Chapter 261- The Emperor's daughter

The Emperor's Daughter

Frost City.

Ever since she gained understanding, Sakura learned the name. Rounding a bend behind a small hill, she witnessed the sight in the distance from on top of the ambling carriage.

A large city in the north which lay at the foot of towering mountains. Protected by the fabled Tower Mages and Military from the demon beast which swallowed a child whole. Gold flowed from the tables of the wealthy and coppers lined the gutters. Sersens exited the gates, riding towards the mountains to battle the evils lurking under and between. Ordinary men entered and exited as famed Sersens.

The bards sang the incredible tales in the village tavern of this city which lay beyond the dreams of a slum child.

The songs failed to highlight the greatness. While viewing, she inhaled a sharp breath.

The unending grasslands rolled before them, with dotted farms along the lazy north road. Walls of black and grey seemed to grow from the bowels of the earth while being scorched by the pits of hell. Over seven houses high, it wrapped around a city which made Limerock seem like a village.

Towers sprouted from within and on its battlements, with shredding banners bearing unrecognizable crests. From the distance, the city seemed connected to the gargantuan mountains behind. Bearing an unbelievable girth causing the girl to blink and then widen her eyes, they drilled their white peaks into the dead clouds.

Gazing around at the desolate countryside, only one place offered solace and security. As the convoy drew nearer, the brunette realized the western half of this human stronghold lay in ruins. A contrasting wall of grey and white stones indicated the previous younger generations facilitated repairs to half of the ancient defense.

Watching the crumbling walls, shingle-less roofs, and uprooted broken towers, one could imagine the terrifying, ancient war fought on its grounds. Knowing the city lost half its area, yet dwarf others in size, boggled the mind as to the population it once housed.

"Surreal isn't it."

Mr. Thomas added below her. One could notice his single hand trembling on the reins. Sakura nodded in reply. At this moment, the sight turned her mute. The middle-aged man looked up and smiled.

"When you travel from the south, the road barely allows you a full glimpse of the city. I would think that bend is famous since once you exit it, the rolling hills give way. Then from here, a gentle slope raises towards the city and then the mountain roots. I still remember Simon falling off the hay cart during our journey on witnessing the sheer size."

A soft, gentle palm reached out from beside him and squeezed his arm.

"I heard the tale differently. Cole swore it was you who yelled and fell off the top. Simon said you were sleeping in the haystack when you woke and saw the sight. They both said you rolled down the road and had to run behind the wagon. All this from travelers coming from a city. Heaven alone knows what would happen if you all came from a village."

"That's true, Uncle Simon told me the same story on our farm."

Mrs. Thomas reported the story while Amanda verified it from beside her. The man forced a pout amidst the laughter coming from above.

"So that's what you and your shirking Uncle Simon did when I worked myself to the bone on our farm. The next time we meet up, he has some questions to answer."

Mrs. Thomas smiled while leaning against him. After discarding a mountain of worries and using the rough but useful cosmetic items, her elegant beauty radiated under her mature frame. Not only once did Mr. Thomas praise himself lucky. As for their daughter occupying the end seat, and sandwiching her mother, he could only offer gratification towards the heavens.

Blessed with the beauty of her mother, with sharp eyebrows and filtered eyelashes over oval, blue eyes, she cast a bewitching smile from her pink lips. A dainty nose rested on an unblemished face free of worry. Golden tresses curved down behind her shoulders while gossamer strands floated in the wind. The fair hands and graceful frame completed a figure which easily beguiled old and young alike.

A rider clopped past the carriage on the passenger's side, as the helmeted head turned sideways. Failing to initiate eye contact, and noticing the evil eye of the driver, the man hastened his horse forward.

"That's the fourth time that fellow made a pass by our carriage. Big Sis is becoming famous."

Sue remarked from the roof while watching the back of the man disappear between the wagons. Sitting next to Sakura, her hands relaxed on the crossbow hidden under the fur. Mr. Thomas snorted at the now common sight.

"I don't know why you couldn't ride inside the carriage with Bella and the others. Do you know the trouble you're placing me in? That goes double for you two on the top. Every time a Priest or Alchemist passes by when we rest, they look at me as if I've put you out. If Sue falls from there, that old alchemist might skin me alive."

"Hehe... I don't think anyone will touch you considering who is riding in your carriage. Did you forget you even have four Sersens riding behind you?"

Mrs. Thomas said.

Sahara rode in the carriage while playing chess with Sally, so her two Sersens rode behind. Adding the pair sent to escort Sue from the Alchemist Guild, one could understand why no one dared to spark idle chatter. Currently, the four Sersens chatted amicably while riding nearby.

Knowing why her husband hand shook on the reins, she whispered in his ear,

"I never expected the day would come when we could even think about entering Frost City again. Look at us now."

"It never really mattered to me since I felt I only lost my pride. In time, the anger disperses. But I've never forgiven myself for what you left behind. I always held myself responsible for tearing you away from this city."

Mrs. Thomas wrapped a jaded arm around her husband.

