Finally, I can Retire, Or so I Thought

While Cleo, Luna, Sheila, and Mei were busy coming up with an excuse for Cleo to stay in Dion’s domain, back in Phobos City at the blacksmith workshop belonging to the Aetherias Trading Company,

Clang!

Clang!

Aria hammered red-hot iron over an anvil, her goggles strapped over her eyes and sweat pouring down her body as she swung her hammer with intense focus. Suddenly, "knock... knock."

Aria turned toward the door and pushed her goggles up onto her forehead. Standing in the open doorway was a man dressed entirely in black, an operative from the secret service of the Thetor Kingdom. Aria set her hammer down, pulled off her heavy leather gloves, and walked over to the knight.

"What is it?" Aria asked coldly.

"Pardon the intrusion, Princess. I am merely here to deliver a summons for you," the man answered, handing her a rolled scroll.

Aria clenched her jaw. She snatched the scroll from the knight’s hand, unrolled it, and read through the contents. Her face darkened as her eyes scanned the page.

"His Majesty the King requests your immediate return to the Thetor Kingdom, Princess," the man reported.

Aria rolled the scroll back up, then forcefully jammed it against the knight’s chest armor. The man looked completely bewildered by her reaction.

"Princess?" the man asked, taken aback.

"Tell Father that no matter what happens, I am never returning to the palace. And he can give up on trying to marry me off to the young king of Northgard—I refuse. Tell him to have Evelyn marry that young king instead. Tell him I already have a fiancé," Aria stated curtly.

"U-Understood, Princess," the man replied, a confused look washing over his face.

"Wait... Before you leave, what is the current status of the kingdom?" Aria asked.

"Umm... Still on high alert. His Majesty the King has requested assistance from both the Eredor and Northgard kingdoms to keep an eye on the seal. The Lutherias Kingdom also sent a letter offering aid if necessary, though they are currently tied up in border disputes with the Minatheras Kingdom," the man explained.

"Fine. I need to find a place for my people," Aria replied.

"A place?" the man asked.

"You know exactly what I mean, don’t pretend to be ignorant. My presence in the capital of Minatheras was discovered, which is why I left in the first place," Aria answered.

"How is that possible? You changed your surname to Thorias, didn’t you?" the man asked.

"Exactly. A noble came trying to buy slaves from me under the pretense of building a bridge. He addressed me by name, but looking at his face, he clearly knew far more than just a name," Aria answered.

"Understood, Princess," the man replied.

"Find a place for me. That is the only favor I am asking of you," Aria stated.

"Understood, Princess. I will contact you as soon as I have news," the man replied.

"Good. Now leave quickly. I don’t want anyone seeing you talk to me," Aria ordered.

"Right away, Princess. Excuse me," the man bowed and departed.

Once the knight left, Aria closed the workshop door tight, leaning back against the wood with a heavy sigh. She pulled a locket out from beneath her shirt, popped it open, and looked inside at a dried, tiny blue flower with a yellow center. A warm yet bittersweet smile spread across Aria’s face as she stared down at the blossom.

"Forget-me-not... right, Dion?" she thought in her head.

Knock... knock.

The door rattled again. Aria quickly snapped the locket shut, tucked it back under her shirt, and turned to unlatch the door. Edgar was standing on the threshold.

"Oh... Uncle Edgar," Aria said.

"May I come in?" Edgar asked.

"Please, come on in," Aria invited.

Aria pulled the door wide open to let Edgar step inside, then stood near the entrance.

"What’s on your mind, Uncle?" Aria asked.

"I received news from our staff back in the capital of Thetor via communication mirror. Someone placed an order for 100 swords, 100 spears, 100 shields, and 100 suits of chainmail. Stock over there fell short, but before the buyer could complete the transaction, the entire city was placed on lockdown due to Gemmeth approaching," Edgar explained.

"And? Do you want me to manufacture the remaining stock?" Aria asked, puzzled.

"No. The person who placed that order was the exact same buyer from the day before. They didn’t hail from the capital or any major city in Thetor, they came from the eastern region. Turns out there’s a slave settlement out there, and I believe that place might be the perfect refuge for you," Edgar answered with a smile.

