Meeting With Her Highness Siesta (5)

Princess Frog.

This was something that had been bugging Nine for a while-- ever since the kid told him about it. Not to mention, this 'Princess Frog' was a 'he'.

"There he is," the male kid named Daruma, pointed at a rock near the pond that wasn't frozen over. Bits of snowflakes dancing about in the air and sitting there on top of a rock surrounded by a dishormous forest of blue mushrooms-- was a majestic frog.

No. That wasn't a lie on Nine's part. The frog for some reason 'looked' majestic.

With its light blue skin-- hinds limb stretched out in from position close to the fore limbs. The buccopharyngeal cavity expanding and shrinking at fixed intervals-- somewhat trance inducing. Like a goat, it's pupils were square, its eyes stared fixedly at each of them.

Ribbit.

"What in the.."

"Princess Frog, we've brought a friend," Daruma said.

Ribbit.

"What I'm I.."

Ribbit.

The base of it's mouth kept expanding and shrinking. Just sitting there, unmoving… like an immovable king-- as still as a rock.

Why did he come to meet this frog again? Oh right, to appraise it.

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Name: Princess

Race: Sage Frog

Lv: 204

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Vitality: 87%

Mana: 99%

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Stats:

INT: 3200

LUK: 30

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Skills:

[Human Language]

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Titles:

[He Who Knows] [Dead Man Tells No Tales]

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"What in the.."

It had been the nth time Nine had repeated that utter, but he still couldn't rid of the fact that he was seeing something incredibly stupid in front of him.

"You have come from a faraway land O' little one. What do you seek?" a calm voice spoke.

"I.. The kids here just wanted me to meet you so.."

Ribbit.

"I followed them here.."

Ribbit.

"Princess Frog, he has black hair just like Heliot-chan," one of the female beastkin said.

Ribbit.

"Princess Siesta also came with them!" another kid said.

Ribbit.

"You can speak right.. Princess?" Nine felt a little disgust crawl up his skin as he called out to 'it'. Why did 'it' have such a name? It's ridiculous.

"I can, ribbit."

"So…"

"Is there anything you seek O' little ones?"

"Princess Frog, what do you think he came here for?" Daruman asked in excitement.

"He came to a kindred spirit, ribbit."

""Waaww!"" the kids raised a cheer.

Nine lost all reason and forgot why he came here. He stared at the frog as it's mouth expanded and deflated, lost in his thoughts-- totally flabbergasted.

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The kitchen was warm and steamy, chefs busied themselves as they prepared a large quantity of food for the children. The smell of food perforated the space, a mix of various vegetables, meat items, spices including fermented beans and the likes combine to form what seemed to be a pot of stew.

The caretaker Miss Familia stirred the large metal pot with a large wooden spoon. The stove itself was powered with magic energy, something Prune had come to know as normal over the past few days staying in the world.

"Oh, so that's how the food is cooked here?" Prune was genuinely surprised. Though she herself helped out in a family restaurant and at times needed to boil large amounts of soup in preparation for the next day, this was the first time she saw someone cooking with a pot at least twice that size she was used to seeing.

"Yes it is ho~ the strength to carry this over?" Miss Familia called out the nearby assistant cook, Gabriel-san.

"Heave ho~" Gabriel took a wet cloth and wrapped it around the handle of the large pot.

"It's done?" Prune just stood there observing.

"It's done. The last step is distributing, it's a lot easier to do when you.." together, they brought the large pot of stew to the other side-- towards the table located at the centre most area of the kitchen, "..have it here. The kids can come take it themselves if they want."

"Then what about the ones there?" Prune looked towards the other chefs preparing a rather different set compared to the ones the kid would be eating. Nataline-san is assisting minimally.

Besides the pot of stew and the mountain of bread, the only other items served to the kids were the fruits, some beans and dried jerky slices.

It paled in comparison to the ones being made over there.

"That's for the guests like you and Her Highness Siesta, it's not all that amazing but it's the best we can offer."

"I don't mean it like that, it's just.. "

Prune swallowed those words down her throat. After all, it was as they said, they were guests. Not to mention, to say that the kids should be offered the same quality of food would be.. a little extreme.

"Thank you."

"No, this much is a must, just leave it to us," then she started distributing the stew into well crafted wooden bowls. Prune found the design simply beautiful. It had the shine of varnish, at the same time, it had a crude natural look to it.

Prune turned to the entrance, at the naughty kids who were peeking from outside. You could almost see their drool and sparkling eyes. Prune smiled wryly at that.

Maybe she should at least help out with the food distribution.

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-- Liliath Toren.

-- Who was she exactly?

Siesta, who was left inside the study room pondered. Together with her was her maid El while the royal knight Richard and his aides stood close at the entrance to guard the space.

"Your Highness, is there something bothering you?" El asked in a whisper.

"Something doesn't feel right. I can't quite put my finger on how things aren't moving the way it should, as if there was a missing piece.."

"Yes, and how so? Has it to do with the visions you saw?"

"I felt a sense of familiarity, albeit a little whenever I talked to any of the 19 heroes however.. "

-- Where was it that I last saw Liliath Toren-sama? I believe it was at Toren kingdom. I have not personally held a conversation with her and this would be the first time at that however.. the gap between her expectation and her true impression was of two extremes.

