"Sevyn, I'd like to introduce you to Andrew, my husband." Ashley mused with a small smile on her face as she made her way to Andrew before her dainty arms landed around his neck.
'Husband? I didn't think that Miss was already engaged.' Sevyn thought however her mind was jolted back to reality. "It is very nice to meet you Sir Andrew." Andrew simply tilted his head as he heard this.
"Sir? Please just call me Andrew. After all you are older than me." Such was a similar occurrence Sevyn ran into when she dealt with Ashley. She wanted to be addressed with her actual name rather than fancy titles like Mistress or any of the sort.
"Very well." Sevyn gave a light sigh as she noticed Andrew's eyes landing outside. "It seems that you have a beautiful place here." He praised to which Sevyn took reverence in.
"Thank you, Andrew. I could give you a tour if you'd like." She added on. "Sure, we have time." From then on, Sevyn took the lead as the three took their exit out of the throne room and went out for a walk.
From the breathtaking sight of the beach to the sultry walks that echoed opulence and splendor that was a sight to see from afar was presented to the two. Ashley too was taken aback with how much things had developed ever since she had left.
Sure they caught the eyes of many servants however they could watch in shock before they resumed back to their duties. Sevyn was rather taken aback by this new side of Ashley she had yet to meet.
Unlike her usual cold and aloof demeanor, it was now replaced with a somewhat docile and calm lady who was ignorant of the world around her. She would momentarily give praise to Sevyn but most of the time her attention was diverted to Andrew.
It wasn't long before the two came to an end of the tour ending back in the throne room. "I hope everything was to your liking." Her tone became more of a servant rather of a queen which Andrew had picked up on.
"You should feel free around me." Sevyn knew what he meant however she ended brushing it off. "Haha! Nothing ever escapes your keen eye." She chuckled awkwardly to which Andrew laughed off.
"I think that that is enough of the tour which you did a spectacular job off however I hope that you don't mind if we had a trip of the kingdom itself." Ashley perked up as she heard this.
"Why? It's just some random buildings and people." Her tone ever callous which was something Sevyn had grown accustomed to. "There is a surprise that I have for you." Hearing this, Ashley's interest seemed to come out of nowhere.
"Oh! Then let's go." Sevyn gave a light laugh. 'To think that I had once thought that Miss would be so childish.' Sensing her remark, Ashley's cheeks pouted.
"I am not a child." However a tease was what that followed. "Yes you are. Just look at yourself." Andrew added as he took a light pinch of her cheeks which resulted in her pouting even more.
"Ah! Stop and let's go so that you can give me my present." She demanded as she pulled Andrew's hand all the more childish like. Another laugh escaped both Sevyn's lips similar to Andrew's.
It wasn't long before the three were on board a carriage. It ran on the principles of utilizing mana as an energy source which was rather crafty as using horses had more hidden and demanding costs.
The houses were lavish that seemed to stretch out to far. The designs of the carriage however was an eye seeker to all as they would surround and praise it. Since Andrew didn't want over the top attention, it was one of them instead of a convoy.
The carriage went all over. From the castle to the mundane towns as they would greet people of all classes. The two ended stopping at a bakery. "Come on." Andrew helped the two ladies off the coach.
With his arms locked between the two ladies, the scene no doubt launched a spark of conflict between the people who were watching the scene unfold. "Welcome custom-" The girl who was welcoming the trio froze in shock as she saw who had walked in.
She made a bow as she said in a calm and respectful tone. "I greet my Queen." Sevyn who was still in Andrew's embrace brushed it off. "Please, there is no need for all of this. Just treat us as regular customers."
A small laugh escaped her lips however Thalia seemed apprehensive as her body seem to freeze. Any words that seemed to come out of her lips ended up in form of stutters.
"Ah-Ve-please sit? Oh!-My-er"
Another character seemed to come out of the back as he seemed rather bewildered with what the commotion was about. "Thalia! Just serve the customers and get it over with!" A faint tinge of annoyance played in his tone however he to seem to grow silent as he saw Sevyn.
"My Queen!" He stammered as beads of sweat formed all over his face. "Please, there is no reason to grow so apprehensive. Just treat us the same way you would with any other customers."
Andrew let her break off as Sevyn walked over to the two as she put her hands on their shoulders. "It is not that big of a deal." She mused which jolted Enzo back into his mind.
"Ah! How stupid of me for making your highness so unwelcomed!" He started off with an apology which resulted with the situation growing all the more awkward.
"How much is a slice of bread along with a bottle of win?" She asked to which Thalia dashed back to the counter. "It's free for the queen!" She brushed it off however Enzo shot a sharp look at her. Realizing what he meant, she once again stammered as she adjusted.
"Ah! It's twenty bronze quartz." She gave herself a light face palm as she recalled that Sevyn wanted to be treated as a casual and her giving it to her for free was definitely out of touch for it to come off as normal.
