The journey across the land continued in quiet elegance through the following day. Then came the morning of the day after that.
It was the quiet hour before dawn, a time when most were still lost in sleep. Ren, who had stayed up late immersed in a book, blinked his eyes open and sat up in bed. He raised the window blinds he’d drawn before sleep, watching the first sliver of the morning sun begin to crest the horizon.
It was still too early for breakfast, but he wasn’t in the mood to drift back to sleep. After washing up and tidying his appearance, Ren stepped out of his guest room. Seeking a cup of tea to shake off the last of his drowsiness, he headed to the dining car, only to find Fiona already there. She sat alone at a window-side table, nursing a cup of tea.
"Good morning, Master Ren."
Besides her, the car was nearly empty, save for a few refined-looking young couples.
"Good morning. You’re up early, Lady Fiona."
"I’m always up by this hour. But you’re quite early yourself, Master Ren."
Invited by Fiona’s lovely giggle, Ren sat down across from her. Almost immediately, a service staff member appeared out of nowhere, prepared tea for Ren, and promptly departed.
Ren looked over the menu on the table, considering a light snack. As she watched him, Fiona glanced down at the glass in front of her. It had been filled with fruit water until just a moment ago, but now it was empty, save for a few drops of condensation chilled by the ice. In the glass, she caught a small reflection of herself.
"...I don't look... disheveled, do I?" she murmured thoughtlessly, her hand drifting to her bangs.
Her appearance was perfectly tidy, but even so, had she known she would meet Ren like this, she found herself wishing she’d spent another five—no, ten minutes on her grooming. She had become suddenly, acutely concerned about the precise angle of her hair.
"Oh, did you say something just now?"
"N-No! It's nothing!"
Fiona let go of her bangs and gently stroked the silken hair falling toward her chest. Her profile, illuminated by the morning sun finally beginning to climb, took on a radiance like a polished gemstone.
"We’ll be in Eupeheim soon," Ren noted. "Did you enjoy your journey on the Gardiknight?"
"Of course. I was just thinking that I’d like to buy a ticket and ride it again on another occasion."
"I’m glad. Please, be sure to enjoy your time in Eupeheim as well."
Tomorrow, Ren, Licia, and Lezard were scheduled to visit the Marquis Ignat Manor. It was the event Ulysses had long desired—a formal gathering to express his gratitude to his great benefactors.
Their conversation drifted on, and the car gradually began to grow more crowded as the sun fully revealed itself. Eventually, the two returned to their respective rooms.
At ten in the morning—an hour they would normally spend in their first academy lecture—the Gardiknight finally drew near its destination.
Ren and Licia watched in awe as the beauty of the region known as the White Crown filled the window. White-washed houses lined the streets, interlaced with a complex network of waterways where boats drifted peacefully. Massive structures towered over the landscape, marking the scale of the great city. Eupeheim seemed to speak eloquently of why this City of Water, overlooking a crescent-shaped bay, was called the White Crown, and why generations of the Imperial Family had visited so frequently. The city was a sprawling, picturesque metropolis, rivaling the Imperial Capital in its grandeur.
The Gardiknight came to a stop at Eupeheim's largest station. With a white-painted exterior matching the city's aesthetic, the station was a massive architectural work of breathtaking beauty.
Naturally, festivities were held here as well. As Ulysses had predicted, a tedious series of aristocratic greetings followed. Once the scheduled events concluded, the guests began to filter out of the station and into the city.
"Licia, Ren."
It was Lezard who called out to them on the crowded station platform.
"A carriage to the inn has been prepared, so let’s head out."
"Yes, Father."
"Understood."
Today’s plan was to head to the inn first and unpack. As the three began to move, Fiona stepped forward to speak with them.
"Everyone, our family’s escort will arrive at your inn tomorrow. Please, enjoy your stay in Eupeheim today. If you need anything at all, do not hesitate to call for us."
She finished with a graceful curtsy and turned to leave.
"Master Ren, see you tomorrow!"
In a rare show of playfulness, she caught Ren’s eye and gave him a charming wink before she departed. She seemed to be looking forward to tomorrow more than anything.
Once they boarded the carriage, the coachman set the horses into a walk without needing to be told the destination. Licia spoke to Ren while looking out the window.
"It’s amazing, isn't it? Eupeheim."
"It still feels surreal to be on such familiar terms with the lord of a city this grand."
"If you're going to say that, Ren, you're also very close with the Third Prince."
"...That's true."
Ren had been born in a remote village; thinking back, he realized just how far he’d traveled. When he considered how much he was now able to do for his village because of these connections, he felt he could justify feeling proud of himself for once.
