17 Chapter 17 - Saw It All (1/2)

Joseph got up early that morning, so he could talk to his father. As he approached his carriage, he realized his father was already up.

-Knock…Knock-

”Father?” he called.

”Come in, Joseph,” his father answered.

As he climbed into it, his father gently smiled and asked, ”So, what did you want to discuss?”

”Tonight, is the night, father. I become a mage. I will complete the last needed requirements to cast my first spell. As it is test food, I kind of wanted to do it at dinner. Is that alright?”

”Excellent! Stella had mentioned something, so I have a big meal planned for you to test it out on. My head servant Gen said I have a meeting with Phenic today. He is my most trusted food supplier, and has been for almost a decade now.”

”How did you meet Phenic?” he asked, sitting on a chair. He had a little time before he had to get back to work.

”Well, Phenic has always loved me. His wife was very sick with their first child and I offered to let my healer heal her magically for a very small fee. She and the baby were dying due to complications with the pregnancy. He always goes out of his way to get something special for the cooks to use whenever I come by, so look forward to dinner tonight.”

”Thank you, father! I better get to work, I have a lot to do before dinner.”

Joseph headed back to the carriage, thinking about the last hours he needed to finish his study. Grabbing the door to the carriage, he noticed it felt looser than normal, and when he pulled it open, Stella was bent over, completely naked, trying to dig her outfit out of the chest.

Jumping up, she whirled around with a cute little 'o' on her face, and they made eye contact. Joseph slammed the door shut. He stared at the door for a moment, hearing a flurry of activity inside. He saw everything. The handle had felt looser, because the latch was apparently broken.

He could almost hear both of his past lives calling him a lucky pervert. What was that all about? This wasn't the first time he had wondered about his previous selves. He knew they didn't have significant others, even if he hadn't gotten any specific personal details. The complete lack of memories with a feminine touch spoke volumes.

He saw everything. c.r.a.p. Come on, get it together.

”Stella, I'm going to get breakfast. I'll be right back.”

Had he waited too long to say that? c.r.a.p.

He left quickly, and stopped by the slave, Richard, who was in charge of repairs, to report the latch in his carriage door was broken and he would need to add a lock. Then he grabbed breakfast.

This was the first time he questioned perfect memory. He had never been this conflicted before. Finally getting his mind out of the woozo, as one of his previous lives would have said, he arrived back at the carriage. Hesitating for a moment, he finally knocked.

”Stella? I have breakfast.”