A few hours after enjoying a modest dinner under the chilly night sky, our journey continued. I couldn't shake off the worry that bandits might ambush our carriages, a common occurrence for lone travelers. Having experienced such an attack before, my concern was understandable. However, even if we were attacked, I was confident that Brunhilda could handle the situation effortlessly. But I preferred to keep her abilities hidden for the time being.
The next morning, I awoke feeling refreshed and well-rested. I had been sleeping on a comfortable cushion, only to realize that I was actually resting my head on Brunhilda's lap! She was gazing absentmindedly out of the window, and I quickly sat up, feeling a bit embarrassed. Fortunately, the two people in front of us didn't seem to notice or comment on the situation.
I reached for the bottle of water I had purchased earlier and took several sips. It was, without a doubt, the most delicious water I had ever tasted. The gold coins spent on it were worth every penny. While a gold coin for a bottle of water might seem extravagant to common folk, it was not unusual for nobles. And at that price, the quality of the water from the Midas Shop was unparalleled. It even felt like it had healing properties.
"You woke up at an excellent time, sir. We have arrived," the woman smiled at me.
Looking out of the window, I was slightly taken aback by the sight before me. Even though we were still miles away, the giant capital of Leonis was already visible. The road was bustling with people and carriages, all heading in the same direction or leaving the capital. Due to the sheer number of travelers, we found ourselves stuck in a line. The guards at the gates were meticulously verifying each person and carriage, which could be quite time-consuming.
I couldn't help but think that Brunhilda would attract too much attention in such a crowded place.
As I pondered my next move, an idea crossed my mind: couldn't we simply leap over the walls? The thought was tempting, but reality quickly dampened my enthusiasm. It appeared that a formidable barrier and a protective dome encircled the capital of Leonis, designed to prevent unauthorized entry. The only viable points of entry were the heavily guarded gates.
The level of security was impressive, but understandable. After all, this was not just the capital of an entire kingdom but also the residence of the royal family. Such measures were necessary to ensure their safety and the security of the city.
Then, a thought struck me—I should check the Midas Shop, just in case. As I contemplated this, the familiar screen materialized before me. I began scrolling through the gold coins section, but finding what I needed proved challenging. It wasn't due to a lack of options, but rather because many items were unavailable. My Midas Shop was only at level 1, limiting my access to more advanced items.
Undeterred, I shifted my focus to the Platinum Coins section. Thankfully, I could navigate through the items using my thoughts alone. This was a relief, as making strange finger movements in front of the woman and her bodyguard would have been suspicious and might have provoked an unwanted reaction.
After some searching, I found exactly what I needed—an item that was not just good, but exceptional.
Mask of the Thousand Faces [1 000 Platinum Coins]
This mask was capable of altering one's features, making it perfect for my current situation. However, I realized I had purchased it a bit late. Summoning a mask out of nowhere in front of the woman and her bodyguard, then asking Brunhilda to change her appearance, would have been too conspicuous. Both of them would have noticed the sudden transformation.
Despite this, I decided to buy not one, but two masks. It was better to be prepared.
Now, I faced a new dilemma: what should I do next? One option was to leave the carriage, go to the end of the long line, put on the masks, and patiently wait with Brunhilda to enter the city without any issues. However, this approach seemed extremely annoying and tiring.
Sigh…
I couldn't believe that the sheer beauty of Brunhilda had set my thoughts into a whirlwind, a storm of caution and concern. It wasn't just her striking appearance, but the potential consequences that came with it. I knew I had to tread carefully, for the allure of Brunhilda was not something to be taken lightly.
The last thing I wanted was to draw unwanted attention. The mere thought of being followed, of having prying eyes on us the moment we stepped out was extremely irritating. The bustling crowd around us only amplified my anxiety. In a less crowded setting, perhaps I wouldn't have been as wary, but the sea of people made it impossible to ignore the risks.
With a resigned sigh, I reached into my pocket and retrieved an emblem—a symbol of a past I had tried to leave behind. The Emblem of the Starfrost House gleamed faintly in the dim light. It was a relic of a time when I was part of a noble lineage, a time before I was cast out. My younger sister, one of the few who had shown me kindness in that cold, unfeeling house, had given it to me. I had hesitated to take it, but now, I found myself clutching it tightly.
"I don't want to use it," I muttered under my breath, "but screw it."
Turning to the couple who had shared the carriage with us, I offered a polite smile. "It has been a good time," I said. With that, I descended from the carriage, leaving them behind.
The woman's eyes widened in surprise. "Eh? You are leaving here?" She asked, her voice tinged with disbelief.
I knew it must have seemed foolish from her perspective to leave here, but I simply nodded in response. Reaching out my hand, I helped Brunhilda descend from the carriage. Without another word, we walked past the line of carriages.
As we moved further, I noticed another line, one that was more secure and significantly shorter. The carriages in this line were grand and beautiful, clearly belonging to the high aristocracy. Only they were permitted to use this line. With a deep breath, I steered Brunhilda towards it, hoping that the emblem would grant us passage.
It was an odd sight, the two of us standing in line without a carriage, but I pushed aside the discomfort. As we waited, I turned to Brunhilda, a playful smile on my lips. "Do you think you can destroy that barrier around Leonis if you want, Brunhilda?" I asked her.
Brunhilda raised her gaze, her eyes fixed on the barrier. "Yes," she replied.
Her words sent a shockwave through me, but deep down, I had expected nothing less. If she could pierce the defenses of a royal city alone, then what else was she was capable of?
"Do you wish me to break the barrier, Soren?" Brunhilda asked, her hand resting on the hilt of her sword, Luminous Oath.
"No, it's fine," I quickly replied, stopping her.
Breaking a city barrier just to enter seemed a bit exaggerated, especially when our goal was to go incognito. After a few more minutes, our turn finally came.
"Who are you?" The guards checking the line asked, their faces immediately contorting into frowns of suspicion as they took in my cloak.
I signaled Brunhilda to stay behind me and lowered my hood. Fortunately, or perhaps unfortunately, I had a very noble-like appearance, thanks to my father. I might as well use that to my advantage. I showed them my emblem. "Son of the Duke Starfrost," I declared.
"Duke Starfrost? Who is that?" They laughed, their voices dripping with mockery.
This was exactly what I had feared. I was from another kingdom, on another continent. It was difficult for them to understand my standing.
"I am a high-ranking noble from the Kingdom of Veridia. Let me through," I said coldly.
At my words, their laughter died down. They exchanged glances before taking my emblem to examine it more closely. It was an extremely precious and exquisitely crafted emblem, impossible to create without significant money and influence to back it up.
"What about that woman?" They asked, turning their eyes toward Brunhilda.
"She is with me," I replied.
"Why is she hiding her face?" The guard asked, suspicious.
"She is with me, I said," I repeated.
"It doesn't matter. She can be dangerous," the guard insisted, starting to walk toward her.
"They are with us," a voice suddenly interrupted.
I turned to see the woman from before, accompanied by her guard. What were they doing here?
The woman approached the guard and showed him something she had taken out of her pocket. I couldn't see it clearly, but her appearance seemed to change for a brief moment.
When the guard saw whatever it was, his eyes widened in shock. "Lady Laveira!" He exclaimed.
"I don't want to attract attention, so please let us through," she requested with a smile.
"Yes! Right away!" The guard nodded immediately, stepping aside to let all of us enter the city of Leonis.