Chapter Seventeen:

Water

In the bustling heart of Shiranui, the lesser-known but thriving trading hub of Kagaragi, Anastasia, Julius, and the triplets navigated through the crowded, lively streets. Shiranui was famed for its sprawling bazaars, where the scents of exotic spices, rare herbs, and freshly woven fabrics filled the air. It was a place Anastasia loved—rich with opportunity, brimming with energy. Yet, she could feel an all-too-familiar shadow looming nearby.

As they moved, a tall figure appeared in the distance, dressed in layers of fine silks embroidered with gold. His dark eyes and cryptic expression made him look more like a monarch than a merchant, and his towering frame cut through the crowd effortlessly. Kazuma the Merchant King. The moment their gazes met, an unspoken tension flickered to life, thick as the Kagaragi night air.

"Ah, Anastasia," he greeted, his voice smooth, but with a thin edge of bitterness that even a seasoned trader like him couldn't hide. "What an unexpected pleasure." His gaze flicked to the triplets, then to Julius, and back to Anastasia. "Seems ya brought a whole entourage."

Anastasia met his gaze with her polite but guarded smile. "Kazuma. Didn't think I'd see ya wanderin' around here, but guess Kagaragi's never short of surprises."

Kazuma's mouth tightened into a small, hard smile, his gaze flickering with something cold. "Neither is Lugnica, from what I've heard. Word's reachin' even Kagaragi that yer involved in the royal selection now," he said, his tone carrying a note of disapproval. "Quite ambitious of ya, I'll admit. Though, ambition always has been yer strength, hasn't it?"

Anastasia's expression remained polite, though her eyes sparkled with a hint of challenge. "Why, ya make it sound like it's a bad thing, Kazuma. Seems like yer still sore 'bout all those deals ya lost to me back in the day."

Kazuma's thin smile didn't reach his eyes. "Perhaps. Kagaragi has its king, after all, but I suppose ya couldn't settle for that, could ya? Had to aim a bit higher." He turned his gaze to Julius, sizing him up with a barely disguised sneer. "And this must be yer… trusted knight. Julius, was it?"

Julius met Kazuma's eyes with a steady, unyielding gaze, his expression respectful but wary. "Yes, that's correct, Mr. Kazuma. A pleasure."

Kazuma's eyes glinted with a hint of annoyance. "Pleasure, indeed," he murmured, clearly unimpressed by Julius's formality. He turned back to Anastasia, his tone cutting. "I'm surprised ya've time to parade through Kagaragi with yer entourage when there's a kingdom waiting for ya in Lugnica. Tell me, do ya truly think yer fit to rule an entire kingdom? Or is this just another scheme o' yers?"

Before Anastasia could reply, Mimi leaned in close to her, her wide eyes shining with mischief as she whispered loudly, "Mama's already married! To THE Natsuki Subaru!"

Kazuma's attention shifted, a spark of curiosity lighting up in his otherwise guarded expression. "Natsuki Subaru?" he repeated, the name tasting foreign on his tongue. He paused, as if rifling through his mental files, then snapped his fingers with sudden recollection. "Ah. The one who killed the dumb fish, is it?"

Anastasia held back a laugh, casting a quick glance at Julius, who looked faintly surprised by Kazuma's plain response. "That's right," she said with a faint smirk. "The White Whale. Quite a feat, don't ya think?"

Kazuma's mouth tightened, his eyes hardening. "Guess I'll give the boy credit for that. Must be a decent match fer someone as… determined as yerself." His voice held a trace of contempt, a subtle but unmistakable bitterness that hadn't faded with the years.

Anastasia's smile grew a touch sharper. "More than decent. And if ya've got any other questions about my affairs, maybe it's time ya learned ta mind yer own."

Kazuma's expression darkened, his gaze icy. "Funny, Lady Hoshin. I remember a time when ya didn't mind entertainin' the idea of an alliance with me. Or have ya conveniently forgotten that proposal I made—ah, was it four years ago?"

Anastasia's polite smile didn't falter, though her eyes gleamed with a flicker of something sharper. "Some things don't change, Kazuma. I'm afraid my answer's still the same. An alliance with ya is a luxury I can't afford… 'specially when yer ambitions run so close to my own."

