Author's note: I just checked the timeline. There was an error. The wedding should be held in 50 days. Not "next week."
Thank you.
=====
The other emissaries also said roughly the same thing. This new groundbreaking invention was too sudden for them to comprehend.
Afterward, they discussed Momo's idea regarding Enchanted Undergarments. It was well received by the board. Even Archduke Baratheon made a pre-order of 1,000 pieces of Enchanted Undergarments for 20 gold coins each. The other emissaries were also looking forward to this product to be produced on a much larger scale.
Alice smirked when she noticed the lascivious and greedy gaze of the noblemen. Free stamina regeneration and passive healing factor without consuming potions? The commoners, low rank mages and warriors alike would definitely spend their money on the product.
Alice accepted the offer. In fact, she wanted to lower the price by the time the product was produced at an industrial scale to reach middle-low markets. Selling high quality, exclusive stuff indeed has a very high profit margin. However, Alice wanted to build a sustainable business that could last for decades if not centuries to come, which was; a clothing and fashion brand.
Queen Freya clasped her hands, announcing that today's meeting was over. The noblemen of Central Alliances excused themselves out and en route to their respective kingdoms to report to their monarchs through a magic portal at the main gate.
The queen slumped to her seat, letting out an exasperated sigh as she rested her head on the table.
"Thank you, Alice… You saved me once again."
"It's given, Your Majesty." Alice smiled. "Your wedding is nigh, yet I haven't been informed about the details. Is everything in order?"
"Before that… I was mortally shocked when you strode through that door in your adult form. You do owe me an explanation, don't you think?"
"Err…" Alice was a little bit wary to disclose her true identity to Freya.
Luckily, Andariel quickly explained what happened to Alice.
"She spent five years inside Lady Hanako's Spiritual Domain. It's only natural for Alice to grow rapidly compared to normal means due to the extreme time dilation between two realms."
Queen Freya freezed mid sentence. She has heard about Hanako's legends. Many said that no one would survive after they saw a glimpse of her blade let alone witnessing the fabled Spiritual Domain.
"And yet she survived?! But how?!"
"Why don't you ask the young lady before you?"
"Alice?" Freya turned away from Andariel.
"Well, it was hellish. I almost died several times, but I managed to defeat Lady Hanako's clone in the process. Otherwise, I might not be able to stand here."
"You did what?!" Freya almost swooned, losing her balance while holding the chair's backrest after she heard it. "Oh dear… I don't know what to say anymore."
Andariel smiled, she strode closer, comforting her fiancee by caressing her hair. "There, there…"
"About the wedding…" Alice continued. "Have you decided the day?"
Andariel looked at Alice. "Yes, it will be held in fifty days. Everything is in order, just need some fine tuning."
"I'm glad to hear that…" Alice smiled. Deep inside, she was so worried about the external factors that might affect the wedding or maybe even worse.
"Let's put the wedding's plan aside. There's something far more important to discuss." Andariel quipped. She stepped closer toward Alice.
"Which is?"
"Your coming-of-age ceremony. Granted, you are still twelve years old according to conventional means, but you spent five years inside Hanako's Spiritual Domain, it's all the same for me. Well, you know, it must be hard to hold it back, right?" Andariel placed a hand on Alice's cheek. "But of course, you are free to decide whether you want to do it or not."
Alice pondered for a moment. She might have been born as a Pure Blood Demoness and had no obligation to follow the village's custom, but she was raised and protected by Andariel just like her own daughter. Apart from that, she already began to feel frisky whenever Momo was around her.
"I will do it…"
"Very well." Andariel smiled, her gaze was soft and motherly towards Alice. "Have you learned how to do it?"
"Yes, I know what to do."
"I will prepare for the ceremony. And as for your partner…" Andariel glanced at Momo whose legs were fidgety. "Seems like I don't have to worry about it, fufu. Come to the House of Pleasure tomorrow evening, we will get everything ready for you."
"Alright then… I will excuse myself for now, there's a lot of things that need to be attended to."
****
Afterward, Alice and Momo visited the Grand Plaza. Just like what happened when she strode leisurely on the main street, both men and women were stunned upon witnessing her ethereal beauty.
Luckily, the men were not stupid enough to approach her out of the blue due to Alice's mere presence. She looked so aloof and distant, not just a lady that could easily be invited into a date and courted.
Before long, the young cat girl, Ruka, skipped cheerfully and greeted Alice in her own cute way. "Welcome back-nya! We've been waiting for your return, Lady Alice!"
"Thank you, nyaruru…" Alice reciprocated the warm greeting by fluffing Ruka's hair. "I am surprised that you recognized me right away."
"Ehehe. Of course-nya! Your sweet scent is impossible to be mistaken for!" Ruka jumped cheerfully. "Aside from that, what trick did you use to grow so tall? Nyaruru wants to be taller too!"
Momo promptly explained what Alice had been through in a whisper and made the young cat girl shocked.
"Do not tell this to the outsiders." Momo winked.
"En!" Ruka did a 'My mouth is zipped and locked'' hand gesture and threw the key away.
"Speaking of which, do you happen to know where Arya is?"
"Oh, if memory serves me right, she should be in the studio with Lady Lisha."
Notwithstanding the gaze of the visitors, Alice and Momo went straight to the studio room on the third floor.
Inside the studio, Lisha, Arya, as well as the other employees were flabbergasted upon seeing Alice's tall stature. They almost couldn't recognize her.
"Hello, everyone! Long time no see!" Alice greeted with a bright smile.
Lisha strode out of her personal office and was shocked to see Alice's adult form. It was so wild to imagine that the cute yet bratty young demoness had turned into a beautiful and fine lady.
"Oh my… you look so beautiful in that yukata, Young Lady." Lisha complimented.
"Why thank you." Alice smiled. "You seemed unbothered by my new look."
"Why would I? I have been watching you since you were still in diapers. Fufufu~"
"Alright, stop right there. Don't make me remember my childhood."
Before long, the drawing studio's door was burst open, the young wood elf stormed out when she heard Alice's soothing voice.
"Young Lady Alice?!" Arya dropped her quill pen.
"Yes, it's me." She replied.
"Wh-what happened?! How could you…"
Alice amused witnessing Arya's bewilderment. "I know it's hard to believe but thanks to Lady Hanako's help, I have now reached adulthood though it was much faster than it should."
The young wood elf shook her head a few times when she saw Alice's big mounds. "Let's save the explanation for later. I have something to show you! Come here!"
Both of them were tugged by Arya's slender hands towards the tailoring room where Arya's new collection was temporarily stored.
"Lo and behold! This is my take for the Wedding Festival! I hope you like it, young lady Alice!"
Alice was sincerely amazed by the dress collection that had been finished and being displayed on the mannequins.
"You outdone yourself once again, Arya! Hehehe, we will take Arlenheim's fashion world by storm with this new collection!"