After a few minutes of walking and asking, which was done by Lilian, by the way, we finally arrived at the guild. And fortunately, I saw a vendor selling some sort of eyewear, luckily they have this unique one that suits me. It perfectly hides my eye color, I am not sure what kind of element they use to make this one but that's not the point here. Now that I can hide my eye color, no one will suspect me any longer but then again, it's better to be cautious than nothing.
We are now gathering under the mango tree just in front of the adventurer's guild, talking about who will be the one who will negotiate inside and register our team. Yes, we are 'adventurers' from the other kingdom doing business here but we still need to register the team to have a legal pass to wander the kingdom. It's legal things and I'm doing it illegally. I smirked at the idea of illegal. All of my life, I have been raised to reign the kingdom and work things legally and punished those people who did illegal things in my country yet now, I am doing it myself.
But that's what it is now, life is greater than pride. Surviving is more important than moral. I should focus on what's on the surface than the other things that can be settled later.
"Vienna and I will be going inside, if you want to come with us, you are free to raise your hand," Drake stated. Jake raised his hand so as Lilian. I looked at Jake, the lad only winks at me and then made me roll my eyes.
"Let me come with you, someone should accompany the lady on entering the guild that won't look suspicious. I can do that at the very least," Lilian offered. I nodded at her proposal, she does have a point too, We would look suspicious if the men enter the guild with a young lady fully covered with a hood. Someone should at least be the apple of the eye, and that role is perfect for Lilian.
A real beauty and will surely catch all their attention, then by that time too, I can manage to ask for details and such. Though I hope it will work because if we fail, hell might break loose, god knows how risky it is to enter the lion's den. A haven full of adventurers whose surely hunting illegal migrants or ordered to look for me. The idea itself is scary but we don't have any other choice but to take the risk, it's now or never.
"Then we'll wait here and guard the outside. If we saw Knights coming, we will send these two to notify you," Regor declared, all of us nod in response.
I grabbed my bag and wear my hood and fix my eyeglass. Jake stand behind me and slowly patted my back as if telling me that it will be alright. I smiled, I should not worry too much, he's with me.
"Then we'll get going now," Jake exclaimed. "Good luck!" They all replied in unison.
My heart beats faster than usual and no matter how I averted my mind that everything will be fine and nothing will happen, I still can't stop myself from trembling. I know that many saw me as the unbothered, self-centered, and overconfident crown princess but they never saw how scared I am on the inside, I am always scared at everything in my life. I never felt safe in my life since the day I was born, there might be times that I feel happy but that's not what I desire, I want to have a peaceful life. Life is full of happy things and amazing people.
Just when we are about to enter, Jake hold my hand and fixed my hood. He sweetly smiled at me which brings familiar feelings to me, I nodded at him and smiled back. He looked surprised and his ear turned red instantly which made me grin.
The guild is full of different kinds of people. Some are already drunk in broad daylight, others are holding a meeting, and the latter are chitchatting and looking at the available missions on the board. I did not imagine how lively a guild is, I thought it was a very gloomy and serious place, but what lies in my eyes is a guild that looks more like a tavern. Everyone's happily enjoying their day dancing, singing, and drinking here. I sighed in relief, all of my worries disappeared instantly, thank goodness.
"Ohoh! You new here lads, where you from? Hearthe?" A big bald shirtless greeted us and stopped in front of me, trying to glance under my hood. Jake immediately grabbed me away from the weird guy.
"Ah yes, but not from Hearthe but the Asura Kingdom!" Jake replied. The old man nodded in amusement. "Ohoh! What a brave lads you are, I heard that the ocean that you have to cross before coming here is full of pirates," he announced. I smirked, yeah, a bunch of them, and old man, you are looking at them right now too.
"Somehow we got lucky, we did not encounter them," Lilian lied. "I'm glad that that's the case, pretty lady! Now, now, what can my guild do to these brave fellows on fine? Ah, right I forgot, I am Ruan, the guild master." He enthusiastically explained. It didn't pass in my mind that this weird shirtless guy is the guild master, heh what a weird man.
Well anyway, Master Ruan guided us to enter his office upstairs and offer us warm coffee. We gladly accepted it and the aroma coming from it calms my whole being, lately, coffee and we're like partners in crime. I found myself relying on the power of coffee, it's addicting. Master Ruan finally decided to wear his shirt with his Master's badge on it, he now looks more respectable to me than a while ago, but I give an okay for having a good body build.
We sat in front of his table, serving ourselves coffee and cookies. The cookie gave me a familiar vibe and I realized it's the same cookie you can buy in the Mystbread Cafe at the Golden City. The ingredients used in making these wonderful cookies are from here, top-quality ears of wheat made from the top-quality soil in the mountain of Zraidfeild. Guess why I knew this all, yup, Clara. She once brought a lot and barged into my room bragging about how delicious the cookies were and even told us the secret to why the cookie tastes so good, the Watson's finest wine. Fortunately, the owner of the shop is Clara's cousin Nicola who eloped with her boyfriend before and they disappeared like a bubble. But one day, the couple showed up with a cute little child and a very successful business, they entered the world of business and offered the business to a family that did not accept them. Their journey is very interesting and it caught my attention and hope.
I smiled and sipped on my coffee. "It seems like you like the cookie, cute lady," The Master extolled, I confidently looked back at him, not minding if he will recognize me because no, he won't. "Yes I am, Master Ruan, the cookie tastes perfect, especially the way the wine blended with the cookie gives it a more distinct taste," I replied. Everyone stared at me, I fixed my eyeglass and sipped my coffee again.
"Ohoh! Good judgment lady, only a few know that the cookie was blended with wine. The wine used was from the most known brand in the continent, The Watson." The Master excitedly stated. "Ohoh! I have a bottle, would you like to have a taste too? I bet your country doesn't have this one, ohoh!" He added and immediately ran outside the room and I guess looking for his bottle of wine. Good timing too, I am missing the taste of wine in my mouth.
"Haha, so this cookie has your wine huh, no wonder it tastes wonderful!" Lilian exclaimed. I almost choked with my coffee, ah yeah, that lie. I forgot, damn it. "A-ah yes, the wine used was ours so I am familiar with it." I lied, again.
"I wonder how delicious this wine you're so proud of," the Captain interjected. I glared at him because of his sarcasm, does he think I won't be noticed? I hissed.
"Well, it's expected, right?" Jake stated and faced me. He smiled sweetly and handed me a cookie. I smiled and nodded at him. Being twins doesn't mean you also have the same personality the two are opposite.
"I, ah, can I ask something?" Lilian interjected. We all look at her. "Are you two together?" she asked making me chocked my saliva. "W-what do you mean together?" I nervously asked. I can feel my ears heating with the awkwardness and embarrassment.
"Y-you knows, romantically," she added. I heard Jake crazily laugh as I tried to hide my scarlet face. "well, there's no point in hiding it now!" Jake exclaimed.
"Jake!" I hollered and throws him the spoon. He mouthed 'what' and laughed again.
"N-no we are not. R-really," I defended. Lilian smiled as if she did not believe what I just said. The Captain only smirked at us, I nervously scratched my nape because I feel like, no matter how hard I explain and defend myself, they won't believe me anyway. As for Jake, he is loving the scenario.
"So what did I miss, ohoh?" Master Ruan exclaimed when he arrived at the room carrying the wine. Ah, goodness gracious.