Chapter 8

Nash remained frozen at the door, watching as the lady rushed up to her and embraced her. She can't believe who she's seeing in front of her.

"Nash!" She slapped her across the face making Nash flinched. "It's me, Katherine!"

Nash shook her head, cradling her cheek where Katherine hit her, "No way..."

"How did... no..." Nash still can't believe that Katherine is standing right in front of her. She's pondering how they could stay in town without being recognized by the citizens.

"It's a long story. Sit here, I'll get you something to eat," Nash takes a seat at the table nearest to the counter.

"Father! Look who our customer is!"

'Duke?!'

"Nash!? Is that really you?"

"What the... who are you?!" Nash said, unintentionally. The duke appears to be different than he did when Nash last saw him.

"It's me Duke Barcley," the neat duke from before turned into a bearded man. As he combed his thick beard, the duke chuckled. "It's only that my beard has grown a little,"

The duke chuckled as he combed his thick beard.

'A little!?'

"What happened?" The duke told her the exact same thing that her Sister Celeste had previously told her.

"While traveling, we came across hooded men who turned out to be doppelgängers. They bound us and took our memories as well as our physical appearance." Katherine added. After bringing Nash her breakfast, Katherine sat next to her.

"How come you didn't confront them? Isn't your ability teleportation?" Nash looked beside her where Katherine was seated.

"All of the guards had been knocked out. We're too afraid, and I can't teleport two people at once at that time."

"You should've asked for Father," but Duke Barcley simply shook his head.

"I'll help you. I promise!" Nash was adamant in her statement.

"And how?" Katherine furrowed her thick brows.

"Can you wait till coming of age?"

Katherine and Nash are the same age but Katherine is just a few days older than Nash.

"Alright, but if it doesn't work, we'll just leave things be. We're already content with how we are now. And also, they're not causing problems, right?" Katherine asked, pertaining to their doppelgängers.

Nash nodded.

"Trust me on this one, Duke." Nash showed her sincerity as she looked directly into the duke's eyes.

The duke smiled and nodded.

"Alright. I'll get back to the kitchen and prepare things. Katherine, you can take a break and entertain Nash. There's no customer left except her anyway."

"I didn't expect Duke Barcley to be a good chef," She can't help but smile at the delicious taste of her breakfast. "I wouldn't be surprised if the Duke pursues a career as a painter, given his talent, but a chef?"

"So, what brings you here? Are you looking for a place to stay?" Katherine asked, unconcerned about her friend's question.

"Whoa! How did you know?!" Nash said, surprised.

Katherine rolled her eyes, she's still exaggerated.

"Just a hunch. Are you having a vacation here? The emperor really let you be alone after what you did?"

"Actually... I've decided to join the knight."

"What!? Why?"

"Well, things happened. I told them that I wanted to try becoming a knight for a year only. After that year, the entire empire will be aware of my existence and I will begin to carry out my responsibilities as an imperial princess."

Nash decided not to tell Katherine her reasons on why she decided to join the knights. She knows that Katherine will not agree with her decisions, especially since her own life is on the line.

"That's insane! Is being a knight a game to you?" she asked. "You know, maybe I should go with you!? It's easy to be a magic knight."

Katherine has the ability to teleport anywhere she wants as long as she has been there. This is also why she enjoys visiting various countries.

"No. I'm joining the squad. I can't just let loose my magic ability, especially since my demon power usually mixes with my gravitational power, otherwise, once the priests find out about my presence, I'll be in big trouble," she explained.

Only the high priest and the temple's other two elders were aware of her existence. The rest of the priests didn't know. They believe that the presence of another demon vessel will spark another war in the empire, similar to the one that erupted when Roven assumed command of the vessel.

"But being a squad knight necessitates demonstrating your sheer strength! Do you even have those? And with these slender arms of yours?!" She said as she waved Nash's arm.

"Well, yes, but no. Because I am only qualified to become a squad knight, as long as I demonstrate that I have the strength to be a knight, they will accept me; otherwise, I will become a squire knight, which I will not allow myself to become."

"Joining a squad is like preparing to be a knight. If you're in a squad, your status as a knight is fixed until you've reached the age of 18. You'll be a knight right away, and you won't have to take an exam; all you need is the approval of the administrators." Nash added.

'Well, I guess it's still a test?'

"I heard that some nobles will take part in the knight's entrance, and you know how nobles act, right? They take pleasure in making fun of others who are less fortunate." Nash continued to listen to Katherine's remarks as she ate. "I also heard that bribery is more likely now that there are nobility involved. Joining a squad or being a magic knight at a young age can improve your reputation and make you well-known among higher nobility and you'll be recognized."

"By the way, what status are you going to take?"

"A commoner. If I tell them that I'm a noble, they'll wonder what family I come from."

"Alright!" Katherine rose up and turned to face the counter, "Father! Can I join the magic knights?"

"Huh? So sudden!" Duke Barcley sprang to his feet and dashed towards them. Duke Barcley is feeble and lacks magical abilities, yet he is intelligent and resourceful.

"Well, Nash is trying to join a squad. I don't want to lose!" Duke Barcley can't believe what he's hearing from her own daughter. "But I'll be joining the magic knights, where I'll be able to become a knight right away and won't have to rely too much on strength because all that matters is my magic abilities... right?"

"Alright. It's probably for the best that you're both close with each other." Duke Barcley has no choice but to let his daughter go. "You are welcome to stay here, we have an extra room that is currently occupied by boxes, I will just clean it later"

"No! I'm alright, Du—"

"And don't refer to me as Duke. Only refer to me as Uncle Francis"

"Lame," Katherine remarked and Duke Barcley just chuckled. "Just sleep next to me. My bed is large enough for the both of us"

"Bu—"

"No buts! It has already been decided. You can just pay us like normal inns do."

Nash smiled. "Thank you, Uncle."

"Tsk. This isn't something I'm doing because I've missed you, okay?" Katherine rolled her eyes and looked at Nash's right hand. "Why are you wearing gloves?"

Nash removed her gloves, and Katherine was taken aback by the pinkish red wrinkled hands of Nash.

"I heard you followed Prince Vicor to Earth. His wife, Princess Terry, is a healer, right?"

"Well, I told her not to heal my hand. Isn't it cool wearing gloves?" Katherine gave her a weird-look expression.

"You're insane,"

...

As soon as the sun was up and shining brightly, Nash wrote her family a letter, informing them that she is well.

Dear family,

Guess who owns a small diner where I'm currently residing? It's Katherine and Duke Barcley! Duke Barcley has transformed into a bearded man. That implies that the people who live in the Duke's Mansion are doppelgängers, correct? I assured them that I will help them. My plan will happen at the coming of age ceremony. Duke Barcley's doppelgänger, I believe, will request that her child's coming of age ceremony take place at the imperial palace. I'm still deciding on what to do, so I can't say anything right now. I'll pay a visit before the ceremony.

Katherine also decided to join the magic knights. That means you don't have to worry about me being alone. I'll visit maybe once or twice every two months depending on the situation. As I previously said, please do not abandon the item I have given you. Take care! I'll see you on the accolade! I love you!

Yours truly, Nashtassia

She asked Katherine to teleport it to the imperial palace's dining table at exactly lunch time so that her family could read it.