[AFYC] Chapter 56

“So where is the Marquis now? Is he still in Felphe?”

“No, Your Majesty. His train is currently enroute to the capital. However…”

“However?”

“A mysterious young woman is travelling with him. She’s not a maid, but her presence seems unusual.”

“A woman?”

Leopold reacted to this news, prompting Count Jerome to bow even lower.

“Yes, Your Majesty. I will investigate further and report back to you.”

Though Leopold clicked his tongue sharply at the repeated promise to “investigate further,” his eyes gleamed with a twisted curiosity.

Is Oscar von Reinhardt bringing along a woman?

It was the first significant piece of news in what had otherwise been a tedious and unproductive conversation.

♔♔♔

Meanwhile, completely unaware that her presence had piqued the interest of the King of Luxen, Seo Ah was trembling with anxiety inside a lavish carriage.

Just minutes ago, the train, which had been speeding along smoothly, had come to an unexpected stop in the middle of nowhere, far from any station. Then, she had been unceremoniously told to disembark.

When she asked if this wasn’t a station, they simply said she would continue her journey by carriage. Not knowing enough to argue, she had no choice but to comply.

Exiting the train, she saw a sturdy-looking carriage waiting for her. While she hesitated, the train pulled away, and Abel, standing by with her luggage, gestured for her to hurry. Seo Ah held her breath and climbed into the carriage with no other choice.

The interior of the carriage was just as well-appointed as the train’s. She sat as close to the window as possible, and Abel climbed in to sit opposite her. The carriage then began to move.

Trying to remain as calm as possible, Seo Ah asked quietly, “How far is it from the mansion?”

“It should take about twenty minutes,” Abel replied.

Nodding slightly, Seo Ah discreetly rubbed her sweaty palms on her skirt.

In a situation where she couldn’t trust anyone, every minute felt like an eternity. The endless plains had given way to a landscape dotted with rocks and boulders, with the occasional unpainted, weathered house visible here and there. As they passed through a small settlement, her heart finally began to calm a little at the sight of children playing in the streets.

“Is this Vieux, the capital of Luxen?” Seo Ah asked.

Abel glanced out the window before answering.

“No, this is outside the capital. We’ll be crossing the Rotten River soon. That’s the boundary of the capital. Once we cross it, we’ll be in Vieux.”

Sure enough, a short while later, the river came into view.

Seo Ah leaned closer to the window, watching the clear water flow beneath the tall bridge. She had never seen such a high bridge before. As she marvelled at its construction, the carriage crossed the river and entered a city that was breathtaking enough to momentarily make her forget her anxiety.

The Pearl of Norfolk, the city of culture and art—Vieux was a place where even the most mundane streetlamps were crafted with care. The lamps were shaped like leaves and flowers, and each one was adorned with a basket of flowers hanging from its middle. The streets were lined with shops, each beautifully decorated, and people moved in and out of them freely. Outdoor tables, bathed in sunlight, were filled with people enjoying lively conversations.

But that was only the beginning of the sights to behold.

After passing the long stretch of shop-lined streets, the view suddenly opened up, revealing a vast square. The carriage paused briefly before continuing into the circular square. The square had a sense of orderly elegance, and as they rounded it halfway, the true centrepiece of the square came into view.

A towering column stood in the centre, topped by a bronze statue of a man on horseback. The man held the reins of his horse in one hand and a long sword in the other, staring sternly ahead with a determined expression. His eyes, shadowed beneath his military cap, exuded a sense of strength and darkness.

“That’s a statue of the late Marquis Reinhardt,” Abel suddenly spoke, pointing out the window.

“The late Marquis…?” Seo Ah echoed.

“Yes, the father of the current Marquis.”

Seo Ah turned back to the window.

Come to think of it, there was a resemblance. Particularly in the intense, shadowed gaze.

A father immortalised in a statue…

“Is that the Reinhardt mansion behind it?” she asked.

“No.”

The sharpness in Abel’s voice took her by surprise.

“That’s the royal palace.”