Gazing from the window of her room, Yvette caught sight of the silhouette of East City as the ship went down from the cloud layer.

As the ship slowly went downwards, the view of the city that stood far away became clearer until the large city came into view.

Seeing this, she stood up and put on her veil before walking out of her room with Daiyu.

When the pair arrived at the deck of the ship, everyone else aside from the servants were already there. Many children, especially those of the Aasmany Clan, were surprised of the change of her clothing. Though switching clothes itself is not a surprise, the uncommon type of clothing she changed into came as an unexpected thing for them, especially for those from Aasmany Clan who knew that this young lady of theirs never worn anything else aside from her usual white robe before.

But Yvette ignored them all and silently greeted her family.

At one point, everyone in the deck of the ship noticed that a man riding a giant bird coming from the direction of the city suddenly approached the ship and shouted.

“Halt! Please identify yourselves before proceeding any further!”

Following the shout, Bahram walked to the bow of the ship and replied, “We are the regional tournament participant of Stellar City.”

“Stellar City…” Muttered the man as he took out a list. Moments later, he nodded, stores back his list and shouted, “Please follow me, I shall guide you to where the transports of the participants are located.” Then, the man had the giant bird he rode turn around and flew to a direction followed closely by the ship.

Soon, they arrived at a location filled with a few other ships near the city.

As the ship landed, the man who rode the giant bird went down his bird and approached followed closely by the bird, showing how well-trained it is. When he arrived before the group, he struck the left part of his chest with his right hand balled into a fist and bowed his waist slightly, showing the military salute of the Crimson Empire.

“I am a patrol guard of the East City. The tournament will start in two days, until then, you all may do as you wish until the then as long as none of you starts trouble within the city. Just follow the white road if you want to go to the city.” Saying that, the man once again climbed up the back of his bird and returned to patrol around the city’s border under the gaze of the group.

Meanwhile, Bahram led the group into the city. Simply by looking at the city from afar, Yvette realized that the size of the city is incomparable to Stellar City.

As she moved through the bustling street, she felt a few gazes landing on them, but when she glanced around, she realized that most of them seemed to converge around the children who seemed to most likely be the tournament participants.

Though some people seemed to have turned to her, they seemed to have quickly lost interest in her excluding the insistent few.

But at one point, the surrounding gazes receded like tide. Confused, Yvette who has only been following behind Esfir looked around and realized that the place road they are on currently seemed to be much more desolate compared to the ones they were on before. Not only that, the buildings around them seemed to look more luxurious and people who seemed to be guards could be seen frequently walking around. Seeing this, she realized that they have arrived at the second area of the city.

The second area, also known as the noble’s area, is where only those who holds certain qualifications are allowed to enter. An example would be the governor of the city and their guests or people with high cultivation. On the other hand, the area they were in before were called the third area, the most populated place and also where most of the populace reside. Then, there is also the first area beyond the second area. Unlike the second and third area, the first area only accommodates the arena and the residence of the state governor, which is also the extended family of the empire’s family.

And according to the book she read before, all the state capitals are also formed into the same way.

As Yvette reviewed those information, the group soon arrived before a tall white building which seemed to be an inn.

But as they were about to enter, the door of the inn opened as a man suddenly came out and bowed his waist.

“Welcome, patriarch. I have prepared the rooms as you ordered.”

“Good, lead the way.” Following Bahram’s orders, the man turned and led the group into the building.

Inside, though the building is filled with necessities, it could only be said to be simple, just like its exterior. But its calming simplicity itself is its charm.

As the group arrived at the counter of the inn. The man who led them here took out a set of keys and distributed it to the group.

“The room numbers are all written in the keys. If you want to stay in one room with somebody else, you can just return the keys to the counter. But please keep in mind that all of the rooms are designed to accommodate two people at most. Breakfast, lunch and dinner can be sent to your rooms if you wish.”

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Finished with his explanation, the man bowed towards Bahram once more before taking his leave.

Left behind, the others went to do as they will. Some went to examine their lodgings, while others went to look around the city.

As Yvette was planning on staying in one room with Daiyu, she had already returned Daiyu’s key and was about to take a look at her room. But at the moment, her parents called out towards her.

Even as she was confused, she approached them without a question.

When she arrived before them, Esfir spoke “Yvette, after you take a look at your room, you should accompany your brother to look around the city.” She then glanced towards Behnam whose expression changed into one filled with surprise before continuing, “It is also a good experience as you have rarely left the mountain all this time other than when you went to find your first weapon.”

As she said that, she soon left together with Bahram without waiting for a reply, as if she was not even expecting a refusal to her offer.

Meanwhile, Behnam who was also forced into this simply accepted his fate with a wry smile. But when he saw Yvette turn towards him while bowing, holding the clear intent of ‘Please take care of me’, he shook away his stray thoughts and said.

