Cairo, Giza Port.
White coarse canvas printed with PORT OF GIZA AUTHORITY pulled up the two sides of the gangway.
Giza Port was bustling in the early morning. Mori Tsukisa stood at the crowded intersection holding Bastet, a dim yellow haze before her eyes.
Large black caravan wheels turned, blowing up dust; gentlemen in brown fisherman hats and ladies in black robes revealing only their eyes crossed paths; gold-red cloth covered the stalls, and small trucks transporting jars and gravel beeped through the crowd.
Sand and grit filled the air.
"I'm already a bit annoyed, and we haven't even reached the desert yet."
Near the edge of the port, Evelyn and Jonathan were waving at the girl while carrying brownish-red suitcases.
"Hey! Little Forest! Over here!"
"You look beautiful today!"
Jonathan was still in a white suit, though much more casual than before—he had even changed to a new belt for the occasion. It was clear the man's 'great' career hadn't stopped over the last two days.
"When did you buy a maid?"
The four of them stood in the shadow of a corner, avoiding the Sun while waiting for the fashionably late prisoner. Of course, Jonathan's eyes were fixed on Nagini.
Nagini was wearing a local specialty Mori Tsukisa had bought for her: a pale green long dress.
Being a 'local specialty', this dress, which didn't look very distinctive, wasn't expensive... and not many people bought it.
The tight-fitting upper part highlighted the woman's good figure, while the sleeves were loose; after tapering at the waist, it flowed smoothly over the lower body, creating beautiful lines of a slender waist and full hips.
Around the woman's neck hung a small silver-threaded necklace with a vertical purple gemstone pendant (a gift from Miss Sen); the longish gem flickered beneath her collarbone, and her long black hair was braided into a single scorpion braid reaching her waist.
Looking at Jonathan's wolf-like gaze, one could tell the level of Nagini's outfit.
The reason the man thought Nagini was Mori Tsukisa's maid was that the snake lady insisted on not letting Mori Tsukisa carry a single piece of luggage.
Even though she knew the other girl could probably pick her up.
'Let me take it. The Sun is nice today; don't you want to buy some other snacks for the boat?' The woman didn't mention being a maid at all, but after snatching the work, she left Mori Tsukisa with no room for rebuttal; meanwhile, she was clearly doing a maid's work.
From arranging clothes and organizing bags to preparing snacks for Mori Tsukisa, brushing her hair, putting on her earrings and gems, and packing her rubies, sapphires, amethysts, opals, small diamonds, citrines, and so on... once the bags were packed, she rushed into the kitchen to prepare today's snacks: two pale gold pears, a small bag of golden tangerines, a few nut pies from this morning, and three pink little peaches.
After everything was done and she had finished her own grooming, she had Mori Tsukisa sit on the bed and knelt before the girl... holding her feet—
To put on her shoes.
This caused Arrietty to cast numerous teasing and meaningful looks at Mori Tsukisa.
In short, after serving her in every way, Nagini picked up the three large bags and followed Mori Tsukisa out the door.
Now she stood respectfully in Mori Tsukisa's shadow, two or three steps behind, head bowed and silent while holding the suitcases—looking exactly like a purchased maid.
"Her?" Mori Tsukisa munched on a pale yellow pear, its juice overflowing. "Her name is Nagini, she's..."
The girl thought for a moment. "She's my..."
"Yes, sir." Nagini suddenly interjected. "I am Miss Tsukisa's maid."
She looked up shyly at Evelyn and Jonathan, then quickly lowered her head, staring at the pale backs of her hands and the brass buckles on the suitcases.
Mori Tsukisa shrugged. "Alright, she's my maid now."
"What do you mean 'now'?" Jonathan nudged Mori Tsukisa's shoulder, and the two moved away from the corner to whisper. "She's beautiful! Where did you buy her?"
Mori Tsukisa rolled her eyes at him. "Don't you dislike women?"
"Indeed—wait, what?" Jonathan was stunned. "When did I ever say I didn't like women?!"
"Just a couple of days ago, you mentioned a little Boy...?"
"I never mentioned a little Boy! Mori Tsukisa, I like women." Jonathan stamped his foot, dodging a passing local worker and spitting. "Don't keep adding those weird hobbies to me."
"What hobbies?"
A full, heavy male voice suddenly appeared by their ears.
The two looked up—facing the light, in beige woolen clothes and trousers with brown leather shoulder straps for his bag, the prisoner who had been disheveled a few days ago had cut his hair short... he looked exceptionally spirited today.
"Oh..."
Seeing this, Evelyn ran over from the corner, with Nagini following behind with the suitcases.
"Oh... you..."
The young woman stared at the newly arrived man, unconsciously tidying her already beautiful makeup and curls.
"Oh... hello."
"Your sister is a goner." Mori Tsukisa whispered into Jonathan's ear. "But he is quite handsome."
Jonathan didn't care. "Better than a mummy, at least."
"Evelyn."
"OConnell."
The two introduced themselves again, Evelyn's eyes never leaving OConnell's face.
"A good day for an adventure, right? OConnell." Jonathan shook hands with OConnell familiarly and patted his chest.
"Yeah, a great day!"
Mori Tsukisa stood to the side, looking around.
"This little..."
"Little Forest, Mr. OConnell." Evelyn grabbed Mori Tsukisa's arm. "Mori Tsukisa, my little princess."
After introducing her word by word, Evelyn finally had time to ask her urgent question.
"Speaking of which... sorry, but can you promise me that you weren't just bragging when you were in prison?" Evelyn raised an eyebrow, making a threat that didn't sound like one. "Otherwise, I'm warning you..."
"You're warning me?" A smile flashed in OConnell's deep blue eyes. "Miss, do you want to hook me back onto the gallows?"
Turning his head, the man looked at Jonathan and Mori Tsukisa, the two who really needed OConnell's reminder—the man looked unreliable, and the little one looked like a restless girl keen on adventure.
"Let me tell you... my men only crossed Libya to Egypt to find that city because they believed it was real."
"When we arrived, all we found..."
"Was blood and sand."
OConnell's words brought a sudden hush to the noise.
"Let me help you with those."
After speaking, he very gentlemanly picked up Evelyn's luggage for her and was the first to board the ship.
"Oh... he's a bit angry, that man." Jonathan approached his sister, smiling half-teasingly. "Vulgar, crude, a rogue... he's not very... likable, is he?"
Like hell he isn't.
Evelyn glared at her own brother, then pulled Mori Tsukisa along as they ran onto the ship with a series of quick footsteps.
Behind the two women, Nagini followed easily while carrying three large pieces of luggage, leaving only Jonathan behind to chuckle to himself.
"I'm going to have a brother-in-law."
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