Complicated Women

as everyone streamed out the room, Jinyu suddenly remembered that she was stuck in the world of this game and had other responsibilities she had to deal with personally. Like trying to annul her engagement to Warren.

The meeting was adjourned at lunch, and immediately headed over to the Ning estate. But Warren was at the house of a court official he was close too. She had waited a while in his office and was getting ready to leave when he finally arrived.

"You came?"

"I wanted to have lunch as well as inform you that I decided to annul the engagement." She spoke before he could even sit down.

Ning Warren paused and eyed her.

"Reason?"

"I was against it to begin with."

"I see. . . I won't stop you but you do realize that if the Emperor can not tie you to this country, getting by will be difficult. The reason why summoners are rare is because they couldn't reproduce with a world that's against them."

Summoners were discriminated against in the past as being harbingers of bad luck and hunted. Since a summoner that couldn't control their powers was quite dangerous, especially children who had wild imaginations. . .

"I'm not from this world either way."

"Is that so? Then I'll tell this just to you. Lately in the Dodia Kingdom, anti-magic weapons are being produced in droves, it seems they intend to go to war with Holly Kingdom, but recently the Emperor has been purchasing some of those items."

Was he trying to scare her?

"I have no intention of overthrowing the emperor nor fighting wars in other countries, my only duty is to decrease the monster population. . .either way it is uncertain how long the Lord intends for us to reside in this world. My kind will end up disappearing from this world eventually."

Watching her for a bit, Warren sat down at his desk.

"If that is the case, you might as well go along with things for the moment. With my new title as Prince, the royal family will try to fill that empty slot next to me. It'd be troublesome for me if that slot was empty so quickly. Fill it until then."

A vein bulged out the side of Jinyu's forehead.

"This sounds like you're commanding me, I don't remember ever agreeing to serve you, your highness. Don't think you can boss me around with your new title. I will and always be a messenger from the heavens."

"You are mistaken, this is me asking you to consider my situation."

"Seriously? I mean if you're asking me for a favor shouldn't you be more polite, or at least make me pity you?" Jinyu frowned at him.

Warren watched her.

"Please help me." He said Please, in such a monotonous way, Jinyu almost thought he said something else. Normally people say the world with more emotion.

"Did you just say "please?"

"Since you are being so open with me, can I not do the same?"

The two frowned at each other.

"Fine." An indescribable feeling had settled inside her. "Please help me" She didn't think such a man to say this word. For some reason, she found it cute. As emotionless as his wording was, if he could do that, then her impression of him wasn't as cold as she thought.

Smiling she added. "Then, I'm leaving now."

"Mmm." Why was she smiling? Watching her leave the man's frown deepened. What a complicated woman.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

Gazing up at the clear blue sky, Pino sat on the edge of the fountain feeling at a loss. Before it was just a game but now that game became her reality. And it seem her choice of class would affect her standing in this world.

She might end up like Luna without the help of her seniors. It's strange. In real life, she was coddled, for the first time she wanted to be in control but now with this reality, she longed for her overprotective Father and older brothers to be at her side and shield her from the meanies.

Her thoughts were interrupted as she sensed that someone was staring at her. They had been watching her for a while but it was only now that they approached her.

The person was a young boy probably a couple of years older than her. He wasn't the main love interests of the game. So that was a relief.

"Hi." He was clearly shy as he held up his hand awkwardly in greeting.

Pino blinked at him he was a brunette with brown eyes. He was dressed too nicely for a normal civilian but too underdressed for a noble.

"Hello." Pino nodded in greeting, eyeing him as he sat next to her.

"It. . .It's a nice day out today huh?"

"Yes."

"A-are you here by yourself?" He asked after a silent pause. ". . .I'm also by myself. My Dad's a Merchant, see? He has some business to discuss so. . ."

When Pino remained silent he scratched his cheek nervously.

There were few people that bothered to approach her in real life, because her Father was powerful and because there were often guards at her side. Having friends, she never wished for that kind of thing. Her family and the staff at her Family's mansion were enough. But here Pino had nothing. So people would approach her. There was nothing stopping them. Pino was curious.

Finally turning her head to look at him she asked him.

"Um. . . what do you want from me?"

The boy flinched.

"Um, I'm not a strange person or anything. I. . .I just saw you sitting by yourself and I thought it unusual so, I wanted to see if there was something wrong."

"I'm fine. My house is just around the corner from here."

"I. . .I see. . ."

With his concern answered Pino expected him to leave, he stood as if to go but then he ended up just standing there.

"I'm sorry, I lied just now."

Pino just stared at him.

He scratched his cheek.

"I'm Tyler, can I have your name?"

"Pino."

"Ms. Pino to be honest, there's this group of guys who have been staring at you and it's been bothering me. Where are your parents? I can walk you home, or no they'll probably follow us." Tracing his gaze, Pino did see a shady group of ruffians indeed glancing in their direction every now and then while they conversed.

Pino wrinkled her brows. How bothersome. Were people targeting her already? If that was the case, she'd need to move house. Couldn't have bandits break into her house. She didn't have a sub-class yet, so it'd be bad if she relied too heavily on her monsters. In the game she used summon magic all the time it's probably no secret who she is.

"Would you mind coming with me?"

Pino stood.

"There's no need to concern yourself. I'll go to my older sister's house."

"Then, I can walk you."

Eyeing him while trying to veil her annoyance she pointed at her legs.

"Mr. Tyler, I'd like to ask what exactly do you see here?"

A question sign hung over his head.

"Your. . .legs?"

"Exactly, how can you possibly walk me when I have legs of my own? Or do you mean to say that I am a blind dog that has no sense of bearing and needs proper assistance?"

Blinking, the boy didn't take kindly to her words.

"I was just trying to be nice."

"And I'm saying I find your attempts offensive. Also you don't seem to be that older than me, if you mean to protect me you're mistaken, do you honestly think those peasants will be intimidated by a mere child?" Pino opened her mouth to say more but suddenly realizing the unhappy expression on the boy's face.

"I'm very sorry, thank you for going out of your way to help me. You. . .were very useful. Thank you."

The boy wrinkled his brows and just stared at her. It was clear her way of thanking him felt condescending. Chastising herself, Pino turned on her heel and entered an alley. She wasn't good at being polite to people her own age.

The boy who was watching felt annoyed. A secluded place like that, she'd surely get caught. After running after her, he arrived just in time to see her disappear through a pink door, that vanished as soon as she walked through it.

He blinked at the empty alley after a while, his face became devoid of any emotion as he walked back to his carriage.

"There you are! Please don't run off like that!" Sitting across from him was a beautiful middle-aged woman with chestnut brown hair.

"But Step-Mother, Dad said I could take a look around." Tyler blinked at her.

The woman's face constricted.

"Mom, call me Mom!"

Without his Father around, dealing with this woman he found unbearable, he fixed his gaze out the window.