Chapter 276 12

The Five Kingdoms Conference on the first day ended in the evening, and the nobles had returned to their respective rooms. The first day of the conference could be said to be relatively smooth, even though there was a disturbing incident in the middle, and it had to be temporarily suspended.

Fortunately, the conference was soon resumed, and today's incident was also a topic of discussion there. They look for the best solution to deal with it if the incident happens again in the future. Be it in the Aurelia Kingdom or any other kingdom in the human region.

But until the end of the conference, they still couldn't get a solution. That was because they still didn't know how to prevent or possibly counter the attack from the hordes of monsters that suddenly appeared. The main problem with that was their readiness to accept the incoming attack.

If powerful monsters suddenly appeared in enormous numbers, no matter how great the preparations were, they would not be able to avoid damage and casualties. Therefore they need something that can be used at any time to defend or fight in an emergency.

Even though the conference participants had figured out what they needed to deal with such an incident, it was still a discourse. At tomorrow's conference, they have to turn it into a real idea that can be realized. After that, the day's conference was disbanded, and the nobles returned with tired faces.

The same thing had happened to Duke Hazell and his wife. Their faces were pale when they returned to their room. Therefore both of them immediately went to sleep to rest their bodies. Even the tea and snacks the servant had prepared were ignored by them and not touched at all.

Clara and Lilith had also returned from the conference of the noble sons and daughters. Lilith did not return with Clara because she had her room reserved for her and Princess Iris. When she returned, Clara looked just as tired as her parents. But her current expression was dominated by a frown when she saw Ziel. After Clara returned to her room, she saw that Ziel was also there and greeted her with his usual poker face.

Clara was happy about it, but when she remembered Ziel and Kalya's date today, her face was cloudy again. Even though she hadn't confirmed it directly to Ziel, her intuition as a woman told her that her guess was correct.

"Here's your tea, my lady. I mixed it with other ingredients that will make your body fresher." Ziel brought Clara the hot tea he had specially made and placed it on the table in front of her. He mixed honey, lemon, and liquid mana compression into the tea, which restored stamina and calmed the mind.

Ziel glanced at Clara's face and didn't know why she had been silent since returning. But Ziel decided not to ask because he thought that Clara was tired and needed some time to rest.

"Thank you." Clara answered briefly.

"Then, I'll take my leave first, my lady. Enjoy your tea." Ziel sighed and intended to quickly leave that place and leave Clara alone, thinking that she didn't want to be disturbed. But he stopped when he heard Clara's voice.

"Did you have fun with your date with Miss Kalya?" Clara said in a voice full of sorrow. Her voice was low and hoarse like she was about to cry.

After hearing that question, Ziel finally discovered why Clara treated him so coldly. He didn't know how Clara found out she was going on a date with Kalya. But he could ask Clara about it later because the most important thing right now was to calm her down.

"I did take a walk with her in the city, my lady. If you're asking if I'm having fun or not, I'll say I enjoyed it. You will feel happy if you can be with your lover and spend time with him. Isn't that so, my lady?" Ziel smiled and replied softly.

"Eh? Ah, but..." Clara was confused and didn't know what to answer Ziel's question. What he said was the truth, and Clara would also be happy if she could spend time with the person she loves. Her happiness would rise to another level if they could make out there.

But Clara couldn't admit it because of her ego and jealousy. If she did, she would feel ashamed of Ziel for what she said before. Therefore, Clara intended to answer contrary to what she had in mind. When Clara was about to open her mouth and refute that statement, Ziel said first and made Clara have to swallow her words again.

"I apologize if what I have done has displeased you, my lady. I went out with him because I didn't have anything I could do when you were gone. Even so, I didn't abandon my job after returning. After all, I am your butler, my lady." Ziel continued what he said and didn't give Clara a chance to reply because he knew that Clara intended to refute what he had said before.

Clara was speechless after hearing Ziel's last sentence. She felt that his current behavior was very childish. For lovers, it is only natural that Ziel and Kalya spend time together as long as Ziel is not negligent in his work.

Clara couldn't help but sigh after reflecting on her previous attitude towards Ziel. She felt sorry for what she had done. After all, Ziel was Clara's butler, and she could find any time to ask Ziel to accompany her for a walk in the city.

"I will forgive you but on two conditions." Clara looked at Ziel and showed her two slender fingers. Although she felt guilty, as a woman, she thought she couldn't admit it right away. After all, she feels abandoned and neglected by Ziel when he and Kalya go on a date in the city. Therefore Clara had another plan to shake off her guilt and get compensation from Ziel.

"May I first hear your two conditions, my lady?" Ziel asked before answering.

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Ziel wouldn't say he would fulfill anything as long as it was within his means. Because he knew if he said that, Clara could ask for almost anything, including the same relationship with Kalya and Princess Freya. Ziel didn't want that to happen because it would only add more trouble for him. Not because he didn't like Clara but because he didn't want to incite the jealousy of other girls.

Although Azael sealed his emotions, Ziel is not a dull man who can't understand a woman's heart. Ziel knew that some of the girls around him had affection for him. He would be troubled if he had to respond to their feelings individually. Moreover, Ziel already has Kalya and Princess Freya, not to mention his relationship with Azalia. He had a headache just imagining it.

