145: Visitors

Everyone was silent as we were escorted out of the palace by Liam. It wasn’t until we were piled back into the carriage that I remembered I should’ve used the foraging ability on the inner garden.

But hopefully I’d get a chance again.

Arriving back at the house, Liam bowed.

“Thank you for following through with the agreement. We’ll have guards at your property until such time as you hire your own. However, if you’d like them removed, you need only ask,” Liam said.

“Thanks, Liam,” I said happily. “Hopefully, we’ll see you again.”

He shook everyone’s hand, including Crisplet’s, which was really nice to see.

Entering the mansion, we were met by Micca, George, Darren, and Archie, who stood just behind them.

“Well? How’d it go?” Micca asked, studying us as we entered.

I turned to face Hari, noticing I wasn’t the only one—Jen and Liane did the same.

Hari let out a chuckle. “I’m okay. I just need a little while to collect my thoughts, and Trevor, I’ll fill you in as well. These guys already know about my family.”

He then headed to the right, in the direction of the library.

“Will he be okay?” I asked.

Milo nodded. “He’ll be fine. Give him some time—he’s got a lot to think about.” He turned to Archie. “Archie, it’s good you’re here. We’ll likely be getting a lot of messengers and visits. Ensure we’re not disturbed, and just let them know you’ll pass it on.”

Archie bowed. “Yes, sir.”

“We’ll talk in the living room,” Milo said, pointing left.

Opening the door, Crisplet dashed forward and dove into the fireplace. It erupted into flame, and only a second later Lily appeared, having not been able to travel in the carriage, and lay down in front of the fire.

“Well?” Micca asked impatiently.

“It’s hard to say,” I shrugged.

“It went as well as it could have, honestly,” Jen said, falling into her seat.

“We’re keeping the house, then? I thought for sure Trev would say no.” Micca laughed, causing George and Darren to snicker as well.

“I’m not that predictable, am I?” I asked, shocked, because it was my first thought.

“You are,” Darren and George replied immediately, causing laughter from everyone.

“We’re keeping the house,” Jen added, “and Trev even asked the King directly to provide you with a shop, so I’d expect something ridiculous tomorrow.”

“What?!” Micca said, shocked.

“We don’t have enough supplies for an entire shop. What are we going to do?” Her laughter turned to panic.

“It’s okay—don’t worry. It actually works out well.” Milo leaned forward. “You just have a closed shop where your patrons need to organise a booking. Come in, sit down, make it an experience instead of the buying-off-the-shelf type shop you’re imagining.”

“That type of shop is more common among the nobility anyway,” Jen added. “Leads to less conflict in the store and maintains privacy.”

It didn’t seem to solve Micca’s panic entirely.

Looking around, I asked, “Anyone want to tell me about Hari’s family, then?”

Milo shook his head. “It’s best Hari tells you himself. I’m sure he will sooner rather than later. It’s likely about to affect you.”

That confused me. I’d gathered enough to understand Hari was from one of the noble families here in the capital, but how that involved me, I didn’t really understand.

“So besides the shop and something with Hari’s family… what else happened?” George asked.

I began recounting events, only making it as far as Gerald before I was interrupted.

“Do you think he’s trying to cause trouble?” Micca asked.

Milo shook his head. “Doubtful. But it’s not uncommon for someone in his position, for as long as he’s been there, to rigidly stick to tradition. Usually, when visiting the king—or any royal—there are customs that must be observed. We didn’t do any of them.”

It had crossed my mind that Gerald seemed hostile, but it was a relief to hear Milo didn’t suspect it was deliberate.

“So if I were to guess, in all future interactions he’ll either be instructed not to engage with you at all, or he simply won’t be present. You know, to avoid further conflict. But I don’t think he was particularly out to get you,” Milo finished.

When I continued my story, there were several gasps as I explained how Henry and Oliver got called out.

“Do you think they’ll change the orphanage system, then?” Darren asked.

Liane shook her head. “Not easily, no. He said he will, but to actually change it he’d need to change the opinion of every noble family in the kingdom, and I don’t see that happening.”

Jen tried to be the voice of reason. “He will try, though, I suspect—if only for appearance’s sake.”

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Milo nodded. “He’ll try to, and most likely fail. We’ll see.”

“Well, what else did he offer you then?” Micca asked excitedly. “I’m sure there was something.”

I blinked, trying to remember. I hadn’t really been paying attention—I’d been mostly worried about Hari.

“You’ve forgotten already?” Jen laughed.

I shrugged helplessly.

“He got offered a commission from the phoenix smith for some armour,” Jen said.

“Oh yeah. That.” I snapped my fingers as it came back to me.

Milo laughed. “Just that, he says. Like it’s nothing.”

I felt like I was missing something again. “I don’t really need armour, do I?”

Milo just shook his head, while Jen muttered, “Hopeless.”

After a deep breath, Milo said, “Yes, you need armour if you wish to be an adventurer. Have you already forgotten the ambush? The galvonson? Boltron? The bear? The treants? The assassination attempt? And we’ve not even done anything actually dangerous yet.”

He leaned closer. “Also, Trev, that’s no regular smith. If anyone could use drake scales—or perhaps even a dragon scale—it would be him.”

“Won’t he need a phoenix feather, though?” I asked, remembering the conversation with Elder Peter way back.

“No,” Milo said. “He could infuse it in if he had one, sure, but he’s still a rare-class smith and can produce amazing work.”

“Lily could probably get you a feather if you asked her. I bet she’d love stealing one from Alira,” Liane said with a chuckle, catching Lily’s attention briefly.

“No, it’s okay,” I replied. “I don’t want Lily to vanish for a week again—not while we’re here in the capital.”

“Smart,” Milo said sternly. “Don’t think there won’t be someone stupid enough to attempt to hurt you and blame a different party. Politics is a ruthless game, and they won’t consider the death toll until it’s too late.”