Nozomu and Taisetsuna jolted almost at the same time, and the Princess noticed their doubtful looks. “It seems you weren’t aware of the importance of what you did, nor several members of my court, judging by their surprise. I may need to add that a Knight is normally the beginning of a Noble family, but it is also a low rank considering your accomplishments. Because of all that, together with the chewing gum that Nozomu created and sold to me and our country, I have also decided that the moment you graduate from the Academy of Adventurers, I shall grant you both the titles of a Baronet and a Baronetess, together with some lands. I expect great things from both of you, and I am sure you will graduate with good grades and experience!”
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The Princess got up from her Throne while Nozomu and Taisetsuna put one knee on the floor and lowered their heads. When the Princess was grabbing the sword that she had leant against her Throne, Taisetsuna whispered, “Nozo, the Magic…”
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“I know. I already sent a message to the Princess through one of her maids. She knows what to do.”
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The Princess walked down the stairs and stopped in front of Taisetsuna. She placed the double-bladed sword sideways and touched Taisetsuna’s head, as she declared, “By my power and in God Raluth’s name, I acknowledge and grant you the title of Dame Taisetsuna Kawa!”
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The Magic that was lingering on the sword and making it shine, went to Taisetsuna and enveloped her, making her shine with a faint glow.
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She then went to Nozomu, approached the sword to his head without touching it, and declared as well, while enveloping the sword in so much Magic that it was glowing. “By my power and in God Raluth’s name, I acknowledge and grant you the title of Sir Nozomu Shinchaku!”
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The Princess’s Magic went from the sword to Nozomu’s head, and as the Princess concentrated, her Magic lingered around him, but without touching him exactly, and like that, simulated the same glow that was previously on Taisetsuna.
She slowly exhaled, because she was holding her breath in nervousness, afraid of not being able to fool everyone.
She could hardly believe it when her maid whispered in her ear Nozomu’s message, that she could not envelop him in her Magic, and she had a hard time figuring out a way to make the ceremony work.
Nozomu looked at the glow around him, wondering how the Princess did that and lifted his head a bit, enough to see her grin before climbing the stairs again.
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She sat on her Throne and ordered, “Dame Taisetsuna, Sir Nozomu, get up and be proud because, from this day onward, your Noble house begins!”
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They both got up, while the Nobles of the court clapped and the Royal Guards cheered for the two new members that joined their ranks.
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Princess Mere had her eyes glowing as she pronounced, “Two Knights for our country, two role models for the people!”
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She then got up and asked, with a smile, “Shall we go to the back garden and walk for a while? I know two girls that are for sure eager to get some hugs.”
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Nozomu wondered what she meant by that when the little Takanari came running from the middle of the Nobles, who were also approaching to greet him. Nozomu almost fell to the ground when Takanari jumped on him, followed by her sister, Asadate.
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While greeting the Nobles around, Nozomu smiled at the little Cat-kind girl in his arms. “What are you doing here, you menace? Do you like your new home?”
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“I sure do! I am waiting for your visit! I will show you everything! I have a big room, lots of land and farm animals, fields of wheat, maids, and a cook. He doesn’t know how to make chocolates, so I was wondering if you could teach him? Pretty please?”
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“That is only a matter of coins, cute Takanari. You ask for a licence, I go teach your cook, you can sell the chocolates that you don’t eat, and I get coins for that.”
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The smiling Cat-kind girl reached for a handshake with a serious face. “We have a deal, Sir Nozomu!”
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“A deal it is, Viscountess Takanari. What about you, Viscountess Asadate, how do you like your new life?”
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“It is amazing, Sir Nozomu! We are learning a lot with the Princess and I… I mean…”
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She suddenly went silent and turned bright red, and Nozomu asked, as they were following the rest of the court to the back garden. “What? Something weird happened? Don’t tell me you already have a boyfriend!”
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“No! I mean… I… Well, I have already met a few boys, second or third sons of other Nobles. The Princess explained it wouldn’t hurt if I met them, but she already warned me that my title makes me a good catch, so… I need to be careful and take my time to choose. I am still very young, right?”
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While Nozomu was talking with the Cat-kind sisters, Taisetsuna was doing her best not to explode. While the Noble girls of the court were politely avoiding looking at her and the older Nobles were frowning, Robert Keskula was all smiles.
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He kept on congratulating her for the Knight title and trying to explain the perks of being a Knight granted to someone. When he noticed Taisetsuna sighing for the tenth time, he asked in a whisper, “Is there something the matter? You seem upset. You are not happy with your title or what?”
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“I would be if I didn’t notice all the Nobles avoiding looking at me, as if I suddenly became worse than a commoner. What happened? They were not acting like that yesterday.”
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“They are jealous, you know? None of their sons or daughters became Knight without enduring years of training, and even like that, none did such a crazy thing, like attacking a mountain full of Goblins. You may not be aware, but what you and Nozomu did is spreading around the country like wildfire. I was told that some Minstrels had already made a few songs, singing of your valour and courage.”
