We get to see around the golden district some more as we're trying to find a western gate.

Wealthy, a word i would use to describe Mercia.

Also peaceful, despite the war.

I get up and make my way to the front seat of the wagon.

As i sit next to Anna, i side-eye her face to get a reading on her mood.

She's stopped crying but her eyes are still a little red.

"What do you make of Mercia so far?"

I ask her and lean on my seat.

"It's very beautiful. It's not often you get to see such a prosperous place like this."

She looks a little dreamy while taking in the sights.

"Would you ever like to live in a place like this?"

"Haha, even if i had the wealth i doubt i could. It's beautiful sure, but also busy and there's people everywhere. I prefer a quiet place like Hillcrest, so if i could live in the capital i would most likely settle in the bronze district. It felt rather cozy and calm which reminds me of home. What about you Alex?"

"Eh, too fancy for my tastes. The silver district is more to my liking."

"Heh, so you prefer a town instead of a big city?"

"Hmph, you could say that."

A couple of people run past our wagon suddenly, catching Anna's attention.

Before she can say anything even more people run past us, forcing her to slow down.

"What's going on? Excuse me?"

She says aloud with a confused look on her face, slowing the wagon down even more to avoid hitting anyone as a crowd begins to form around us.

We don't get very far though as we're forced to stop moving completely because the people in front of us are standing still.

Perplexed by the turn of events, i decide to stand up to get a better look and find out that we're stopped at a wide street filled with people on both sides.

To our right i see a sign that says this road leads to the eastern gate, while to our left i can make out something approaching us, from the direction of the castle.

"I think i see some-!?"

I try to inform Anna when i'm suddenly interrupted by the deafening cheering of the crowds.

"Mommy!"

Ava gets scared and scurries into Anna's arms for safety, her cat ears flat on her head.

The wagon gives me an adequate vantage point but i still have trouble seeing through all the flailing hands.

Anna is unable to pay attention because she's too busy comforting Ava.

"KEEP CLEAR! KEEP THE STREET CLEAR!"

A guard riding a horse shouts with an impressive voice and rushes past us with a few other riders, following the road towards east.

A few moments pass and i finally manage to make out what all the fuss is about.

White horses wearing gold and silver armor, carrying equally armored soldiers on them as they move at a steady pace, knights perhaps?

As they ride past us, i note the details of their armor and weapons which look to be very high quality.

There's a whole column of them, some of them are carrying tall banners bearing Mercia's insignia.

Behind them are more horses, which look to be pulling a large, open-top carriage.

The cheering gets even louder when the carriage comes into view and the street begins to be showered with flower petals.

"It's him! It's Prince Nikolaus!"

A woman near us yells excitedly.

A tall young man is standing on the carriage, waving and smiling at the people.

His combed up golden hair flows softly in the breeze, piercing bright blue eyes beam with gratitude, combined with a handsome face and a charming smile that seems to have quite an effect on the women around us, expect Anna.

He's wearing a white uniform decorated with gold and silver accessories, a mixture of military professionalism and prestigious noble heritage paired with golden gloves, the backside of his trench coat reaches all the way to his also white boots.

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He doesn't look particularly muscular, but i can tell from his physique that, despite the clothes he's wearing, he's somewhat trained in swordsmanship, judging by the sword on his side.

I'm not jealous but something about his display of "perfection" irks me.

"Where is the Prince going?"

A sudden question by a stranger to another catches my attention and i tune my ear to it.

"You haven't heard? The Prince has defied his father's orders to remain in the capital and intends to personally lead the frontline forces against Warmon."

"He's going to directly command the king's army? By himself? But he has no real battlefield experience and didn't he just turn 17? Does he have a death wish?"

"He considers it a rite of passage and according to the generals who are helping him, he's been a strategic genius ever since he was a boy, but i also think it's a little reckless."

A strategic genius?

Hmph, most likely an exaggeration, i bet nobles like him spew all kinds of bullshit to make themselves look better.

The Prince keeps waving at the crowds when his gaze suddenly turns towards us.

My eyes narrow, wait, is he... looking directly at me?

His smile fades and his waving hand turns into a fist, signaling the carriage and the knights to stop right in front of us.

The crowd also falls silent, people looking around them in confusion, trying to find a reason for the sudden interruption.

The prince snaps his fingers and four servants carrying a platform kneel down in front of him, allowing him to step on it.

Another snap and they begin to carry him toward us, the crowd dispersing to make room.

The crowd notices me standing on our wagon and begin muttering amongst themselves.

The prince stops a few meters away from us and clears his throat.

"You boy, why aren't you celebrating?"

Ugh, even his voice has a sweet noble tang to it.

"There's nothing to celebrate."

I cross my arms and assume a disinterested look.

Hearing this makes his eye twitch slightly, which goes unnoticed by anyone but me.

"Of course there is! Me, Prince Nikolaus! I am personally going to join the war against Warmon and bring victory for Mercia!"

