Chapter 98: Between Merchant and Royalty

  "HOHOHO!"

  "HOHOHO!"

  "HOHOHO!"

  The sound wasn't just laughter; it was a seismic event. It bounced off the high, vaulted ceilings of the palace reception hall, reverberating through the stone pillars like thunder trapped in a canyon.

  Two mountains of men collided in the center of the room. It was a spectacle of pure, unadulterated mass—identical broad shoulders, identical magnificent grey beards, and identical twinkling eyes engaging in a hug that looked more like a clash of titans. Dust motes dancing in the shafts of sunlight seemed to scatter in fear of the sheer volume.

  Raito and Yukari stood frozen near the entrance, their heads whipping back and forth between the two figures. The visual dissonance was dizzying. It was like looking into a funhouse mirror where the reflection had stepped out to shake hands with the original.

  There are twins, Raito thought, his brain struggling to process the visual information, and then there is whatever this is.

  The group—Bob, Raito, Yukari, Zhu Lihua, and Mila—had been swiftly escorted from the main street, past the cheering crowds and the trumpet fanfare, directly into the grand castle that loomed behind the museum. The transition from the chaotic market to this hall of polished sandstone and intricate mosaics had been jarring, but nothing compared to the sight before them.

  The two Bobs finally separated, holding each other at arm's length, their grins mirroring one another perfectly. Behind the "new" Bob stood a figure that made Yukari’s blood run cold—the red-haired girl from Kinareh, leaning casually against a pillar with a mischievous glint in her yellow eyes.

  "Welcome home, Brother!" the second Bob boomed, his voice a rich baritone that matched the merchant's note for note.

  "Thank you, Brother! It’s nice to be back" the Bob they knew responded, the joy radiating off him in waves.

  "Okay, sorry to interrupt," Raito interjected, raising a hand tentatively. "But this is very confusing. So... you two are twins?"

  YES!"

  They answered in perfect unison, a harmonic chord of affirmation.

  "Meet Ahmed Said," Bob said, sweeping his arm out in a grand gesture of introduction. "My brother. The King of Zarateph."

  "Hello!" Ahmed stepped forward, the floor seeming to tremble slightly under his sandals. He extended a hand the size of a dinner plate. "you must be one the runaways Bob always talked about in his letters!"

  "Uh, hello," Raito said, taking the king's hand. "I'm Rai—"

  He never finished the sentence. The handshake was merely a prelude. Before he could brace himself, he was yanked forward, his feet leaving the ground as he was enveloped in a bear hug that felt less like an embrace and more like being compressed by an iron vice.

  Crack.

  The sound of his ribs groaning in protest was audibly sharp in the quiet hall.

  "Yep," Raito wheezed, his face smushed against the royal chest, his breath leaving him in a pained squeak. "The same hug."

  "Oh, you are adorable!" Ahmed exclaimed, releasing him—or rather, dropping him back onto his heels—and patting him on the head with enough force to rattle his teeth. "It is so nice to finally meet you, hohoho!"

  Raito stumbled back, rubbing his chest and gasping for air, only to find his retreat blocked.

  The red-haired girl pushed off the pillar. She didn't walk; she sauntered, moving with the fluid, predatory grace of a desert cat. She stopped in front of them, her yellow eyes locking onto Raito with amused recognition.

  "Hello," she purred, her voice smooth and confident. She extended a hand toward Yukari this time, though her gaze kept flickering back to the wheezing Raito. "I'm Samira Said. King Ahmed's daughter."

  She flashed a smirk—sharp, knowing, and utterly infuriating—and followed it with a quick, deliberate wink at Raito. "Nice to meet you."

  The air temperature in the room seemed to drop ten degrees in an instant.

  "YOU!"

  Yukari exploded. Her composure, already frayed by the heat and the confusion, shattered completely. She stepped in front of Raito, placing herself physically between him and the princess, her body tense as a coiled spring.

  "I don't care if you are royalty or whatever!" she hissed, her finger trembling as she pointed it at Raito, who was still trying to re-inflate his lungs. "HE IS MINE!"

  Samira giggled, the sound light and teasing. She covered her mouth with her hand, feigning shock. "Oh my, so ferocious! Just like what you said in your letters, Uncle Bob."

  "Please don't tease them too much, hohoho," Bob chuckled, patting his niece on the shoulder with a fondness that softened the tension slightly.

  Samira turned away from the fuming Yukari, her expression shifting instantly from playful mockery to genuine affection as her eyes landed on the stoic figure near the entrance.