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Taisetsuna made a slight frown, and then smiled, realising what that meant. “Oh! I will be known everywhere! Cool! That means that after I graduate, I won’t have a problem finding a Party!”
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“What do you mean, finding a Party? You already have one. You as the leader, Nozomu and I as your faithful Party members. We need a few more, like a middle-range fighter like me, and a long-range Mage, or an archer. Nozomu can attack at the front with me and another member providing backup, and you and another member protecting us and attacking our targets from a distance. It can totally work, you know?”
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“Who told you I wanted you in my Party? For you to annoy me every day? I never even saw you fight! How do I know you didn’t lie to me when you were talking yesterday?”
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Robert Keskula suddenly pulled Taisetsuna to get near him and spoke at such a distance from her lips that she gulped when she smelled his breath of fresh flowers. “This will be my last warning. The next time you say that I annoy you, I will kiss you and use my tongue to caress yours and gently clean your teeth, understood?”
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“You… You do that, and I will bite your tongue off!”
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“Then I will grab your breasts and pinch your nipples until you scream. After that, I will grab your tail and use it to slap your butt.”
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Taisetsuna made a low growl and showed him her white teeth. “You do that, and you die. No one messes with my tail, no one!”
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“Do you want to bet, Taisetsuna? I won’t only use your tail to slap your butt, I will also twist it and pull it, and you will drool in pleasure and ask for more. I will do all that while biting the back of your ears, right at the junction with your head, and you will beg me to continue. Don’t challenge me, Taisetsuna, because I am used to dealing with Cat-kind girls. You are wilder than most I ever met, but I know where your buttons are, so don’t threaten me unless you want to go all the way.”
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In the next second, Robert was bending his body forward and leaning his chin on Taisetsuna’s left shoulder because she had knee-kicked his groins. She whispered in his ear while he was doing his best not to throw up from the pain. “What’s the matter? Is something hurting? Don’t mess with me, pretty boy, or I will make sure you never use that any time soon. Understood? I said, understood?”
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“Y-yes… U-understood… A g-guy can’t even joke…”
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If you joke, you get punished. I am not one of your toys, soon-to-be Viscount Robert Keskula! You annoy me, and I will make sure you can’t use your little friend, not even for a piss. Got it? Or do I need to hit you again?"
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“N-no need… P-perfectly clear…”
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Taisetsuna tapped Robert’s back and held his arm to help him walk while smiling around, disguising what happened from the curious looks that surrounded them. “It was so nice of you to prevent me from falling! Thank you! Shall we follow the Princess now? Good…"
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Robert made a tremendous effort to smile back and swallowed his pain as he walked.
Outside, the Princess was talking with Nozomu and the two sisters under the shade of a tree, with a few Nobles of her court around them. Taisetsuna and Robert joined that group, together with the young Nobles that were with them.
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When she reached near them, she heard the Princess ask, “Where are you going next, Sir Nozomu? For the training of the cooks, that is?”
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“Well, I haven’t gone to the Guild in this City yet, and I suppose I can go to one more City before dinner. Last time, Miss Koyaga went with me, but I think it won’t be a problem if Suna goes with me today. I need to warn our Guild Master because he might be counting on her to help prepare things for today’s dinner.”
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“From the city, you can send a message to Ourelona. As long as you pay for the trip and give him a tip, I am sure you will find a kid willing to deliver your message. Look out for one that has the insignia of a Messenger. There is always one or two in the City, at any given time.”
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Nozomu nodded with a smile and winked at Taisetsuna. They both bid their farewells to the Princess and the two Cat-kind sisters, and as Taisetsuna was about to leave, Robert suddenly pulled her arm to make her face him and kissed her. She froze with her eyes wide open, the moment she felt his tongue invading her surprised half-open mouth and a gentle caress on the tip of her tongue, before retreating.
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He made a gentle smile and said, “For you to remember me. Don’t take too long to come for a visit, or I may miss you and go in search of you.”
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Taisetsuna slowly backed away and touched her lips, not believing what had just happened. Some girls around them complained, and the older Nobles whispered amongst them.
Nozomu gently placed his hands on her shoulders and made her turn to follow him, while he looked at the smiling young man with a raised eyebrow and received a wink in return.
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As they were walking towards the stables to get the Unicorns, Nozomu asked with a grin. “So, he seems to like you. That was one heck of a first kiss for you to be so silent.”
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“He… I… I felt his tongue... Even after I warned him I would kill him if he annoyed me… What is wrong with that guy? He is completely nuts!”
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“Probably nuts about you. Why don’t you give him a chance? At least, try to know him better. You might like what you find out.”
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“Yeah… he said the same thing. It’s just… when he talks seriously, he is kind of nice to talk to, but then he brags and does these things that…. Argh! I am so going to kill him!”
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Nozomu muffled his laughter and glanced at the red-cheeked Cat-kind girl, who was still grumbling about what had happened.
…
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