The carriage journey was dreadful.
Not because I was entangled with my lady and her two noble villainess sisters but because of the sheer waiting we had to do before reaching the adorned entrance. Carriages trudged at snail's pace, and the well-dressed nobles took their time to descend the carriages in great glory. Time was one thing I had in abundance in my undead life, but even I didn't want to wait in line for some cheapskate ceremony.
It took us about an hour to reach the decorated campus, filled to the brim with noble houses of various patronage indulged in idle chatter. The campus grounds were large enough to accommodate most students and their households, so it didn't appear overcrowded.
"Bread lad!" Garlan shouted from the booth with a grin. He was dressed in a suit like my own, and the buttons of his overcoat appeared strained to keep his bulging tummy in place.
"Long time, Garlan," I returned the grin. We earned berating states from the nobles around us, but my lady just smiled at me and motioned for me to proceed.
"I'll be right back, my lady," I bowed slightly as soon as Beth and Casey entered my peripheral view and went toward the booth.
Garlan was guiding the carriages to make sure the entrance wasn't congested for more than a few seconds. Being polite yet commanding took effort, but he managed to handle the task effortlessly. He had a couple of other men aiding him, but the stark contrast in their skill was evident in how they were finding it harder to keep their anger restrained thanks to the pointless and flowery etiquette of the nobles.
When the last carriage was sent away, he draped his beefy arm over my neck and nudged my head with his other first. "Didn't miss you one bit, bread lad! Had all the bread for myself in the past month."
I frowned, pulling myself out of his grip. "And here I thought you were buried in the ditches of some random village. What were you up to?"
"Just running errands, Rudolf," he beckoned me to his booth. "Keep an eye on the entrance! If I see you slacking, I'll whip you to shape."
"Yes, boss!" They replied in unison and huddled at the entrance.
"Your lackeys?" I asked, taking a seat on the stool of his booth.
“Guild supplied some men to help out. My lackeys won’t be lanky like those fellas. Can’t have no one lifting me at fight sight of danger now, can I?”
I chucked and glanced around the booth. It hadn't changed much, except that the worn-out wooden furniture had been renewed and appeared more sturdy. "Mastered it already?"
"Takes some toll," he tossed me a bread packet and scratched his tummy. Didn't seem like it had taken a toll. "But yeah, I've been getting hefty shins for using [Umbra]. I was at Etelan for the past month. The aggression had weakened the fortress considerably, and a couple of raids had rendered the gates wasted. Did some communal service for the people and fortified the walls and storage with my spells. If I were a tad more handsome and lean, I would have been heralded as the savior of people. Alas, all I earned was more food for my service, and some nobles paid hefty shins for personal favors. Progressive mage has its perks, sleeping with their wives and daughters included."
I laughed and patted his back. "Becoming a hero needs a handsome face, indeed."
You see, all the heroes sent to slay me were abnormally handsome, a fact I never really bothered reasoning. If a face couldn’t win you wars, why send weaklings that were best left to ornate the household?
Mortals fought wars in the name of pretty women, used them in exchange for unassailable wealth, and distracted themselves instead of realizing their true potential. If you say, I prefer my lady because of her pretty face, not even the demons from hell can save you from your ignorance. Even if her eyeballs are the last thing left on her face after disfigurement, she’ll still be my lady.
Garlan sighed. “Only you understand this poor man’s pain. This,” he slapped his portly belly, “does more harm than good at this age! But I am Garlan, the undead! If I had just walked off after getting humiliated, I would have been ashamed to face my plaque! So, I destroyed some buildings discreetly on my way out, preaching the coming of doom if the messenger wasn’t decked in shins and worshipped. It actually worked! I earned-”
The door to the booth burst open, and I saw an agitated Arabell with her huffed breaths. “ Rudolf! Lord Terian is discussing marriage with Letitia!”
“Shall we?” I shrugged and looked at Garlan. A mischievous grin was his reply.
When we reached my lady, she was talking to Terian politely with the mannerisms of a well-bred noblelady. If I didn’t know her any better, I would have assumed this was her true self. It was only when we reached close to her that I heard her words.
“... cannot go forward with your proposal, Lord Terian. My heart doesn’t belong to Elert, nor has he left any favorable impression on me for us to be remotely acquainted. Also, I will decide whom to marry, so you needn’t bother finding someone suitable for me in the absence of my parents. If you are vying for political gains, then please don’t. I am not a tool to be exchanged, nor are my sisters.”
