Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Alessia's POV

Honey introduced me to the town of Samona so I could get familiar. The town of Samona is a mixture of simplicity and luxury. The houses are made of wood and Japanese papers. They say, this culture was acquired from the Japanese, so it is not surprising that the houses in Samona look like this. It's no wonder that they know Japanese culture because they know countries on other continents. It's just weird here and people don't see it.

Even then, I was looking at the globe and I didn't see any continents in the Celebes Sea. I only see Malaysia and Indonesia there, so it makes me think that it's just near the Philippines, but it's closer to Indonesia.

If I take a ship out of Wysteria, I might end up in Indonesia. The Philippines is too far away for that to be my dream.

"Most of the goods here are seafood because we are close to the sea. The famous food here is abalone and sea cucumber. They are delicious in soup," said Honey as we walked along the town.

There are many sellers of fresh products from the sea. There are fish whose faces I know. Almost exactly the same.

"What are they?" I asked Honey when I saw the soldiers—based on their attire they were riding horses and seemed to be guarding the area. They are Romoronda.

"Ah, they are the Valerian Sentinels. They are the soldiers who guard the peace of Valeria. It is forbidden to commit a crime here, or if you do, they will surely catch you and punish you," he answered me. "Just don't pay attention to them. They're not messing around, they're just there watching."

I just followed Honey's advice. She took me around to where she stores were because she said she might be able to instruct me so I would know where to buy.

"Honey!" I heard a woman who seemed to be about her age—I'm not sure because they are immortals.

"Lucin!" Honey happily greeted her.

The eyes of the woman called Lucin widened. It stares like it's happy.

"Who is this with you? This is a beautiful young man," Lucin pointed out to Honey and did not take her eyes off me.

Alright, I feel relieved because he thinks of me as a man, even though he said it as a teenager. That's fine with me.

"My nephew, do you remember Ales? Here he is, he’s grown," Honey said happily, which surprised me. But I didn't show that I was surprised.

"Oh, handsome boy! You couldn't tell when he was little because he looks different! Now, he's white and has a beautiful face!" Lucin praised me. "Do you still remember me Ales? I'm your aunt's companion on the beach every time you bathe."

I scratched my head and laughed out loud. How can I accompany them in the lie if I am also surprised by what Honey says?

"Lucin, Ales was too young then so he probably won't remember you. You know they moved to Waldorf because of Juno. He just came back here because he wants to live with me here in Samona," Honey interjected and tapped still Lucin. "My nephew is still twenty years old, so don't fantasize."

Lucin laughed. "I know your nephew is young. I'm just really attracted to him. I won't be surprised if someone turns gay here in our area."

I winced, but maybe it's better that my problem is just that than the officials take me and make me a do things I don’t want.

"I'm sorry for that just now, because they won't be able to get Ales," said Honey with a laugh. "Alright Lucin, next time we'll talk. I'll take Ales around so he can get familiar with Samona."

"Oh he, okay...I'll go to my place first," Lucin said goodbye and ran away.

Honey and I walked again and she hailed a cart pulled by a horse.

"We will ride here. It will go around Samona," Honey promised.

I immediately got into the cart. It has no roof but the cart is big. There was a seat and we were the only ones on board.

"Is transportation like this here in Samona?" I asked him.

"Yes, like this, but there are floating airships in the sky. But that's only for the powerful because the fee to ride there is too expensive. The price is gold." he answered me.

I just look ahead and meet the cold wind. The place looks like ancient China or Japan. It's just amazing that we share the same words and language.

Honey taught me a lot. Like the office of the town chancellor of Samona. In the Philippines, this is the town captain and town hall. Samona is beautiful, I feel like I've stepped into ancient movies.

I also see pagoda towers. There are many lutos and lilies in the lake. There are also koi there that they call dragon fish.

We have traveled all over Samona and have returned to town. We saw some aristocrats, they wore elegant kimonos in pastel colors. The women hold umbrellas that are beautiful and richly decorated. They put lipstick on their faces beautifully. They look feminine, especially with their loose long hair and silver accessories on their heads.

"Those are the daughters of the town chancellor. Avoid them because they have bad habits," Honey warned me.

We quietly got off the cart and Honey paid a few coppers for our fare.

I looked at the chancellor's daughters who were now looking at the beautiful fabrics in the fabric shop.

"First we will buy some wild boar for our dinner," Honey promised me.

Wild pig? I've never tasted such kind of meat. They said it was just like pork but it tasted different. There's a distinctive taste with wild boar.

"Ah, okay...I haven't eaten it yet," I just answered him.

"Maybe you've eaten before and you just didn't remember because you lost your memory," he promised me with a smile.

I want to correct him, but I've done it myself. Something is nagging me to hide my real identity, the person I am in the outside world.

"Maybe," was my only response and we continued walking.

We reached the hunter's shop and saw a lot of merchandise there. There were live rabbits, there were dead ducks, and minced wild boar meat.

