A Peacock Husband of Five Princesses by day, a Noble Assassin by Night

Kael continued, almost too casually. "She's a childhood friend. We grew up in the capital. We haven't seen in years. I ran into her coincidentally."

An awkward silence filled the group for a moment as Orin and Leiza's eyes briefly fell on Shiera.

Shiera's expression subtly shifted. The muscle in her jaw flexed, just for a moment. "I see…" she said in a neutral voice in the end. Looking at her, Shiera asked. "A fellow Tier-8 expert, huh? So, are you a mercenary or a guild member?"

Alice replied with a sad smile. "No, I retired from adventuring after my husband's death, actually."

"Oh my god. What happened? You are so young…" Mia asked with a gasp.

Alice looked down for a beat and let out a sigh, taking a seat. "After marriage, we shifted to the countryside as my mother-in-law wanted me to succeed her as the Baroness due to the lack of her own heiresses. On the other hand, I don't want to give up my life as an adventurer." She forced a smile as she continued. "My husband convinced her mother and gave me a few years, atleast let me be an adventurer until I reach 20 years old. But two years after the marriage, I was away on a dungeon raid with my teammates, and a beast horde attacked our estate out of nowhere. It was a massacre. I smelled foul play as the attack was too concentrated in one place and approached the Countess, but she said that the investigation results showed no problem, and it was certainly an accident. As I wasn't carrying any heir/heiress to continue the lineage, the Estate and territories were taken over by the palace, and I became a wanderer, for the past six years."

Shiera's eyes softened just slightly. At the same time, she couldn't help but wonder why this girl was narrating the whole story when she could just give a simple reply. But if she says those words now, she may appear quite rude. So, Shiera kept her mouth quiet.

On the other hand, Mia sighed, hugging her. "I'm sorry to hear that."

"It's alright, Mia. It's been six years anyway. I have already moved on from it." Alice smiled at her.

"Then, why didn't you return home instead?" Kael couldn't help but ask in wonder.

Alice shrugged as she replied. "After that, I did go back to the capital. But home didn't feel like home anymore. My mother wouldn't stop pestering me to remarry... so I left again. This time for good. I first settled down at West Ocean City and explored alchemy for a couple of years, but then felt too stuffy to stay there for so long." Erupting her black wings from her back all of a sudden, she smiled, pointing at them. "God gave me these wings to fly. So, I fly in freedom."

Kael turned toward her, brows raising. "An alchemist? But you are a Tier-8 expert. You are a warrior, though."

Alice looked at him with a half-smirk. "And you are also a merchant. I didn't see you trading for goods. You were swooping through the undead on a flaming horse like a warlord."

Kael chuckled sheepishly. "Fair point…"

Alice crossed her arms as she continued. "I was actually traveling when I heard about the outbreak here. I was around, searching for this rare mushroom that gives strong hallucinations to the monsters, but I saw the situation here. It kinda reminded my past and I wanted to help. But, didn't expect to meet you again like this, far away from the imperial city."

She watched his face for a reaction, then added with a playful but strangely heavy tone: "By the way, I forgot to ask earlier. Is it really true that you married the princesses to clear your family's debts and became the Queen's son-in-law? The rumors were all over the places."

Kael sighed, rubbing the back of his neck, awkwardness creeping into his expression. "Yeah. I did what I had to."

Alice looked at him thoughtfully, a subtle flicker of mischief seen in her eyes. "Had I been there... I would've helped. You wouldn't have had to go that far."

Her voice lowered, almost wistful.

Then she grinned suddenly, snapping the mood. "Of course, that would've meant you would have been forced to marry me instead. My parents were practically throwing me at anyone with a last name."

Kael laughed, and for a moment, felt like the heaviness lifted. However, the others were taken aback by her comment. Leiza and Orin's eyes immediately shifted to Shiera, who had a frown on her face.

Alice leaned closer, slightly teasing him with a soft voice. "But hey… wouldn't that have been better for you? We've known each other since we were kids. Had you married me, you would have no royal obligations, no political minefield, just... simpler, you and me."

Kael looked away, thoughtful. But before he could answer, Shiera's voice cut in from a short distance, cool and clipped. "Kael, we need to debrief before moving on. It's already late in the morning, and I don't think we can find any inns or taverns in the current situation. We need to move to Everlight City before sunset. Miss Alice, it's a pity that we couldn't stay here anymore, but we have to go on our way."

Alice turned, her eyes narrowing slightly, but she said, "Umm, if you don't mind, I have food in my storage ring. Freshly cut meat. I also have camping equipment. We can grill the meat and eat, you know, rest for a while… You must also be tired from fighting for hours. And also hungry."

"That's…" Before Shiera said anything, Mia laughed in excitement. "Of course, why not? Oh god, you are a savior, Alice.

"Wha…" Shiera looked at him, her expression darkened. But Mia didn't seem like she captured that. Her eyes were on Alice.

Several hours later, in the wilderness, near a stream of the river;

As Mia and Shiera were grilling the huge boar meat, the rest were chatting alone. Alice brushed a lock of golden hair from her cheek as she asked, "So, how's married life treating you, Kael? I mean, getting along with all the princesses?"

Kael looked up with a small and hesitant smile, but before he could answer, Alice continued with a nostalgic chuckle. "I'm sure Melissa is fine. But the other four... oh dear."