The Goddess Made A Mistake Again

Sometime before dinner, at one dark corner of the mansion.

I leaned on a tall column that strongly held the wall with its other counterparts. I wore a sky blue dress and dark blue pants to match its royal style and quietly waited for someone.

Feeling the wind blow past yet stop slightly, I cough once.

In return I hear one full cough and another half.

Secret Identity Confirmed.

It was the new person that hid behind the same column as mine who talked first, "It's good to see you back, young master."

"Hm" I only hum to the person hiding behind my back. She wore a long dark robe with a shade covering her face to cover her identity.

"Any news for me… anything concerning?"

"No, young master. The city had stayed in its peaceful state as if you've never left. No one tried anything against the Young Madam as well."

"And what about the 'Young Madam', anything interesting about her?"

"Only that she had put some rather unique and beneficial ideas for the city… it would take its 'inhabitants' some time to adapt." She lowly murmured.

"Hm" I muse at that, "No moves from those inhabitants?"

"No, young master and I do not know why."

"It's okay, I don't pay you to pry into their matters… yet." The hidden figures eyes flashed, "But continue about her."

"The young madam mostly stays in Lord Seman's office and works there. She doesn't take in much visitors unless it was important or related to work."

"And no… distinctive figures… friends that visited?"

"No" The shadow from the figure showed me that she shook her head, "The madam's behaviors are peculiar since young age, but she hasn't done anything or acts in any way that attracts the opposite gender… except for her appearance."

I nod at that, Margaret does have a tight, hot body.

"She didn't show any suspicious moves… but master," There was hesitation in her voice, "I believe she suspects…"

"Were you seen?" I look at her shadow that shook again.

"I was very careful around her. But I wouldn't put it out of her great perception to not notice me or have some doubts."

'Well, if Margaret wasn't so special, I wouldn't have used such resources for her.' I look at the shadow figure.

She was one of those 'Listeners' that you would pay to spy over someone. You could employ people like her from the Vagrant Palace like I did.

This one in particular, was quite costly for her skill and to keep quiet about my matters. But she definitely was worth it… because of her, I heard some fascinating details about some captains.

I will definitely have great uses of those 'conversation' in the future.

The Listener and I conversed for a bit more before I let her go.

I shouldn't be staying at this place for long time otherwise, I would get caught.

But it was good to know that Margaret doesn't have any secret lovers. Though that might have made it more reasonable why she was willing to let me have multiple lovers… the current reality doesn't.

…

After that, the time for the dinner came.

It was the same big dining hall as before. There was Seman already at the head seat with Margaret and Winona waiting for me.

But this time, there were the captains here too.

Seeing me, all of them quickly stood up.

"Woah! It seems I am late to the party."

They smile and give me a respectful nod, "Lord Tax!"

"What is this about?" I raise a brow while giving them a respectful nod too, "I feel like I am getting a special welcome here."

"That's because you are." One of the captains, Captain Marko said, "Your achievements in the fights were too interesting for us not to give you one."

"And a special thanks from me, Lord Tax." Captain Vein stood up. He filled his glass full of wine and lifted it, "You have done a great help to me at a critical time, if it weren't for you, I would have lost a lot of men."

"I didn't do much, Captain." I honestly tell him, "Just nudged the big ball in the right direction."

"Regardless, your contribution was most appreciated, Thank you!" He said and drank his wine.

"Well, then I should do the same too." Calvin stood up with waves as it seemed like he was already half drunk, "Thank you for joining my force and showing our enemies how great our combined strength is."

"Only because your singer scared half of them, Calvin."

"Hahaha!" Everyone laughed at that as Calvin shrugged it off.

"Oh, you're just trying to make yourself look sagely." He turned to others, "Do you guys believe that I saw a group of twenty bandits, run with their tails behind their legs when they saw him."

"Really?" A captain asked.

"Shit, yeah!" Calvin said and then turned to Margaret, feeling guilt, "Sorry my lady… Hick! I'm just a bit…"

"Loose" Margaret smiled.

"Yeah, Probably." Calvin turn to the guy, "Where was I? Yes, it was nighttime and we didn't know that there was a group going to ambush us."

Everyone's face turned grave, ambush stories never had good endings unless you're the one who did it, "So when they sprung up on us, we fell in a crack."

"It was dark; the lights were off so the men couldn't even see clearly. The attack would have gone perfectly for them… perfectly if this guy hadn't come out." Calvin pointed to me, "Wearing his steel armor and looking perfectly between a monster and goddess knows what else."

"The bandits noticed him when they saw one of their man being grabbed by the neck and getting his life crushed out." Calvin described, "Shit! That scene still scares me… I don't know whether I was more scared of a successful ambush or this guy that night."

"Hahaha!" Everyone laughed at that, but I saw the flicker of fear and concern as the captains briefly glanced at me.

"But I wouldn't have had it other way." Calvin put a hand over my shoulder, "This guy… he's my brother from now. Come here." He forcefully put me in a hug that I didn't have any other choice but to reciprocate… lovingly.

"Hey… Hey, that's too tight! No, you're crushing me… Henry!"

So just like that, the dinner went on with joy and laughter. I introduced Wilson/Winona to everyone and Seman said he'd talk about him some other time.

The dinner ended with Seman telling everyone to come tomorrow for a meeting, yours truly was included.

After it ended, Margaret wanted to talk with me so I left with her. Right now, we were walking together at the courtyard before the moonlight.

"You did it." She said, "You made your impression… and I have to say, it's quite great." Margaret's smile was big.

"Well, I am going to be your fiancé so I couldn't disappoint." Then my smile turned smug, "You know you said something about claiming a reward."

"I did, didn't I." Margaret was not one to shy from the truth.

We suddenly stop walking and I feel her grab my hand. I look at her to see her giving me a serious look, "I think it's time we get to the real part, Henry."

"Is something wrong?"

"Everything is exactly right, which is why I want to take the next step." Margaret tried to explain, "Do you know why my father being the leader is still considered the replacement?"

"Wasn't it because your parents somewhat figured tha-" My eyes turn wide in realization, "Oh!"

"Yes… We need to figure ours out now."