THE ADVENTURER OF EDEN
4.7 "Busy girl"

"All right, I get it, see you, Alfred. I'll see you later in the afternoon."

Alicia stopped communicating with someone named Alfred. He is the butler head of the Romanova residence, one of Alicia's trusted confidants.

Contacting Alfred using a round object like a button, it was a communication device that had been used several times in Asteria, "Call Chip" was his name.

A Call Chip is a two-way communication device registered with magical energy. One pair of Call Chip will be interconnected with each other's magical energy and make Call Chip usable.

Call Chip was very helpful to the original, but it has a lot of shortcomings. Alicia said Call Chip has been developed by scientists to be a better communication tool later.

Now the talks are back, the reason Alicia contacted Alfred was because he was talking about his return, but this time with his "friends"

"The city of Romanova is only 3 hours away by horse cart to the north. Tomorrow we will leave for Omo Village in the North Area as well."

"We're going to travel a long way, so making great preparations is important." Alicia continued.

""We understand."" answered the three.

Alicia nodded. "Good."

They talk about what they can talk about. In the course of 3 hours was getting shorter and unexpectedly, they arrived in the city of Romanova.

...

The Romanova city is in the distance. The city was no bigger than the Capital of course, a city without the protection of fortifications and houses scattered around. However the city had a conspicuous mansion on the hill, it was the home of Alicia, a conspicuous yet simple mansion compared to the mansions of other wealthy people.

"It's the city of Romanova." Alicia tell Shiki.

"The view is good." Shiki commented simply.

They approached, the residents had gathered and cheered for Alicia's arrival after about 2 weeks she departed from the city.

"That's Alicia's daughter!"

"Welcome back, Princess!"

"Alicia-sama!"

Alicia behind Shiki waved at them with a smile. They then wonder who the man riding the horse carrying the cart is, they guess he is Alicia's new aide because they hear Kira and Mira stop to return to their hometown.

Alicia blinked and it seemed that Alfred was spreading rumors about Kira and Mira sooner than expected.

Upon arriving at the hill mansion behind the city, the maids and butlers of the Romanova family of about 20 people welcomed Alicia in a compact.

""Welcome back, Princess Alicia.""

"Thank you, everybody. I'm glad you're all in good health." Alicia went down and said, followed by Shiki and the others.

An old butler in a neat black suit appeared. He wears a red badge with the words "Head Butler", this grandfather is the butler head of the Romanova family, Alfred.

"Daughter of Alicia, I'm glad you're okay. It's a pity about Kira and Mira, but you're back in town safely."

"Yes, Alfred. A lot of things happened, I brought the three of them as well." Alicia showing Shiki cs. "Today we will rest in the mansion before continuing our journey."

"Well, I'll prepare a room for them..." Alfred understood, then looked to Reina; "For a long time no see, Princess Reina."

"Ah, yes, long time no see." Reina smiled awkwardly.

Alicia invited them in. "Btw Alfred, where are Mark and Kevin?" Alicia asked about her two younger brothers.

"Oh, two young masters are studying with Rosalinda. They heard about you coming back, but Rosa-"

"Sister!" Alfred's words were cut off as soon as the two boys appeared to jump in Alicia's arms from the side of the mansion.

"March! Kevin!" Alicia loved hugging her two younger brothers. Shiki blinked, the two of them are twins.

Alicia apologized for making them worry, and her sisters were happy Alicia was fine of course. Mark and Kevin look at Reina, both of whom are unfamiliar. At the sight of Yui, they were also unfamiliar and at the sight of Shiki, their faces were irritated;

"Who are you?" ask Kevin.

"Sister's boyfriend?" Mark guessed innocently.

"Obstraight, at most you're just his adjutant." Kevin couldn't believe it.

Shiki was a little upset, and said. "I'm Shiki, the Strongest Adventurer in the Guild."

""Not knowing."""

Shiki was astonished to hear their compact answer. It was like Dejavu because Alicia did not know his name at first.

Alicia took them all inside. As Alfred prepares a room for Shiki and the others, Alicia takes them to the place where her father and mother are.

"We're going to your parents' second place?" Shiki.

"Yes, I want to introduce you to them." Alicia replied.

"What the fuck is Alicia! As if you'd like to introduce my brother as your future husband!" Yui protested about it.

Alicia was upset comically until blushed hearing that. "That's not my intention!"

Mark and Kevin opened the door to the room. Then, there were two people lying on the bed stiffly. Their physical state was normal as if they were ordinary humans, but as Shiki approached, the oddity was clearly visible.

They are all comas, but they are not comas. Reina looks surprised, and Yui is also aware of what happened to Alicia's parents.

"They're both my parents." Alicia introduced them; "My father, Duke Peter Romanova had "permanent paralysis" on her entire body and could do nothing but breathe. My mother, Liana Romanova has a sleeping sickness that keeps her from waking up."

"It's been 9 months since they were "cursed" like this. I will never forgive anyone who makes them both like this...!" Alicia was angry, an anger that had existed for 9 months.

Alicia started telling me about her parents. "9 months ago, my father and mother had just returned from the Capital. The afternoon was normal, with no problems at all. But at night..."