"You two, look over there. You might find that interesting," Lezard said with a smile.
Ren and Licia looked in the direction he indicated. In their line of sight was a corner of a massive harbor. The port, located in the crescent-shaped bay, was the largest in Leomel. Several warships were anchored there.
It was a sobering thought that every warship not moored in the military harbor was part of Ulysses’s personal forces. While it was true that Eupeheim was a historically and culturally important city, it was also a vital strategic point with great significance as a center for trade. In terms of both commerce and national defense, it boasted a scale that was top-tier within the empire.
After finishing an early lunch at the inn, Ren was resting when the attendant spoke up.
"Master Ren, someone is here to see you."
The Clausel family attendant, who had accompanied them this far, delivered the message. Licia, who had been having lunch with Ren in his room as if it were the most natural thing in the world, looked up in confusion.
"For Ren? Is it Marquis Ignat or Lady Fiona?"
"No, it is someone else."
"I wonder who it could be..."
Ren stood up and left Licia's side. A knight was waiting in the hallway—the Strong Sword User Ren had seen many times at the Lion Sanctum.
"Good day, Ren-dono."
"I see. So it was Radius."
"Indeed. I arrived from the Imperial Capital by magic ship alongside His Highness. I’ve been sent to escort you at his request."
The Lion Sanctum Knight nodded. Radius had not traveled on the Gardiknight due to his busy schedule, but it seemed he had also arrived in Eupeheim. Ren returned to the room briefly to inform Licia of the situation and let her know he was leaving.
"I understand. I'll pass the word to my father, so go ahead."
"Thank you. I’ll be back in a while."
"Yes. Be careful."
Ren left the room again and walked with the knight, who was dressed in plain clothes. They stepped into the inn's elevator to head to the ground floor.
"How was your journey on the Gardiknight?" the knight asked.
"It was great. It was my first time spending a night on a train. It was a wonderful experience."
"Oh, I knew it!" the knight’s voice was full of excitement.
"Are you interested in the train?"
"Very much so! I intend to ride it on my day off eventually. I’m hoping to secure a ticket for the first-class car."
The first-class car was where Ren and the others had stayed, but the tickets were notoriously expensive. However, the knight continued as if that were no obstacle.
"Haha... a bachelor knight doesn't have much to spend on, so the pay just keeps piling up. One has to enjoy it when the opportunity arises."
"...I hope you have a very pleasant journey when you do."
The Gardiknight was a project spearheaded by the formidable Ulysses. It seemed that this unprecedented form of land travel had captured the imagination of even the Strong Sword Users.
Meanwhile, back in Ren's guest room, the attendant turned to Licia.
"Will you be returning to your room, Young Lady?"
"...Um, what should I do?"
The attendant assumed she would return to her room at once, but Licia paused, looking uncharacteristically indecisive. She immediately said, "I'm only joking," and stood up, but the attendant was slightly surprised by her behavior, which seemed more self-conscious of Ren than ever before.
As she stepped into the hallway, a friend's voice reached her from the other end.
"Ah, there you are, Licia! I’ve been looking for you!"
It was Sera. While Licia was surprised by this unexpected reunion, Vane appeared slightly behind her. Licia exchanged greetings with Sera, who reached her first.
"It’s been since we parted this morning. Are you staying here too, Sera?"
"Yeah. We just finished lunch, so we were just talking about heading out to explore. How about you?"
"I just finished eating with Ren."
Sera had a sword at her waist, and Vane was similarly armed. For some reason, both were wearing their academy uniforms.
"Why are you two in your uniforms?"
"Like I said, we're going out. If we’re moving around, clothes that are easy to move in are better, right?"
"...Is that the only reason?"
"Yeah. Besides, we’re only students for so long. We might as well get some use out of them before we graduate and can’t wear them anymore."
Sera puffed out her chest proudly. Even so, Licia felt there was no real need to wear a school uniform after coming all the way to Eupeheim, though she could agree they were practical for movement.
"Since we're here, why don't you come with us, Licia?"
"Hmm... what should I do?"
As Licia hesitated, Vane spoke up. "How about Ren joins us too?"
"Too bad. Ren just left a few minutes ago on some business."
"Oh... really?"
Vane and Sera both let out disappointed sighs. They were one step too late.
"It's a shame Ren isn't here, but what about you, Licia? If you have time, why don't you come along?"
Lezard had a bit of work to do, but he had graciously given Ren and Licia the day off, telling them to enjoy their holiday. Licia had originally intended to relax at the inn and go out with Ren to see the city at night once he returned.
However, judging by their tone, "going out" likely meant heading somewhere outside the city itself.
Licia nodded. She felt she ought to hear exactly what they had in mind.