Chapter 45: Arrival

“Phew, we finally made it.”

Flora and Lena stood outside the city gates of White Stone City. People were constantly streaming in and out, making it far more crowded than she had imagined.

Because this town had the strongest festive atmosphere in the region, many people from nearby towns and small villages had flocked here as well.

Flora looked toward the crowd. Some carried bags on their backs, others led children by the hand, and some pushed small carts filled with goods. They didn’t seem cramped despite the numbers; instead, there was a natural sense of order.

She looked up at the city gate again.

The white stones looked clean under the sunlight, possessing a gentle hue polished by time. Small traces of moss clung to the crevices between the stones, looking like patterns that the city had grown itself.

There were fewer guards stationed at the gate than usual, and their postures were much more relaxed. Some leaned against the wall chatting, while another was looking down to give a child directions.

When they checked those entering the city, they only gave them a cursory glance before quickly letting them through.

The two of them blended smoothly into the flow of people.

The moment she stepped through the gate, Flora’s footsteps faltered imperceptibly.

The sounds of the city suddenly rushed over her.

Voices, laughter, the shouts of street vendors, and the occasional light clinking of metal and wood all intertwined.

Yet, it wasn’t noisy. It was as if the sounds had been harmonized; when they reached her ears, they left only a blurred but clear impression of “bustle.”

The road was paved with the same white stone. The surface had been trodden flat, but the edges retained their original roughness.

The streets were relatively wide, and the buildings on either side varied in height but maintained a similar proportion, making the entire scene appear more coordinated.

She walked slowly.

Her gaze drifted unconsciously across her surroundings.

Some houses had potted plants on their windowsills, their leaves hanging down and swaying gently with the wind. Some people had tied strips of colored cloth to their doorknobs, each a different hue.

A few shops had pushed wooden signs out to the roadside; the lettering on them had been repainted many times, showing they had been in use for many years.

These things were cluttered and trivial, with little connection to one another. But Flora couldn’t help but look at them — one after another.

‘So this is what a town is like.’

“It’s much more cheerful here than in the castle, isn’t it?” Lena whispered beside her.

Flora nodded.

“It feels like… even the air is different.”

When those words left her mouth, she was the first to be stunned.

But she truly felt that way.

The rhythm of the people walking here was more casual, and they didn’t deliberately lower their voices when speaking.

Even when the children on the street ran around and were scolded by adults, they simply responded with a laugh.

‘It’s quite similar to the human side.’

Her gaze fell on a street corner.

A small stall was set up there, and the owner was laying out freshly baked food. Steam rose, carrying the scent of oil and spices. She couldn’t see exactly what it was, but she felt the aroma was very grounding.

“It’s very lively,” she said softly.

“Today is just the beginning,” Lena smiled. “By noon, there will be even more people.”

They continued forward.

The streets began to branch off. Some led to wider main roads, while others turned into narrower alleys.

There were people on every path; some were just passing through, while others had clearly come here for a specific reason.

Flora noticed that some people would stop by the roadside to exchange a few words with people they knew. Those pauses were very natural, requiring no justification.

“Your Highness,” Lena suddenly lowered her voice. “You seem to be daydreaming.”

Flora snapped back to her senses.

“It just feels a bit fresh.”

“Is it your first time in a town like this?”

“Not exactly.”

Lena glanced at her, saying nothing more. She simply slowed her pace to walk side-by-side with her.

The crowd gradually became denser.

As Flora walked slowly, she suddenly felt the person beside her stop. Before she could turn her head, Lena had already gently tugged at her sleeve.

“Your Highness.”

She lowered her voice, her tone carrying a hint of irrepressible excitement.

“Should we go somewhere first?”

Flora blinked, asking instinctively, “Where?”

Lena simply smiled and didn’t answer immediately.

“You’ll know when we get there.”

The words were spoken softly but with a certain decisiveness that brooked no refusal, as if she had planned this long ago. Flora looked at her and, seeing her natural and even expectant expression, didn’t press further.

“Okay,” she nodded.

Lena immediately turned and led her into a narrower street.

This path was noticeably quieter than the main road from before. There were still many pedestrians, but most seemed familiar with the area.

Some chatted with shopkeepers as they walked. The buildings on both sides were lower, and the windows were positioned closer to the street, allowing one to see the lights inside clearly.

Flora’s gaze unconsciously swept the surroundings.

This felt more like a place where people actually “lived.”

It wasn’t the bustle meant for outsiders to see, but rather the streets that familiar people would walk every day.

Lena walked with practiced ease, hardly hesitating. She stopped in front of a small shop with a wooden sign hanging out front. She looked up as if confirming something, then turned around.

“We’re here.”

Flora followed her gaze.

It was an unremarkable little shop. The storefront wasn’t large, and a few earthenware jars sat on the windowsill by the door, holding several dried flower branches.

The sign had been bleached pale by time, but the words on it were still legible.

Happy Sweet House.

The handwriting was rounded, carrying a gentle, old-fashioned feel.