Many people were buying and the lifeless hanging ducks were immediately sold out.

"Mr. Gaspar! Give me a kilo," Honey pointed at the minced pork.

"Oh Honey, it's you. It's good that you stumbled upon this, I caught a fresh wild boar," said the man with a big body and a beard, smiling. Not only is her age far away based on Honey's appearance, but because this is a man, she looks a little older.

"Because I missed your hunts, Gaspar. Besides, this is my nephew Ales, remember?" Honey introduced me to Manong Gaspar.

Gaspar looked at me and his eyes widened.

"Is he Ales? Why, he’s grown and such a handsome young man! If you hadn't said it was Ales, I'd have thought he was a pretty girl!" Gaspar who just makes me nervous.

That's not surprising because even if you turn the world upside down, I have a female face.

"He’s a beautiful breed." Honey laughed. "But don't tell him that he looks like a woman, it makes him angry," Honey joked.

Gaspar laughed. "Why, he still loses to the beautiful beauties here. It's a shame you're a boy Ales, the girls here will definitely chase you."

I laughed a few times. What else did Honey and Gaspar talk about until we ended up at the hunter's store.

"Oh Ales, I know it's going to spread all over Samona so get ready, I'm sure there will be a lot of maidens going to the house tomorrow," Honey promised me with a smile.

I frowned as I turned to her. "Why?" I don't know why the girls are going to the house tomorrow.

"Gaspar, that's gossipmonger. I know he'll spread the word that I have a handsome nephew. So I'm sure women who don't have husbands will come to the house to see you. But don't worry, you don't have to face them besides, I will also help you to drive them away," Honey laughed and replied to me.

I don't know if that's a good thing, but maybe it's good because the Samona people will know that I'm a man and I'm not afraid.

•••

JUST LIKE what Honey said, women flocked to our house. They are outside the yard and the neck is lengthening when looking at it.

Falix was frowning because he had just cleaned the yard and it was messy again because of the girls.

"Honey, can we see your nephew?" asked a simple woman wearing a white robe that looked like a kimono. It's similar to a men's kimono, but with a skirt instead of pants.

"Oh, not my nephew. He's too young for you," answered Honey.

"Honey. We just want to see him. Because Gaspar said he's a good man—"

"Young lady, Crisanta. Twenty is fine. You? You are three hundred years old and more," Honey pointed to the women there.

More than three hundred years old? It really sounds so weird, but I know that's normal here. All I need to do is to find a way to get out of this continent and it will be okay again.

What Honey told me, it's not easy to get out here at Wysteria. She thought I was sailing, so I drowned because sea monsters attacked what I was riding on. The most dangerous place to go is said to be the ocean surrounding Wysteria.

It was said that it was meant to prevent anyone from trying to get out, as it was the fastest route out of Wysteria. But if you do, you will die because of the monsters. So that means I can't just go out.

I know it seems impossible but I will find a way. If I can ask a question, I will.

I just got up from my room and went out. I looked out the window and saw many women who immediately saw me.

I heard their sighs and joy in their eyes. They look satisfied with what they saw. Girls.

"Hello, Ales!" they all congratulated me.

I just smiled at them and said nothing.

"He's a beautiful man!" screamed a woman.

"Young man!" Honey's shouted. "All of you, now you've seen him, go home. You're being a trouble here," Honey shooed them away.

I smiled. If only my sister was like that to me. I was sad when I remembered my sister. I don't know if she is alive or dead. Did she stumble here? My sister and I are together so that is possible. Honey said, I was the only one she saw unconscious on the beach and injured.

If she landed here, I'm sure someone would have picked him up too. If not here in Samona, maybe in another town. Maybe I should look for my brother first before going home.

"Honey! We'll only dream of Ales. He's a very handsome man. You know that the king has found the one he was destined to marry," said Crisanta.

It didn't pique my interest. I didn't really care about those blue bloods, but I only listened to them because I saw the interest on Honey's face.

"Really? Didn't it die a long time ago from poison? How was it found?" it immediately asked.

"It is said that it was born again after several hundred years. It was found a few days ago, but according to the news I heard, the King's heart is distant from his bride. I don't know why, but that's the spreading now," he continued.

I roll my eyes. It sounds like a movie to me. There is a woman to be married, but the king doesn't seem to want it? Maybe someone else wants that.

"Really? Seriously, the King waited for that for thousands of years but he lost it. Now that it's back, he doesn't seem to want it?" Honey said mysteriously.

"I don't know either, Honey. They say she's beautiful, but the king doesn't even look at her. I don't know if I'll be happy or feel sorry for her," Crisanta replied. "So we'll just go with your nephew."

"Wait a thousand years before you dream about my nephew!" it became strict again which made me laugh. "You guys are gone and my brother's snout is already on the ground!"

Our yard was filled with complaints but the women also left.