"And I always told you to forget it. I left with everything I ever wanted."

She said while using her next arm to embrace her daughter.

"A man can only relinquish so much pride. How could I not stand up for the woman I loved? All this is possible because of that one evening when Simon rode into my debt-ridden farm..."

On the day he witnessed the boy sitting across from him on the desk in the Trading Post, Mr. Thomas knew he was beyond normal. It did take a certain amount of willpower to overcome his pride in working for children. The debt on his farm, coupled with the insistence of Simon won out in the end. At least, his wife and daughter would find adequate company instead of living their lives as hermits.

The memory which etched in his mind, however, lay in the night when he shared a summary of his sorrowful past to the seemingly adult boy. Their conversation lifted the burden on his heart.

And then he fainted from witnessing those feral yellow eyes...

Chuckling Mr. Thomas turned and kissed his wife on her golden hair.

"It's better this way. If that brat was around, I might end up leaning on him as usual. Now, I can stand up for myself without fear. I can't wait to see those old faces..."

The caravans passed a camp of open tents and stone buildings in the distance to the west.

"Remember when the Military rushed down to your village before my time? This here is the base of the Rearguard. They were the ones responsible to investigate and exterminate any demon beasts which escape the pass. Most of this camp should be down south, returning to the north while netting any stray demon beasts."

Mr. Thomas said. The riders on the roof scanned the near-deserted camp where shouts and neighs drifted in the wind. Half a day later, in the evening, the convoy finally arrived at its destination near the massive south gate of the city. Rumbling into a wide-open field, the assortment of travelers pitched tents for the last time.

As for villagers and merchants who journeyed with them from Limerock or joined them along the way, they bid farewell and headed to the gates in the distance, or to the inns and paddocks located about an hour away. While everyone bustled about, Sahara left them under the care of her personal Sersens for her carriage.

"What is all that about?"

Sally asked from ontop the parked carriage. Standing up, she walked to the edge of the flat but sturdy roof. On the other side, Bella sat cross-legged while stroking the feathers of a metallic looking bird. The younger girl stood up and then appeared by her side.

"Should I call Mr. Thomas?"

"No, no it doesn't look like danger."

Sally replied as she remembered their purpose on this vantage point. Spinning around and scanning the surroundings, she sat down.

"Do you remember when we entered this campsite? Before we arrived, there were soldiers and a group of other people dressed like nobles waiting. Now that I think about it, they seemed mighty important."

"I can't remember since you and Sahara were hogging the windows."

Bella pouted. Her companion ignored the facial expression while squinting and continuing.

"Well, half of those people are around Sahara's large tent. She must be pretty popular or something."

"Well, she does belong to some high-ranking noble family. Remember how the nobles treated her in Limerock? Maybe her family home is in Frost City?"

"Nuh-uh, I heard her say once she lived in the Capital."

Sally muttered while stroking her childish chin. Bella fished a copper coin from her pocket and then placed it into the claw of the bird who pecked it like a berry.

"You should stop rubbing your chin while thinking like that. It makes you look like Chu."

"And You should stop feeding that bird copper coins or else I really will act like him!"

"Pshhht! Miki will save me. Hey, Sally, I've been watching Alicanto for a while. Did you realize that he eats a bowl-full of iron a day but if you feed him silver coins he eats less? He also becomes more lively. That day he only munched the ruby and then zipped around for nearly two days."

Sally watched her little researcher caressing the soft feathers of the bird. In seconds, those same feathers could become as hard as iron. Since working with Old Hodge, both of them possessed keen eyes. Sally twisted her mouth on hearing the observation. She then pointed a little finger at the bird.

"So, you're saying, the more expensive the food the more satisfied and energetic he becomes?"

"Yup, that's right."

Scanning the surroundings again, Sally looked Bella in the eyes.

"You'd better not mention this to Chu... less you kill him."

The peel of a bell interrupted their conversation as it drifted from within the city. As if answering the call, a sonorous accolade rang as if others joined in the celebration. For nearly a quarter of an hour, the sound filled the air. The noise barely died when a short and stout young man strode past their tent while ringing a small bell. Amazingly, his voice actually competed with the bell for volume.

His colorful, striped clothes also placed him in the limelight. Guessing from the previous ruckus, Sally pictured similar outfitted men roaming the streets and squares of the city. They had seen less decorated ones during their brief stay in Limerock.

Town criers...

"Where does he pull all that sound from? His belly?"

Bella asked with wide eyes and an equally open jaw. Sally signaled her to hush by clamping her mouth. Tilting her head, she listened to the words as they floated across the campsite.

"Rejoice! Rejoice, citizens of the Empire! Today the Heavens mark the sixteenth year since the only princess of our Emperor entered the mortal world. Rejoice! Today she sheds the robe of a child and becomes Princess Sahara of the Empire! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Princess!"

Like a creaking cartwheel in need of greasing, Sally turned her face towards Bella. The two of them then mumbled out the same word.

"Eh?"