“I believe our household is your best choice at this juncture, Lady Letitia,” Terian said, straightening his garnished robe. “We can offer you a plaza in the central square if that’s what you need, and we can guarantee the marriage of your sisters with noble families of rich heritage and contribution. And,” his eyes turned toward me and Garlan, “we can also arrange better servants for you.”
The last sentence hit my lady’s nerves. “If I say no once, I will never change my decision. We, from the Valorat household, aren’t fickle like the rest of the nobility. If you doubt my butler’s capabilities, I will send him to your household. Not with gifts, if you are wondering.”
That shut him up once and for all. After just escaping the throes of death, he wasn’t ready to be plunged into another life-and-death scenario.
“My apologies, Lady Letitia,” he bowed slightly. “But I was thinking about what’s best for you. I haven’t forgotten Rudolf’s words.”
“Then please don’t bother,” my lady gave him a cold stare. “I know what’s best for me.”
When their entourage cleared out, my lady turned to me resignedly. “What’s with that man? Did you scare him so much that he wants to take me as a hostage in his household to deal with you?”
“I just smiled at him, my lady,” I grinned and earned a smack from Beth, the bystander in the whole episode with Terian.
“Ruddy, you almost married off our Letitia,” Beth held Casey’s hand. “I wouldn’t let suitors anywhere close to my babe.”
Casey just bowed down and tried to hide her face as much as possible.
“Long time, noble villains!” Garlan ignored her and adjusted his coat. The button snapped out, amusing most of us.
“Long time indeed, Garlan,” my lady replied with a sigh. “Scram to your respective classes. I don’t want you both hanging out with this mutt.”
When the little ones scuttled away, Garlan raised his brows. "Did I miss something? How come there are two new annoyances in your entourage?"
"Things happened, bread lad," I sighed, equally frustrated as him.
"Also, why do you need a Plaza in the central square?" Garlan put his arm around my shoulder, much to my lady's displeasure.
"Leti is planning to open a confectionery store," Casey chimed in at the opportunity, her rosy face restored to normal. "But she doesn't have money to afford a building. We don't either, given that our families rarely give us any allowances."
"If it's only about money," Garlan grinned, "I got all the money you need. 100 thousand shins? I got notes piled up in my stash!"
My lady exchanged stares, and I shrugged in response. There was little to lose by taking money from Garlan because it was highly likely that he would die in one of the ditches he looted very soon. Money meant bread, and bread meant a happy undead. It sounded like a good deal to me.
“Then visit our manor tomorrow, Garlan,” my lady said, moving closer to me. She leaned her head against my shoulder, and I adjusted her favorite hairpin. “We can discuss about your investment in our store and the profits you would earn accordingly. Friendship with my Rudolf won’t get you anywhere when doing business.”
“Where did you learn so much about business, lady Letitia?” Garlan looked at me in awe. “This dum… butler doesn’t know anything apart from eating bread and some spells, so I doubt he taught you.”
My lady’s gaze turned cold, and Garlan whistled nervously, glancing at the stage where pointless mortals muttered incorrigible words.
“Take your seats at the front, girls,” I sighed and shooed them to the front. “You should be with your class instead of some outlaws.”
“Girls? Really?” Beth laughed, my lady’s amusing smile following her suit. Casey nudged me as she dragged the two girls to the front.
“Girls? Really?” Garlan repeated with a grin. “Never thought you’d address the noble ladies so casually.”
“Well,” I sighed, watching my lady disappear into the crowd, “things change, bread lad. Sometimes, for the worse.”
“Good for you,” he gave me a rare honest smile. “I always thought you were benign, different from the rest of us. Glad to see you come to terms with who you’ve become.”
“The hell does that mean?” I raised my brows. I never really liked it when mortals acted like they understood everything.
“Just forget it,” he grinned and wrapped his hand around my shoulder. “I am grateful to have met you, Rudolf. Don’t care what you are anymore.”
I stared at him, searching his eyes for lies. Everyone hated the undead, no matter the world. But here I was, listening to impossible words the second time.
“I am undead, Garlan,” I said with a shrug.
“And I am a Princess, bread lad,” he replied with a chuckle.