"Eh?" Clara was speechless after hearing Ziel's question because it wasn't in the script she had in mind. She thought Ziel should have said he would do anything to get her forgiveness. Clara wasn't sure to tell the request in her mind because she felt Ziel would probably refuse it. Clara's plan breaks down instantly, and she can only replace it with a new one. As Clara was deep in thought, Ziel's voice brought her back to her senses

"What's the matter, my lady? what were the two conditions you said earlier?" Ziel repeated his question after seeing Clara silent for a long time. Clara pursed her lips and answered.

"Hmm… The first condition is that you have to forgive me for what I said earlier, and the second is that you have to take me for a walk in the city after the Five Kingdoms Conference ends. Isn't that an easy requirement? You should be able to fulfill my request, right?" Clara spontaneously said her current thoughts because she was pressed by Ziel's question and didn't dare to state the request she had planned.

"Of course, I'll agree to both of your terms, my lady." Ziel quickly answered after hearing Clara's request. He didn't mind Clara's two terms and found it very simple.

"In that case, it has been decided that you will take me on a date and go shopping for a whole day in the city after the Five Kingdoms Conference!" Clara smiled broadly, and her happy expression replaced her cloudy face instantly. But Ziel fell silent after hearing Clara's statement.

"Full day?" Ziel reconfirmed Clara's words. He was bothered by it. If he had to say it honestly, Ziel enjoyed his date with Kalya yesterday. His emotions leaking from the crack of Azael's seal made him feel that way. Except for the shopping part, which made Ziel frown when he thought about it.

Ziel felt overwhelmed when he accompanied Kalya from one shop to another. Even though he did it for only a few hours, he was already physically and mentally exhausted. Ziel felt it was better to fight against thousands of dragons than to accompany a woman shopping. But then Clara asked him to do it all day long. Ziel couldn't help but think of taking back his words to Clara.

"Yes, a whole day. You don't mean to go back on your words, do you?" Clara smirked and teased Ziel. She felt delighted after seeing the expression on his face.

"I understand. I will accompany you on a date all day after the conference ends. Are you satisfied, my lady?" Ziel couldn't help but keep his word. He could only blame himself for not hearing the request in detail before he agreed to it.

"Of course, I am satisfied! I know you will keep your promise!" Clara couldn't wait for the conference to end. She hoped that the two days would pass quickly. On the other hand, Ziel could only sigh and shake his head, lamenting his fate in the future.

***

Dinner for the Five Kingdoms Conference participants will be held at five places according to their respective kingdoms. The Aurelia Kingdom has provided five rooms to accommodate it, and they are located next to each other. The room was reserved for the nobles of the five kingdoms to have dinner with their families. Because when the conference took place, participants from the five kingdoms were prohibited from bringing unauthorized people into the conference hall.

In the dining room for the Neigal Kingdom participants, Duke Hazell and his family sat at one table along with King Jonathan and Princess Iris. Duke Hazell was able to sit with King Jonathan due to Princess Iris's request, who wanted to sit down with Clara. Lilith was also with them with the permission of King Jonathan. It caught the attention and ignited the jealousy of the other nobles.

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On the other hand, Ziel served them along with the servants from the Duke of Castilene's residence. He is not allowed to sit in that place and has his area for the servants. Ziel sensed that King Jonathan glanced at him several times secretly, but he ignored it and pretended not to know.

"Clara, how was socializing with the sons and daughters of royalty today? Did you get any new knowledge from them? Or maybe one of them interests you?" Duke Hazell suddenly asked while Clara was chatting with Princess Iris and Lilith.

After hearing her father's question, Clara's face clouded over. Then she started talking and took all her grievances to Duke Hazell. The people at the table couldn't help but laugh after hearing her explanation. Clara had forgotten that King Jonathan was at the same table as them.

"It's natural to have ulterior motives when you socialize with the nobles. I'm sure you'll get used to it after meeting them a few times." King Jonathan smiled broadly and gave his advice. His words were not only for Clara but also for Princess Iris, who also has no social experience because of the mana curse she suffered in the past that made her shunned by others.

"I'm honored to be able to get advice from you, Your Majesty. I'll try to get used to it." Clara bowed her head and answered awkwardly. She was still not used to talking to a king.

Even though King Jonathan asked Clara to speak more casually to him because she was Princess Iris's friend, Clara couldn't do it because he was a king and a person served by his father. King Jonathan could only sigh and shake his head at Clara's attitude towards him.

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Meanwhile, Ziel went out of the dining room to pick up the necessities for dinner that was lacking from the inventory room not far away. But he had to pass through the Aurelia Kingdom's dining room to get there.

It didn't take long for Ziel to retrieve what he needed from the inventory room and return to the Neigal Kingdom's dining room. But his footsteps stopped on the way when he heard a familiar voice from behind him.

"Ooh, isn't this the boy we met at the restaurant this afternoon? How could he be in the castle?" The one who spoke was the golden-haired boy that Ziel and Kalya met at the restaurant during lunch.