Casual Heroing, Chapter 248

JOEY IS MAKING WHAT NOW?!?! 🍕🍕🍕

Next chapter comes out on March 11th!

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Chapter 248 – Pizza-Party, Part 1

When [Princess] Laurealia came to the kitchen after talking to her Uncle, she was left in dismay. In front of her lay most of her staff passed out. There were dozens of trays of food on the ground, stomped and mulched, and several utensils smashed, bent, or broken scattered everywhere.

Caelius, the [Captain] of the Royal Guard, stepped in front of the [Princess] and unsheathed his sword with a frown.

"[Princess]," the man said with a dark tone, "someone is trying to embarrass you."

That much was clear to [Princess] Laurealia as well. [Prince] Brutus had accused Joey of being after her, but she hadn't believed him. Why would Joey do something like that? Especially knowing that he wasn't even from this world... but now, Laurealia wondered.

Was he lying? Is he actually from Teiko? And... why humiliate me like this?

As she looked at the mess in the kitchen, she chimed, "Caelius, get the rest of the Royal Guard. Station them here. You, instead, follow me."

"This could really impact your reputation, [Princess]," he warned, his gaze meeting Laurealia's with a mix of respect and concern. "The nobles—"

"I know," she snapped. "I know," she repeated in a softer tone, not wanting to give in to the suspicions that her Uncle had planted.

Caelius, however, pressed on, his duty to protect and advise the [Princess] guiding his words. "Joey Luciani stands to gain much from this. You know what your Uncle has said just now," he reminded her.

As [Princess] Laurealia pondered Caelius's words, the reality of their situation became painfully clear: someone was after her.

...

Half an Hour Before

In one of the many private rooms in the Valerii Estate, a crucial conversation unfolded between [Princess] Laurealia and [Prince] Brutus, her Royal Uncle.

Caelius, the only Royal Guard allowed to overhear the conversation, stood upright, ready to tackle any problems that might arise. Not that he was worried, though – he had stationed the rest of the Royal Guard just outside the door.

"[Princess]," Brutus began, "I think Your Royal Father may have been overly harsh in his judgment when he decided to send you here to work under a Human. It is unbecoming for someone of your station."

"Actually, Uncle," [Princess] Laurealia said, "Joey is a pretty good person, regardless of his race. Getting to know him has changed my perspective... you were right. Not all Humans are as we presume. My previous views were misguided."

The [Prince], taken aback by the sincerity and the depth of change in Laurealia's stance, paused, his expression revealing a mix of surprise and contemplation.

"Are you certain, Laurealia? Can the actions of one truly dispel the hatred fostered by years of conflict and prejudice?" he inquired.

Laurealia nodded. "Absolutely, Uncle. The atrocities in Teiko cannot define an entire race. Meeting our Ancestor and Joey has broadened my horizons. It's childish to cling to this old animosity."

The mention of the Ancestor prompted a shift in the conversation.

"Our Ancestor finally consented to bestow the [Druid] Class he guarded so zealously. For generations, we implored him. But fearing its misuse in war, he never acquiesced. That alone is a great accomplishment of yours, [Princess]," Brutus said.

"It is not my accomplishment," the [Princess] rebuked. "It was Joey, not me."

[Princess] Laurealia sighed, "the Ancestor's reluctance stemmed from a legitimate fear of history repeating itself. Therefore, he chose to entrust this power to two [Bakers] who seek no part in the violence that plagues our world," she remarked, approving [King] Tiberius’s – or Stan’s, the name he went by now – doing.

The conversation took a turn as [Prince] Brutus paused for a second before broaching a topic that visibly unsettled Laurealia. "My dear, you're aware of how I navigate the undercurrents of rumors and information, right? I would like to discuss the Human that your Father had decided to have you work with," he stated.

Caelius, from his vantage point, felt a surge of validation. Finally, someone was addressing the undue trust Laurealia placed in Joey Luciani, highlighting the necessity of a more cautious approach. Being privy to the secrets of the Royal Family, including the true identity of [King] Tiberius, Caelius's loyalty was unshakable, bound by oaths and a deep-seated sense of duty. However, he had more than once thought that [Princess] Laurealia had been too foolish. At first, she had hated all Humans, not using her judgment to understand the delicate politics that would be involved with the diplomacy for when she would ascend to the throne. Now, instead, she had thrown herself alongside the Human and kept doing so with no regard to her station.

[Prince] Brutus took out a truth-stone before revealing what he was about to say, clearly wanting Laurealia to trust that he was not lying to her.

"Take out yours as well, [Princess]. You might not believe what I have to say otherwise," the [Prince] and [Diplomat] said.

Laurealia, slightly apprehensive, complied with her Uncle's request.

[Prince] Brutus, with a somber expression, told her, "I have obtained credible intelligence suggesting that Joey Luciani intends to undermine the catering for tonight's event."

...

The Present

Before Laurealia had any time to voice her questions, Stan, alongside Tiberius and Quintus, made their way through the kitchen's archway, their arms straining under the weight of a hefty chest. The chest touched the floor with a thud that echoed off the stone walls, drawing everyone's attention.

"Is that a chest of holding?" Laurealia asked.

Joey, smiling widely, nodded and opened the chest to reveal its contents.

She saw a few bags of flour, a few barrels of tomato sauce, some soft cheese, and many rolls of dough stacked alongside each other in small buns inside rectangular, wooden boxes. She did some mental calculations and figured that there must have been hundreds of those rolls of dough in there.

"What's that?" She frowned.

Joey turned to her, his expression one of unwavering assurance. "Pizza, Your Highness," he declared with the biggest smile in the world. "The best of my world coming to yours."