Kazuma's gaze lingered on her, his expression a mix of lingering bitterness and reluctant respect. "A shame. I thought ya'd have the sense to see reason by now." He looked away, his mouth a thin line. "But I guess that's what I get for expectin' the unexpected from someone like yerself."

Anastasia's expression softened just slightly, but her tone remained firm. "Admire all ya want, Kazuma, but I think we both know where we stand. I'll keep pursuin' my goals, here and in Lugnica, with or without yer blessing."

For a moment, there was only silence between them, a tense stillness thickening the air. Julius, watching the exchange closely, took a subtle step forward, his gaze wary as he noted the bitterness simmering beneath Kazuma's polite veneer. Even the triplets sensed the tension, their usual enthusiasm subdued as they exchanged cautious glances.

Finally, Kazuma let out a soft chuckle, though there was no humor in it. "Well, Lady Anastasia, I won't stand in yer way, if that's what ya're askin'." He gave a slight, almost mocking bow, his dark eyes never leaving hers. "But remember, ambition like yers tends ta make enemies faster than friends. One day, ya might find yerself needing allies… and there are only so many places to turn."

Anastasia's eyes glinted, her voice firm. "I appreciate the advice, Kazuma. But I've made it this far on my own terms. And that's how I plan to keep it."

With one last, lingering look, Kazuma straightened, his face unreadable as he glanced over the group. "Then I suppose I'll be watching. Enjoy yer stay, Lady Hoshin." He nodded curtly, then turned on his heel, his tall frame disappearing into the bustling market crowd, leaving Anastasia and her companions standing in the wake of his cold presence.

As Kazuma vanished from sight, Julius turned to Anastasia, his expression thoughtful and concerned. "He doesn't strike me as a man who takes 'no' for an answer."

Anastasia let out a soft sigh, her gaze lingering on the direction Kazuma had gone. "He doesn't, but that's what makes him dangerous—and why I can't afford ta take his interest lightly. He's the type who'll wait, who'll watch, till he finds a way in." She looked down at Mimi, who was still holding her hand. "And that's why we'll have ta be careful."

The triplets exchanged looks, their usual cheerfulness subdued. Even for them, Kazuma's presence left an unsettling chill in the air—a reminder that Kagaragi was as full of hidden threats as it was of opportunities.

As Kazuma's presence faded into the crowded marketplace, Julius let out a quiet breath, his vigilant stance easing slightly. But then, something seemed to dawn on him. His brows knit together, and he cast a sidelong glance at Anastasia, a hint of surprise flickering across his usually composed face.

"Lady Anastasia," he began slowly, almost cautiously, "did I hear Mimi correctly back there? Are you… engaged to Natsuki Subaru?"

Anastasia raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing at the corner of her mouth as she glanced down at Mimi, who was currently hugging her arm with an innocent grin.

"Oh, Julius, don't be daft!" she said, waving her hand dismissively. "That was just part o' our little antics. Mimi likes ta call me 'mama' and all, so sometimes she spins up these tales about me 'n Subaru. I'm not that close to the boy—at least, not yet."

Julius exhaled, a blend of relief and exasperation settling over him as he pressed a hand to his temple. "I see," he replied, his tone carrying a resigned sigh. "You had me genuinely concerned there for a moment, Lady Anastasia."

She chuckled softly, her smile turning mischievous. "Why, Julius, ya didn't think I'd go marryin' someone without consultin' ya first, did ya? After all, I'd hate ta see ya all flustered like that."

Julius gave her a knowing look, though the corners of his mouth lifted in a reluctant smile. "I would hope you'd inform me of such… significant decisions," he said, his voice light but still tinged with a hint of his earlier worry.

"Oh, don't worry yer noble head 'bout it," Anastasia said, giving him a playful nudge. "We've got bigger things ta focus on than marriage rumors."

With a chuckle, Julius relented, finally relaxing. Anastasia's antics—and her ability to twist even the most innocent comment into playful banter—were just another part of what made her both frustrating and admirable to him. And even if the mention of Subaru had left him momentarily flustered, he couldn't help but feel reassured that, at least for now, Anastasia's focus was still squarely on her ambitions in Lugnica.

Authours Note:

Short chapter?