Reina nod her head, "I see. Thanks for the information, Lady Audrey," she said, her voice tinged with gratitude.
"No problem, Your Highness. It's my pleasure to help," said Audrey, sipping the remaining of her coffee.
The conversation between Audrey and Princess Reina continued. Their discussion mainly delved into the events unfolding in the southern region.
However, the passage of time became more and more evident. Audrey sensed that it was nearing the moment for her and her assistant to take their leave. With a gentle smile, she glanced at her assistant, a subtle signal to begin wrapping up the conversation.
"Princess Reina, it has been truly an honour to speak with you," Audrey expressed with sincerity. "I am grateful for this opportunity."
Reina nodded appreciatively, her eyes conveying a sense of shared understanding. "Lady Audrey, your visit here is a blessing to me. You're welcome to come and visit me anytime you wish."
Audrey's face softened with gratitude and sincerity. "Thank you, Princess Reina. I truly appreciate your kind invitation. I will certainly keep it in mind and make sure to visit you again... At least while I am here."
As they bid farewell to the throne hall, Princess Reina walked Audrey and her assistant to the front of the palace. The grandeur of the palace's exterior was just as breathtaking as when they first arrived.
Reina glanced towards the awaiting carriage and asked, "Where are you and your assistant staying, Lady Audrey?"
"We are staying at the Golden Crown Inn, Your Highness," Audrey replied with a warm smile.
"Ohh? That's a famous inn. I've heard they offer top-tier services," Princess Reina responded.
"You're absolutely right," Audrey nodded, though she couldn't help but think that the service at the inn was nowhere close to the treatment Princess Reina received as a royal.
The carriage that they had rented earlier pulled up, its sturdy frame contrasting against the chilly landscape. The driver, wrapped in warm clothing, greeted them and assisted Audrey and her assistant in boarding the carriage.
"I guess this is where we bid farewell," Audrey said, her voice tinged with a hint of sadness.
Princess Reina looked out at the surrounding scenery. After a moment, she turned back to Audrey with a gentle smile. "Indeed, it's time for us to part ways. Thank you for accompanying me, Audrey. It has been a while since I had an enjoyable conversation."
Audrey couldn't help but smile, her heart warmed by the princess's kind words. "The pleasure was all mine, Princess Reina."
As they settled inside, the horses pulled the carriage forward, carrying them away from the majestic Blueriver Palace. The rhythmic sound of the horses' hooves against the cobblestone path provided a soothing backdrop to their journey.
Audrey leaned back in her seat, reflecting on the events of the day. The meeting with Prince Baldwin, the unexpected encounter with Benjamin, and the heartfelt conversation with Princess Reina had left an indelible impression on her.
"What are your thoughts on Princess Reina?" Audrey turned to her assistant, her voice filled with curiosity.
Her assistant pondered for a moment before responding, "She seemed kind of sad, I guess. There was a hint of melancholy in her demeanour."
Audrey nodded in agreement. "Yes, I noticed that too. She doesn't speak much when Prince Baldwin is around. It almost made me think she's some sort of arrogant noblewoman," she chuckled softly.
"You're right, Miss," her assistant replied. "It's easy to see that they don't have a good relationship."
Audrey sighed, her gaze shifting to the scenery passing by outside the carriage window. The bridge stretched out before them, and the sound of rushing water filled the air. "Anyone wouldn't be happy if they were in her shoes," she muttered, her voice tinged with empathy.
The carriage continued its steady pace, traversing through the streets as they made their way back to the Golden Crown Inn.
Finally, the carriage arrived at the inn. Audrey and her assistant stepped out, bidding farewell to the driver and thanking him for his service.
They entered the inn, greeted by the familiar warmth and cosiness that contrasted with the frigid weather outside.
"What are we going to do next, Miss?" Audrey's assistant asked, her voice filled with curiosity.
"Hmm, we still have a few days left and we are not in a hurry either. It's kind of wasteful to return home this early. Why don't we go shopping and sightseeing?" Audrey suggested with a smile.
