Pea was a very lively little girl.
What was more, she possessed the ability to chatter on and on while drinking and eating—a skill she probably owed to that strange Magical Device called Neural Thorns.
The banquet was still underway, but Asalina had little interest in Sir Golosh's "diplomatic progress." Thanks to the eloquence and easy charm she had developed during her travels years ago, she had become friends with the little girl called Pea in no time. They had tucked themselves away in an inconspicuous corner, sampling Cecil specialties, while Pea—her mouth stuffed full—never stopped talking for a moment.
"...My dad is usually super busy. Last winter, he finally got a long vacation, but he spent half of every day wandering around outside, either looking for someone to drink with or going to watch ball games. I told him off so many times, but he never listened. You know ball games, right? His Majesty invented them! I'm not interested, but all the boys love them... Mom? Dad adopted me. I can't even remember what my birth mother looked like anymore...
"His current one? There isn't one. Dad has never gotten married, but he always says he had lots of women he was close to when he was young... I think he's bragging, because I've never met a single one... Huh? You don't think so? Why?"
Pea was talking animatedly when a trace of confusion suddenly appeared on her face. "Oh, right, big sister, why are you so interested in my dad?"
Asalina finally found an opening to speak. She smiled. "I know your father, little girl."
Pea's mouth was full of cake, her eyes went wide, and a strange gurgling sound came from her speech device.
"I met him twenty years ago, when he was still a mercenary captain,"