Three days later, in the heart of Sedona City, the Research and Development Department buzzed with activity. The sprawling complex, a labyrinth of interconnected buildings and winding pathways, was a testament to Lucas's vision of progress, a place where innovation thrived amidst the rustic simplicity of the region. Today, Annie had brought along Nicole, Freya, Helen, and Ayesha to the department, each of them eager to experience something new. For Nicole, Freya, Helen, and Ayesha, the visit was an opportunity to ride a hot air balloon—a marvel of engineering they had yet to witness firsthand. For Annie, however, the trip held a more serious purpose, though her playful demeanor gave no hint of the responsibilities weighing on her mind.
As the group made their way through the bustling grounds, Annie's voice rang out, brimming with competitive fervor. "Ayesha, tonight we're playing Turtle Flip again, and this time, I swear I'll flip five turtles on your face!" She declared, her fox ears twitching with determination as she strode forward, her steps light and purposeful.
Ever since Lucas had introduced the beast-eared girls to the card game "Turtle Flip," their evenings had been filled with raucous laughter and friendly rivalry. The rules were simple: the player who flip the turtle card had to have a turtle drawn on their face as a penalty. For the past few nights, the beast-eared girls had gathered in the castle's common room, their voices echoing through the halls as they played round after round, the stakes growing ever more absurd. Annie, with her sharp wit and cunning, had assumed she would dominate the game, but to her dismay, she had repeatedly lost to Ayesha, the straightforward and seemingly guileless cow-horned girl. The memory of her defeats gnawed at her pride, fueling her resolve to turn the tables.
How can this be? Annie thought, her brow furrowing in frustration. I'm supposed to be the clever one, the strategist. How does Ayesha keep beating me? She couldn't help but wonder if the cow-horned girl was secretly blessed by some goddess of luck, for it seemed that in any game involving chance, Ayesha emerged victorious with infuriating consistency.
Ayesha, walking beside her, flashed a mischievous grin, her purple eyes glinting with amusement. "Oh, Annie, that's simply impossible. You'll never manage it—never in a million years," She teased, her tone dripping with mock pity. "The most you've ever drawn on my face was three turtles, and even that was a fluke."
"You…!" Annie's eyes narrowed, her lips pursing into a pout as she huffed indignantly. "Just you wait, Ayesha. Next time, I'll definitely draw five turtles on your smug face. You'll see!"
Ayesha tilted her head back, her cow horns catching the sunlight as she adopted an air of haughty confidence. "Oh, please. If you manage to draw five on me, I'll have drawn fifteen on you," She retorted, her voice laced with playful arrogance. "When it comes to Turtle Flip, I'm unbeatable. Even the Young Master couldn't escape my wrath—I drew three turtles on his face, remember?"
"Fifteen? Ha! That's absurd!" Annie shot back, tossing her long brown hair over her shoulder with a dismissive flick. "The most you've ever drawn on me is seven, and that was pure luck. Don't think you'll always be this fortunate, Ayesha. Your winning streak is bound to end!"
Ayesha raised an eyebrow, leaning in close to Annie's face, her grin widening. "Is that so? How about we up the stakes, then? Let's play a version where the loser gets three turtles drawn on their face per round. What do you say, huh?"
"N-No way! Absolutely not!" Annie stammered, her cheeks flushing as she pushed Ayesha's face away with her small hands. "And don't get so close to me, you big oaf!"
Nicole and Helen, walking a few steps behind, exchanged amused glances, their lips curling into fond smiles as they watched the fox-eared and cow-horned girls bicker. Annie's presence always brought a spark of energy to any gathering, her fiery spirit and quick wit ensuring that the atmosphere remained lively and full of laughter. Freya, however, opened her mouth as if to intervene, her eyes filled with concern. She wanted to warn Annie against challenging Ayesha, knowing full well that the cow-horned girl was a veritable titan in the realm of Turtle Flip. Annie, you're just going to lose even more if you keep this up, she thought, but before she could voice her advice, the conversation shifted.
"Nicole, do you know what a hot air balloon looks like?" Helen asked, her rabbit ears perking up with curiosity as she turned to the older girl. She had asked Annie and Mina about it before, but their vague descriptions—something about a giant cloth ball suspending a basket, powered by burning charcoal—had only deepened her confusion.
Nicole shook her head, a rueful smile playing on her lips. "I'm afraid I don't know much either. The Young Master is very tight-lipped about his inventions, and I couldn't get any details out of him," She admitted, her tone tinged with mild frustration. Lucas's secrecy, while understandable given the sensitive nature of his projects, often left his closest aides in the dark, forcing them to piece together information from scraps and hints.
"Are you going to ride the hot air balloon after you finish your work, Nicole?" Helen asked, her voice soft and inquisitive. The group's visit to the Research and Development Department had been a happy coincidence—Nicole and Annie had official business to attend to, and the others had tagged along, eager to explore the wonders of the department.
Nicole paused, brushing a strand of flaxen hair behind her ear as she considered her schedule. "Actually, I need to visit the Food Workshop to check on the progress of the instant noodle research. You, Ayesha, and Freya can go ahead and ride the hot air balloon first," She said, her voice warm and accommodating.
"Instant noodles?" Ayesha's ears perked up at the mention of her favorite food, her purple eyes lighting up with excitement. Abandoning her playful argument with Annie, she hurried to Nicole's side, her cow horns bobbing as she leaned in eagerly. "Nicole, Nicole! Can I come with you to see how they make instant noodles? Please?"
