Many things turned out differently depending on whether one was caught off guard or knew what was coming.
Just now, for instance, whether Chris knew in advance that the old bastard would be returning from Minisia would change what happened next.
"Mm, thank you for letting me know."
Chris nodded to Alia.
"Do you have any more information?"
Alia gave a slight, courteous bow, her voice calm and firm.
"Your Highness, I am merely an ordinary priest of the Goddess of Agriculture Church. I know nothing more. You would need to ask the High Priest."
Chris laughed at that.
It was not that Alia knew nothing. She was bargaining with him!
Chris narrowed his eyes, tapping his fingers lightly against the tomato trellis beside him.
"Interesting."
He casually picked a tomato and toyed with it in his hand.
"Then how about this..."
"You fucking, goddamned Chris! What the hell are you doing, you animal!
"I spent two fucking months cultivating that tomato! Those are important fucking seeds! You're fucking ruining all my hard work, you absolute beast!!!"
The sudden roar cut Chris off. A player holding a small trowel leaped out from behind the plants, his face red with fury.
Muddy water was still dripping from the trowel in his hand. Clearly, he had been tending the tomatoes with great care.
Chris instinctively glanced at the tomato in his hand, then immediately turned and ran, darting away as swiftly as the wind.
Alia, standing nearby and still waiting for Prince Chris's answer, stared at the scene in utter bewilderment, with no idea what had happened.
By the time she came to her senses, Chris had long since vanished from the greenhouse, leaving only the player hurling abuse at the glass door as it swayed slightly.
That gardener had a truly