After all, she had been living here for nearly half a month. If the young dragon truly lived here, she most likely would have seen it before.
The afternoon sunlight shone brightly over the courtyard, and the tall fountain sparkled in the radiant light.
Finihiya had planned to take the young dragon back and then ask Danila and the maids if they knew who the dragon’s owner was.
But the young dragon, who had been sleeping comfortably between her legs, woke up and, after licking her cheek, fluttered its wings and flew off toward the distant edge of the town.
“What a beautiful day today! Lady Finihiya.”
Just after waking from her nap, Finihiya was about to follow her usual routine and head to the second-floor library to pick out some books to pass the afternoon when Danila’s soft voice suddenly reached her ears.
Hmm?
Although a slight confusion stirred in her heart at the sound, she tilted her head and looked out through the window.
The vines climbing up the mansion’s walls and the red geraniums hanging from the windowsill shimmered with a moist glow under the sunlight.
Indeed, today’s weather was very nice.
She withdrew her gaze from the distance and smiled faintly in agreement.
“The weather really is quite nice today.
“It’s getting warm too. Later, I have a simple errand—going to the tailor’s shop to make some summer clothes. It’s a rare opportunity. Why don’t you come with me to the city, Lady Finihiya?”
Refuse.
The city?
This place was located in the Yabadawi Suburbs. To reach the bustling city, she would need to take a carriage.
Thinking of the bumpy carriage ride and the nauseating motion sickness it caused, a twinge of reluctance arose in her heart.
Though she was indeed curious about the Demon Race’s royal capital, considering the physical discomfort she would feel, she hesitated for a moment before attempting to say,
“Thank you for your kindness in thinking of me, but I think I will—”
Before she could finish her sentence, Danila gently pushed up her tortoiseshell-framed glasses and, maintaining that gentle tone, stopped her.
“Lady Finihiya, you should go out and see the world. You’ve been here reading for more than half a month.”
“Of course, enjoying reading is a wonderful hobby. But it’s also worrisome to spend so much time reading without any other entertainment.”
Counterargument.
Danila’s words left her silent, unsure how to respond.
Given Danila’s truly long years, Finihiya treated her more like a respected elder and didn’t have the courage to contradict her.
After hesitating slightly in her heart, she could only nod softly.
“Then… I’ll listen to Miss Danila.”
“I’ll have the servants prepare the carriage for you right away.”
After Danila left the room, Finihiya sat at the small table and chair inside.
Considering the convenience of going out and the scorching midsummer sun, she stood and approached the white wardrobe to pick out a simple, more breathable outfit.
Her eyes scanned the luxurious dresses in the wardrobe. Finally, she took down a pale pink-and-white tiered skirt.
The layers of ruffles overlapping like waves looked quite intricate, but compared to the other extravagant dresses, this one was relatively plain.
Moreover, the thin, smooth silk made it comfortable to wear during summer.
Facing the full-length mirror, Finihiya turned slightly, brought her hands behind her back, and deftly untied the laces.
She laid aside the black formal dress on the bed and sat on the edge to remove the thin, black silk over-the-knee stockings.
Just as she finished changing into the ruffled skirt, there was a light knock on the door.
The carriage was already waiting at the mansion’s entrance.
With the coachman’s help, she settled into the carriage cabin.
Danila was seated inside the carriage with her.
Two other maids were accompanying them but rode in another carriage.
The carriage rolled straight along the neatly paved cobblestone road, heading out of the manor.
As they reached the manor’s outskirts, Finihiya saw through the carriage window several Demon Soldiers patrolling.
These Demon Soldiers were handpicked by Darlian to guard the safety of the estate.
They were said to be elite troops of the Demon Race.
After leaving the manor’s territory, the carriage sped along a narrow path.
After sitting for over an hour inside the carriage, they finally arrived at their destination—the tailor’s shop Danila had mentioned.
Along the way, Finihiya curiously looked out through the half-open window.
The main street was crowded with people, and the shops bustled with vibrant, noisy activity.
In Yabadawi, various races lived together. Besides the Demon Race members like Darlian and Danila, there were also Demi-human Clans, Beastmen, the Minotaur Clan, and the Dark Elf Clan.
Seeing this cultural scene so different from Saint Margaret stirred a spark of curiosity deep inside Finihiya’s heart.
Though she had seen such sights when she first came to Yabadawi, her anxious state at the time had prevented her from paying close attention.
Now that her “imprisoned” life had settled down, she could afford to think about other things.
“Is it interesting?”
Danila’s gentle voice came from beside her as always.
Pulling her gaze away from the slow-moving old horse dragging a cart, Finihiya tilted her head toward Danila, a faint, pleasant smile blooming on her lips.
“Yes!”
“If Lady Finihiya is so interested, I’ll be sure to let you know next time we go shopping.”
Perhaps noticing that the smile on Finihiya’s lips suddenly carried a hint of bitterness, Danila asked with a hint of curiosity.
“What’s wrong? Don’t you want to go out again, Lady Finihiya?”
“No, it’s nothing.”
She didn’t know whether to explain her dislike of carriage rides to Danila.
The main reason for her reluctance to go out was the carriage ride itself.
Danila seemed to sense some other worries in Finihiya’s heart but didn’t press further and instead smiled and changed the subject.
“All right, let’s go inside.”
The tailor’s shop was beautifully decorated, like entering the inside of a gorgeous shell. The store displayed all kinds of luxurious dresses.
From these garments, it seemed the shop catered mainly to the noble class.
“You’ve finally arrived.”
From the depths of the shop came a mature, charming female voice.
Soon, a young demon woman with honey-colored long hair appeared before her.
“Lorina, long time no see.”
“Indeed, it’s been a long time.”
After greeting Danila briefly, the woman named Lorina turned her gaze toward them.
Her bright hazel eyes seemed to emit a dazzling light.