Summoned and Unwanted

Today’s sudden guest visiting situation made Vincent recall how badly he treated the two vice-captains and three adventurers.

Vincent couldn’t treat the Princess or someone important in a similar fashion. Vincent had to welcome such guests to the best of his capability, yet he barely had any time to prepare.

“Leave it to me!” Renn tapped on his chest to display his determination to run as fast as he could and inform his mother and Maid Xu about the guests. He quickly left a moment later.

Kazumi exited Vincent’s body. [I will go to Jun Ye Rim and lead her to the others. The more sisters I have, the less mana I will have to use Soul Visit.]

“Ok... ay.” *Sigh* “Kazumi left before I told her I was planning to use the garden’s wooden gazebo to greet our guests. The numerous troches I saw installed in the evening will provide warmth.”

The carriage arrived, and Vincent was the only one outside to greet the unknown guests. Vincent sighed and hoped the sudden preparations were underway.

The coachman wearing luxurious attire, climbed down from his driver seat. He greeted Vincent with a nod before approaching the carriage door.

The door was opened respectfully, and the first to appear was Royal Guard Duke Lucas. He looked at Vincent and smiled while greeting, “Good morning, Baron troublemaker. Nice to see you aren’t acting as if this is your last week alive, haha.”

.....

“Ahem. I think your joke is too grim.” A pleasantly faint feminine voice said from inside the carriage.

“Sure, your highness. I will tone my jokes a tad bit, haha.” Lucas didn’t appear he want to stop joking and teasing Vincent about being relaxed.

Lucas descended the steps of the carriage and stepped to the side. Bilka appeared carrying princess Anna in her arms.

“Good morning, Baron Vincent Lionheart. I am sorry for the abrupt visit this morning. We have the official date and time of the judgment by combat, and I wanted to let you know personally.” Anna said with a pleasant voice.

The coachman was shocked to hear the Princess apologize to Vincent, while Bilka became angry and started frowning at Vincent less than a minute after meeting each other.

“It is a delight to meet her highness in the morning. I am sorry for my inadequate hospitality, but please follow me to the garden.” Vincent said while bowing eloquently.

“Lead the way, Vincent. We have a lot to discuss with you.” Said Lucas with a different tone. He didn’t joke around anymore, showing he needed to discuss important matters.

“Gladly. ” Vincent said before leading the three guests inside.

Lucas looked around with his hawk-like gaze, but no one was in sight. “Are there people living here?” He questioned casually.

“Many things happened yesterday, and with the judgment by combat looming, everyone has something to do.”

“Valid response.” Lucas rubbed his chin and bluntly continued, “While we were waiting for the right time to capture a certain illegal slave trading organization and their backers, a certain someone told his sponsored captain to raid their base of operation.”

“...” Vincent was at a loss for words.

“There is no need to put a praiseworthy act to blame. ” Anna said, defending Vincent’s goodwill to save the slaves from their misfortune.

*Sigh* “Your highness is still young indeed.”

“Hey. There is no need to speak to her highness in such a manner. There is no need to sigh and shake your head. It is disrespectful.” Bilka angrily said after watching Lucas shake his head.

“To be the leader is to be decisive with the orders, no matter how guilty of a conscious the leader will feel to wait and catch the big fish. ” Lucas explained while ignoring Bilka.

“I understand...” Anna responded. She felt terrible hearing how she might have to become an adult who had to turn a blind eye to justice to catch the big fish criminal organizations.

‘Lucas’s words are right, yet they are unsettling at the same time. I can still vividly remember watching Tula getting flung in the air while we approached cautiously.’

‘I also remember watching the goblins dying one after the other just because I sought Ester and Lupa’s safety first. But now it can be different.’

‘Now I can arrive at a decision easier both from the experience of acting late and the power I have acquired since the last time I had to delay the rescue of others in need.’

Vincent deeply pondered after listening to Lucas. The words resonated with Vincent, and he felt conflicted in the end.

Waiting was sometimes better, yet waiting could also make others suffer. Only with determination could one follow their choice.

“Ahem. Vincent, are you with us, or are you appreciating her highness’s beauty?” Lucas joked.

