Chapter 116: ¹¹⁶The Beautiful City
The violent jolts that had tortured Kaelia’s spine for days suddenly vanished. The wooden wheels of the old Valen carriage now spun flawlessly, as if gliding over a sheet of ice.
They had passed through the black steel-plated gates, leaving the border behind, and officially entered the heart of the Astrea Kingdom.
From the driver’s seat, Valera Voss pulled the leather reins. She slowed the pace of her two black horses to match the city’s traffic.
Her golden eyes swept over the surroundings. Yet, instead of awe, the hairs on the back of the female knight’s neck stood on end.
Astrea... was far too perfect.
The Capital’s main street was wide enough for five horse-drawn carriages to ride side-by-side. The surface was paved with polished, gleaming grayish-white marble blocks.
There was no horse dung. No lingering puddles of rainwater. The underground drainage system, crafted by Earth Mages, operated with absolute precision.
On the left and right sides of the street, white stone buildings towered majestically at three to four stories high. Pillars carved with leaf vines supported marble balconies, seamlessly blending with uniform dark blue tiled roofs.
Massive blue and gold banners—bearing the crest of a crown and two crossed swords—fluttered gracefully in the spring breeze.
"Tch..." Valera clicked her tongue softly.
Her hands, wrapped in black bandages, gripped the reins even tighter.
For someone who grew up on the harsh streets of the Stadtier Undercity, this absolute cleanliness felt suffocating. This wasn’t natural peace; it was the result of incredibly ruthless control.
Anything deemed ’dirty’ had been purged and hidden far out of sight. Valera’s feral instincts whispered that she was walking right onto a giant spiderweb.
Inside the carriage cabin, Kaelia slightly parted the dusty velvet curtains. Her eyes stared at the rows of white buildings and royal banners with a complex gaze.
"It’s beautiful, isn’t it?" Kaelia murmured cynically.
Her left hand anxiously rubbed the hem of her dark red tunic. "This is the pride of the Valois Crown. The City of Light. A place where poverty and starvation are considered mere myths."
Kaelia let go of the curtain, letting it fall shut. She leaned her back against the wooden carriage wall and let out a long sigh.
"Back when I was little, I thought everyone in Astrea was a hero," Kaelia continued, her tone bitter.
Ethan’s punishment and domination a few days ago had shattered a massive chunk of her arrogant walls. Now, she spoke without a filter of pride.
"But now I know... the white marble out there is washed clean every morning solely to scrub away the blood spilled during the night."
Across from Kaelia, Ethan Valen sat leaning back with absolute calmness. His deep, dark brown eyes recorded every building detail, alley corner, and potential escape route they might need later.
"A pristine city means its master cares deeply about appearances," Ethan stated calmly. "And people who care too much about appearances usually hide massive rot inside their closets."
Kaelia swallowed hard, staring intently at Ethan.
This man’s composure always gave her chills while simultaneously making her feel safe. Ethan had just arrived at the enemy’s seat of power, yet he acted like he was taking a casual stroll through his own backyard.
"We’ll find an inn first," Ethan ordered flatly, raising his voice just enough to reach the driver’s seat. "Find a decent place, but keep it far from the Palace."
"As you command, My Lord," Valera replied from outside.
The old carriage turned, rolling down the streets of an elite merchant district that was relatively quiet, though it still radiated an aura of luxury.
Half an hour later, Valera halted the horses in front of a three-story building made of bright cream stone and black oak. A wrought-iron signpost depicting a gold-plated dove hung proudly above the door.
The Gilded Dove.
A young attendant in a neat vest hurried out to tend to the horses. Valera stared at the boy with her sharp golden eyes, ensuring there were no hidden weapons, before reluctantly tossing him the reins.
Clack.
The carriage door opened. Ethan’s black leather boots stepped onto the Capital’s marble streets.
He straightened his dark coat, letting the cool afternoon breeze brush against his face. Kaelia followed him down, raising her chin once again and slipping her aristocratic mask of arrogance back on.
"We’re going in," Ethan said concisely.
Pushing open the black wooden doors of The Gilded Dove, the aromas of herbal tea, burning pine wood, and fresh wheat bread instantly greeted their senses.
The inn’s interior felt warm and lavish. A thick red carpet lined the floor, while crystal chandeliers cast a yellowish glow from the ceiling.
The innkeeper, a middle-aged man with a neatly waxed mustache, welcomed them at the front desk.
"Welcome to The Gilded Dove, Sir and Madam," he greeted warmly, his eyes swiftly assessing the high-quality fabric of Ethan and Kaelia’s clothes.
"One master suite connected to a guard’s room. On the top floor," Ethan cut in, leaving no room for argument.
He slammed a solid gold coin bearing the Royal crest onto the wooden counter.
The innkeeper’s eyes widened. He hastily snatched up the coin and bowed deeply. "Of course, Sir! Our best suite, the White Rose, is on the third floor. The quietest corner with a direct view of the main street."
Another attendant guided them up the plush, carpeted wooden stairs.
The moment the room door opened, relief washed over Kaelia’s face. The suite was incredibly spacious. A small sitting area with a velvet sofa separated the two connected bedrooms. Large arched windows offered a panoramic view of the Astrean streets, which were just beginning to be illuminated by lanterns.
Valera, however, couldn’t care less about the luxury.