Sevyn chuckled as she handed over fifty silver quartz. "Please, keep the change. I insist." Her radiant smile was calm and reassuring as she looked at Thalia. She grabbed the bag as she completed the deal.
"Thank...you..." Such words escaped her lips similar to a whisper before her eyes landed back to Sevyn. "It seems that I have a couple of recipes you could use and help bolster your business." Andrew murmured to which all eyes landed on him.
"What? You know how to bake?" Ashley asked before realizing why he would say so. 'Don't you think that you're showing off a little too much if you do so?' She could help but ask.
'It seems that you don't want your present.' Andrew teased to which she hastily changed her mind. 'What? No! It's a great idea that you are helping them out!' She laughed it off to which Andrew projected a small smile back.
Recalling the earlier image, Thalia's eyes landed on Andrew. She noted how close he was to not only Sevyn, the Queen of Sablestone but also the lady in his embrace. Ashley's face wasn't that known by many however her feats were world wide.
"Sir, it would be an honor to learn from you." Enzo thanked him as a guttural laugh followed. Given his white locks and calm temperament, it was clear that he was experienced in his filled.
He was rather skeptical whether he was knowledgeable in such a field however he could only accept the gift that was offered to him. Andrew proceeded to hand over a mana stone which had a cool and banal look to it.
Nothing about it seemed to make it stand out however Enzo knew the situation that he was in and turning down the gift would be an insult to not only the queen's face but also his face as well.
And recalling that the relation between Sevyn and him wasn't that simple, he could only accept with open arms. "I can't thank you enough!" A smile that rippled through his wrinkles that had started to set in.
Seeing that maybe Andrew had taken a fancy to Enzo, Sevyn proposed an offer. "Maybe you would like to work for me at the castle?" Enzo's eyes opened in shock. It was equivalent to an olive branch handed down to him and it was from the queen herself to boot.
He was rather perplexed however he accepted it as he fell on his feet. "You have no idea how much this means to me, Queen Sevyn! You truly are a benevolent and caring queen!"
"Please. There is no reason to thank me. After all it is my duty to look after you all." Sevyn smiled as she saw the man in rugged clothing on his knees right below his feet. Enzo shot up as he realized that he was making a huge scene once more.
"Please! You can have the entire store if you'd like!" It was this time that Thalia shot Enzo a perplexed look. "Very well, you wouldn't mind adding one more loaf and two more bottles."
Delighted, Enzo shot out of the room as he went to the back before his image appeared once more. "Here! These are all fresh and ripe!" Sevyn took the baskets.
"Please! My queen. I'll carry it for you." She added warmly to which Sevyn brushed her off. "It's no big deal." Her figure then proceeded to walk out of the front door along with the two individuals.
"To think that the queen would come here to my simple shack!" Enzo mused in delight as he clutched the ruby in his hands. "But father! Who were those two?" Thalia pointed out.
"Hmmm... I'm fairly confident that the lady was without a doubt Miss Ashley. The one that was able to slay the Hydra however what I don't understand is that man." Enzo felt no form of danger from him, his demeanor was calm and collected throughout the conversation.
"Regardless, this is a great opportunity for us." Thalia mused in joy as she saw the coach take its leave and head elsewhere.
…
As the trio dug into their meal, Andrew raised a question. "Why did you offer Enzo that offer, Sevyn?" He mused with curiosity as he looked at her face. "I assumed that you had taken interest in him. If not, you wanted to address his illness."
Andrew chuckled as he heard this. "The reason is much more complicated than that but that is just as good." Ashley who was invested in her meal posed the question Sevyn wanted to ask. "Then what was the reason for you to do that?"
"Hah! It seems that you have yet to utilize your skills. They are after all not for show or for menial tasks." She had reality at her whim and yet she treated it like another breath of air that she drew passively.
"Hmmm..." Her eyes closed momentarily before expressing her revelation. "I forgot."
*Bonk*
A dull thud on her head followed to which she pulled away from Andrew. "You could have cracked my skull with that attack." Aware of her theatrics, Andrew gave in. "Maybe I should to make you remember."
Sevyn found the actions unfolding in front of her rather childish, containing an allure of playfulness and charm that she couldn't quite grasp. It was a treat regardless to see Ashley unfold so freely.
At first she thought that Ashley was like a crystal emerald, fully cold and aloof. A part of her wondered whether she would ever find anything that would faze her in the slightest considering she was above the world.
And right in front of her eyes here she was as her once coldness had been melted away by a strange individual that she had no form of relativity with. She felt a cool and calm air hanging around him as he was usually drowned in silence.
Nothing too outstanding about him from a moments glance however the more she spent time with him, the more she realized that there was more to him that meets the eye.
"We're here." The coachman mused as he brought the coach to a stop. Andrew had ordered the coachman to take them to a designated place which the two knew nothing about. Eager to get her present, Ashley hopped out of the carriage only to be greeted with a fleet of ships.
"What kind of present is this?!" Sevyn was too puzzled as she hadn't thought that he would take them to the harbor. It had major developments since Ashley was last here.