Hired Clown

Tomorrow comes, and everything looks different. Brian put up every decoration he found during dawn time when Paia was still deeply sleeping. He asked Richi to help him with this and he gladly agreed.

"How are we going to hide all of these until lunch, Boss Bry?"

"I've got that covered… We'll just make sure to do all of these quietly to avoid waking her up."

It was a weird feeling for Brian to act sneaky and everything inside his own house along with one of his employees.

"Just make sure when I send Paia to your house, your siblings will keep the party secret."

"You can count on me Boss"

Ending with the finishing touches, Richi quietly left without daring to move quickly even outside.

It would be an hour from now before the internal clock of Paia starts waking her. That means Brian should start what he needs to do.

"Good morning and Happy birthday, little angel"

"Five more minutes…"

Brian stroke her hair with the calming brush to make her five minutes the most comfortable extra time of sleep she would have. All he needs to do now was wait for her decision when she would stand up.

"Paia, father is going to do magic again… May I ask, my little angel to close her eyes again."

*Nods* "Is father going to give me birthday gift?!"

"Mhm~ But before, let's eat here first."

Brian has prepared a makeshift table to put their breakfast in the bedroom. They were not going to leave this room until they conduct their routine.

A bucket was provided to wash their faces, her best yellow dress, and the wooden brush crafted by Nova. Everything was provided like a single room apartment.

"Time to close our eyes."

He carried Paia in his arms while making sure her face was buried on his chest to not even give her the temptation to peek. He already bought something in the Item Shop to take the blame for his magic.

Stepping out of their home successfully hiding what happened to it, Brian put down Paia and handed her a teddy bear that fits perfectly in her small hands. Paia should not find anything strange. She was happily hugging her new toy while they head towards Raju and Raine's place.

"I heard you want to invite Rina to play in the park… We'll wait for them and Aunt Raine will join us."

They will play until midday in that park. And while they were doing that, Raju and Richi will bring everything that Brian has ordered from different restaurants all over Soliel. Brian made sure to serve the favorites of Paia from the time they went around.

It was a feast that he can never imagine they would have after leaving Auzeweth. However, with the blessing of good business and good luck, he was able to make sure Paia will have her third birthday celebration as memorable as possible.

"Happy Birthday Paia!"

Both the mother and the youngest daughter greeted Paia as soon as they saw the cute little girl excited. If one looks closely behind them, Richi who was just inside their shop a while ago had prepared a big bag to carry all things they would be needing.

It was big but they would be needing three more of those if they claim all food Brian had ordered for catering. All of this work is needed since there was no catering service in any restaurants Brian have visited.

"Don't run too much. You will be too tired for later.

"Yes!"

They reminded their children as soon as they step into the park. There were a lot of parents who had the same plans as them because it was the weekend. This means they were a lot of potential playmates for their daughters.

"They are really enjoying themselves."

"Raine, can you watch Paia for a moment? I'm going to meet the mascot for the party later."

"That's fine but what's a mascot?"

Giving time to prepare everything behind the scenes is not the only purpose why Brian specifically wanted Paia to use her morning in the park. The park is also the place where Brian told Samon where they would be meeting.

Spotting Samon among a crowd would be the easiest game anyone can create if they want to do one. And in an open space where people were spaces away from one another, it did not take Brian long to see the man he was looking for.

He did spot him, but he hesitated to go after him because he does not want to be associated with a person who looks like a crazy person from any angle.

Different from last time, his hair is now styled as a twin tail plus one this time. Tri tail is the better word for it with another tail behind his head along with the usual twin tail.

Not only that. Along with this atrocity, his hair was dyed with rainbow shades of colors. Very fitting for his role for the upcoming party. Brian had not really told him the specifics of why he invited him, but Samon was already in character.

"Is that you Brian!? I'm here."

Trying to ignore the literal clown in the park did not go well. Brian was associated with him ever since he was addressed with a loud greeting.

"Yo… It's nice you're dressed for the occasion."

"Of course I would dress appropriately for a child birthday party."

"At least your outfit looks better compared to the last time we met. For your hair…"

"I'm trying to experiment for myself. Looks good right? You can barely see any Gargantuas with hair like me."

'Gargantuas? I remember seeing a few of them. And everyone was bald.' It makes lesser sense as Brian knows more about this new acquaintance he got. Although it does not matter because he needs him to be a clown.

"The clown you are talking about, it's like a jester?"

"You can call it that, but you won't be performing for any royalties." Brian did a quick recall of what his task at the party was.

"Hmm… Ok, I got it."

Brian can only pray that Samon really understood what he wants him to do. Through the couple times they met after their first meeting in the tea shop, Brian can say that Samon was a person with a good character.

After giving him the instructions to meet with a teenage human girl inside a peculiar-looking blacksmith in the farthest road of District 9, Samon heads out of the park.

As soon as Brian was about to call his daughter back, Raine was surrounded by two people asking her questions. The park which should have been peaceful suddenly was invaded by a bunch of knights consisting of Avian people mostly.

"I have not seen this guy you're talking about."

"Is that right…? Thank you for your time."

He may not have heard everything, but Brian knows what these people were asking Raine. This search had been going for more than a week, yet they have not given up.

The reason why the Avian people are looking for him in the first place has already been spread around. It is still rumors but the life of the Avian's king is hanging by a thread or something like that. And this Steron guy is the only way he could live.

Steron is supposed to be an alchemy master from what he heard. Although for some reason, the description of this guy keeps changing every time Brian got to hear what this person looks like.

He was curious about what is it this time, but Brian does not need to do anything to get his answers because those Avian guards saw him.

"Excuse me. Have you seen this person?"

A green Avian knight with balding feathers sticks something on his wings then presents it to Brian. It was a drawing of the wanted person.

'… Are bizarre hairstyles becoming a thing in Soliel? If it was not for this old man having a pair of eyes, I would think this person is Samon.'

"No, have not seen him anywhere," Brian answered.

Instead of disappointment, the knight showed frustration in his face. Brian learned how to study the expression of people after talking to strangers for weeks. This told Brian that these people or the people ordering them is nearing their deadline. That means a King is about to perish once again.

Those knights then left without saying another word.

Now that they were gone, Brian removed all thought concerning the Avian people. It was now time for them to return and celebrate the first party Paia will remember.