He declares with his arms thrown wide, eliciting a round of applause from the crowd.

"Only if you actually succeed. Who knows, maybe you'll die the moment you set foot on the battlefield by stray arrow or something."

"Alex don't!"

Anna panics and reaches out to grab my leg.

His arms drop and he looks to his side, visibly irritated from being talked down upon, especially by a child.

"You have got quite the mouth on you boy. You do realize you're talking to a future king?"

With a sudden twist he unsheathes his sword and swings towards my face, causing the people around us to gasp loudly.

The blade stops mere inches away from my face, but i don't flinch even slightly, my eyes still locked to his.

I look down at his sword, which actually looks quite fancy, is it the one Gondo forged for him?

His eyes widen in disbelief, his whole demeanor faltering after his failed attempt to intimidate a child.

It makes me wonder if he's actually a "strategic genius".

The people start murmuring loudly, baffled by the Prince's behavior.

Prince Nikolaus looks around him in a slight panic before addressing me again.

"Cough, cough! You are quite the amusing boy, haha!"

He laughs in an attempt to safe face and taps his foot on the platform, commanding his servants to come closer to me.

"It is foolish to assume your loyalty since you aren't a local. You see, this was actually a test, to see if you have the makings of a royal knight! And you passed!"

He grabs my arm and lifts it up together with his own, causing the crowd to erupt in celebration.

"He's very brave! A fine boy! So cool!"

People in the crowd shout, making me feel irritated and self-conscious.

Seems like the prince has managed to turn his own humiliation back on me.

While the crowd cheers, he leans down towards my ear.

"You are a very lucky boy. If it were not for the crowd here, i would have chopped off your head already, so consider this an act of mercy and proof of my generosity."

"!!!"

He whispers with a threatening tone, making me feel uneasy.

And there's no doubt about it, he's deadly serious.

He taps his foot on the platform again and returns to his carriage.

"Enjoy your stay in the capital boy! Feel free to indulge in everything my magnificent kingdom has to offer!"

With that, the Prince resumes his march towards the eastern gate, the crowd following closely behind him and leaving us alone on the now empty street.

Whew, that was intense, i think to myself and sit down on the wagon.

"That was so reckless of you Alex! We could've gotten into serious trouble for what you did! Us peasants have to be careful around nobles like him, understand!?"

Anna shakes me by my shoulders and yells at me.

"Alright, alright! Stop shaking me!"

She finally lets go of me and takes the reigns, then flicks them so that we can resume our own journey.

"Sigh, i just hope you'll behave yourself while you're by yourself. Anyway, i saw a sign over there which leads to the western gate."

We go around the golden district and through the western gate to the silver district.

After some riding around and asking for directions, we eventually find a general store.

Anna parks the wagon next to it and takes the coin purse given to her by Eric.

"Come on kids, let's see what they have on offer."

She picks up Ava and enters the store, me following closely behind her.

"Welcome! Feel free to ask if you need anything."

The door bell chimes and the shopkeeper greets us.

"Ah, yes please. Could i have these things on this list please?"

Anna hands the shopkeeper a piece of paper and he looks it over.

"Hmm, i think i have most things listed here on stock. Let's have a look together."

He grabs a few sacks and walks around the shop with Anna, while me and Ava just browse.

Aside from food preserved in jars, the store offers quite a selection of things like cooking hardware, camping stuff and various useful tools.

There's also a small selection of weapons, mainly swords and spears along with arrows and knives.

A general store, i have to keep places like this in mind in case i need useful equipment.

"Come on kids, Let's go!"

Anna informs us and steps out with the shopkeeper.

Ava runs off with them, leaving behind in the now empty store.

From the window i can see the shopkeeper help Anna load the sacks into the wagon, which gives me a strange urge.

I look around me and see a small pile of ordinary knives in a box.

They all look the same, surely the shopkeeper wouldn't notice one missing, since they all look the same.

Feeling daring, i grab one and stash it withing my cloak and head outside.

Outside, Anna and the shopkeeper finish loading the sacks and she lifts Ava on the wagon.

"Where's Ale-!?"

"I'm right here."

I announce my presence with a neutral tone, slightly startling Anna.

"Ah! Don't sneak up on me like that!"

"Right."

I get on the wagon and lean against the wall, making sure to appear normal so that the shopkeeper doesn't suspect anything.

"And here's the money. Thank you."

Anna hands the coin pouch to him

"Pleasure doing business!"

"Bye bye!"

Ava waves to him and we're off.

Looks like the shopkeeper suspects nothing.

Once we enter the bronze district i reach for the knife i stole and examine it.

It's not terribly big and fits in my hand nicely.

I pull it out its sheath and inspect the blade which seems decent.

Was there any reason to steal it in the first place?

Sure, i'll use it for self-defense, who knows what kind of people live in Ebric?