The road was long and smooth, with trees standing tall on both sides. Two black and gold carriages moved slowly but steadily on the path. The sound of horses breathing, hooves hitting the ground, and wheels rolling filled the air. A gentle wind blew, making the leaves rustle.
Inside the first carriage, Aric was sitting beside Nora. She had her eyes closed, resting, while Aric looked outside the window quietly. On the other side, Darcy sat next to Shelly. Darcy looked excited, her hands tapping her knees. Shelly was calm, sitting straight, looking outside now and then. The inside was soft and clean. A small box near the floor had fruits and cool water.
> "It's been a while since we've gone this far from home," Darcy said with a small smile.
"Hmm," Aric nodded. "We've all changed a lot."
Shelly turned and spoke in her gentle voice,
> "This city will be a big step. Don't act like village folk there."
Nora gave a small laugh without opening her eyes,
> "Even nobles act like fools in the capital sometimes."
The second carriage was just behind. Sarah sat near the window, waving at some passing farmers. Rozie sat beside her, holding a sword on her lap, her face serious but not angry. Lindy was quiet in the corner, holding a notebook, drawing something again.
> "You've been drawing for the past hour," Rozie said.
"It's my design. I want to show Aric," Lindy replied softly.
Sarah stretched her arms and smiled,
> "This trip is fun. I wish we did this more often."
The carriages moved slowly through open lands now. The trees had become fewer, and wide green fields stretched out far ahead. In the distance, they could now see the edge of the main city of the Northern Region — tall stone walls and towers.
As the carriages stopped for a while, everyone stepped out to stretch. Guards riding horses rode up and spoke to Rozie, giving her updates.
Rozie turned to Aric and said,
> "We're almost there. Just 20 minutes more. From here, the road splits into three. The city is divided into the Trade District, Residential Hill, and the Royal Line."
Everyone looked excited. Even the horses seemed to sense the change in air.
.......
The wheels rolled gently over the stone path as the two elegant carriages entered the residential hill — the wealthiest district in the Northern region. At the front of the caravan was Rozie's personal carriage, finely crafted with golden patterns and a velvet crest on the door. Inside sat Rozie, Sarah, and Lindy, the three ladies chatting softly.
Rozie, in her role as a noble, wore a deep purple gown that hugged her body tightly, a slit revealing one of her long legs with each small shift in posture. Her earrings shimmered like frost, and her neckline dropped just low enough to make heads turn.
Beside her, Sarah wore a white dress with silver lace, her strong thighs visible through a side slit. She had tied her red hair into a long braid, giving her a wild and elegant mix. She looked outside occasionally, checking the surroundings with a soldier's sharp eyes.
Lindy, on the other hand, wore a navy-blue outfit that looked like a scholar's robe but was tighter around the waist, making her slim figure pop out more. A tiny chain hung from her belt, purely for style.
Behind their carriage came the second one — slightly less flashy but still noble. Inside were Aric, Nora, Darcy, and Shelly.
Shelly, being the richest among them, wore a dark red gown that sparkled under the lantern light from outside. Her chest was pushed up and proudly displayed, and her hips rested easily against the soft cushions of the seat. She looked like a true queen.
Darcy wore a peach-colored dress, very tight around her waist and upper body.
Her short skirt revealed most of her smooth thighs, and her innocent face only made her more tempting. She leaned on Aric's shoulder, clearly tired.
Nora, now part of Rozie's guild, wore a black sleeveless robe that hugged her figure, and on her chest was the insignia of her rank — a silver badge glowing faintly.
Aric, sitting in the middle, wore simple noble clothes — a white shirt, dark brown coat, and black trousers. His eyes were calm but sharp. They all now belonged to the fake noble house "Valenfort", a made-up name Rozie had set up to protect Aric's identity.
As they reached the gates of the mansion, dozens of servants and guards stood in two lines, bowing deeply.
"Welcome back, Lady Rozie! Welcome, Lady Shelly!" one of the stewards shouted.
They didn't even glance at Aric and the others. In this land, high-tier nobles were royalty, and low-tier nobles were just background.
The carriages stopped. One by one, the group stepped out — all of them clearly tired from the 3 day journey. Their hair slightly messy, clothes wrinkled from sitting for so long, but their eyes still shone with purpose.