After a whole day of flying, they finally reached the capital. Night had already fallen, yet that did nothing to dim the splendor of the Rivonot Empire's capital, Vlarois. The city below the castle sky glimmered like a sea of stars, its streets and towers bathed in a thousand shades of gold and blue. From the carriage window, Nessa gazed down, watching tiny dots of people moving between the glowing avenues.
Once the flying carriage descended onto a massive, glowing platform lined with silver runes, Nessa and Olivia were helped out by their knights. A soft breeze swept past, carrying the scent of blooming night roses. Nessa looked around, her sharp eyes catching the silhouettes of other carriages being parked nearby.
'Seems like this is the area where they park. Wyverns would be too large to wander the streets anyway,' she thought, brushing a strand of her dark blue hair behind her ear.
"Olivia, let's go," Nessa said, stretching out her hand. Olivia took it without hesitation, her small fingers clutching Nessa's firmly as they walked forward.
As soon as the guards stationed at the gate noticed her, their reaction was immediate and dramatic. The ten guards froze, then quickly dropped to one knee, their faces paling to a ghostly blue.
"G–Good evening, Lady Nessa!" they stammered in unison.
Nessa smiled politely, her voice calm. "Good evening, gentlemen. It's quite a fine night, isn't it?"
They nodded so fast it was almost comical.
'Damn, they're terrified. Old Nessa, what in the world have you been doing to people?' she thought inwardly, forcing herself not to laugh.
"P–Please, come in, my lady!" one guard said, scrambling to open the gate. She nodded, then led Olivia and her escort inside.
'So this is the gate for Wyvern users,' she mused as her boots clicked softly against the marble floor.
"My lady," one of her knights said carefully, "should we proceed as you instructed earlier?"
"Yes. But I only want one of you to act as our escort while the rest observe from behind. Is that clear? I'd rather not attract too many eyes."
'Too many eyes, my ass!' the knights thought in unison, suppressing a sigh. 'Her face alone is enough to turn heads…'
Olivia, meanwhile, was too enchanted to notice their silent suffering. "Wow, it's so beautiful…" she breathed, her wide eyes darting from one sight to another, the tall towers, the floating lamps, the bustling streets filled with open shops and all sorts of people, but mainly humans.
From a distance, Nessa could see that the capital sat upon a raised plateau, and below the mountain's edge gleamed the sprawling lower city. Streams of light marked the main gate far below, where countless travelers queued to enter or leave.
They walked for a while through the dazzling streets until they reached a luxurious clothing boutique. The storefront shined and was really eye-catching,.
"This is the best place for fine dresses, my lady," one knight explained nervously. "Though I must say, it's surprising you'd visit here instead of a private designer."
"At the moment, we need new clothes for my sister. Later, I'll hire a designer to come to my mansion," Nessa replied casually before stepping into the store.
The moment she entered, a hush fell over the room. Dozens of women froze, staring. Rows of silk, lace, and jeweled gowns filled the hall, but all eyes were on Nessa.
"W–Welcome, oh! It's you, Lady Nessa!" gasped a clerk in a black and white uniform. She quickly straightened, bowing deeply.
'I guess I'm famous here… though it doesn't seem like a good kind of famous,' Nessa thought with dry amusement. Still, she appreciated how everyone kept their distance and was actually enjoying how a lot of people didn't bother her and Olivia as soon as they realized who she was. Nessa in her old life was a woman who really hated drama and this life if she'd have to deal with that she would probably act crazy.
"Bring me the finest dresses for my little sister," Nessa commanded, her heel clicking against the floor.
"Y–Yes, my lady! Please come with us, young lady!" the attendants said, surrounding Olivia.
"Oh… um… alright," Olivia muttered, flustered as they gently guided her away.
A woman in a crimson gown approached Nessa soon after. Clearly the head of the boutique noticed how all the other ladies respectfully looked at her. "Lady Nessa," she began cautiously, "since when have you had a younger sister?"
"Recently. Is there a problem with that?" Nessa asked coolly, one brow arched.
"N–Not at all!" the woman stammered, bowing quickly.
"Good," Nessa huffed, crossing her arms.
Moments later, Olivia emerged from the changing room, looking uneasy in a glittering blue gown. "Sister… are these really necessary?" she asked, frowning slightly.
"Of course. You're a duchess's daughter now," Nessa replied firmly. "And besides, it's better to have clothes that demand respect, especially before your debut."
"…Alright," Olivia said softly, retreating to try on another dress.
As she changed, Olivia's thoughts churned. 'She must be embarrassed by how plain I look… I shouldn't have expected anything less.'
When she stepped out again, wearing a pink gown adorned with delicate gemstones, Nessa's eyes lit up. "Olivia, that color fits you perfectly!" she said, clasping her hands together.
"Isn't it too expensive? It looks… super shiny," Olivia said nervously, glancing at the gems woven into the fabric.
"Don't worry! My mother will handle the bill," Nessa said proudly, puffing out her chest.
'To be that carefree about money… I'm jealous,' Olivia thought, smiling faintly at her sister's confidence.
When they finished their shopping, the knights reappeared to carry the many boxes and bags back to the carriage. The night air was cool and quiet, until Olivia suddenly stopped.
"Hmm? Olivia?" Nessa asked, following her gaze.
Across the street, a group of chained slaves was being dragged through the marketplace. One of them, a young boy, had bitten his handler, earning himself a brutal beating. The sound of the whip cracked sharply through the air.
Olivia trembled, clutching Nessa's skirt tightly. "Sister… can we help them?" she asked, her voice breaking, eyes wide and pleading.
Nessa stared at her for a long moment, then smiled softly, reaching out to pat her head. "If that's what you want."
"R–Really? We can?" Olivia's eyes shimmered with disbelief.
"Yes," Nessa replied, her tone gentle but sure. "After all, our family is rich and powerful." She winked at Olivia, and the girl's face brightened instantly, her earlier fear replaced by hope.