Hearing Edgar’s words, a spark of hope lit up Aria’s eyes, her face instantly brightening with excitement.

"Is that true, Uncle?! Do you know its exact location?" Aria asked eagerly.

"According to my staff over there, it’s located east of the capital of Thetor, right past the dark forest. Once you clear the woods, you stumble right onto it," Edgar answered.

"Oh... out there? But isn’t that territory supposed to be uninhabited? The baron assigned to manage that land is supposed to be deceased," Aria pondered.

"I don’t know the full details regarding that, but according to my staff, it’s an area we usually avoid. However, they’re now requesting my permission to establish it as a new trade route for our supply runs to the Eredor Kingdom," Edgar explained.

"Oh... I see. And did you grant permission?" Aria asked.

"Of course. And now, since the capital of Thetor remains locked down, I plan to send a supply run out there to deliver their requested order. Who knows, maybe they still intend to buy, and even if they don’t, we can simply continue on to the Eredor Kingdom. Would you like to tag along?" Edgar offered.

Aria paused for a brief two seconds to weigh her options, but she didn’t need to overthink it. She looked back up at Edgar.

"Alright, Uncle! When do we depart? I’ll get everyone ready to join us," Aria replied enthusiastically.

"The plan is to set off tomorrow morning. We’ll spend today preparing the cargo," Edgar said.

"Understood, Uncle! Thank you so much for letting me know!" Aria replied warmly.

"You’re very welcome. I hope everything goes smoothly, this way, you won’t have to return to Thetor, isn’t that right ?" Edgar noted.

"Exactly, Uncle... exactly," Aria replied with a bright smile.

"Very well, I’ll go make the arrangements right now. Excuse me," Edgar said, taking his leave.

"Thank you again, Uncle," Aria called out as Edgar departed.

Left alone outside her workshop, Aria looked up at the ceiling, her smile widening into a broad grin.

"That domain... that’s Dion’s domain, isn’t it? Baron Oswald’s territory... Hehehe... It really was meant to be," Aria said in her head.

Aria turned back into her workshop. Moments later, the rhythmic ringing of her hammer striking hot iron echoed out once again, only this time, the strikes sounded full of energy and vigor.

***

Meanwhile, back at Dion’s mansion, Dion sat on the couch inside his private quarters. Sitting across from him was Cleo, casually sipping a cup of hot tea.

"Why are you drinking tea in my bedroom?" Dion asked.

"No reason... I just felt like it," Cleo answered nonchalantly, setting her porcelain cup back down on the saucer.

"So what are those adventurers actually going to report to the guild?" Dion asked.

"That I headed east tracking down Gemmeth’s trail and officially disbanded the party. I instructed them to deliver that exact same report to the royal palace as well," Cleo answered casually.

"Hmm... Okay then. So why aren’t you out there helping the others settle the new refugees?" Dion asked, curious.

"My designated assignment is to keep an eye on you. Luna, Mei, and Sheila personally entrusted that duty to me. Besides, I am officially retired, so manual labor is no longer my concern," Cleo answered smoothly.

"Give me a break! She brings a mountain of trouble right to my doorstep, washes her hands of it, and leaves me holding the bag just by claiming she’s retired," Dion grumbled bitterly to himself in his head, pouting in irritation.

Cleo stared at Dion’s face as he turned away, resting his chin on the arm of the couch. She picked up her cup from the coffee table once again.

"What’s with that face? You don’t like your pretty big sister keeping an eye on you?" Cleo teased.

"Huh... I’m just confused about why I’m being imprisoned in my own domain," Dion answered in irritation.

"Because you never bother thinking about the consequences of your actions. Besides, you’re not the only one I’m keeping an eye on," Cleo said, gesturing off to the side toward the bed.

Dion turned his head toward his bed and saw Gina bouncing up and down on the mattress, looking utterly cheerful and carefree.

"Huh... whatever you say... my pretty big sister," Dion sarcastically shot back. "Give me a break. I genuinely wanted to retire, but not by becoming a total prisoner," Dion thought in his head.