After leaving the area where the external plantation was, the pair could see the city gate, Secilia took a deep breath when she saw the city wall that although it was not as big as the capital's was still considered big, after all Riou was a duchy.
"Aren't the guards kind of slow today? They didn't even see me pass…”
Helena glanced with an inquisitive look at the girl when she talked about the guards, Secilia didn't notice the same and kept walking.
Upon reaching the gate, the guards were distracted by documents from the caravans and merchants arriving at the duchy.
"Where are the backups for guarding and checking? I thought the duke had ordered there to be at least four of you”
The guard who was reading a document was startled to see the duchess standing in front of him, before he could even answer the woman continued.
“Send an extra guard to the southern area and find the two… slackers who 'disappeared'.”
The Duchess paused briefly, looking around. The southern area does not have any walls as most of Riou's plantations are close to a cliff.
“Miss Helen! No need to worry so much, we are just merchants”
The voice was coming from a fat gentleman standing a few meters away from Helena, she recognized the voice as one of the wine-exporting merchants, which was the main spice of Riou, the city being the only producer of Modrika and Farvayn wines due to the city's unique grapes and apples.
“Mr. Jofrey, I know the merchants themselves pose no danger, but the same cannot be said for the mercenaries and adventurers who gather at this holiday season.”
After saying that, Helena performed a brief bow and continued walking calmly through the gate with the tense and anguished guards.
The entrance consisted of two bridges over a small river that passed through the city, one of the bridges was small where people normally passed and the other big one where the wagons carried goods.
After crossing the bridge, the women could see the long corridor of molded wood and stone houses that stretched into the center of town.
"What do you think about going to Miss Ana?"
Asked Helena with a smile to her daughter who nodded in agreement and walked towards the center.
The city center was usually very busy, in the center there was a statue shaped to resemble a hooded angel holding a spear, the statue divided the main street at a crossroads, each side of the street had several buildings and opened routes to other streets in the city. , in the main area of the center were the main stores of the city, the atelier, the flower shop, the gunsmith and others, but what stood out the most was the central of the adventurers guild that was on a corner.
As they passed through the city, Sicily and her mother could see a different movement from the days of the rest of the year. They approached the city florist who was preparing a few bouquets of roses and placing the display outside the store.
“Hello, Miss Ana, how have you been?”
Asked Secilia making a brief bow with her hands on the side of her dress, the scarlet red haired lady replied with the same length and a wide smile, after which she handed a white rose to each.
“I'm fine, Aliana has been helping me to take care of the store and with the arrival of the Kronblade festival, the inns are already full!”
The lady responded with a light laugh when talking about the inns.
The Kronblade festival, or festival of the white petals, was an annual month-long event that brought together people from all over Edel and other realms beyond the continent of Valandor serving as a commemoration of King Hargar's victory over the fallen sorcerer's army. name that happened north of the heroic rest mountain. A festival full of food, roses and white fabrics scattered throughout the city; delicacies from different corners of the world gather there and in the camps that surround the city, transforming that place into an area almost as important as the capitals, the Laffrey family has been responsible for hosting and organizing the event for as long as people can remember.
“Ah, Miss Helena, Duke Bargosa coming to the festival?”
The lady asked with a smile on her face until she realized that Helena didn't have a good expression, the woman looked away at her daughter who seemed distracted by a group of adventurers entering the guild, she let out a sigh and approached whispering in her ear. From Ana
“Best not to comment on him now, but yes… he's coming with his knights.”
The lady was silent for a moment and looked at the girl who kept a smiling expression looking at the townspeople working on organizing the festival.
Secilia turned to the two with a smile and then noticed that the lady was a little more serious than before.
"Has something happened, Madame Ana?" Are you feeling fine?
She asked as she approached her but before she touched her the lady shook her head picking up a wooden watering can and started watering the flowers
"I'm fine, just a little tired, how about you go home and get some rest?" The festival starts in two days, you should really enjoy it.
Ana turned her face to hers with a less open smile than before as she watered the plants. Secilia nodded a little, but understood that she must be tired from working so hard.
“Do not exaggerate! if you need you can call me!”
The girl grinned, placing her right hand on her chest.
Saying those words made her mother cross her arms and put a devilish smile on her face.
“You have other things to do, Secilia, don't forget you skipped history, dance and music lessons today.”
