The Goddess Made A Mistake Again

Evening

The carriage drove me to the center of the capital, towards its heart where the true nobility lived.

I looked through the window of my carriage to see mansions and housings that were built through gold and money only the gods should relish.

Oh how much it would have cost them… if the money here were to be invested in this kingdom's economy or if the army… then I would have seen a completely different kingdom today.

Unfortunately, humanity of all caliber, whether rich or poor had too much greed. I couldn't blame them, I myself run on extreme greed.

But this wasn't the time to reminisce in such thoughts. I have a future dead princess to talk too.

"Sir" The driver signaled as the carriage stopped, indicating we have arrived.

Getting out, I see one of the great mansions of this kingdom's long doors closed before me. It was one of the guest mansions the royal family had and used to let important guests from other nation stay in.

Right now, the one who stayed was Sekai Kingdom's current Emperor's youngest daughter, Hanako Sakurai.

"Halt in the name of the glorious Sakurai name!" A Tall Sekai Soldier guarding the gate stopped me, "This is an important place, you can't hang around here."

'Motherfucker… telling me to walk away from my own kingdom's residence.' I laugh quietly at his word and show him a piece of paper, "I have business with the princess."

"Hmm" The soldier took the paper and gave a careful look at it before showing it to the small guard office inside the mansion. They took a moment before a lean and small guy came out to greet me.

"Welcome, Tax-sama. It's an honor to greet you like this." The guy bowed to me as I nodded in return.

"Tax?"

"He's the Tax, they talk about?" The guards spoke in their native language, which was Japanese. Being Japanese myself, I knew what they were saying but take no part in it.

To them, I was a forbidden figure. One admonished by their nation. Which was why they were giving me dubious looks, some even tried to insult me in Japanese, but one look from me shut them up.

"My name is Akura Sinpaki. Please come in." Akura said and I followed him inside.

"I didn't know that your nation hated me this much, Mr. Akura."

"A- Ah! You heard them." Akura said in shock, "You know Japanese?"

"One doesn't need to understand a language to know one's insults." I laugh, "The guards body language was quite telling."

Akura bowed slightly, "I'm sorry, Tax-sama. I will discipline those soldiers heavily."

"No need, that will only intensify the anger. Anyway I came here to change that relationship status between us, I'd rather you not do anything that cause my goals harm."

Akura took my words to heart and smiled, "Of Course, Tax-sama. I would try not to do anything that would trouble you."

Judging by the way, he added Sama to my name. He either really respected me or was just licking out of greed. But the guy seemed genuinely nice.

So it's probably him trying to show me respect because of how notorious I am in his country.

We went up the mansion and he put me in a luxurious room on the second floor.

I sat on a large couch as two maids wearing Sekai custom maid clothes which were red yukata's and accessories like hairpins and other simple things.

Two of such maids put both tea and coffee at the table with some biscuits for me. They were showing me quite the affection as a guest.

"Tax-sama, anything else we can get for you?"

"How about your princess?" I smile as both maids knew that was a joke and laughed.

"Haha… you jest, my lord." They talked to me for a while before I called one of the maids close to me. She's the one I felt who tried to genuinely please me so I whispered in her ears, "Is the princess still wearing her clothes?"

"Ahh… my lord… she…" The maid flustered not knowing what to say as I reassured her.

"Don't worry, I'm just asking. It'll stay between us."

"…If you say so." She decided to trust me and secretly spilled some beans, "Since it was announced that you had arrived, the lady went inside to change."

I nod, "Then I have to be the quite the guest for her to take so long while changing. Feels like she's taking special measures for me."

"That she is, my lord." She said with a distinct blink.

I nod and push a small gold biscuit in her hands. She looked confused at that, "My lord?"

"Take it… for trusting me with that interesting tidbit."

She smiled and backed as the other maid tried to ask her about the little talk. But she kept quiet about it.

"Her Lady, The Youngest Princess, Hanako Sakurai is approaching." The guard at the door announced, telling me to get the fuck up.

Hanako came in dressed quite fine. It wasn't the special show like at the Exam. She wore a light red yukata with unique gold phoenix design and a green jade hairpin to clip her long hair.

There was light makeup on her fair to increase her bright complexion.

If before she looked like the royal highness standing high atop the social order, right now, she seemed a bit down to earth, casually respectable woman of royalty.

I bow to her, "Princess Hanako."

She slightly returned it, "Mr. Tax. It's an honor to see you again."

I smile, "So her highness still remembers me from that event."

She laughed as she covered her mouth with her hand, "How could I not? You shook up the whole place with your talent. To think that someone like you had such strength."

"But again, your ambitions are quite bright, I suppose your strength should also keep up with them." She said, somewhat warning, somewhat excited.

"Please sit."

"After you." I gesture and sat after her.

She was the one who spoke first, "My father said quite a bit about you."

"Nothing good, I think." I awkwardly smile as she nodded.

"Yes, he is still angry about how you changed the economic status of our nations so quickly, Mr. Tax." She said with a sharp look, "Yet, he also can't help but admire your skills."

"You can say my glory brought me my share of problems as well."

"Indeed so." She said and glanced at my arms which were bandaged under the clothes, "I suppose they were the result of today's exam?"

I nod, "A simple price… but they'll heal back quickly."

"Good…" She said in Japanese and went quiet for a second before speaking to her maids, "Please leave us."

"As you say, madam." They said in Japanese, bowed and left. Closing the door in their way.

But in case of them, a guy with the outlook of a disciplined warrior took place. The guy was giving me serious looks of 'I don't like you.'

"Nice to meet you too." I give a wave as he looked away without a word.

"Don't take him to mind." Hanako said, "He's my bodyguard, Genzo."

"Again, nice to meet you."

He broke under the princess's strong gaze, "It's an honor to meet you as well."

With the introduction done, Hanako said, "Let's go straight into business, shall we?"