"Sounds good to me," her assistant replied, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
The next day, Audrey spent her time taking tours of the city of Thyrate, immersing herself in the vibrant atmosphere and exploring the local shops and markets. She couldn't resist the temptation of buying some souvenirs to bring back home, cherishing the memories she had made during her visit.
As she walked through the bustling streets, Audrey couldn't help but think about the Oldman, Dunn. And so, she made her way to the location where his stall was usually set up. But, to her dismay, the stall was closed.
Her assistant, noticing her disappointment, chimed in, "Maybe he's just taking a break or attending to personal matters. We can try asking around to see if anyone knows where he went."
Audrey nodded and approached a nearby vendor. "Excuse me, do you happen to know where the Oldman Dunn has gone?"
The vendor shrugged, seemingly unaware of the Oldman's whereabouts. "I'm not sure, miss. I haven't seen him around for two or three days. He said he was gonna check on something but didn't tell us where is it."
Audrey's heart skipped a beat as the vendor's words sank in.
Two or three days.
It was too close to her arrival in the city.
A nagging worry crept into her mind, and she fervently hoped that the Oldman's sudden disappearance had nothing to do with her presence.
Her assistant, sensing the concern etched on Audrey's face, inquired, "What should we do, miss?"
Audrey took a deep breath, steadying herself. "Let's leave all this stuff we bought on the ship for now. We will ask the captain of the ship if anything unusual has occurred recently."
With a determined stride, Audrey and her assistant made their way to the bustling port. The sounds of seagulls echoed in the air, mingling with the shouts of sailors and the creaking of wooden ships. The whiff of saltwater and fish filled their nostrils.
Despite the passing days since their arrival, their steamship remained a focal point of attention for the crowd.
It stood tall and proud, drawing the gaze of thousands who had flocked to the port in hopes of catching a glimpse of the remarkable vessel. Excitement buzzed through the air as curious onlookers gathered, their eyes filled with wonder and curiosity.
It wouldn't be weird if there are among them who come from neighbouring cities specifically to witness the floating steel vessel.
The only noticeable change that had taken place in the port since their arrival is the once bustling array of steamships that had shared the dock now dwindled to a solitary vessel, their own steamship.
The others had likely departed back to the southern lands from whence they came.
There was no longer a need for them to linger in these northern territories.
Audrey and her assistant made their way through the bustling crowd towards their steamship. They were met with curious glances and whispers of intrigue.
Audrey maintained a composed demeanour and stepped onto the gangway leading to their steamship. Her eyes scanned the deck, searching for the captain of the vessel.
"Captain," she called out, her voice carrying a note of urgency.
The captain turned his attention to Audrey, his eyes flickering with curiosity. "Oh, Miss Audrey. Are we ready to return home?" His gaze fell upon the belongings they had brought along, his body slightly shaking. "I must say, it's really cold over here. I mostly stay inside."
Audrey shook her head, a determined look in her eyes. "No, Captain. I have something to ask you."
The captain's brows furrowed slightly, sensing the gravity of the situation. "Of course, Miss Audrey. What is it?"
Audrey leaned in closer, "Has anything unusual happened when you're staying on the ship?"
The captain's expression shifted, a hint of concern crossing his features. He pondered for a moment before responding.
"Only thing that happened is as you can see right now," the captain replied, his voice tinged with exhaustion. He glanced at the crowd of people swarming around the ship, creating a constant commotion. "I can hardly sleep because of the noise they make. We even caught a few individuals attempting to infiltrate the ship."
Audrey furrowed her brow, concern etching her features. "That sounds serious."
"It is but we keep it under control. We've increased security measures and patrols to deter any unauthorized access. The crew has been vigilant, and we've been fortunate to apprehend those who posed a potential threat."
"Is there anything else you've noticed, any unusual occurrences?" she asked.
"Hmm... Oh! On the night of the same day we arrived, we got a report of ships departed out to the sea," the captain replied, his voice tinged with a sense of concern.
"Which direction do they go?" Audrey inquired.
The captain's gaze shifted, his eyes scanning the horizon. "South," he replied.
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