The two guards quickly did as they were told and went to take Philip Alastine away. The entire time Philip Alastine's gaze never left Alicia until the doors of the restaurant closed, blocking his view. When Philip Alastine lost sight of Alicia, he finally snapped back to reality as he remembered the warm touch of the young girl's hand in his and blushed deeply. He turned to his guards and ordered: "When we get back to the capital send someone to investigate that girl!"
The two guards looked at the young prince and wanted to cry! Your Highness, you cant! Anyone other than that girl! You will get us killed by not only the girl but an elite knight and your father as well! The two guards decided they would now start practicing what Alicia had taught them. They would pretend to look into it and give false information! This way they could keep their two insignificant lives and at the same time keep the prince from causing any issues. The two guards looked at each other nodded to each other in silent agreement before saying "As you command your Highness!"
In a private room, Alicia was finding out that the name The Slaughter House was just that, a name. The food they served here was top class. "Mmmm… Nom Nom… Alicia, try the meat. It's very tasty." Loeri was letting loose as her white face was covered in meat seasoning and grease. She had a huge plate of meat in front of her as she gorged herself on all the different meat dishes the restaurant had. This of course was covered by Alicia. Alicia would feel bad if Ela paid for Loeri since Loeri ate a lot even with her small body. She did not see it as fair to Ela to have to pay such a large sum for Loeri. So Alicia insisted on paying for the gluttonous dragon.
"No! Mother's meals are always the best! Some food from some shack cannot compare!" Frey who had been sitting down on the table eating a ball of pink Magicules suddenly stood up and pointed at Loeri as she defended Alicia.
"You little brat! You only eat the Magicule balls she makes you! You have never tasted her real cooking skills! Always burnt and dry! Not tasty at all!" Loeri retorted.
Alicia's face turned black… As she let out a soft laugh. She looked at Loeri with an eyebrow raised as she said: "Since you hate my cooking so much from now on you can go without! Humph!" Alicia scooted her chair away from Loeri and went back to eating completely ignoring her.
Loeri realized what she had said and felt bad. Because Alicia was cooking for them because there was no one else to do it! If Alicia stopped cooking for her she would have to eat ti raw! Loeri didn't like the taste of raw meat! "Alicia I'm sorry! I just said that to anger the brat! In reality, I love your cooking. It's always so tasty!"
*Pfft!*
"Haha! Loeri I am just joking with you! I know how bad my cooking is." Alicia let out a laugh as a big grin formed on her face.
Realizing that she had just been tricked by Alicia, Loeri's white little dragon cheeks blushed a slight shade of pink. "Alicia that is not fair! You don't know But raw meat is icky! It tastes bad, smells and is way too chewy!"
Ela and Rebecca both started laughing. Ela could tell Loeri and Alicia were very close. Even little Frey was very overprotective of her. This just went to show how much Alicia was loved. But this, of course, this was to be expected with how kind hearted Alicia was to those around her. Even the way she judged a situation showed her benevolence towards those who can learn right from wrong and those who can't. Ela then took a glance at her own daughter when compared to Alicia and let out a sigh. She loved her daughter but the darn girl was always glued to the Magivision!
Rebecca noticed her mother looking at her and then letting out a long sigh. This caused Rebecca to feel she had been wronged in some way as tears welled up in her eyes as she asked: "Mother why are you sighing when looking at me as if I was some kind of disappointment!?"
Seeing the teary eyed daughter next to her caused Ela to sigh again. "Why are you crying!? I never once said you were a disappointment. I sighed because you got grease all over your dress!"
Ela's words made Rebecca quickly stop her tears as she looked down at her dress and indeed she had large grease stains all over it now! She then looked over at Alicia who was not much older than her and saw not a single drop of grease on her clothes. This made Rebecca feel even more ashamed causing her face to turn bright red. "Mo-Mother what should I do? I can't go out looking like this!"
"Why are you panicking!? I knew this would happen so I already had a change of clothes prepared." Ela nodded her head to the maid that was in the room with them. The maid bowed and quickly left the room to retrieve the change of clothes.
After the maid left Ela looked at Alicia and asked: "So what are your plans after you leave Parith Alicia?"
"I will most likely rush to the capital. I want to get settled in and take in my new surroundings. Master Berlin has already prepared a residence for me to stay in. But I am more wanting to take on some tasks at the Adventurers Guild as soon as I can to gain some more experience. From what I understand the more experience and contributions you have the faster it is to become a full pledge knight!" Alicia happily said.
"Mhm! But contributions only count from the time you become a squire. Only in rare cases would the contributions count from before becoming a squire. For example, if the contribution was based on a major event such as a rebellion of some kind or war. As for experience, as long as it is recorded by the guild it will be accounted for no matter what." Ela explained.
"Yeah, Master Berlin explained that to me as well. Hopefully, I will not have the chance to gain contributions before becoming a squire. I would rather my contributions be based on my role in making the Aliastine Kingdom a better place for those who are born and raised here. Wars and rebellions are the last things I ever want to see. All they bring is hardships and death to the citizens and those who are tasked with defending the Kingdom. But even though I say this... If a time came when I was needed to fight on the front lines I would do so without a second thought. As long as my help can end the war faster I would gladly give a helping hand. This way the people will suffer less from an outbreak of war." Alicia did not like war but to protect the people she would run headfirst into it if it was needed. She would protect the people of the kingdom at any cost. As a knight and also as a citizen of the Alastine Kingdom.