Moreover, Siesta had never met Noel, Nine nor Prune. Rather, it would be better to phrase it that she lacked the sense of familiarity which the vision brought upon her when she conversed with them. The only one she knew she had met in the first life was Liliath.

"Miss El, we've visited Toren Kingdom in the past, haven't we?"

"Toren Kingdom? That we have not Your Highness."

"We have not?" Siesta opened her eyes wide.

-- What's this? Have we not gone to visit that domain? That isn't..

"What if.. that was.."

"The vision"

-- Yes, it was that time I saw Liliath Toren for the first time. It wasn't in the past, it was an incident that would occur in the future. The Liliath then.. she had a peculiar collar around her, did that mean she became a slave? Something wasn't right, to be a slave loitering around her own castle?

"I misjudged the vision for my own memory it seems.." Siesta let out a hollow laugh.

"Your Highness.."

"That said.. who are those around her? How come I have never seen them, ever?"

-- Those three.. no, narrowing it down to that person Noel. What if he played a key role in this whole situation?

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Richard stood at the entrance, his eyes closed and ears strained. He listened to the conversation between El and Her Highness Siesta.

Something about the relationship between Her Highness and the four individuals who called themselves 'Irregulars' didn't sit too right with him. Irregulars should have black hair, there has almost never been an instance where the hero comes with a hair colour other than that yet.. there was a silver-haired beastkin and purple-haired girl among the group. More deluding was the fact that their names were orthodox.

This must have been a joke-- was what Richard thought when he met them. Her Highness' statement was doubtful, how could these four be Irregulars? They came in such a carefree manner and acted as if kids frolicking about in someone else's playground, neither a shred of respect for royalty.

Richard's duty was to protect, and protect he shall.

Either the stress of losing her position as the Saint had made her desperate for some external support or that those four must have something to her… whichever it was, Richard couldn't just sit and watch.

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"Thank you!"

"Thank you anee-san!"

"Thank you!"

The kids formed a que at the sink before coming to take the stew being distributed by Prune and the caretakers. Each of them held their own tray that at the end of the distribution chain would make sure everyone had a loaf of brown bread, a bowl of stew, a small plate of beans and some fruits.

"Your meals are going to be there," Nataline pointed at the row of trays that had a different assortment of food items. To put it bluntly, it was a lot more luxurious than the meal the kids were having.

"Oh. Okay,"

"Well, that's all the orphanage can afford so.."

"No it's alright.. actually, how does the orphanage get its funds?"

"Oh that, it's through the church."

"I see.. do they accept donations?"

"We'll gladly accept it if you did," Nataline showed me a sweet smile.

"How much are you going to offer? We may have some leeway, however, it is not a lot," Liliath asked me.

'1 gold, 3 gold, how much should we donate to this orphanage, cast your votes,' I typed in chat. Not the one Siesta is in.

'2 gold,' Prune reapplied.

'Donate a Prince Frog, this orphanage desperately needs exorcising' Nine replied.

"Um.. what.." Prince Frog? What was he talking about?

"Ee.. are you alright? Hello? Spacing out?" Nataline waved.

"Oh sorry, um, can I pass the money to you or the treasurer of the orphanage?"

"I'll pass it to her, you can pass it to me."

From my pocket I took out two gold. I think it's better to say I took them out from the inventory.

"Ah, that.. generous?"

"Just take it."

"Un," Liliath also agreed to it.

"Thank you very much for the donations then. May the God of Love, Aphrodite bless you two."

Speaking of which, how do the Gods and Goddess affect the culture of this world? I'm actually a little confused how this and that work. I didn't know Unique Skills, like Siesta's [Oracle] skill was dependent on the Gods.

So.. our skills like [Widget] and [God's Eyes] depend on Bleu? Or Unknown?

"Noer-san~ Noer-san, Princess Frog wants to meet you!" a female beastkin holding something in her hands came rushing over.

"Hey, hey, hey, hey, this is the kitchen, don't bring the dead frog inside," Nataline admonished.

"Ribbit, cruel as always little one,"

"Who are you calling a little one.."

My jaw dropped at the sight.

What's this?

WHAT IN THE ABSOLUTE FUCK IS THIS?!

It's a frog. It's a talking blue frog. And did I not hear that wrongly? Princess Frog?

A quick appraisal of the 'Princess' proved that I wasn't insane.

Okay, calm down Noel. I've seen talking plushies so a talking sage frog that has the name 'Princess' shouldn't be a big deal right?

"Princess Frog wants to Say hello so he told me to bring him over."

"But this is the inside, you know? Bring him out, out, and wash your hands."

"Just a moment, little one, I came here to give my greetings, ribbit. Offer me a few seconds," the frog then turned to Liliath and I, "Faraway traveller, allow me to say my welcome, ribbit, that is all. If you wish to seek knowledge, I am here at your service."

"Um.. sure thing princess.."

"That's very gracious of you."

"Little one, bring me back to the pond,"

"Yes Princess Frog!" the girl said with enthusiasm and ran outside.

"Wow.."

"Yea. Quite a specimen isn't it? Even I have no idea where the frog came from. It just appeared in the yard one day and ever since he came, he never left," Nataline sighed.

Liliath chuckled at that, "I found him rather cute, the soul of a fallen man trapped in a creature like that."

She said something a little eerie there..