Nicole blinked, momentarily taken aback by Ayesha's enthusiasm, but her expression softened into a gentle smile. "Of course, Ayesha. If you're interested, you're welcome to join me," She said, her tone indulgent.
"I'll come too," Helen added, her voice soft but curious. "I've eaten instant noodles at the castle before, but I have no idea how they're made. It sounds fascinating."
Nicole nodded, her smile widening. "Very well, then. Let's all go together. There's no rush to ride the hot air balloon—we can do that later."
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The group soon arrived at a crossroads within the Research and Development Department, where the paths diverged in multiple directions, forming a complex network of routes that connected the various research institutes. The department was designed to keep each institute isolated from the others, ensuring that sensitive projects remained confidential, but this also made navigation a challenge for newcomers.
Standing at the intersection, Annie turned to Nicole and the others, her fox tail swishing behind her as she spoke. "Alright, this is where we part ways. Freya and I are heading to the Agricultural Workshop," She said, her tone brisk and businesslike.
"Got it," Nicole replied, nodding in acknowledgment. She gestured to Ayesha and Helen, leading them down a path to the right, toward the Food Workshop, which lay in the opposite direction of the Agricultural Workshop.
"Come on, Freya. Let's go," Annie said, beckoning to the wolf-eared girl as she set off down the left path, her steps purposeful and determined.
Annie's task today was to oversee the progress of the farm tool production at the Agricultural Workshop. With spring fast approaching, the need for reliable farming implements was becoming increasingly urgent, especially for the reclamation of new farmland. Lucas had entrusted her with this responsibility, as he was occupied with inspecting the elf sniper squad, a specialized unit he had been training for strategic operations. Annie's role was not only to monitor the production but also to evaluate a new piece of equipment—a revolutionary sowing tool that promised to speed up planting significantly. Lucas wanted her to assess its performance and determine whether it was ready for mass production, a decision that could have far-reaching implications for Sedona City's agricultural output.
As Annie and Freya walked along the cobblestone path, the wolf-eared girl's expression grew pensive, her eyes flickering with a hint of nervousness. After a moment of hesitation, she spoke, her voice soft but tinged with concern. "Princess, do you really plan to stay in Sedona City forever?"
Annie froze mid-step, her fox ears twitching in surprise as she turned to face Freya, her brown eyes wide with confusion. "Huh? Why are you asking me that all of a sudden?" She asked, her tone genuinely puzzled.
Freya bit her lip, her gaze dropping to the ground as she struggled to find the right words. "It's just… I've noticed something lately, and it's been on my mind," She said, her voice barely above a whisper. She had been observing Annie closely in recent times, and the signs were unmistakable—her princess, the proud and independent fox-eared girl, seemed to have developed a deep attachment to Lucas, the lord of Sedona City.
Annie yawned, stretching her arms above her head as she tried to shake off the fatigue from her late-night gaming sessions. "Come on, Freya, don't be so cryptic. Just spit it out already," She said, her tone light but insistent.
Freya took a deep breath, steeling herself before meeting Annie's gaze head-on. "Princess, have you… have you fallen in love with Lord Lucas?" She asked, her voice steady despite the flush creeping up her cheeks.
"Wha—?!" Annie stumbled, her foot catching on an uneven cobblestone as she nearly fell flat on her face. Her cheeks flushed a bright shade of red, and she whirled around to glare at Freya, her fox tail puffing up in embarrassment. "Freya, what the hell are you asking me something like that for?!" She sputtered, her voice a mix of indignation and flustered panic.
Freya, undeterred by Annie's reaction, nodded solemnly, her eyes gleaming with certainty. "I knew it. Princess, it's obvious—you really have fallen for Lord Lucas," She said, her tone matter-of-fact, as if she had just solved a particularly complex puzzle.
"Stop it!" Annie exclaimed, her hands shooting out to grab Freya by the armor, her brown eyes blazing as she stared the wolf-eared girl down. "Freya, what are you up to? This isn't like you at all!" She demanded, her voice sharp with suspicion. Freya was usually reserved and professional, not one to indulge in gossip or meddle in personal matters. This sudden interest in Annie's love life was completely out of character, and it set off alarm bells in Annie's mind.
Freya's expression grew serious, her eyes locking onto Annie's with unwavering determination. "I'm going to speak with Lord Lucas," She declared, her voice firm and resolute. "I'll ask him when he plans to marry you and make you his official wife."
Annie's jaw dropped, her fox ears flattening against her head as her tail bristled in shock. For a moment, she was too stunned to respond, her mind reeling from the absurdity of Freya's words. Freya, however, pressed on, her tone earnest and unwavering. "Princess, it's clear you have no intention of leaving Sedona City, which means it's time to consider your future. And in this city, the only man worthy of you is Lord Lucas. But I've noticed that there are others in the castle who seem to have feelings for him as well. That simply won't do. As a princess, you deserve to be his primary wife, so we must act quickly to secure your position."
"Stop, stop, stop!" Annie cried, her voice rising in pitch as she waved her hands frantically, her fox tail swishing wildly behind her. "Freya, what kind of nonsense are you spouting? Do I look like someone who can't find a husband on her own?!"
Freya blinked, her serious demeanor giving way to a look of innocent confusion. "Oh? Does that mean you already have someone else in mind, Princess?" She asked, tilting her head to the side, her wolf ears twitching as she stared at Annie with wide, guileless eyes.
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