The carriage journey was dreadful.
Not because I was entangled with my lady and her two noble villainess sisters but because of the sheer waiting we had to do before reaching the adorned entrance. Carriages trudged at snail's pace, and the well-dressed nobles took their time to descend the carriages in great glory. Time was one thing I had in abundance in my undead life, but even I didn't want to wait in line for some cheapskate ceremony.
It took us about an hour to reach the decorated campus, filled to the brim with noble houses of various patronage indulged in idle chatter. The campus grounds were large enough to accommodate most students and their households, so it didn't appear overcrowded.
"Bread lad!" Garlan shouted from the booth with a grin. He was dressed in a suit like my own, and the buttons of his overcoat appeared strained to keep his bulging tummy in place.
"Long time, Garlan," I returned the grin. We earned berating states from the nobles around us, but my lady just smiled at me and motioned for me to proceed.
"I'll be right back, my lady," I bowed slightly as soon as Beth and Casey entered my peripheral view and went toward the booth.
Garlan was guiding the carriages to make sure the entrance wasn't congested for more than a few seconds. Being polite yet commanding took effort, but he managed to handle the task effortlessly. He had a couple of other men aiding him, but the stark contrast in their skill was evident in how they were finding it harder to keep their anger restrained thanks to the pointless and flowery etiquette of the nobles.
When the last carriage was sent away, he draped his beefy arm over my neck and nudged my head with his other first. "Didn't miss you one bit, bread lad! Had all the bread for myself in the past month."
I frowned, pulling myself out of his grip. "And here I thought you were buried in the ditches of some random village. What were you up to?"
"Just running errands, Rudolf," he beckoned me to his booth. "Keep an eye on the entrance! If I see you slacking, I'll whip you to shape."
"Yes, boss!" They replied in unison and huddled at the entrance.
"Your lackeys?" I asked, taking a seat on the stool of his booth.
“Guild supplied some men to help out. My lackeys won’t be lanky like those fellas. Can’t have no one lifting me at fight sight of danger now, can I?”
I chucked and glanced around the booth. It hadn't changed much, except that the worn-out wooden furniture had been renewed and appeared more sturdy. "Mastered it already?"
"Takes some toll," he tossed me a bread packet and scratched his tummy. Didn't seem like it had taken a toll. "But yeah, I've been getting hefty shins for using [Umbra]. I was at Etelan for the past month. The aggression had weakened the fortress considerably, and a couple of raids had rendered the gates wasted. Did some communal service for the people and fortified the walls and storage with my spells. If I were a tad more handsome and lean, I would have been heralded as the savior of people. Alas, all I earned was more food for my service, and some nobles paid hefty shins for personal favors. Progressive mage has its perks, sleeping with their wives and daughters included."
I laughed and patted his back. "Becoming a hero needs a handsome face, indeed."
You see, all the heroes sent to slay me were abnormally handsome, a fact I never really bothered reasoning. If a face couldn’t win you wars, why send weaklings that were best left to ornate the household?
Mortals fought wars in the name of pretty women, used them in exchange for unassailable wealth, and distracted themselves instead of realizing their true potential. If you say, I prefer my lady because of her pretty face, not even the demons from hell can save you from your ignorance. Even if her eyeballs are the last thing left on her face after disfigurement, she’ll still be my lady.
Garlan sighed. “Only you understand this poor man’s pain. This,” he slapped his portly belly, “does more harm than good at this age! But I am Garlan, the undead! If I had just walked off after getting humiliated, I would have been ashamed to face my plaque! So, I destroyed some buildings discreetly on my way out, preaching the coming of doom if the messenger wasn’t decked in shins and worshipped. It actually worked! I earned-”
The door to the booth burst open, and I saw an agitated Arabell with her huffed breaths. “ Rudolf! Lord Terian is discussing marriage with Letitia!”
“Shall we?” I shrugged and looked at Garlan. A mischievous grin was his reply.
When we reached my lady, she was talking to Terian politely with the mannerisms of a well-bred noblelady. If I didn’t know her any better, I would have assumed this was her true self. It was only when we reached close to her that I heard her words.
“... cannot go forward with your proposal, Lord Terian. My heart doesn’t belong to Elert, nor has he left any favorable impression on me for us to be remotely acquainted. Also, I will decide whom to marry, so you needn’t bother finding someone suitable for me in the absence of my parents. If you are vying for political gains, then please don’t. I am not a tool to be exchanged, nor are my sisters.”
