Chapter 4

Alessia's POV

We went to the dining room for dinner. There are prepared foods there that are just right for the cold weather especially since we are from outside and traveling.

"I hope the temperature in here is fine for you," Natalia said happily as she walked with Elijah and me. I could feel the warm temperature but it wasn't enough for us to sweat.

"You have a lot of fireplaces, so it would be fine," Elijah replied that the surroundings seemed normal to him. While I was constantly looking around because of looking around.

Natalia's palace is luxurious, but the theme of her palace is pink and white. It's too feminine and I think others get used to it over time. These colors are a brand of a soft girl. Just thinking about Natalia as a soft girl makes me shake. She may look soft, but not her behavior and attitude.

I just focused my attention on the table. There are hot soups there, chocolate and whatnot. But I prefer to drink hot milk now and eat sweet desserts. I saw something there, I don't know what it's called, but they were round with different colors and looked like they were sprinkled with powdered sugar. I feel it pairs well with milk.

"Let's eat first. You had a long journey and you're not used to our climate. So fill up your bellies because we have a lot of food." Natalia happily said again that I didn't bother to look again. I am more tempted to look at the food than to look at my surroundings.

We sat down and Elijah was next to me. In front of me are Stefano and Sudanni while Natalia is in front because she is the host.

"What do you want to eat?" Elijah asked me softly, but it was enough to reach the ears of Natalia, Stefano, and Sudanni.

"Hot milk and those....colored spheres?" I answered him and Elijah smiled.

I used to drink milk even though I didn't like it before. Since I came to the Valeria palace, the milk has not failed every day, especially since Elijah used to think of me as a child. So even though I don't like milk, I got used to it over time.

"It's called munchkins." Elijah corrected me and took a few pieces and put them on my plate for me to eat.

Munchkins? It does look like a munchkin, but it looks more like a traditional Korean rice cake.

Immediately someone handed me hot milk because it was far from Elijah and I's position. But the eyes looking at us did not escape my attention. I know they are dumbfounded because the king served the food to a mere servant. I just pretended that no one noticed. My full attention was on the food because I didn't want to be distracted and look at Natalia. I immediately tasted the munchkin and my suspicion was correct that it was not like the munchkin of the famous donut shops. This is made with rice flour with just the right amount of sugar and flavorful vanilla. Not too sweet and not bland. It's a perfect combination of hot milk.

"Are you sure you just want to eat this?" Elijah assured me. There was a lot of food on the table, but I had no interest in it. I always eat what others have prepared so I prefer to eat what I haven't tasted yet.

"I'm fine with this. Eat now." I promised him and drank milk again. Elijah didn't seem to care even though everyone's attention was on the two of us.

"Ah...may I know who you are with, Stefano?" Natalia asked Stefano. It's a little sweeter because it's probably because of Elijah and me.

I knew it was Sudanni. He looks normal now because he doesn't have his dog ears on top of his head. He looks like a typical immortal, with an overly handsome face. The red cheeks of the female servants in the palace are also noticeable.

"Your highness, she is Sudanni, with us on the trip," Stefano replied that he was not even afraid. Natalia seems to be very used to it.

"Ahh...I heard stories about your journey. It seems that little Ales has a big role in finding the relics." She said cheerfully, but I still didn't look at her. I can't explain to myself why I want to avoid him. Stefano had already told me that I had to avoid Natalia, but now even if Stefano didn't tell me I would do it. Her presence is like a nightmare dressed like a beautiful dream.

"She is true. Without her, we cannot find the relics." Elijah answered and I heard the loud clinking of a spoon or fork.

"I'm sorry. Please give me a new fork." Natalia modestly promised her servant.

The drop was just timely. Stefano warned me about her, but it seems like this is much more complicated than I thought. I don't want to get into trouble, but no matter what I do it seems to come after me.

"How about here in Mythion? I don't know where the relic is." Natalia spoke again and I was just looking at my glass and wondering why it was emptying so quickly.

"It's fine. We can manage. All we want from you is permission in case we want to go to a specific place that we need to have access to." Elijah responded next to me, not paying attention to the questionable fall of his fork.

That's right. I haven't seen the map since we last went to the Waldorf. Due to the incident, we were unable to look at the map. It will be another clue on the map, a cryptic message that must be figured out.

"O-of course. I will be happy to help you." Natalia's response sounded happy. But her cheerful sentence is laced with venom. I can feel it. She doesn't like a single bit of me.

My milk ran out completely but I couldn't stand up because that was rude especially since they hadn't finished eating yet. I looked in front of me and saw Stefano smiling as if he was apologizing.

Maybe, I'm not the only one who feels Natalia's hostility. I think everyone in this room feels that. But no one dared to stop it because we were in his territory.

"If you don't mind me asking, how little Ales was able to help you?" She asked suspiciously.

I clung to my coat so tightly that I felt myself starting to get warmer than usual. I feel that everything he says is insulting and annoying.

"She's smart and knows a lot of things. Her knowledge is enough to prosper a fallen kingdom." Elijah seemed to be proud so I looked at him and I don't know if I should be happy or scared because I accidentally saw Natalia who was looking at me intently.

"You're proud of her," Natalia replied but I could feel the hypocrisy. In my few years of being with Ate, I already know the truth from just pretending.

