novelraw Chapter 102
Chapter 102
Chapter 102: Temporary Stop
“I wonder how Uncle Loruze and the others are doing.”
Staring out at the sky growing gloomier by the minute, Isabella puffed out her cheeks, her gaze gradually becoming distant.
“They should be fine.”
Sylvia opened her eyes and offered a simple response.
Loruze, including Lakdevo, had not left the City of Alova, but they had moved out of St. Ruls Cathedral.
After all, the Lord of Radiance still cared about appearances.
Based on the actions of Aksia and Buolanke, she had roughly inferred the attitude of the two churches within the Western Alliance.
Tacit approval.
Of course, they couldn’t go too far either.
“Mm.”
Isabella responded softly.
Then, a hint of confusion appeared on her face:
“I wonder what Father and Mother are doing.”
At this, Sylvia’s expression gradually grew complex as well.
Judging from the clues provided in the dream, which was a by-product of that extraordinary ritual, the Earl of Lancaster was very likely an elf.
Which brought up the real question—what about Isabella?
She had examined the girl’s body several times and had found no trace of elven blood.
The girl was a pure-blooded human!
A few days ago, she had mentioned this suspicion to Isabella, but the noble girl merely smiled ambiguously and said nothing.
And after she had decided to accept Anwendeika’s request to go search for their captain in the Sonar Sea, Isabella had, somewhat out of character, chosen to leave with her.
At the time, her reason had been that none of the people following Sylvia had time, so she naturally had to take on the duty of serving her.
Moreover, since Sylvia had chosen to “split up,” it would certainly be inconvenient to travel alone—there had to be at least one attendant.
At this thought, the gray-haired head said nothing more, only turned her gaze to follow Isabella’s out the window.
Just then, a flake of crystalline snow drifted down from the sky.
“It’s snowing.”
There was still a trace of dreamy wonder in Isabella’s tone, but her gaze returned, settling on the head resting on her lap.
“Mm.”
Sylvia shifted uncomfortably.
While feeling the discomfort, she comforted herself inwardly:
Just one more week, and Adela would be able to repair her body.
By then, once Lakdevo, acting as the courier, arrived through the Manifest Realm’s transit, everything would become easier.
...
The snow grew heavier. By dusk, the steam train was forced to make an unscheduled stop at a small station on the border of the Kingdom of Savia.
After ten hours of travel, they were just about to leave the Kingdom of Savia.
Upon hearing the conductor announce that the train would not move again until ten o’clock the next morning, Isabella decided to disembark and find a hotel in this small city called “Tils” to spend the night.
Just as she was about to pack Sylvia into the box she carried with her, the gray-haired puppet spoke up:
“Don’t put me in there.”
“Mm... it’s uncomfortable.”
“……”
“You're being a bit willful, Your Highness.”
Isabella spoke solemnly, and Sylvia’s expression froze in that instant.
Are you itching for a beating?
She muttered internally. The gray-haired puppet kept a straight face and allowed the grinning Isabella to scoop her up.
“One more week.”
She said expressionlessly.
“Mm... actually, this isn’t too bad.”
Relying on the black veil formed by Sloth, Isabella joked lightly.
The two chatted as they stepped off the train.
Their boots crunched in the snow, and the golden-haired girl appeared rather excited.
If she weren’t holding her liege in her arms, she might have reached out to catch the falling snowflakes.
As the delicate flakes melted on her exposed skin, her fair complexion turned slightly red.
But she didn’t mind. As a swordmaster, her constitution had already been significantly enhanced.
“Hmm? You look like you’re seeing snow for the first time.”
Suddenly, a voice sounded beside her.
It was a female adventurer—Anwendeika’s teammate and a member of the Southern Cross Constellation.
At this moment, the black veil surrounding them wasn’t the type Sylvia used before to render herself entirely invisible.
This time, the veil’s function was to mislead the senses of nearby people and alter what they perceived.
As a result, the adventurers of the Southern Cross Constellation could see Isabella—but not Sylvia.
In their eyes, this noble girl was merely enjoying the snowfall alone, with a look of wonder and excitement on her face.
“Yes.”
Isabella nodded, a trace of nostalgia and melancholy surfacing in her expression:
“I used to be in poor health and wasn’t allowed outside on snowy days. I could only watch the snow-covered land through the glass.”
“I see...”
The female adventurer’s face suddenly softened with a touch of compassion.
Then, she reached out her hand.
“Aelf Stein.”
Seeing this, Isabella could only offer an awkward yet polite smile.
Because at that moment, both of her hands were holding Sylvia’s head.
And seeing this, the gray-haired puppet smirked disdainfully in her heart.
Next, starlight burst from her neck, and she floated into the air.
“……”
Watching the scene before her, Isabella’s lips twitched uncontrollably.
Fortunately, the Authority of Sloth was still active, so no one noticed her reaction.
Then, with one hand now free, she reached out and shook Aelf’s hand.
Seeing this, Aelf smiled.
“Please forgive me for using a gesture more commonly seen among men.”
“It’s just that I... well, I didn’t forget noble etiquette—it’s just that I never learned it.”
“No worries.”
A serviceable smile remained on Isabella’s face.
The two exchanged a few pleasantries, and after watching Aelf walk away, Sylvia guided her floating head back down into Isabella’s hand.
“Let’s find an inn. Standing in the snow too long isn’t good.”
“Mm.”
Five minutes later, the two walked into the closest inn to the station—a place called the “Snow Lodge”—and rented a first-class room.
However, the innkeeper gave Isabella a rather peculiar look.
Still, the old woman didn’t say much. After handing over a set of keys, she inexplicably warned:
“If you hear anything at night, don’t open the door.”
“……”
In that moment, Sylvia was slightly dazed.
Why did this feel so much like one of those horror stories she used to hear back in her hometown?
Hmm... but yeah, it’s probably best not to open the door if someone knocks.
After all, it might be dangerous.
Of course, it definitely wouldn’t be dangerous for them.
As they made their way up the wooden stairs to the second floor, Isabella suddenly furrowed her brows:
“Why did the innkeeper look at us so strangely?”
To this, Sylvia’s head wobbled slightly as she replied with a hint of helplessness:
“Of course it was strange. Have you ever seen travelers without luggage?”
“Huh?”
“Uh...”
“Mm.”