Chapter 33: Warm Welcome
Wendy and Roland kept sitting near the entrance for some time without saying anything.
"May I ask, Your Highness...What is your relationship with Ve- Nightingale?" Wendy suddenly asked, making Roland turn his head towards her with a surprised expression.
"I have never really thought about it but I guess we are friends just like I said back then..." Roland replied before his eyes landed on her large chest. Wendy naturally noticed this but she noticed that there was no lecherous look in his eyes, instead, she saw a pity which greatly baffled her. She still put her arms around her chest even though she didn't feel uncomfortable under his stare.
"Oh...I am sorry, it's just...don't your shoulders and neck feel sore?" Roland asked curiously since he never noticed Nightingale wearing any bra despite having a quite impressive chest herself which made him believe that there is only an uncomfortable corset in this era.
"A little bit, however, I grew used to it." Wendy replied honestly despite feeling slightly awkward talking about her chest with a prince.
"That's not a very good solution. Maybe you don't think much about it, however, it can cause you quite a number of health issues. I will try to solve your problem as soon as we get back to Border Town." Roland said before going back to staring out of the cave.
"T-there really is no reason to trouble yourself with such a small problem...I believe Your Highness has much more important issues to solve." Wendy tried to convince Roland and it was visible that she was slightly embarrassed.
'It's not exactly "small" problem' Roland wanted to add but he knew better not to say it aloud.
"It's not just about you, every woman just like you suffer so we will have to find a solution sooner or later. Don't worry, as I said, I won't force you to do anything you don't want to." Roland reassured her, thinking that he should also focus a bit on comfort and not just weaponry. Still, he needs to arm every recruit with the musket and make a few cannons for the defense of the town before he can focus on the comfort. With Red Pepper, a new fire type witch, the production will increase twofold!
"Y-your Highness, I am here to switch with you." Red Pepper approached them and said with a nervous tone.
"Alright, good luck you two" Roland got up and walked a few steps past her before stopping.
"I have no idea what is your goal but as long as you don't hurt anyone, you are free to do whatever you want. Just so you know, Cara doesn't care about your well-being, she doesn't care about anyone or anything other than Holy Mountain, she would sacrifice many of your sisters just for the chance to find it. Please think it through once we arrive at Border Town." Roland said and his words widened her eyes. Even Wendy frowned and looked at her.
"Your Highness, I-" Red Pepper turned around and wanted to say something but when she noticed Roland looking at her with a faint smile and finger over his lips, she closed her mouth.
"It's your choice how you choose to live. I hope you will see the light before you do anything stupid. By the way, taking this weapon from me won't do you any good since you don't have ammunition to use it." Roland said with a smile before leaving the two of them alone while Red Pepper was just staring at his back with a dumbfounded expression.
'Hopefully, Wendy will talk her out of any stupidity she was planning. She doesn't look like a bad person, it would be bad if she was led astray by her leader.' Roland could also just have a talk with her alone but he chose to use Wendy's social skills with witches to help both him and her sister.
When he arrived, at the resting place, he noticed that the twins and Lightning were lying on a thin layer of blanket together while Nightingale was lying on a blanket while looking at him with a smile separated from the others with one empty blanket next to her.
"...Is that Wendy's blanket?" Roland looked around and saw 2 more empty blankets but both of them were close to the twins so he doubted that's his place.
"Hm? No, I thought it would be better to give them some distance." She replied with what Roland would describe as a strange smile, maybe a bit seductive.
"Then why are you here?" Roland casually went to his place and lay down on the blanket while keeping eye contact with her.
"I thought Your Highness would be a bit lonely and I didn't want you to feel bad" She said teasingly, perfectly knowing that Roland would have no problem with being alone, separated from others.
"I see, then thank you for your company" Oddly Roland didn't even bother to correct her and instead he just thanked her.
For a minute, both were quiet, just lying on the blanket while looking into each other's eyes with a gap of only several inches between them.
Roland's eyes ventured a bit lower to her slightly parted lips, before he shook his head, slightly surprising Nightingale.
"Let's get some rest, we will need it tomorrow." Roland said, looking away from her face. He was perfectly aware of the situation so when he felt like making a move, he knew better not to do it with the others around. He wasn't even sure whether she would appreciate it.
"Alright...it's a little bit cold, can you-?" Nightingale agreed grumpily before taking his hand into hers and finding a perfect excuse for her action.
"Sure, good night" Roland said with a smile and started using his magic to keep her warm until she falls asleep. After a while, he himself decided to close his eyes for light sleep.
.
.
The next morning when Roland woke up, he found that his hand was still held by Nightingale. He masterfully escaped from her grasp and wanted to take a look outside, however...
"Is this how you treat women? Trying to leave the next morning without even saying goodbye?" Nightingale opened her eyes and asked in a quiet teasing voice.
"What, do you want a morning kiss?" Roland for once decided to play along and replied with a playboy-like smile.
"That and a breakfast wouldn't be that bad either!" She said with a smile, sitting up and stretching her arms.
"I can only give you one of those" Roland said and approached her, bringing his face close to hers which naturally surprised her as she began blushing, she closed her eyes and got ready but...
"Eh?!" When she felt Roland's lips on her forehead, she couldn't help but exclaim with a disappointed face.
Roland ignored her and went to look outside while she just kept staring at his back with puffed cheeks, clearly displeased with his action.
.
.
They traveled the entire morning without the rest and arrived at Border Town near evening while the citizens were returning home from their jobs.
"Your Highness!" Several citizens started greeting Roland upon seeing him walking through the town and he responded with a polite smile.
"Aren't the people here tired after the entire day of work? Why do they look so lively?" Wendy asked, observing their surroundings.
"Because a warm and plentiful dinner awaits them at home, that's why they are so excited. They also have small breaks at work where they are provided some food to regain their energy." Roland explained and thought how simple it was to keep your people happy in this era.
The rumors of a prince "inspecting" the town spread like a fire so when he was done showing the witches around the town, he arrived in front of his castle while Anna and Nana were already waiting there.
"Your Highness! You came back safe!" Anna's eyes lit up when she saw Roland and immediately run to him to hug him. Nana followed closely behind Anna and also hugged Roland, thankfully for him, her father wasn't anywhere near.
"Yeah, as you can see I came back unscathed!" Roland said, keeping his hands above his head, feeling slightly awkward by the show of affection.
The witches behind Roland could only look on with dumbfounded expressions.
"What about me, do I not get a hug?" Nightingale asked with a joking tone, however, Anna's reply surprised her.
"Come here, it's easier if we all hug at the same time!"
A strange smile appeared on Nightingale's face as she approached Roland from behind and joined the hug and this time, Roland's expression quickly changed when he felt Nightingale's plentiful chest pressing against his back.
'Stop, there is a kid among us, just stop...' Roland was successful in stopping his body's reaction despite having Anna hugging him from the front and Nightingale from the back.
"I want to join in!" Lightning suddenly shouted and joined the hug while also introducing herself to Anna and Nana which left Roland slightly annoyed.
'Go introduce yourself without clinging to my body!' Roland thought and turned to Wendy.
"Alright girls, I am sure you are glad to see each other again, however, let's not forget that we are still in a relatively public place. Let's give a prince a bit of space." She immedietely understood his look and decided to help him.
The girls quickly let go.
Roland looked at Wendy with a grateful look on his face to which she quite uncharacteristically winked with a faint smile.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone