Chapter 33: Astrantia Receives an Edict

"Let's say, someone tells you they do not dislike your family. Is it not a proposal for marriage?"

Kristine's voice slewed around in her office, knocking back both Johan and Reley from their desks. They turned to face her with shock and surprise laden on their faces.

"Wherever might that have come from, my lady?"

"Don't dislike your family. Am I being asked to wed the party here?"

Kristine said the words flatly, but her face was soon covered with the tint of the flowers behind her.

"Allow me to get things in order here, my lady," said Johan, dropping the quill in his hands. "You were told by someone, that they did not, and I emphasize, did not dislike your family?"

"Correct. It is a proposal, is it not? It is, right Reley?"

"Ah…"

"Wait, wait." Johan interrupted yet again, sweat dripping down his forehead. "Was this person of noble origin, perhaps? Someone you are quite familiar with?"

"Noble origins, yes," Kristine nodded. "I am familiar, but I do not believe they know that."

Why she was even trying to hide the name was now a completely mystery for Johan, a bigger mystery than whether the monkey in her head was a trapezeist or a gymnast with the leaps she made in her logic.

"My lady, I believe you might be jumping to conclusions… maybe…"

"Whatever do you know, Johan. Not like you will ever be told something like that."

Kristine pouted and rested her hand on her cheek. She was quite annoyed by Johan's words. It hadn't been that long since she had met with her darling and her sweetheart in the middle of the streets. She was quite nervous about meeting him in streetwear, but things worked out in the end.

She may have had a nervous breakdown or two, but it ended with a supposed proposal! She even forgot about that rat which had ruined her master foolproof plans.

It was not to be mentioned that her plans were already with flaw from the moment she was going to get nervous from meeting him in street wear.

Work resumed with an exasperated yet relived Johan and a pouty Kristine. Not long after, three knocks sounded out on the wooden door.

"Come in," said Kristine.

"Captain!!" The door swung open. A man with his hair draping his face stepped inside and fell to the ground. His hands tumbling over a pile of documents and his head earning a frustrated kick from Johan all in the blink of an eye.

"It's over! It's all over! Another imperial edict, we're going to beheaded for treason!"

Behind the doomer stood a sighing Selena.

"Why do we keep him around, captain?" She said, scowling at the doomer.

"His skills are worth it, I say," answered Kristine. "Then, Selena, tell me, does a person saying they do not dislike your family actually mean they want your hand for marriage?"

"Haha, it seems like a logical leap a thirteen year old raconteur would-be will make. Hilarious."

Kristine's jaw dropped.

"Anyway, we have received an edict, my lady. It went to Lord Earl Kaiser first, and he opened it up. It says we have to join the expedition for the labyrinth found in Kara Veria."

"You are out."

"HEH!?"

"Out."

Kristine wasn't going to take her along.

Again. How dare she say he wasn't proposing, this skank. Kristine, like the true image of a rightful and disinterested leader that never put themselves before their people, placed all her personal feelings first.

"B-b-but why!?"

"You can stay here, in the capital. It needs a hand or two I believe."

"Management!? Again, my lady! It's a labyrinth, you would need the best of the best."

Best of the best reminded her of her best of the best. And she remembered well, that that person was now a researcher. Running into him in a labyrinth was something that could only be hoped for, and like all other, that hope would be placed on the back burner by the Moirai without any delay.

In that case, where else would he be but the capital?

Stick figures filled her head yet once more.

Eating a lofty slice of a loaf, that lively Selena would make a lopsided turn and have a lucky encounter with her love.

"Oh no, I didn't see you there!" She would say.

"Fault is mine." That handsome wizard would reply.

And soon.

"I do not dislike your family, Miss Selena—"

NEVER.

She could never leave this lanky bitch in this place.

"I changed my mind. You're coming. All of us are going to go." Kristine's words were good yet her tone anything but.

"M-my lady!" Selena cheered in joy.

None of them knew that Kristine would be breaking their legs and handing the broken bits in their hands the moment she would see Isaac in the ruins.

Nonetheless, preparations were to be made.

"Doomer, get up. Go call everyone."

All of the strongest members of the Astrantia knights were to ready themselves. A grand and dangerous expedition stood in front of them.

Dangerous enough to make her place the expedition before her love too.

The days clicked by quick, for both the knights of Kristine and the wizard Isaac, and even the rest of the expedition party and the time for the expedition to gather arrived soon. The first stop for the teleportation, was none other than the grand hall of the emperor, the Aigai Megaron.