After days of walking along the Aokrest River, Seraphine and Lionel Kisaragi finally reached Mizurelle, the beautiful water-city. It was breathtaking: shimmering canals replaced streets, and small, elegant boats were used instead of carriages.
Clumsy Canals
"See? I told you this city was real!" Seraphine said brightly, her unique star-like pupils wide with awe. She looked excited, forgetting her tired feet for a moment.
"I never said it wasn't real. I said we'd get lost," Lionel grumbled, immediately pointing out the flaw in the plan. He had his fierce face on, but secretly, he was also impressed by the city's beauty.
They rented a small, simple boat to navigate the canals. Seraphine, who was naturally careless, took the lead, trying to push the boat forward with a long pole.
Splash!
She immediately lost her balance. She didn't fall into the water, but the pole slipped, splashing a huge wave of canal water right into Lionel's face.
Lionel spluttered, shaking the water out of his messy hair. He looked completely soaked and furiously annoyed.
"I am so, so sorry, Lionel!" Seraphine cried out, grabbing a handkerchief to wipe his face. Her gentle face was full of real distress.
"Don't touch me! You're the most accident-prone person I've ever met! You could drown in a puddle!" he shouted, wiping his eyes with the back of his hand. He was trying to sound genuinely angry, but he looked more like a grumpy, wet puppy.
His heart, his unbelievably soft heart, was already attached to her, so he couldn't stay mad. He took over the poling, saying harsh things about her clumsiness the whole time. Seraphine, in turn, silently gave him a star-shaped cookie she had saved. He ate it when she wasn't looking.
Unexpected Kindness
As they docked the boat to find a place to stay, a woman with a child nearby saw Seraphine. The child had a small, nasty cut from a piece of broken glass near the canal bank.
Seraphine rushed over, her kind-hearted nature taking over. She immediately forgot her argument with Lionel. Using the clean water from her canteen, she washed the wound and carefully applied her herbal paste. Her Herbal & Medicine Skills were genuinely excellent.
The mother was so grateful that she insisted they stay at her small, clean boarding house for free.
"See, Lionel? Being kind and useful pays off!" Seraphine whispered happily as they settled into the warm room.
"It was pure luck," Lionel muttered, looking at the floor. But he took the clean towel she offered him. He was tired of arguing, but he kept up his protective watch.
From a hidden spot across the canal, Yuzael Valestrian watched the entire scene. He had followed them and arrived in Mizurelle. He saw Seraphine's gentle act, the way she rushed to help the child, and the soft smile on her face.
Yuzael, who was handsome but usually very cold, felt a tiny prick of emotion. He was intrigued by her easy humility and kindness. She was the first person to genuinely surprise him.
He was still distant, but Seraphine was certainly forcing him to notice her. He quickly checked into a luxury inn nearby, planning his next move to join the group.