Everyone looked at Zafrina with widened eyes. The powerful aura that came out of her could be felt by everyone. Something changed in her appearance. She became more mature. Her bosoms and buttocks grew bigger. Overall, she became even more beautiful than before.
After a while the aura dissipated and she opened her eyes.
"What just happened?" Aldred asked.
"I…I evolved," Zafrina said. "I can feel it. All of my racial abilities are stronger now."
She raised her hand and a clump of blood appeared. It spun like a typhoon around a large tree. When she clenched her fist, the blood exploded and the tree was nowhere to be seen.
Zafrina's eyes lit up. "This is amazing."
She turned to Aldred and hugged him. "Thank you."
"You don't have to thank me." Aldred smiled.
Maverick smiled when he saw Zafrina in Aldred's embrace. Everything went so well.
A royal guard in majestic armor walked from the hall and bowed to them. "Lord Maverick. Your father has summoned you. He asked for you to bring your friend."
Maverick nodded. He didn't even ask why his father summon him. "Come on, Aldred."
Aldred nodded. "You guys enjoy the food. I will be going with Maverick for a bit."
Sophia nodded. "I will keep your food warm."
'You should keep my bed warm as well.' Aldred laughed at his own joke.
Maverick, Aldred, and Zafrina went together.
As they were walking through the hallway, Aldred looked at Maverick. "Why do you think he summoned us?"
"I am not sure. We will know when we meet him."
A few minutes later, they arrived in front of an office. The guards let them in, and there they saw Renwick.
Maverick glared at him, but they did not quarrel like they did on the plain.
Lord Aleron looked at them nonchalantly. "There is news that bandits and evil ritualists are running around our county. The both of you will hunt them and bring them here."
"Yes, father," Maverick and Renwick said.
Aleron nodded. He had been feeling some animosity between the two brothers. He hoped this task could knit their relationship to how it was before.
Meanwhile, Maverick and Renwick stared at each other. Lightning sparked between them.
They understood what their father wanted; Competition. As the trusted hand of the emperor, Count Chanterre had numerous Diamond Ranks to cleanse these bugs, but their father decided to let them do this instead.
There could only be one meaning for that. Father wanted them to show their strength. To see who is better than the other. This was also an opportunity for them to amass more supports.
They left the office not long after that.
Aldred was relieved when he exited the office. He could feel some tension there. The two brothers did not even say anything, and Lord Aleron only said two sentences. The man seemed to treat his words as gold.
"So what do we do now?" Aldred asked as they walked back to the courtyard.
"We hunt for some bandits and every criminal we find."
Aldred nodded. "Zafrina are you coming with us?"
Zafrina shook her head. "I cannot." If she went with Aldred that meant she picked Maverick's side. Her brothers' relationship was not good right now. She did not want Renwick to misunderstand.
She sighed inside. Would there be ever a day they would return to the old days?
"It's okay," Aldred said. "You must also be busy doing… doing whatever the daughter of a count must be doing. What do you do anyway?"
Zafrina giggled. "I eat cupcakes and drink tea."
In reality, she been recruiting loyal maids that she picked up from a desperate situation. These maids would serve under all critical places and eavesdrop on important figures under her father. Should they plan to harm any of her family members, they'd be dead with poison in their throat.
"That's nice." Aldred smiled.
Zafrina smiled and hugged his left arms. "I told the maids to make some cup cakes for us."
When they arrived at the courtyard, Sophia beckoned for him to sit.
The food was still warm with steam coming out of them. "Thanks for keeping it warm, Sophia."
"Didn't you say we don't need to thank each other?" Sophia kissed him on the cheek.
Aldred laughed. "You're right."
Mary grabbed a plate and added some food on it before placing the plate in front of him. "You need to eat a lot to grow."
Mareona grabbed some fruits and placed it beside the plate.
Mira took a glass and filled it with golden water before giving it to him.
Stella casted a glowing halo on top of his head to keep him warm.
Ivette came from the back and massaged his shoulders, neck, and head.
"Oh, this feels so good."
Zafrina felt a little bit of pain in her heart when she saw Aldred being taken care of by his women. She wanted to join in, but she felt left out since she would not accompany him in his journey.
'How I wish I don't have anything that shackles me. This county and this family are too important for me to leave behind.'
Just as she was about to leave, Aldred called her. "Zafrina, where are you going? Didn't you say you will share a cupcake with me?"
Zafrina turned to look at his smiling face. The others were also smiling at her.
"Would you like to join us?" Mira asked.
Zafrina held the tears in her eyes. She wiped her eyes, and smiled. "Sure."
They ate and chatted for the whole day. The maids kept on coming, taking the empty plates out, and giving them more food.
After a while, Bartrem finally came back.
"Bartrem, how's the kitchen?"
Bartrem shook his head. "I felt like a bumpkin. There's a lot of magical treasures in the kitchen and I know nothing of them. I still have so much to learn."
"Don't worry about it. You've been cooking good food for us during our travel. I love your food, soo cheer up."
"I am glad you do."
"Now fill up your stomach. After this, we have some bandits to hunt."
"Didn't you tell your undead to do that?"
"I did. I should tell them to stop killing and instead capture these criminals."