  "And Sister Mila!" Samira cried, her royal poise vanishing. She rushed forward, throwing her arms around the mercenary in a tight hug. "Welcome back!"

  Mila, usually a statue of indifference, actually softened. A rare, small smile touched her lips as she patted Samira's head gently.

  "You've grown, Samira," Mila said softly.

  "Thank you," Samira responded, looking up at Mila with adoration shining in her eyes. "I have to. There are only two weeks left until the thing, remember?"

  Mila's smile widened slightly. "Yes, yes, I know. We—no, Master bought plenty of gifts for you."

  "You're the best, Sister Mila!" Samira cheered, squeezing her again before turning to the giant merchant. "And you too, Uncle Bob!"

  "Anything for my precious niece, hohoho!" Bob beamed, his chest swelling with pride.

  "Bob. Boban," Ahmed interrupted, his jovial tone shifting, gaining a sudden weight. He gestured towards the figure standing quietly near the back of the group, her arms crossed, observing the scene with sharp eyes. "You haven't introduced me to that pretty lady there."

  Bob blinked, realizing his oversight. "Oh! Where are my manners! This is Master Zhu Lihua. She—"

  "War Empress of Ruhong."

  The title hung in the air like a dropped sword. Ahmed’s gaze snapped to Zhu Lihua, his eyes narrowing instantly. The warmth vanished from his face, replaced by the cold, hard stare of a monarch assessing a threat.

  He waved a hand.

  The shadows of the hall seemed to shift. From behind pillars, alcoves, and tapestries, a dozen guards materialized. They were clad in the crimson and gold of the royal guard, their movements silent, their hands resting purposefully on the hilts of curved scimitars.

  "What are you doing here?" Ahmed demanded, his voice low and vibrating with dangerous authority. "Conquest? War? Tell me."

  Zhu Lihua didn't flinch. She didn't reach for a weapon. She simply dropped her crossed arms, her posture relaxing into an easy, confident stance. She met the King's gaze head-on, equal to equal.

  "Just meeting an old acquaintance," she said, her tone formal but calm. "Don't worry. I'm not here for trouble. Besides, I already abdicated my position. I have no allegiance to that place anymore." She gestured toward the merchant with a slight nod. "Mr. Bob can vouch for me."

  Ahmed turned his piercing gaze to his brother. "Is that true?"

  If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

  "Yes," Bob said immediately, his voice losing its laughter, becoming solemn. "Everything. I swear in my name, Brother."

  Ahmed stared at Bob for a long, tense moment. Then, he looked back at Zhu. Slowly, the tension drained from his shoulders. He exhaled, a long breath that signaled the end of the standoff.

  "Very well," Ahmed said. He waved his hand again, and the guards melted back into the shadows as silently as they had appeared.

  "But I am keeping an eye on you," King Ahmed warned, his gaze lingering on the former general.

  "Rest Assure," Zhu said, offering a small, reassuring nod. "I'll keep my manners."

  "Good," Ahmed grunted, a hint of his earlier smile returning, though his eyes remained sharp. "I don't want the joyous occasion ruined."

  "Okay," Raito said, rubbing his temples as if trying to massage the confusion away. "Everyone kept mentioning this joyous occasion. What is it about?"

  "Well, a wedding of course!" Ahmed answered, his jovial atmosphere returning in full force, clapping his hands together. "What else?"

  "Whose wedding?" Yukari asked. Her head snapped toward Samira, her eyes narrowing into suspicious slits.

  "My daughter's! Isn't it lovely? Hohoho!" Ahmed boomed.

  "Of course," Yukari muttered, staring daggers at Samira.

  Samira just hummed nonchalantly, twirling a lock of her red hair around her finger, ignoring the death glare being directed at her. "So... will you two come? I would love the two runaways to be guests at my wedding. The tales Uncle Bob wrote about you two were so awe-inspiring."

  "Hold on a minute," Yukari stepped forward, her voice dropping to a dangerously low register. "Don't give me that fake-innocent attitude. You are getting married, but somehow you flirted with my—mine—husband?"

  She gestured wildly at Raito. "You hugged his smelly arm like there was no tomorrow! You called him cute!" She paused, blinking. "Even when he is the furthest thing from cute!"

  "Ouch," Raito winced from the sidelines. "I don't know if you are trying to defend me or bring me down."

  "SHUUUSH!" Yukari snapped, shoving a finger onto Raito's lips without breaking eye contact with Samira. She hissed, her jealousy flaring hot and bright. "What is the big deal, girl? Not being faithful enough?"

