Chapter 89: Arrival at the Royal Capital
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The Kingdom of Isenbell is a breathtakingly magical country.
Although it was only mid-February at this ti, the climate here was already like early spring. Ice and snow quietly lted under the warm light, streams gurgled in the spring days, the sky was so blue it delighted the heart, and clouds dotted it piece by piece, complenting the fertile soil below. This was a scene that could never be seen in the Valen Empire, where winter lasted all four seasons.
From the mont our horned carriage crossed the border and entered the first town, I was deeply captivated by the pinnacle of architectural design here.
Square and gorgeous houses, simple and elegant facades, well-matched vibrant colors, solemn yet romantic exquisite designs. All along our route, whether in large towns or small villages, classical and refined villas scattered among the shade of verdant trees. That ubiquitous ingenious design made feel as if I had escaped all worldly noise, giving a sense of tranquil remoteness that transported my spirit, while also reflecting the prosperity of this country from the side.
Carlos told that Isenbell was also the country with the largest population movent in the Western Continent, and the country with the longest human history. Its establishnt could even be traced back to before the Gregorian Calendar, when humans had just obtained the power of Order.
At that ti, Isenbell was just a city-state, which is now Order City. Its na back then was Kanri, one of the few ancient civilizations that survived the epochal great war with the dragon clan. Through the accumulation of thousands of years that followed, it achieved today’s scale and accomplishnts.
This place has the world’s finest education system and many world-renowned academies. Many nobles from other countries, and even so wealthy and capable commoners, would try every ans to send their children here to receive various kinds of education. The two most famous ones are the Architectural Design Academy located in the northern city of Chris Rodney, and the other is Isenbell’s so-called eternal pride, the Royal Academy in Order City.
Which is also where I’m about to enroll.
The horned carriage arrived at Isenbell’s capital — Order City, on the afternoon of February 13th. There were no delays along the way, and we actually arrived two days earlier than expected.
Aside from sitting in the carriage until my butt hurt, everything went smoothly.
“Little Syl, we’re almost there.”
Hearing Carlos’s words, I imdiately sat up straight from my half-asleep state and lifted the carriage curtain to poke my little head outside.
Twilight light poured down.
In the distance on the horizon, above the erald plains, a majestic cyan-white giant city ca into full view.
The city was wrapped in a huge transparent protective barrier, as if draped in cicada-wing-like golden veil, reflecting rainbow-like colors under the sunlight.
“Wow…”
I couldn’t help but let out an exclamation of wonder.
In this mont, I finally had the real feeling of being in a fantasy world.
Is this the “eggshell” they ntioned before… What principle is this? Magic?!
So amazing!
“What is that!”
I turned around with an excited face, grabbed Carlos’s sleeve and kept tugging, pointing outside the carriage with my other hand.
“Stop shaking …” Carlos gently brushed my hand away and looked at with a smile, “Pretty spectacular, isn’t it?”
“What is that! Magic?”
“Magic? What do you an by magic?” Carlos showed a puzzled expression, “That’s Order City’s ‘Boswell.’ It’s the greatest divine miracle that the Holy Church prayed to the gods for in the Gregorian Calendar… uh… how many years ago was it… probably more than 600 years ago from now. It’s said to be able to resist any evil invasion and keep the royal capital standing for ten thousand years… well, supposedly.”
I frowned upon hearing this.
“Supposedly?”
“Ah… it’s actually just a barrier that blocks people from entering. Many people jokingly call it an eggshell. Only those carrying special items granted by the royal capital can enter…” Carlos took out a silver badge from his chest and waved it in front of my eyes, “Here, this is it.”
I snatched the badge from him and examined it carefully in my palm.
The surface of the badge was bumpy and uneven, the edges weren’t particularly smooth either, and it had a strange sword pattern carved crookedly on it. The craftsmanship looked very crude, completely contrary to this country’s refined aesthetics.
“…Silver?”
“Not exactly.” Carlos shook his head, “Not entirely, anyway. It contains so… relics of the gods? Sothing like that. But most of it is silver, and there should be other tals too. The specific thod of forging is a secret of the royal capital. I think it must be a very complex process. Look how ugly it is…”
It was indeed quite ugly.
I played with the badge in my hand for a while, and the more I looked at it, the more excessively ugly I found it. I imdiately lost all interest and handed it back to Carlos, but he waved his hand.
“It’s for you. Although this thing is ugly, it’s a symbol of residence status in the royal capital. It would be very troubleso without it… Oh, I forgot to tell you, you were already registered as a resident of the royal capital two months ago. This badge was personally sent to the church by Queen Elizabeth. And silver ones are only for nobles in the royal capital; ordinary badges are brass.”
“…Oh.”
I nodded and casually put the badge into the money pouch at my waist.
The horned carriage bumped across the erald grassland and entered a small fortress at the foot of the royal capital. Carlos explained our identity and purpose to the silver-armored guards on duty, and only after showing them the badge did the soldiers bow and salute us.
They arranged another horned carriage exclusive to the royal capital and required us to transfer. After both Carlos and I got in, it slowly drove toward the gates of the royal capital.
“Ordinary horned carriages, even church-exclusive ones, cannot enter the royal capital. The badge only guarantees individual entry and exit; only royal capital horned carriages can pass through.”
Only royal capital carriages… could this barrier actually recognize vehicles?
I looked up, about to ask him, but Carlos preempted : “Don’t ask why, I don’t know.”
“Uh…”
My words were forcibly stuck in my throat.
…This person, why is he so impatient?
Shouldn’t soone like , such a cute… manly man asking him questions make him feel honored!
I felt sowhat indignant but couldn’t think of how to act on it for the mont, so I could only glare at him fiercely.
I’ll rember this for now, hmm.
Carlos’s 165th ti making unhappy, no revenge yet.
“Maybe this carriage also has those things, relics of the gods or sothing… If you’re interested, you can ask Queen Elizabeth.” Perhaps noticing my current expression, Carlos, who understood well, imdiately spoke again as if casually, “Anyway, I have to take you to et her tomorrow… Ah, what a headache-inducing woman… tsk.”
My eyebrows shot up and my gaze sharpened.
Seeing this situation, Carlos imperceptibly moved away quickly: “I’m not talking about you.”
…That’s more like it.
But… a headache-inducing woman? Is he referring to that queen?
How strange. I seed to see a trace of… was it finding her troubleso? Or… anxiety? in his eyes.
This made my curiosity stir restlessly.
What kind of person could make Carlos, who usually doesn’t care about anything, show such an expression?
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