Chapter 8

Suddenly, a familiar voice caught her attention, and she looked out the window.

Her childhood friends, Meg and Mie, were about to go out together. The two, who had initially been hesitant, were gradually drawn to the beautiful streets of the royal capital.

(Should I take a walk too?)

Since she was going to leave the village and live alone from now on, she needed to get used to this environment.

With that thought, Rane quickly tidied herself up and decided to go out into the town.

She informed the reception at the inn that she was going out and stepped outside.

To avoid getting lost, she needed to remember the name of the inn and some distinctive landmarks. As she scanned the surroundings, she noticed a large clock tower in the square right in front of the inn.

(This should do. The inn's name is Green Clock Pavilion.)

The reason it was called "green" was probably because there were many plants and flowers inside the inn. The ornate flowers, different from the wildflowers she was used to, were so beautiful that she couldn't help but be captivated.

After a quick look around, she started walking in the direction with more people. It seemed that there were many shops ahead.

(There are so many shops. And so many people...)

In the village where she grew up, there was only one general store that sold everything. However, the shops lining the royal capital were all specialized. There were even several stores selling clothes alone.

(Such beautiful clothes...)

She stopped, captivated by the sight.

Looking closely, the people walking around were all dressed in refined and beautiful clothing. Even without being nobles, there were people living in such affluence, which surprised her.

(It's so dazzling, almost blinding.)

The crowd made her feel a bit unwell. It might also be because she had just traveled a long distance using magic.

Deciding to take a break, Rane turned off the main street into a back alley.

There were few people around, and the surrounding buildings were tall, making it a bit dim even in the daytime.

Still, she felt reassured that she wasn't too far from the bustling main street, and she continued walking, looking for a place to rest.

Then, she realized that the royal capital was not entirely glamorous and beautiful.

In a corner of the street, a man reeked of alcohol even in the daytime. From a deeper alley, a child with dark eyes stared at her intently.

Like the eyes of a predator stalking its prey.

“...”

Feeling the danger, Rane turned to run.

The royal capital was not just a place of glamour and beauty.

While there were people in fine clothing, just a short distance away, there were people living in poverty worse than in her village.

However, running away was a mistake.

Rane was grabbed by the arm by a man who had emerged from the back alley.

“Kyaa!”

“Whoa, wandering into a place like this, you’re quite careless, miss.”

A low, mocking laugh followed.

The young man in a black robe, still holding Rane's arm, tried to drag her somewhere.

“No... Let go of me!”

She tried to resist and escape, but the man's grip was strong and wouldn't let go.

“Stop struggling. You’ll just make it worse for yourself.”

She gasped at the threat, and suddenly her arm was released.

“Ah!”

The momentum from trying to break free almost made her fall. She was caught from behind by an unfamiliar young man.

“Are you okay?”

His voice was gentle and caring.

“...Y-Yes.”

Rane nodded slowly, feeling a wave of relief that almost made her collapse.