  Samira tilted her head, a playful, maddening smirk dancing on her lips. She looked past Yukari, locking eyes with Raito.

  "Hmm... but he is cute though," she said, and then she winked. Deliberately.

  "YOU!!!!!" Yukari hissed, steam practically erupting from her ears.

  "As for what is the deal..." Samira leaned in, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "It's a secret. I'll tell you the answer after you come to my wedding."

  Yukari looked ready to explode, her hands twitching as if she wanted to summon an ice spear right there in the throne room.

  "Hohoho!" Bob laughed, wiping tears of mirth from his eyes. "She is just like her mother!"

  He looked around the grand hall, scanning the entrances. "That reminds me," Bob said. "Where is Aleena?"

  "Ah, my wife is in the museum with the son-in-law-to-be," Ahmed explained, gesturing vaguely toward the massive building they had passed earlier. "It appears they have come across a major discovery. All the scholars have been cooped up in there trying to come up with a plan to approach such a discovery, hohoho!"

  "That is wonderful!" Bob responded, his eyes lighting up with genuine relief. "It seems like I returned at a very eventful time, hohoho!"

  "That's right, Brother!" King Ahmed boomed, throwing a heavy arm around Bob's shoulders once more.

  The twins laughed together again, a harmonic resonance of joy that shook the banners hanging from the rafters. Their voices boomed through the halls of the castle, a sound of pure, unadulterated family reunion that drowned out the lingering awkwardness of the confrontation.

  "Come, Brother!" Ahmed gestured toward a set of large double doors at the far end of the hall. "I need help with the wedding plan! We need to finalize the menu, the decorations, the guest list..."

  "Of course, Brother!" Bob agreed readily, falling into step beside the King, his steps surprisingly light for such a large man. "We need to make this wedding the biggest one in all of Calvenoor! Everyone is invited, hohoho!"

  "EVERYONE!" Ahmed echoed enthusiastically.

  Without another glance at the group, the two massive men marched off towards the inner chambers—likely the war room, given the intensity of their planning—their laughter fading into the depths of the palace like thunder rolling away into the distance.

  They left the group standing alone with Samira in the echoing silence of the reception hall.

  "Bob just left us," Raito pointed out, staring blankly at the empty doorway where his friend had vanished.

  "I can see that," Yukari said flatly, her arms still crossed, her foot tapping an impatient rhythm on the stone floor.

  "It's been a while since I last saw Master like that," Mila commented, a rare softness entering her voice as she watched the empty space where Bob had been. "It appears he did get homesick."

  "Bob? Homesick?" Raito turned to her, surprised. The image of the world-traveling merchant, the man who thrived on the open road and the thrill of a new market, pining for home didn't quite fit. "I thought he lived for the road."

  "Everyone gets homesick, you know," Mila said with a small shrug. "Master is just good at hiding it because of his merchant job. But Zarateph... this is where his heart is."

  "Sorry about my father and Uncle Bob," Samira apologized, though her smile—sharp and knowing—suggested she wasn't sorry at all. "Those brothers will get carried away when together." She giggled. "It’s been years since they’ve seen each other."

  She clapped her hands, the sound sharp in the quiet hall, bringing the focus back to her. "So! How about we go to the museum?" Samira suggested, her yellow eyes sparkling with mischief. "It seems like you guys have some business there anyway, with the discovery and all."

  She glanced at the door where her father and uncle had vanished. "Those two will be fine without us. Come, I'll guide you!"

  Without a moment's hesitation, she darted forward and latched onto Raito's arm again, hugging it tight to her chest as if claiming a prize.

  "SCREEEEE!"

  Yukari shrieked, a sound of pure, unbridled fury that could shatter glass. The temperature in the hall plummeted instantly. Frost began to creep across the stone floor from her boots, cracking the stone with the sudden chill. She raised her hand, and a jagged, shimmering spear of ice began to manifest from thin air, aimed directly at the princess.

  "I'M GOING TO KILL HER!"

  "Linlin, stop!" Zhu Lihua shouted, leaping forward to grab Yukari's arm, her grip iron-tight.

  "Calm down!" Mila barked, grabbing the other arm just as Yukari prepared to summon a second spear.

  The two warriors struggled to hold back the jealous ice-user as Samira dragged a terrified Raito toward the exit, laughing all the way, the sound echoing like a challenge in the freezing air.

