Chapter 89 - Official Date (Part 1)

"Ah, my granddaughter-in-law you're finally here. What took you so long?" The old man grinned from ear to ear while looking at the couple.

Zenia's cheeks blushed and Vaughn gave his grandfather a grim look. It was to remind the old man that he was being playful again and to stop doing something uncalled for.

"I sprained my ankle earlier, grandpa. I need to rest for a while." Zenia tried to sound calm and unaffected.

Zenia knew that the old man may have sensed something happened between her and the Crown Prince. Whenever she looked at the old man, he was giving her a mischievous grin.

"Granddaughter-in-law, can you tell me the good and bad points of each weapon here. I also want to see how to use them."

Vaughn and Zenia looked at each other and had a tacit understanding - the old man wouldn't stop until he was satisfied.

Zenia had no other choice but to give a proper demonstration. One by one, she showed the old man how to use the weapons. She also pointed out the good points and the bad points of each one.

Vaughn was amazed that the weapons that Zenia had designed were so capable. He decided to learn them thoroughly, and be the one to give a proper demonstration to his men later. He wouldn't let his wife do it for him.

"Are you content now, grandpa?" Zenia gave the old man a dazzling smile.

Vaughn saw it and glared at his grandfather.

"My dear grandson, why don't you copy how my lovely granddaughter-in-law addresses me? Call me grandpa." The old man gave Vaughn a playful smile.

Vaughn's face turned dark and glared at his grandfather even more. Zenia had decided to pay them no mind. Both men were being childish.

"If there's nothing else, I wish to visit the weaponsmith now." Zenia looked at Vaughn and then at the old man.

Seeing that they both behaved almost immediately, she decided to walk out of the weapon shed.

"Why do you need to go to a weaponsmith?" Vaughn's grandfather whispered to him.

"I don't know either. But don't you dare tag along."

"Why not? I miss my granddaughter-in-law so much. If not for her, I wouldn't even look for a perfect disguise and come here."

"Don't you want some great-great-grandchildren to cuddle?"

The old man stopped walking and patted Vaughn's shoulder.

"My grandson, this old man will go see your men now and teach them the lithe movement technique. I will look for that brat Redivo myself and let him know that I've fooled him."

The old man happily walked to the direction of the training ground. Vaughn hurriedly followed Zenia and caught up with her. He took her hand, and they walked together to the main residence.

The people in the main residence saw that the Crown Prince and Princess came while holding each other's hand. They looked so natural even though some of the servants were doubtful and thought that it was nothing but an act. Still, they were so happy to see the loving couple.

Zenia and Vaughn went straight to their bedchamber. Vaughn went to his private room to change clothes. He called a steward to help him choose the clothes to wear. It was the first time that he would go on a proper date with his wife. The steward was having some difficult time choosing the clothes for the Crown Prince.

Vaughn had tried a dozen clothes already and still couldn't find the most suitable one for him. The steward's left eyebrow began to twitch. Their Crown Prince was worse than the princesses in the palace when choosing the clothes to wear.

'He and the Crown Princess are just going to the weaponsmith, aren't they? Why does it take so long to choose the clothes to wear?'

When he returned, Zenia was drawing what seemed to be a funny-looking glove. There were five rows of needles and each row seemed to contain between five and ten needles.

Vaughn suddenly thought of the needles that he saw in Zenia's pack and remembered she was adamant about finding a poisonous plant. He was able to put two and two together and shuddered when he realized that his wife was trying to develop a weapon that can launch poisonous needles.

He promised her that he would give her a letter of recommendation so she could get in the Royal Apothecary. Vaughn was having second thoughts now that he had learned her reasons for finding the poisonous plants.

Zenia massaged her shoulder while she was making final touches on her design. It was the longest time that she spent on designing a weapon. 

"Are you ready to go?" Vaughn volunteered to massage Zenia's shoulder.

"I just need to do some final touches. What do you think?" Zenia showed the drawing to her husband.

Vaughn felt like they were an old couple enjoying a lazy afternoon. He wished that days like that would never end.

"Is it possible to change the location of the trigger? I think it is best to put it exactly where your finger can easily reach it. Here." Vaughn pointed out the location that he suggested in Zenia's drawing.

"Oh, you're right. It does seem easier if I do that."

She modified her drawing and instructed Vaughn, "Can you also massage my back. It's killing me."

Vaughn was surprised, but still answered, "Okay."

He had always known that Zenia was bold, but he did not expect that she would make him massage her. Vaughn felt the firm muscles on Zenia's back. He knew that it should be due to her training. When he held her hand for the first time, he felt the calluses and dryness. It was evident that Zenia had been practicing swordsmanship for a long time.

"Do you want to take our lunch now before we leave?" Zenia asked Vaughn while folding her drawing.

Vaughn had everything planned while he was changing his clothes. They would visit the weaponsmith first and take Zenia out to dine. It had been a long time since they went out to eat. He loved watching Zenia eating different delicacies. What amazed him the most was Zenia's ability to wipe out everything on the table at an incredible speed but still looked elegant when eating. She was unlike other women who would eat so little because they were afraid of getting fat.

"Let's eat in a restaurant when we go out. I know a place that serves all sorts of meat dishes as well as desserts."

"Really? Let's go!" Zenia's eyes were beaming when she heard desserts.

Zenia always loved to eat sweets, but she never got fat. Her rigorous training may have helped her a lot in maintaining her lean physique. Although she couldn't train as hard as she used to, she managed to retain her muscles.

"Wait! Don't you need to change your dress?" Vaughn couldn't believe that she would go just like that.

He spent a lot of time choosing for the right attire, but she would go just like that. Somehow, Vaughn felt like their roles were reversed.

"No need, it took so long just to wear this dress. The weaponsmith may have closed his shop when we get there if I change my dress."

Vaughn remained rooted to his spot. Zenia walked to him and took his hand to hers and led him out of the room. The steward who helped him get dressed became emotional and would like to cry.

'What happened to our fearless, vicious Crown Prince? When did he turn into a meek lamb?'

"Your Highness, please wait!" A maid came running after the couple.

She was holding Zenia's face veil. "Please don't forget this. The people outside still don't know what you look like."

"Thank you, Tinisia." Zenia flashed a warm smile to the maid.

Vaughn helped Zenia with her face veil before they went out the door.

"The Crown Princess remembers you?" Another maid asked Tinisia.

"Uhuh," Tinisia answered absent-mindedly as she looked at Zenia's departing back. "I think the Crown Princess knows all our names."