"I am," Elijah answered warmly so I looked back. I want to leave this room. The place where Natalia is not. I can see that it wouldn't be nice if we were left alone in a room.

I don't know how long we were in the kitchen. They were talking about a lot that I didn't care to join. Even if I wanted to join, that was not possible because I knew that I would only get sharp looks from Natalia.

What they were talking about was the trade of Valeria and Mythion. They talk about trade tax and exemptions. At least I understood what they were talking about. I also studied tax in the Philippines. I know there are a lot of types of taxes. We have an income tax, indirect tax, and others. Usually, the indirect tax is the most popular of all. Indirect tax is the tax imposed on products such as food sold in stores, and everything sold in the trade. All citizens pay indirect taxes.

Sometimes the mentality of people who are pigs, unemployed and not paying taxes is also annoying. They do not know that income tax is different from indirect tax. So stores and malls give a receipt because it is your right to file that with the Internal Revenue. After all, you are paying indirect tax.

"There are already complaints that the tax is way too high. You know that job here in Mythion is difficult." Natalia turned Elijah into a complaint desk. "It's hard for tourism in this kingdom. The only business with the commoners is stalled for fur coats and sorbets."

"You know that the land of winter is difficult. But you are still prosperous because of the rare good only grown in your country." Elijah responded to Natalia. "Ice is rare in our country, especially in Waldorf. Your trade for ice is a huge help for the economy."

"I know and we've been dealing with ice for years. But I want to have tourists here in our country. How can we have tourists when everything is covered with ice?" Natalia's promise to Elijah seems to be problematic. "Little Ales, would you mind sharing your thoughts about it?" He suddenly asked me a question that I did not expect. I never thought that he would ask me about the economy of his country.

I looked at Natalia, but my thinking was wrong. He asked me on purpose to embarrass me. He had a smile on his face as if he was waiting for me to make a mistake. She wanted to humiliate me and prove to everyone that I am a loser.

I smiled brightly and stopped myself from getting angry. I didn't know that there was a creature that would piss me off more than my brother.

"How can I give my lowly thoughts about Mythion's economy, your highness? I am just a commoner, who does not know about it." I answered him calmly. I know she will mock me later on but I have to be humble toward her. A direct attack will be fatal and everything will get worse.

"Of course, you are smart and I want to know the thoughts of a smart person. I am having trouble thinking about what we can do to raise the tourist in this cold land. Not even the ministers can provide a solution. So I wonder, how will you help me in this dire situation." Natalia replied. His tone seemed desperate but I knew he was just pretending. I know this country is doing well, and she just wants to raise the tourist.

"If that is the case, your majesty, exhaust the surroundings," I answered him and Elijah handed me a hot drink.

Natalia frowned. She didn't understand what I meant, the typical stupid noble person she is. I want to yell at him for being stupid but I don't want to put everyone in danger just because of my thoughtlessness.

"Everything is ice, no one would want to walk around and see a winter land," Natalia answered me as if she said that what I said was very stupid.

I almost smirked because of her dullness. I can't believe she became a queen with that level of mentality. She can't even think of innovation, she's sticking with the old ways. Who said that a tourist spot is only for sightseeing?

"Of course, your majesty. No one will sightsee in this cold place, but not if there is an activity. You have a lot of terrains and steep slopes in Mythion. These alone are already a potential attraction. Why don't you build a skiing resort, build hostels for tourists, and colored lights on the white trees that will give color to this black and white land?" I explained to him and now all eyes are on me. I know that they are not familiar with what skiing is.

"Skiing?" Natalia asked in surprise.

"Skiing is similar to sliding. You will have a sled that needs to be attached under your soles with two canes as your controller. You will slide down from a steep hill avoiding trees and rocks. It can be a competition as well on who's the fastest. People will love it since it is an adventure for immortals." I explained to him.

Natalia's face suddenly brightened as if she forgot that she didn't like me.

"It sounds like a great idea. I need you to talk with our builders so you can instruct them on how to do it and the materials." It's a happy promise that now there is no pretense.

"She's not under your wing to command her to work for you." Elijah coldly promised that he didn't like what was happening.

"I know, your highness but only she can pull this off. How am I supposed to instruct my builders when I have no idea about it?" Natalia responded. "How about this, let's ask little Ales if she wanted to work for me for the tourist attraction?" He asked and looked at me again. "Can you help me, Ales?"

I swallowed hard and glanced at Elijah who seemed to be saying no. But there's nothing wrong with helping. Maybe in this way, Natalia's attitude towards me will change.

"I'll help, your highness," I answered Natalia and she became even happier.

I can breathe easily because I won't have to be nervous every time he's around. It's hard to breathe when you know someone is targeting you.

"Alright, that's great then. You'll meet the builders tomorrow and just instruct them what you need." He promised me. "Do whatever you need to."

I nodded to Natalia. The first thing I will do is do a land survey. I need to find a good location for skiing and it must be long. I will now also make a design for a sled and skates. It will be easy because I already know the composition of them, the only problem I will have is the place.

I didn't expect that when I came here to Mythion I would be able to do the things I studied for five years. Somehow, this makes me feel happy. Doing something you love unexpectedly in this land.