  Soon, the odd procession arrived at the front of the Museum of Calvenoor. The building was as massive as its reputation suggested, a colossal structure of pale sandstone and dark wood that seemed to loom over the surrounding city. But today, the grand plaza in front of it was quiet, devoid of the usual throng of scholars and tourists.

  A heavy "CLOSED" sign hung on the massive front doors.

  "Uh, Miss, it's closed," Raito said, glancing at the sign and then at the girl still glued to his arm.

  "Please, just call me Samira," she corrected with a wink. "And yes, it's closed for public use. But I am not your typical public." She giggled.

  Samira stepped up and knocked briskly on the wood.

  "Who is there?" A muffled voice called from inside. The door cracked open, and a guard peeked out. His eyes widened. "Oh! Princess! Please, come in." He pushed the door fully open, bowing low. "Queen Aleena and Malik are at the usual place."

  "Why thank you," Samira said with a slight, regal bow. "Let's go!"

  She yanked Raito inside.

  Following closely behind was a scene straight out of a nightmare. Yukari marched forward, practically vibrating with rage. Shards of ice were manifesting and shattering around her with every step. Zhu Lihua was walking beside her, periodically melting the larger spears with a wave of heat from her hand, while Mila walked on the other side, frantically fanning Yukari with her hand in a futile attempt to cool her down.

  "Don't kill the princess, don't kill the princess," Mila muttered like a mantra.

  The guard was left speechless, staring at what appeared to be a serial killer and her handlers following the princess into the sacred halls of history.

  The moment Yukari stepped inside, however, the rage faltered. The heavy, cool air of the museum washed over her, smelling of old paper and ancient stone. She looked up, and her jaw dropped.

  "Wow..."

  The anger was quickly replaced by a sense of profound wonder. The interior was even grander than the exterior suggesting. The hall stretched upward into a vaulted ceiling, lined with balconies and walkways. The space was filled with history. Glass cases held intricate golden jewelry, massive stone slabs covered in indecipherable runes lined the walls, and ancient tomes were displayed on velvet cushions. Fossils of creatures long extinct hung suspended from the ceiling.

  "This is amazing," Yukari let out, her voice hushed.

  "Isn't it?" Samira said, turning back to face them, a note of genuine pride in her voice. "This place is our pride and joy. It's where our history and accomplishments are kept and recorded. Many have put their sweat, heart, and soul to collect and deliver all of these here. All of these here are tools to better know the world we live in." She gestured grandly to the displays surrounding them.

  "Each of these..." Yukari murmured, scanning the room, her silver eyes darting from one artifact to the next. "All have their own story and tales. This is amazing," she said again, lost in the scholarly delight.

  "Nerd," Raito whispered with a smirk.

  "I heard that," Yukari said automatically, though her eyes never left a display of ancient pottery.

  "You are so much of a nerd," Raito continued, his smirk softening into a genuine smile. "But... that is also your charm."

  Yukari paused. A faint blush dusted her cheeks. She finally tore her eyes away from the artifacts to look at him, then grabbed his free hand.

  "Come on," she said, dragging him toward a display of ancient swords. "Look at this with me."

  "Wow," Samira giggled, whispering to Mila. "They really are able to get into their own world just like that."

  "They have been through a lot together," Mila said, watching them with a small, knowing smile. "Give them a break. like master said, don’t tease them too much." She turned her gaze to the princess, her expression shrewd. "You are here for Malik, aren't you? Using us as an excuse."

  "Whoops, busted!" Samira laughed, not looking guilty in the least. "Seeing how much they enjoy being with each other made me a little jealous, I really don't want to lose to them," she added, watching the couple bicker over a fossil.

  Just as Yukari reached out to touch the glass of a display case, a rough voice shouted from the darkness below.

  "HEY! Who let you in here?! This place is currently closed for public viewing!"

  The voice echoed up from a wide staircase that led to the lower levels.

  "Who's that?" Raito asked, scanning the area.

  "Down here!"

  A man stomped up the stairs. He was short, barely four feet tall, but possessed a width and density that rivaled a boulder. His arms were thick with muscle, and a magnificent, braided brown beard cascaded down to his heavy belt buckle.

  "So, you two tell me," he grumbled, glaring up at Raito and Yukari. "Who let you in?"

  "Oh, there you are, Shorty," Zhu Lihua said, stepping forward with a mocking grin. "I have been wondering when you would show up."

  The man stopped. He looked at Zhu, his face falling into a mask of pure exasperation.

  "Great," he groaned, rubbing his temples. "Another headache is here." The man said as he and Zhu are now glaring at each other.