Chapter 189 - Landing Jobs in Prazia

Zander did not waste a single minute and began delegating his duties. He told Higgs to send him a message via the Palace of the Crown Prince when Zenia's private army would be ready for deployment. He might depart for Tissuria after a week or two from Zekiah and Ruvin's departure. He also instructed Higgs to assign someone to train Zekiah further so he could concentrate on his work and make things easier for the person in charge that he would leave behind. 

He did not want Renaria to jump to conclusions and told his men to avoid his mother for the time being. He knew that it would be impossible for his men to hide anything from Renaria once she started asking them. Only a few of his men knew the real reason for his early trip to Tissuria. Zander wanted to avoid any mishap and concluded that it was safer to divulge the information to only a few of his most trusted men.

He did not impart any information to Gustof either. He knew that Gustof's loyalty was with his mother and sister. He knew that Gustof served as a little spy of Renaria in the military camp. He couldn't blame Gustof because even he had no power to go against Renaria's will. Once she had set her mind to know something, she would make sure to get it by hook or by crook. Over the years, Zander had developed the talent of bending some of the information to keep his mother in the dark. It was an unscrupulous means, but it was the only way that he knew to make sure that his mother would not nag his father to take action. Just like the time when they did not tell her immediately that they agreed to marry off Zenia to Tissuria.

Looking back, Zander thought, 'If Mother knew at the time that King Jarod ordered Zenia to be married off, would she agree or stop us?'

Zander somehow regretted the decision now. Whenever he looked at his beloved little sister together with Vaughn, he knew that even she would not agree to divorce her husband. He also knew that Vaughn would not let that happen now. 

"What will I tell the other men and your family when they asked about you, Commander?"

"Just tell them that there's something that I need to help Zenzen with. I got a lead and went to check it out myself. Until I verified everything, I cannot divulge anything more than what I just told you to say to them. Tell them that it's urgent, and I must go right away. Send a message to the Anisen Manor after I leave so Mother won't get worried."

"A-are you sure that the Madam will not question me?"

"If you are worrying too much, I suggest you begin practicing saying your lines as early as now."

Higgs' eyes widened when he looked at Zander, who deliberately avoided his eyes by reading the report.

* * * * *

Vaughn and Zenia spent their days socializing with almost everyone on the ship. Vaughn could not understand why she needed to do that. 

Zenia whispered in Vaughn's ear, "We are doing this because I'm hoping to find us a nice employer."

"Do we really need to work? We have lots of money with us, why can't we just pretend as a couple on a vacation? We can also observe others while enjoying ourselves," Vaughn flashed his pearly whites to Zenia.

"We can get more information when we work. It is also less obvious that we're are here to spy."

"But I'm a Crown Prince!"

"I am the Crown Princess in our household, but I still need to do some work. You're such a spoiled brat. If you're a child of my mother, she would've thrown you in the dungeon already."

Vaughn looked at his wife in disbelief. The members of royal families were really nothing in her eyes.

'Wait…dungeon? They really have a dungeon? I thought she wasn't serious the last time she mentioned it.'

Vaughn had decided that it would be best to just follow Zenia's lead. He had never encountered doing a commoner's work before, and it could be a stimulating experience. He smiled secretly. His little devil was always bringing new things in his life.

Before they got off the ship, Zenia was able to get jobs for the two of them in an inn near the pier. The owner of the inn was a seventy-five-year-old man, who was together with his wife at the time when Zenia approached them. Vaughn just followed behind.

They found Zenia delightful and thought that she could just be the worker they had been looking for to boost the reputation of their inn.

"Madam, if you can really whip up delectable dishes and entice many customers to patronize our inn, we promise to share some of the profits with you and your husband."

"That would be wonderful! I and my husband will surely do our very best to meet your satisfaction Master and Madam Bisset."

"We will see you and your husband at L'Amour du Chateau this afternoon Madam Pernen. You will surely be able to see it quickly when you keep following the road on the right." Madam Bisset pointed to the path that Zenia should follow.

"We will be there, Madam. You can count on us."

