That morning, the air was still crisp, with traces of dew clinging to the wild grass along the roadside. Fiona drew a deep breath, trying to calm the quickened beat of her heart. Since dawn, she and Robert had agreed to split up and carry out their respective plans. Although Fiona had been living in that new world for a long time and had adapted well, she still felt nervous when she had to travel alone in a foreign kingdom.
Throughout the streets, there seemed to be more patrols than usual. Fiona tried to appear as calm and natural as she could. She knew even the smallest flicker of nervousness could draw the kind of attention she didn't want.
Fortunately, her slender frame and light steps made her easy to overlook. The soldiers barely glanced at her as she approached the grand estate belonging to Baron Elvan—the wealthy merchant who had long supplied the royal palace.
