup to her face and wore lipstick, making her look much more beautiful. She hadn't replaced those golden earrings on her ears and left them as they were.
'Beautiful!' James's heart beat rapidly when he saw Madeline, but he focused on her wrists, which were wearing white gloves, and she was holding two umbrellas: one red and the other black.
'Why does she look like this? Are we going to some party? No, wait! I remember! They told me earlier there's a soirée tonight! But what do umbrellas have to do with it?' "You, Madeline Sama, look very beautiful," Xiao Ping complimented.
"Even though I know the meaning of the word 'sama,' it sounds strange when you say it!" Madeline replied gently while handing the black umbrella to Xiao Ping.
'For heaven's sake! What am I supposed to do with an umbrella in a cloudy city, but not because of clouds?' Xiao Ping grumbled before saying, "Don't worry, Miss Madeline, you'll get used to it!" At that moment, James kicked Xiao Ping's foot, making him correct himself and say, "Yes, you'll get used to it because James will always say it to you! By the way, what's the point of carrying an umbrella in a city full of factory smoke?"
"Because the climate of Freundenstrem is irregular. It might be sunny but turn rainy or snowy in an instant!" Madeline replied while approaching James, taking his arm, and saying, "And the second reason is that it looks romantic!"
'Do I only see this because I asked?' Xiao Ping mocked before saying, "Who said that?"
"What? You don't know who said that? I'm joking, that's normal since you asked first about the reason for the umbrella. The one who said it is the King's younger brother!"
'The King's younger brother! This sounds really suspicious, why would common folk just follow his sayings?' "Huh! Just because the King's younger brother said it doesn't mean it's romantic at all! And why do you imitate what he says?" Xiao Ping didn't insult the Prince, fearing someone might hear and have him executed! He only insulted a princess this morning and miraculously escaped... if he did it again, it would be like asking for death.
"Just sayings? No, they are rulings of existential value! Also, the Prince isn't like ordinary people. He is highly revered in terms of literature, music, politics, and inventions as well!" Madeline replied before falling silent and saying with great admiration, "It is said the Prince drew many blueprints and invented numerous inventions, and also authored many books... contributed to raising the country's economy, made many modifications to ships, founded a fleet he named 'the Dogma,' developed cannons with high offensive power... raised their speed to 33 nautical knots, causing pirates to flee from the kingdom's borders because of this, so he controlled the sea shipping lines before annexing them to the kingdom, making the economy rise significantly, invented the steam train and built railways in every city in the kingdom. He used to say many strange sayings, but due to what he offered the kingdom, the people circulated his sayings and do what he writes in his books! Out of love for him. The most important thing he did was invent a language of his own for writing, and because no one could read it, the Prince wrote that language on many papers and distributed them throughout the kingdom. It's said they reached the western borders of the kingdom too. If I talked about his achievements until tomorrow, I wouldn't finish!" Madeline was truly impressed by the Prince.
'His achievements are truly terrifying. This is something not every person can do, but he did all this alone... He truly is a super and terrifying talent. I wonder if he is a bearer of a path that gives him ideas or inspires him? To be able to think with this supreme genius, and this caused people to use his sayings! Even though they are somewhat silly, they carry deep meaning! Hmm, and this reminds me of something. So with all I've heard, I have now become certain that there is a very high probability of some important documents being stolen from that aristocrat's bank by Antonius Mirus when he fled, and if he delivers those important documents to pirates! It will be a fatal blow to the kingdom!' Xiao Ping thought to himself before saying, "I apologize for my ignorance of this supreme talent, and also apologize for wasting Miss Madeline's time telling me such well-known things!" Xiao Ping tilted his hat.
"No... there's no need to apologize for that! Remembering the Prince's amazing achievements... makes me proud of his presence in our kingdom!" Madeline replied joyfully while urging James to go out the door and head towards the stairs.
'Tsk, they really show off in front of me.' Xiao Ping looked towards the loving couple who were descending the stairs to the first floor... and then looked towards the sofa in the living room, seeing no one but Sticky sleeping peacefully.
'No need to worry about this café being robbed while we're out. Sticky is here and will likely kill anyone who enters!' Xiao Ping panicked internally before closing the hall door and going down the stairs to the first floor. He saw James and Madeline waiting for him outside, so Xiao Ping walked towards them. After opening the door and leaving the café, Madeline stood in front of him, holding James's arm tightly.
She looked at Xiao Ping before taking a key out of her bag and throwing it towards him, then pointed to the café door handle.
'Do you think I'm your servant?' Xiao Ping stumbled and was about to drop the wine bottle from his hand; his other hand held the umbrella Madeline had given him. For a moment, he thought of throwing the key in her face, but since James was watching his movements, he just nodded obediently. He realized too late that Madeline had thrown him a copy of the café keys so that when she wasn't inside, he could open the door for himself.
He put the umbrella under his arm and tightened his arm around it... before locking the door using the key, then putting it quietly in his coat pocket... before carrying the umbrella in his right hand and the bottle in his left.
The café window reflected Xiao Ping's figure, but Xiao Ping didn't get angry like before. Instead, his admiration for this appearance increased greatly; the clothes he wore showed him much more handsome than the old ones.
"Where are we going?" Xiao Ping asked, fully embodying the persona of someone truly from the tribes of the Desert of Death, in Madeline's view.
"There are shops at the bottom of this street! They sell clothes, and there are also many upscale shops... so it won't be crowded like the end of Monarako Street... only some capable people."
'He means by 'capable people' those with an income slightly higher than the rest of the general populace... of course, and much more than the income of the poor!' Xiao Ping analyzed James's words before opening his umbrella... and waiting for James and Madeline to move.
He looked at the long streetlamp in front of him, wondering to himself: why is the height of this lamp different from the others? He realized that manufacturing a lamp like this just for lighting and hanging the café sign was a waste of money, and he thought there must be a deeper reason for building it this way.
James and Madeline moved after opening their red umbrella and moving forward. Madeline was holding James and leading him with her, indicating that James was doing this reluctantly.
'Well then, let's go!' Xiao Ping moved after James and Madeline, while looking at the street and seeing the drainage system pulling water into it... 'It must be an invention of that Prince! I'm eager to see what that language he invented looks like! By the way, I don't know how old he is.' Xiao Ping thought to himself before saying, "How old is the Prince?"
James turned instead of Madeline and said coldly, "I don't know why you're asking, and I don't know the purpose of knowing the Prince's age, but don't insult the Prince in front of anyone from the people, or else... they'll report you to the Imperial Court and you'll be executed!"
"But I didn't insult the Prince, and I won't do that!" Xiao Ping replied before saying, "I just want to know the age of the supreme talent that shook the kingdom!"
"You're suspicious, but I've already warned you! As for the Prince's age, at the end of next month, it's said a huge party will be held, and all the nobles and duchies in the kingdom will attend! And that party is the Prince's 18th birthday!"
Xiao Ping thought while saying, "Will you attend?"
"Attend what? This party is only for the ruling class of the country! Not for commoners like us!" This time Madeline replied to Xiao Ping.
"Oh, really." A devilish smile appeared on Xiao Ping's face as he looked at the couple in front of him: 'I'll try to get into that party... I want to meet that Prince quickly! But this might be dangerous too. It's unreasonable that the King would invite such influential figures in his kingdom and not employ some power-bearers to guard his younger brother!' Xiao Ping's devilish thoughts filled his head, but he pushed them all aside... it would be madness to risk so much for something that wouldn't benefit him, so he quickly decided not to go!
...
End of Chapter ~ To be continued