"They both started screaming in pain, their mouths suddenly could not be moved and their whole bodies were numb. I asked my mother to go to sleep, and she never woke up again" said Alicia again; "Then my father, he sat down and it kept going like this."

"How do they eat and drink? Small and large water? Then all?" Yui nanya was curious.

"Hey, Yui..." Although Shiki was curious as well, she reprimanded her little sister.

"It seems that this "curse" left my father and mother unable to feel that anymore, you can say that even their bodies have not changed from 9 months ago" Alicia replied without proselytizing, a face that felt sad and worried; "Priest Sanctum said that it was the result of the curse they received."

"There is no cure, there is no way... The only solution is you have to defeat their "cursed."

"Hmm, so yeah." Shiki understood; "If the solution is true, then it is not Kira and Mira who curse your parents; do you think they did it?"

"Yes, originally. But looking at Kira and Mira's fighting abilities, I realized it wasn't them who did it and once they were defeated, my parents were still like this." Alicia replied.

"That doesn't mean Kira and Mira, but I think someone nicknamed "Master" did it."

Shiki crossed her arms, and understood. "the boss of NARAKU himself did it, huh. Not surprising."

"I want to heal both my parents, but it is impossible not to defeat NARAKU. That's why, Shiki..." This blonde girl wanted to say to Shiki, clarifying their relationship now;

"At first our relationship was just an alliance, but I wanted to join your last quest. I want to defeat NARAKU with you, I want to heal my parents with your help!"

Shiki smiled hearing that, the answer was obvious when Alicia asked her to join her Quest as nakama was not as an alliance.

"Of course, from the very beginning of our alliance, our relationship is "the son" and with this, I think it will strengthen that relationship."

Alicia smile. "You're right."

Yui is upset, let alone Alicia's words as if she only wants Shiki to help her. "Allicia! Goddamnit! Don't forget me and Reina! It's not just my brother who's gonna help you!"

"Sorry, sorry." Alicia chuckles and apologizes, then looks at Reina, who smiles at her and says that her (former) childhood friend will help as well; "I'll help you, Alicia-san!"

Alicia's smiling thinly. "Thank you." And answer me, even if it's normal.

"You're serious about helping heal both of our parents, bro?!" ask Mark to Shiki.

"You look strong indeed! If you manage to do that, mom and dad will definitely approve of you marrying our sister!" say Kevin again.

"That's...!" Alicia blushed.

"Hey!" Yui protested hear that. "Don't want to marry a noble, aniki! They're troublesome!"

Shiki was confused at first and she had the right answer. "Yes, I'll help of course. But my relationship with your brother is just "nakama" said Shiki. "I'll help her as long as she's willing to help me out seriously too."

"Oh, so."

"Symbiosis mutualism, heh!" They both understand. Shiki had just heard the term, and just like Alicia, the two of them were already well-educated.

Then an old woman arrived, her name was Rosalinda, the head maid of the Romanova family. Rosalinda says the room for Shiki cs is ready, she then picks up Mark and Kevin to study again.

***

In the evening, they rest. Yui had gone to bed first, Reina also chose to go to bed early to be ready to start their GATE quest tomorrow morning.

Shiki took a walk that night. See the view of this beautiful small town, the city of Romanova from the hilltop mansion. Shiki looked over from a small atrium on the second floor of the mansion.

"You saw the cityscape from there, did Alfred tell you?" 

Alicia's voice rang out, as Shiki looked up, she saw Alicia wearing a luxurious beautiful white dress. Shiki was wide-eyed at seeing Alicia as beautiful as that, and arguably, the most beautiful sight Shiki had ever seen.

"What...? You see me that way. Don't forget to breathe."

Shiki chuckled at that. "You're wearing such a nice dress.what are you planning to do?"

"Don't be so prejudiced by me." Alicia walked over to Shiki. "I want to try on a dress I haven't worn in a long time. There's a dress prettier than this anyway, but this dress I like better."

Alicia is next to Shiki now. "Romanova's town is nice, isn't it? Most cities in Asteria were surrounded by fortresses, but this city was not because for Romanovans, it would curb the population as in a cage."

"That's it." Shiki understands.

"Everyone really admired my mom and dad. At that time, I decided to honestly say what happened to all the citizens. You can imagine what their reaction was at that time of course."

"When they heard I was the new head of the family, they all gave valuable support." Alicia told Shiki. "That gave me a strong booster mood, but meeting the same expectations as my father did was no easy job."

"The job as the head of the Romanova family was very difficult, I was lucky that Kira and Mira were with me, lightening my burden."

"And now, there's you by my side, Shiki..." Alicia saw Shiki while talking that. "I'm glad to see you."

Shiki was surprised, but Alicia's gratitude was not a surprise to think about it. Shiki has helped her, saved her and their relationship is very good.

"I'm glad you're grateful to me." Shiki smile. "However, don't push yourself too hard, ok? You can't make everyone who trusts you worry about you too much."

"certain." Alicia smiled too.

Alicia blushed, this second moment, in the night with this sight. Alicia feels her feelings for Shiki can't be harbored anymore, and if she doesn't act now, then Alicia will regret it.

"Gov..." Alicia called out to the young man with black hair, then pointed at him and revealed her feelings for Shiki.

"I Love You."