“Come on, let us take a look around the famed capital of the eastern state.” He then led the Yvette and Daiyu out of the inn.

In the end, in fear of being unable to watch over them, Behnam only led the two around within the second area.

But at one point, while the three were still exploring the area, they suddenly came across a certain carriage moving through the streets. Though carriages are not rare in the noble’s area, this carriage seemed much more extravagant in comparison to most others. But as the carriage passed by them, Yvette was able to catch sight of a blood lotus engraved at the side of the carriage.

As she thought back to the various books she has read, she realized that the blood lotus engraving is actually the symbol of the empire. And the only carriage which can bear the symbol of the empire would be the imperial family’s carriage.

Noticing that, she took one last look at the carriage before urging Behnam, who has also seemed to notice the identity of the carriage, to continue taking her around with her gaze.

Then, as the sky was dyed with the orange of the setting sun, the three returned to the inn they were staying in before.

When the inn’s receptionist saw them entering, he remembered that the three was within the group which the inn owner led in and approached them cautiously, “Dinner has just been prepared, do the three master and mistresses wish to have your dinner be sent to your rooms?”

Without thinking much, Yvette accepted his offer and told him her and Daiyu’s room number before leaving for their room after bidding farewell to Behnam.

Returning to their room, Yvette left Daiyu to her own devices and went to sit down and practice engraving formations.

Seeing her mistress’s diligent act, Daiyu went to the opposite edge of the room to cultivate so as to not disturb her mistress’s training.

Time passed quietly as she spent time silently within her room training and cultivating. Soon, the day of the tournament arrived and the whole city was filled with festiveness. Though their inn was quite deep into the noble area, the sound could still faintly reach her ears.

As Yvette gazed out of the window of her room, she could faintly see the third area being filled with many decorations. Behind her, Daiyu stood there silently like a shadow.

Suddenly, a knock sounded from the door followed by a voice, “Young mistress, the master and madam invites you to go with them to watch the tournament.”

Without saying anything, Yvette put on her veil and walked out of the room followed closely by Daiyu.

Outside, the servant heard the sound of the door opening and lowered his head to look at the mysterious young mistress that was rarely seen outside. Still, as a servant, he knew his status and only took a single glance before looking away.

“Lead the way.” Hearing the command from Yvette, the servant silently consented and led the two away.

Soon, they arrived at the first floor of the inn. There, all the participants and the guests from Stellar City have all arrived.

When everyone caught sight of her coming down to the first floor, they all either nodded towards her or gave a light greeting out of courtesy.

Once she finally reached her family, Esfir led her and Daiyu outside and into a carriage while Bahram dismissed the servant who led her here and took care of the guests. While waiting, Yvette sat there meditating. Esfir who saw this simply smiled and glanced out of the carriage’s window.

After a few minutes, the carriage started to move towards a direction. But it did not move deeper into the city, instead, it approached a certain wide path. A few days ago, this path was covered by numerous guards which prohibited anyone aside from the state governor and those with high status from entry. Yet now, this edges of this path are all filled with numerous stalls which sold various goods as the vendors all shouted loudly in hopes of attracting customers, drowning the street with their shouts.

Though the carriage Yvette rode on could was made with materials that could muffle sound, the shouts were so loud that it faintly reached her ears, causing her to stop meditating. Out of curiosity, she slightly opened the curtains blocking the carriage’s window and peeked outside.

Catching sight of the festive street, she thought back to the three months she has spent here with her new family. At that moment, she caught sight of a little girl of a close age to her holding her mother’s hand as they went through the street. Coincidentally, the girl turned her head and met eyes with her. Unknown whether the girl could actually she through her veil, which is unlikely, she cheerfully smiled and waved her hand towards her. Seeing this, Yvette hesitated for a moment before waving back weakly towards the girl.

Watching the pair of mother and daughter walk away, she silently thought back to her actions all this time and noticed the great difference between their two lives. She knew that if she just slightly let loose, she might have a chance of living happily like the little girl, even if it may be only for a short while.

Even so, she held no desire to turn back nor did she regret her actions. At least for now, she would only focus on trying to become stronger.

Thinking so, she let down the curtains, causing the shadow of the carriage to once again envelop her.

Esfir and Daiyu who was within the carriage also noticed the unnatural state of mind Yvette held.

Daiyu, who sat across Yvette, lowered her head to show that whatever decision Yvette may hold, she would quietly follow.

Esfir, who sat next to Yvette, faintly smiled and moved closer to Yvette and softly pulled her head to her as she whispered to her fox ear, “What decision you will come to choose, I… we shall stand beside you. Though you may not truly be my daughter, I have already considered you as one.”

As Yvette listened to her soft spoken words, her eyelids slowly closes as she lied her head on Esfir’s shoulder, unconsciously falling into slumber. And so, until they reached their destination, they sat there in silence, isolated from the festiveness beyond the walls of the carriage.