Helena walked ahead of the girl looking at the mansion further down the street with a rather serious expression and with a faraway look, for a moment Secilia remembered her older brother, Teodor, the day he joined the order of the king.
“Come on, what does Katherine have this year? Perhaps some merchant brought something from other lands and sold it to her.”
The mother turned to the girl with a smile and keeping her eyes closed, shortly after she resumed her gaze towards the crossroads, but to the right side on the other side of the same where there was a two-story building that took up a considerable space, although didn't take up the entire block, in front of it was a facade with Kattepels written on it and a cat's paw beside it.
The two walked calmly to the other side of the sidewalk, greeting hunters and traders from various places who passed them, including a group of white-robed Elves who passed looking at Secilia.
Helena opens the door for her daughter who for a moment is distracted looking in the direction of the elves
“They're part of the diplomats, they're supposed to meet your father and the others soon. Come on in, it's not nice to stare at people.
Helena said with a calm voice watching her daughter who smiled and turned her face again to her mother accompanying her.
The inner side of the store was a reception room with two arched doors, one without a door on the right side and one with a red door in the back behind the counter, around there were some common clothes that were bought daily by people, but the receptionist I was putting away the traditional clothes and exchanging them for more decorated and beautiful models.
“Oh, welcome, Miss Laffrey! what do you want today
The blonde girl in a plain white outfit and a dark blue vest turned to them with a wide smile making a brief bow to the two
"Hello Victoria, isn't your mother here today?"
Helena asked with a slight smile, making a simple bow to Secilia.
“No ma'am, she left to help Mr. Tales organize the visitors' stands, but I can help you today.
The girl resumed putting the yellow dress she was carrying on the hanger and then pointed to the doorless arch, Helena and Secilia headed towards the other side looking at a large collection of clothes.
“ Have any merchants brought clothes from other regions?”
Helena asked looking at some clothes with a smile on her face as she ran her fingers over a dress.
“Yes ma'am, do you want to wear something different this year?”
The girl stood by the door watching the two women.
“No, since I'm always the one who wants something different, you know how my mother is.”
Victoria let out a low laugh.
"Maybe I'll risk something this year, what do you have to show us?"
Helena dropped her clothes and turned to the receptionist, who in turn indicated for them to head towards the red door in the previous room.
After the three arrived at the place, it was possible to see some clothes, both female and male, both robust and detailed.
The girl removed seals from some boxes with distinctive Western-style clothing (reminiscent of traditional Chinese and Japanese styles).
“This year the five islands decided to join the celebration, they are in a camp in the north area of the city.”
While the girl was talking Secilia took a white kimono with a fox design on the back.
“ I noticed that many adventurers from Bessua came this year, more curious wanting to explore the rest?”
Asked Helena, noting her daughter's interest in the strange outfit.
“Probably, Merida reported that she overheard a group conversation about the legend of the jade statue… Seriously, where did they come up with that there is a statue made entirely of jade lost in the southern region of the hero's rest?”
Victoria placed her right hand on her forehead, letting out a sigh.
“Anyway, I asked her to keep an eye on the thieves, I've heard rumors of a thieves' union emerging in Besua.”
Helena withdrew her fan and put it in front of her face.
"Has the guard been notified? It would be nice to put some guards near the southern outer wall of the mansion, some trees are very close to it… it would be easy for someone to enter that way.”
Helena glanced at Secilia when the girl said that, when she noticed her mother's eyes, the girl turns to her putting the clothes just in front of her face, leaving only her eyes visible and looking away to the floor
“N-It's not like I've ever used it… I just realized it. Oh! I liked this one, I want to take it.”
The girl lifted the clothing completely covering her face, behind it she let out a sigh audible by both women.
Victoria let out a laugh as Helena closed her fan and used it to lightly tap Secilia's head.
“ I'll want a special dress for the ceremony, this year it will be Secilia's turn to perform.”
“ It can leave! I'll prepare everything and send it to the mansion.”
Secilia and Helena after making up their minds were heading towards the exit door when Victoria appeared on the bench calling for helena
“ I was forgetting! I learned that some students from the Kalamit Academy and who will accompany them will be Professor Auderin.”
Helena had a happy smile on her face and thanked her with a wave before leaving with her daughter.
“Come on, your father must already be in agony waiting for us.”
Secilia sighed and followed her mother's side asking who Auderin would be.
The two walked calmly towards the main street that led directly from the gate to the mansion, the dismay on the girl's face was visible.
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