“What! That is outrageous!” Bilka angrily exclaimed while Anna blushed and averted her gaze away from Vincent.

*Cough, cough* “Anna is still young, and I have no plans to court her. A person like me would bring ruin to her future.” Vincent said while trying to defend himself.

“Ruin indeed. It would shock the world to hear how the beautiful Princess Anna Lusterfall has fallen for a man who is already married to multiple women, hahaha.” Lucas joked and laughed as if he was finding this situation entertaining.

“Humph! How about we get seated? Her highness isn’t a person to be welcomed so poorly.” Bilka bluntly stated.

“Do not mind, Bilka. You can take your time.” Anna said, yet her expression indicated otherwise.

From the way she sometimes averted her gaze to look around, Anna gave the impression of being embarrassed about mentioning how this kind of reception was probably a new experience.

“I am sorry. Please follow me outside.” Vincent started walking, but after taking a couple of steps, Bilka interrupted Vincent by saying, “Are you going to let her highness stay in the cold?”

“Don’t worry. I will make the outside warm.” Vincent responded before resuming leading them outside.

Bilka, Anna, and Lucas looked at each other. They wondered what Vincent had in store for them next. They were first greeted only by one person, and next, they were going to receive hospitality outside in the cold, or as Vincent told them, he was going to make it warm.

Vincent arrived outside. Bilka, Anna, and Lucas soon arrived as well. In front of them was snow on the ground and a wooden gazebo surrounded by snow. Even the multiple outdoor standing torches were unlit.

“How is this warm?” Asked Bilka angrily for being lied to.

“Why are you in a hurry, little girl?” Vincent mocked. He raised his hand, and a green light appeared on his palm.

Vincent threw was summoned, and the snow became sprinkled with green dust.

“Stay here for now. You will know when to take a seat.” He said while walking beside forward and creating a path of sprinkled green dust.

Bilka, Anna, and Lucas couldn’t understand what Vincent was trying to do. He first formed a green path and stopped in front of the wooden gazebo.

Vincent stored the wooden gazebo and the outdoor torches beside it. Then he used both hands to spread the green dust on the snow until covering a large area around his location.

After the snow painting was over, Vincent moved to the side. He eloquently bowed, similar to a presenter about to present a show.

Vincent summoned two small rock fragments and threw them on the ground, one after the other. The second fragment was thrown with so much force that it caused a faint spark. It wasn’t enough to start an ordinary fire, but the highly flammable Mutated Ash was scattered on the snow.

A large green flame rose from the snow, and it melted the snow instantaneously. The flames died a few moments later, but it was enough to leave Bilka, Anna, and Lucas greatly impressed.

In front of the three was now a path of almost dry and slightly singed grass. They also saw green light near Vincent, the wooden gazebo, and the outdoor torches.

“The show is over. The guests may now take a seat.” Vincent said with more Mutated Ash in his hand.

Bilka and Lucas walked on the new path. As Vincent mentioned, the two of them and Anna could feel it was strangely warmer.

They knew it was a temporary temperature-changing feat, yet the sensation of walking on a warm path while snow surrounded them was a new experience for them.

Vincent lit all the outdoor torches and entered the wooden gazebo. He used cushions from his Pocket Cabin and placed them on four chairs.

“Please take a seat. The refreshments will arrive shortly.” Vincent said while standing beside the stairs.

“Although the beginning was bland, the last part has surprised even me. Hahaha.” Lucas honestly said before taking a seat while laughing.

“At least you didn’t lie. I hate liars.” Bilka said.

“The show was wonderful. I have never seen green fire before. I also never saw someone light a fire to make a path in the snow.” Anna said while smiling pleasantly. “Even when taken by surprise, you still manage to impress us.”

“Thank you for the compliment.” Vincent gently fluttered his shirt and continued, “I felt stuffy inside. What happened yesterday in the mansion is still making me uncomfortable.”

*Sigh* “Well, I wanted to see nature and relax. I also hoped to watch Anna move by herself out in the open.” Vincent noticed Anna’s eyes sparkle with curiosity. “Don’t worry. My wife is a perfectionist. It will be safe to move around.”