"Her… well… you know."
"No, I do not know. That's exactly why I'm asking you, master." Anna added with a chill.
"Alice… she…" I tried to think the exact reason before the thought clamped inside my mind and I clapped in victory, "She needs to know how the capital is, she's been trapped for a long time so her sense of knowledge should be limited to what the," I went closer to her ears and whispered, "To what the slavers wanted her to know."
Anna nodded in pity, "Yes… you are right about that. But master, I also don't know much about the capital, so why aren't you taking me?"
"I don't know much about the capital. I was always busy with taking caring of you and looking after other maids that I didn't have time to go to the capital before." She said honestly, "And whenever we needed something from the capital, we would either send a scout or Mr. Redwick to get it."
'Hmm… this is a biggy.'
"I know that, Anna." I place my hand on her shoulder, "Unfortunately I still can't take you."
"Why not?" Anna said and it came out like an annoyed child. Which was a very cute look on her as she angrily pouted.
"Who would look after the mansion and everything else?"
My words immediately gained the attention of Redwick. Who waved and pointed himself, "We can't always rely on Redwick either. He's getting old you know, what if someday while in the midst of a lot of works, he suddenly falls over and breaks his bones?"
Redwick felt shocked and looked at himself to see, if he really was as fragile as I said.
"Who will look after the mansion, maids and everything else then?"
Redwick's mouth opened wide at the zero sympathy I showed to such a situation.
"Hmm… You're right about that." Anna's nod immediately brought a reality check upon Redwick. He left while looking down at the ground with his pale face.
As he walked, Redwick felt a hand over his shoulder. He turned and saw it was Jacob who gave him a sympathetic look.
At such a time of misery and cruelty in this world, feeling the support of someone, even if it was a complete stranger made Redwick feel good about himself. He too gave Jacob the same nod, the appreciation and pain of being the hard worker of the family.
It was at that moment, that two men of different station and blood, felt united by not money nor women but the power of friendshi-
"Hey Jacob! Stop doodling around with Redwick and get your ass back in the carriage, we need to leave immediately and Redwick don't waste your time with a guy like that, you'll age quicker."
My harsh but true words quickly made both men turn towards different direction. But even as they left, they knew that the bond they created today will be known throughout eternity.
"Man, Jacob really has it good and he still squanders the opportunity."
"You should give him more work, maybe it will make that childish mind adapt to reality." Alice said from the sidelines as we all nodded.
"See you, master. Make sure to eat your second breakfast at the correct time!" Anna said as the carriage went and I waved but whispered slowly to the rider to drive faster.
After some time, when we were a bit far from the mansion, I sighed in relief.
"Finally out of that place." I smiled, "I thought Anna might not let me leave if I delayed even further."
Alice nod, "Hmm, she likes you a bit too much." Then she smiled mischievously and came closer to me as she made physical contact, "But now that we're finally alone… we can spend our time… adequately."
Jacob coughed from the side making Alice frown as she complained, "Why did you bring this guy anyway master… don't you see that he's nothing but a nuisance?"
"Hey! I'm seating right in front of you."
"Yes, that is apparently clear to me." She replied coldly as Jacob felt a shudder go through his body. Then immediately, she hugged my arm and teased with her breasts, "Master… why don't we sent him to another room and do some-"
I flick her head, stopping her motives, "Stop joking, Alice. Nobody's going anywhere." Jacob smiled as he gave her a smirk, "He may be a nuisance but he's a nuisance I need."
"Hear that I am- Wait a second! That's not exactly a compliment!"
"Who said I wanted to compliment you?" Seeing the honest rock look, he stuttered but didn't have anything to reply to.
"Okay, so fun stuff aside." I reluctantly move those booba cannons away, "We really have work to do. In which, both of you have your own objectives."
This time, both of them became serious and listened to me.
"First of all, Alice, your primary objective will be to learn about magic as much as possible. Things that will help you progress." Then I turned to Jacob, "And your job will be to protect her and also look out for any related information about the king, the kingdom and my father that you can find, understand?"
Both nod and Jacob asked, "But learning those information will cost me, what will I do about-"
I throw him a medium sized bag, "Use that money then. But before everything else, make sure no one figures any of you out."
At one point of the road, we came across a village where the carriage stopped for a while.
Inside one of the dark alleys of the village, a beggar lay on the ground with a bowl. It seemed as if the beggar was asleep or even dead.
The beggar suddenly heard the sound of footsteps and the clatter of his bowl. He quickly opened his eyes and smiled seeing the multitude of coins.
Then before anyone could say anything, the beggar bought out a small piece of paper from his torn clothes and gave it to the man. After that the man quickly left the place and re-entered the carriage.
Jacob handed me the paper and asked, "What is that?"
I smile mysteriously, "Just something that'll help with the competition."