Zenia waved goodbye to the couple and turned around to Vaughn.

"See? We have a job." Zenia put her arm around Vaughn's arm and walked to the ship's stable to fetch Thunderbolt.

"Pernen? What kind of work did you just get?"

"Pernell and Anisen. I will welcome the guests and also teach their staff some delectable dishes. You will take care of the horses."

"Is there no other available job?"

"Nope."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"Where do we go from here? What's the name of the inn?" Vaughn felt that his patience was being tested.

"It's L'Amour du Chateau. The Madam said that we only need to follow that path," Zenia pointed the direction to Vaughn, "We will never miss it."

When they finally got Thunderbolt, they decided to head immediately to the inn. It was already noon when they finally got permission to enter Prazia. The guards did not give them a hard time during a body search.

"That was fast. I thought we will be stuck there for hours," Vaughn whispered to Zenia.

"It only took mere minutes for the body search because we are already a middle-aged couple. The guards here don't dare delay the elderly," Zenia whispered back.

"Why?"

"I don't know. They have such principle ever since I could remember. There's a reason for it, but I already forgot whatever it is."

"Is it also one of the reasons why you want to disguise as a middle-aged woman?"

"Yes. It also prevents those pesky women from approaching you."

Vaughn sneered and pulled his arm from Zenia's grasp. He put his arm around her shoulder and pulled her closer to him.

"Am I allowed to think that you are jealous?"

"Humph! I just don't want to encounter someone like Verone again. Remember what she did in Solaria? I still want to punch her face whenever I remember it. She's lucky that I don't think about it when she's around, or I would've definitely sent her flying."

"Admit it, you are jealous."

"I am not! I just don't want unnecessary trouble."

Vaughn kept teasing Zenia until they finally reached the entrance to L'Amour du Chateau.

Growl!

Vaughn chuckled, "Hungry?"

"I'm starving! I tried to control my stomach from letting out a grumbling sound, but it has a mind of its own."

"Why didn't you tell me earlier?"

"I want to see the inn already. I plan to eat there while we are there. We might even get it for free." Zenia winked at her husband.

"I think that's not a good idea. We are not short of money. I can still buy you any food you want."

"Should you take everything seriously? I was only joking! Who knows what kind of food they serve. I have a hunch that they have terrible dishes. The Bisset couple was so excited when I told them that I can cook delicious food."

"But, we're here already. Should we try that restaurant?" Vaughn pointed at the restaurant with a long queue.

"My eyes might've already turned all white before they could serve us."

Zenia looked around and saw a restaurant that caught her fancy.

"Let us try that restaurant." Zenia pointed at the restaurant with a decent number of customers.

Vaughn took her hand and led her to the restaurant that she had chosen. From the moment they entered the place, a mouth-watering aroma had invaded their noses. It made Zenia's stomach grumble a bit more.

An attendant quickly greeted them and led them to an empty table. They took their seats, and Vaughn began to order their food. Zenia got used to letting Vaughn order her food for her as she enjoyed the scenery outside the window.

Prazia had her own charm and beauty that was uniquely hers. Zenia could not say that Ishelon or Tissuria was more beautiful than Prazia simply because Prazia was Prazia – nothing could compare to it. Everything seemed magical.

Vaughn did not dare disturb Zenia's reverie as she looked at the marvelous scenery. Vaughn watched her and enjoyed the view that he was seeing. Nothing could be more beautiful in his eyes, but his wife. Everything around Zenia paled in comparison.

Little did they know that from the moment they stepped inside the restaurant a pair of eyes kept watching the two of them. Vaughn and Zenia paid no mind to the man's presence. They already felt that someone was looking at them when they took their seats but did not think that it could be someone who knew them. They were wearing their disguise and hardly recognizable even by their long-time acquaintance.

The man kept looking at Vaughn and Zenia when his companion joined him. He rubbed his chin and sneered. He did not expect to see the couple in Prazia. 

'What are you two doing here?'

The man's companion followed his line of sight and did not see anyone he knew. He was not familiar with the middle-aged couple. 

"Young Duke, who or what are you looking at?"