The moment the door clicked shut, the exotic knight immediately sprang into action. She checked under the sofa, threw open the wardrobe doors, inspected the window hinges, and scoured every corner for potential eavesdropping runes or scrying magic.
After five minutes of discreetly ransacking the room, Valera stood tall and nodded at Ethan.
"This room is clean, My Lord. No spies or active magic," Valera reported quietly.
"Hah... finally... civilization," Kaelia muttered in relief, collapsing onto the velvet sofa near the window.
Ethan didn’t respond to her dramatic sigh. He took off his dark coat, draped it over a chair, and strolled casually toward the large window.
"Rest," Ethan ordered softly, watching the flow of people in the streets below. "You have until tomorrow morning to recover your stamina. After that, we won’t have much time."
Valera tapped her left chest in a salute, then retreated to the inner room to maintain her weapons. Kaelia, sprawling on the sofa, merely mumbled in agreement, her eyes already half-closed.
Afternoon crawled into dusk. The sky above Astrea shifted into hues of purplish-orange. The brass lanterns on the streets began to flicker on in unison.
Sensing someone’s presence on the ground floor, Ethan turned away from the window. He glanced at Kaelia, who was already sound asleep, then walked toward the door.
"Stay here and guard her, Valera," Ethan called out to the open room.
Valera instantly appeared in the doorway, her eyes flashing with vigilance. "Where are you going, My Lord?"
"Just down to the tavern room," Ethan replied casually. "There’s a guest who seems to have grown tired of waiting for me."
Without offering any further explanation, Ethan stepped out.
The tavern on the ground floor was deserted. The only sounds were the crackle of firewood from the large stone hearth and the delicate clink of a porcelain cup.
Ethan descended the stairs with composed steps. His eyes swept the room and instantly locked onto the figure he was looking for.
At the furthest corner table near a small window, sat a young man in a simple gray coat.
His silvery-blonde hair was slicked back neatly, framing an incredibly placid aristocratic face. Despite his modest attire, the aura of absolute purity radiating from him couldn’t fool anyone.
𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺
Caelum von Valois. The Second Prince of the Astrea Kingdom.
Ethan approached without hesitation, pulled out the chair across from Caelum, and sat down just like that.
Caelum didn’t look surprised. The silver-haired man set his teacup down without making a sound. A pair of blue eyes, as cold as a frozen lake, stared straight into Ethan’s dark brown gaze.
"I assume your journey from the Valen borders was quite exhausting, Lord Valen," Caelum opened the conversation. His voice was smooth and polite, yet heavily laden with analytical sharpness.
Ethan leaned back, folding his arms across his chest. "No more exhausting than having to deal with an overly eager welcoming committee at the border this noon."
The corners of Caelum’s lips pulled up ever so slightly. The Second Prince neither denied nor confirmed the incident at the checkpoint. He knew everything, and he knew that Ethan was well aware of it.
"Astrea is a very beautiful city, isn’t it?" Caelum shifted the subject, glancing at the spotless streets outside the window. "Don’t you find it marvelous how absolutely everything is placed exactly where it belongs?"
"Hmm... harmony is a nice word for a birdcage," Ethan retorted coldly. "This city is far too beautiful, Your Highness. So beautiful that it looks incredibly fragile. One small stone thrown, and all this marble will crack."
Caelum’s blue eyes stared at Ethan a little longer. There was no flash of anger in them, only the cold calculation of an observer weighing the value of a new piece on his board.
"A sharp observation," Caelum praised flatly.
The prince slowly stood up and adjusted the collar of his gray coat with elegant movements. This meeting wasn’t meant for confrontation; it was merely a chance to test the waters.
Caelum stepped past the table, stopping right beside Ethan’s chair. His eyes stared straight into the fireplace.
"I hope you enjoy your stay at The Gilded Dove, Lord Valen," Caelum said softly, his voice a whisper over the crackling flames. "However, allow me to offer one piece of advice... In this city, not everything sweet is edible. Some of the best cakes in Astrea are baked with poisons that not even pure silver can detect."
After delivering that cryptic warning, Caelum walked away. His movements were silent, disappearing behind the door into the Astrean night.
Ethan remained seated in his position. Caelum’s teacup across from him still emanated a thin wisp of bergamot-scented steam.
The silver-haired man wasn’t the kind of enemy who would attack with an open army; he was the type who would serve you a cup of poisoned tea with a smile.
Clack. Clack. Clack.
The sound of hurried footsteps echoed from the stairs.
Valera and Kaelia descended rapidly. Kaelia looked much more refreshed, while Valera already had her hand on the hilt of her Zweihander.
Kaelia’s golden eyes widened upon seeing the teacup across from Ethan, then darted toward the exit. "Wait... that man who just left... gray coat, silver hair... was that...?"
"Yes," Ethan answered flatly.
Valera let out a low growl. "Tch, bastard. He entered this inn without my senses detecting him. What does he want? Did he threaten you, My Lord?"
Ethan slowly stood up from his chair. He looked out the window, gazing at the Astrean streets that were now brightly lit by the glow of yellow lanterns.
"He didn’t threaten me," Ethan said quietly. His voice absorbed the warmth in the tavern room and replaced it with an absolute chill. "He just handed me a map on how this city works."
Ethan turned around to face Valera and Kaelia.
This city was indeed beautiful. Exquisitely beautiful.
And behind its gleaming white marble walls, the true demons were waiting for them, draped in silk and armed with smiles.