“I believe our household is your best choice at this juncture, Lady Letitia,” Terian said, straightening his garnished robe. “We can offer you a plaza in the central square if that’s what you need, and we can guarantee the marriage of your sisters with noble families of rich heritage and contribution. And,” his eyes turned toward me and Garlan, “we can also arrange better servants for you.”
The last sentence hit my lady’s nerves. “If I say no once, I will never change my decision. We, from the Valorat household, aren’t fickle like the rest of the nobility. If you doubt my butler’s capabilities, I will send him to your household. Not with gifts, if you are wondering.”
That shut him up once and for all. After just escaping the throes of death, he wasn’t ready to be plunged into another life-and-death scenario.
“My apologies, Lady Letitia,” he bowed slightly. “But I was thinking about what’s best for you. I haven’t forgotten Rudolf’s words.”
“Then please don’t bother,” my lady gave him a cold stare. “I know what’s best for me.”
When their entourage cleared out, my lady turned to me resignedly. “What’s with that man? Did you scare him so much that he wants to take me as a hostage in his household to deal with you?”
“I just smiled at him, my lady,” I grinned and earned a smack from Beth, the bystander in the whole episode with Terian.
“Ruddy, you almost married off our Letitia,” Beth held Casey’s hand. “I wouldn’t let suitors anywhere close to my babe.”
Casey just bowed down and tried to hide her face as much as possible.
“Long time, noble villains!” Garlan ignored her and adjusted his coat. The button snapped out, amusing most of us.
“Long time indeed, Garlan,” my lady replied with a sigh. “Scram to your respective classes. I don’t want you both hanging out with this mutt.”
When the little ones scuttled away, Garlan raised his brows. "Did I miss something? How come there are two new annoyances in your entourage?"
"Things happened, bread lad," I sighed, equally frustrated as him.
"Also, why do you need a Plaza in the central square?" Garlan put his arm around my shoulder, much to my lady's displeasure.
"Leti is planning to open a confectionery store," Casey chimed in at the opportunity, her rosy face restored to normal. "But she doesn't have money to afford a building. We don't either, given that our families rarely give us any allowances."
"If it's only about money," Garlan grinned, "I got all the money you need. 100 thousand shins? I got notes piled up in my stash!"
My lady exchanged stares, and I shrugged in response. There was little to lose by taking money from Garlan because it was highly likely that he would die in one of the ditches he looted very soon. Money meant bread, and bread meant a happy undead. It sounded like a good deal to me.
“Then visit our manor tomorrow, Garlan,” my lady said, moving closer to me. She leaned her head against my shoulder, and I adjusted her favorite hairpin. “We can discuss about your investment in our store and the profits you would earn accordingly. Friendship with my Rudolf won’t get you anywhere when doing business.”
“Where did you learn so much about business, lady Letitia?” Garlan looked at me in awe. “This dum… butler doesn’t know anything apart from eating bread and some spells, so I doubt he taught you.”
My lady’s gaze turned cold, and Garlan whistled nervously, glancing at the stage where pointless mortals muttered incorrigible words.
“Take your seats at the front, girls,” I sighed and shooed them to the front. “You should be with your class instead of some outlaws.”
“Girls? Really?” Beth laughed, my lady’s amusing smile following her suit. Casey nudged me as she dragged the two girls to the front.
“Girls? Really?” Garlan repeated with a grin. “Never thought you’d address the noble ladies so casually.”
“Well,” I sighed, watching my lady disappear into the crowd, “things change, bread lad. Sometimes, for the worse.”
“Good for you,” he gave me a rare honest smile. “I always thought you were benign, different from the rest of us. Glad to see you come to terms with who you’ve become.”
“The hell does that mean?” I raised my brows. I never really liked it when mortals acted like they understood everything.
“Just forget it,” he grinned and wrapped his hand around my shoulder. “I am grateful to have met you, Rudolf. Don’t care what you are anymore.”
I stared at him, searching his eyes for lies. Everyone hated the undead, no matter the world. But here I was, listening to impossible words the second time.
“I am undead, Garlan,” I said with a shrug.
“And I am a Princess, bread lad,” he replied with a chuckle.
