Chapter 51 - Uncle Kaban
"Y-Yes."
Aleshia nodded her head shyly. For some reason, she thought that he was gonna 'do' it already.
"Let's rest for a bit before we go out later."
Lawrend told her before he laid on the bed. He was also enjoying the softness of this bed after sleeping on that carriage seat for a long period of time.
"Yes, Young Master."
Aleshia nodded her head before she lay on her side, facing away from him. She was still confused about what just happened. She looked at the wall of the room in a daze.
Lawrend took a nap and it was already late afternoon when he opened his eyes.
"Let's go, Aleshia."
Lawrend called out to her. She was still sleeping on the bed.
"Okay, Young Master."
Aleshia raised her body from the bed before following him outside. Her eyes were still groggy from sleep. That soft bed only made her want to sleep more.
Lawrend and Aleshia left the inn before they strolled through the streets of the city. The sky was already darkening and the restaurants and stalls on the street were already lighting up their lanterns.
"Do you know where the Merchant Guild is? We need to ask them if the shipment has already arrived or not."
Lawrend asked Aleshia as he walked in front of her. He was looking left and right, trying to find where the Merchant Guild was.
"I remember it was on the other side of the city, at the Port District."
Aleshia replied to him. Similar to Lanika City, Sheron Port City is also divided into different districts. The Port District occupies about two-thirds of the total land area of the city. It was located south and the port is located inside it.
There were many warehouses in that part of the district. Most of which were used to store goods. This district that they were in right now is called the Trade and Residential District. This is where everyone lives and it was similar to the Merchant District at Lanika City.
Lawrend and Aleshia decided to ride a carriage midway. It would take them too long if they just walked to the Port District.
A few minutes later, they were already in front of the Merchant Guild. There was a huge placard of a gold coin at the entrance.
The place was brightly lit by many lanterns. Lawrend and Aleshia entered the establishment and they were greeted by the silence inside. Compared to the world outside, this place was silent enough for you to hear a pin drop.
There was a white-bearded man at the receptionist desk. He glanced at Lawrend, taken aback. Lawrend and Aleshia walked towards him after seeing that he was the only receptionist available right now.
"Is that you, Lawrend?"
The bearded man asked in surprise. He was looking at Lawrend as if he was very familiar with him.
"Uh, who are you?"
Lawrend was taken aback that someone recognized him.
"My name is Kaban. I can't mistake that red hair of yours. It's really similar to your father's."
Kaban smiled as he replied to Lawrend. There was a reminiscing look on his face.
"You know my father?"
Lawrend was genuinely surprised. His father really was the wealthiest merchant noble in Lanika City. He even had connections here.
"Yes. Your father and I are actually really close. We have made trade deals many times in the past."
Kaban answered. He looked upward into the ceiling and remembered the good old days that he spent with Lawrend's father.
"That's amazing, so can I call you Uncle Kaban?"
Lawrend asked Kaban with excited eyes. This was his first time meeting someone outside the city that recognized his father and he couldn't help but be excited.
"Hahaha! That's better."
Uncle Kaban laughed uproariously. Having Lawrend initiate himself to call him his Uncle really made him feel satisfied.
"So Uncle Kaban, is the shipment from the other continent here?"
Lawrend asked upfront. There are only so few shipments coming from another continent so it is easy to distinguish between them.
"Oh, were you sent here by your father to buy from that shipment?"
Uncle Kaban asked in curiosity. That shipment was something that only the biggest of merchants from the region should know about. If Lawrend knew then that information could only come from his father.
"...Yes."
Lawrend didn't know if it would be bad if he said that he was not sent here by his father so he could only lie with a straight face.
"I understand. The shipment will be arriving tomorrow morning. It will dock at port 14."
Uncle Kaban nodded his head in understanding before explaining to him.
"Thank you, Uncle Kaban."
Lawrend thanked him with a smile on his face.
"Wait, is she your maid?"
Uncle Kaban couldn't help but ask after seeing Aleshia standing behind Lawrend.
"Yes, why?"
Lawrend asked back in puzzlement.
"Did you get your father's permission?"
There was a smile slowly blooming on Uncle Kaban's face as he asked Lawrend.
"N-No…"
This time, Lawrend couldn't lie to him. If he was really close to his father, then he should be aware that he doesn't like to have maids.
"Haha! I knew it. Don't worry. I won't tell your father. Though I'd have to say, you really are his son."
Uncle Kaban laughed out loud. There was a teasing smile on his face as he looked at Lawrend.
"Thank you. Do you know why my father doesn't want to get maids?"
Lawrend asked with a face full of curiosity. It was something that had been bothering him all his life. His father only hired butlers but never maids. He went even as far as preventing Lawrend from getting his own.
"I don't want you to know it from me. You better ask your old man. It was his fault after all."
Uncle Kaban shook his head with a smile. He clearly knew something that Lawrend didn't, and for some reason, it was funny for him. Lawrend furrowed his eyebrows. There seems to be more to it as to why his father didn't want any maids.