Duke Hugh and his entourage immediately left the Capital of Otis after a few days of staying in the Royal Palace as commemoration of winning the war against the Lucman soldiers.
And now, they have arrived in the South.
The Black Stallion Knights and Duke Hugh decided to disguise themselves and used a different approach in transportation to the South to also accumulate information on the way.
They have two means of concealing themselves and that is using a merchant cart and becoming a merchant themselves while the others will act as an escort or mercenary.
Austin, the vice-leader of the Black Stallion Knights, poses as the newbie merchant with an escort of three people namely Duke Hugh, Mike, and Selis. The others were in a transportation cart with some commoners to socialize and gather information.
They will meet at the border of the South after a week of surveillance.
Dress as a commoner, no one would think that the known reapers of the North are at the South to deal with the attacks of the knights of Glockman dressed as bandits and are terrorizing the citizens.
At the gate of the South, a line of people are trying to enter it. So, the Black Stallion Knights could blend in with no problem.
"We will have no problem with entering the South" Salis mumbled, the knight with a pastel hair color.
"Keep quiet, Salis. We're on a mission." Duke Hugh answered. He's hair was changed into rustic brown because his dark hair would stand out as it signifies the royal blood.
Salis' gesture zipping his mouth as a form of obeyance and smile towards Duke Hugh who only sighs because of his sillines.
As they were the next in line, the guard glanced at their merchant cart and saw the three men who were wearing swords in their waist and looked at Austin who was smiling in front of him.
"I have never seen you before... Is this your first time in the South?" The old guard at the South Gate asked Austin , who was dressed in a woolen tunic, belted at the waist, with embroidery at sleeves and hem.
While the others, such as Duke Hugh, Mike and Salis are wearing short tunic over a short trouser and armor-clad with a sword on their waist, proof that they are Austin's escort.
"Yes… I had never seen the South and thought that it would be a good chance to broaden my horizon as a new merchant!"
Austin's enthusiasm made the old guard smile benignly.
"But why did you hire mercenaries who look constipated, demon-like… and that last one looks absent-minded?" The old guard said as he pointed at the three men using his chin. The men who had rustic brown hair, pastel hair, and murky red hair also stared at the guard as if they knew they were being bad-mouthed by him.
"Pfft!"
Austin saw what the old guard was talking about, Duke Hugh has his brows almost touching each other as he scowls. Mike was the same as usual with the scary looking face because of his scar and Salis who look so innocent that he looks dumb.
Austin can't help but laugh at how accurately the old guard describes the faces of three men.
"Are you sure you'll be alright?"
"Ha-hahaha!"
The concern of the old guard made Austin's laugh louder.
"Ahem! Ahem!"
When Austin heard Duke's obvious cough was when he stopped laughing.
"You have a great sense of humor, Mr. Guard!"
"Just call me old man Roy. That's what people call me here."
"Okay, old man Roy!"
The Old guard just smiles at Austin and proceeds to do his work.
"Alright… I need to see your identification card as well as your friends, also how long the duration of your stay in the South will be, then you're free to roam around the South.."
Austin gives his identification card along with the three men.
"We will be staying for about a month… as long as I sold all my items, I guess." Austin replied.
"Okay… I've checked and everything's good! Enjoy the South, Newbie!"
The old guard let them in. He smiles at everyone even though Duke Hugh, Mike and Salis were glaring at him because they heard how he describes them. And like adding fuel to the fire, Austin was laughing so hard as he entered the South gate that's why the three men were on the verge of knocking Austin out.
***
The warm temperature of the South was making the Black Stallion take off their cloaks. The smell of mixed flowers and barley in the air brings a tranquil atmosphere to the land.
It was so different from the North and the Capital that the Black Stallion Knights wondered if this was a different Kingdom.
It was easy for the Black Stallion Knights to move as they were in disguise and act as a mercenary to a merchant cart while the others would disguise as passengers that were here for a visit.
Socializing with the residents inside the South became their primary goal. The people of the South are more friendlier than the Black Stallion Knights thought that gathering information about the border and the bandits was a piece of cake.
After they had every intel they needed, Duke Hugh and his Black Stallion Knights proceeded to go straight to the border where some of the nobles who knew the situation were waiting.
Duke Hugh wants to trap them and kill them on the spot for attacking the citizens of the Otis Kingdom.
***
It's been about a month since that night where Lucio and the other patrol men occupied the streets at night and visited the houses every now and then.
Leticia starts her day doing her usual routine except for always bringing the whistle that Lucio gave to her.
As she looked around, the peaceful life of the town was once again continued. She doesn't know why but the bandits that were said to be attacking some villages are not making any moves for a while now.
And so, Leticia, was roaming around again, like what she used to do as soon as the sun shines down.
The warmth of the sun was striking down at the tranquil town of Oakland and its famous variety of flowers that were scattered around the town. As well as the oak trees named after the town.
The cheerful greetings and chatter of the townspeople busy installing and opening their stalls makes the town bright and vibrant.
Leticia who is known for her beauty and always smiling face makes everyone glad that they accepted her after she arrived at this town three years ago.
She was 17 at that time, she wasn't even smiling then and everyone in this small town was curious about her.
When she first met the people in Oakland, there were a lot of suitors that came upon her and were asking for her hand in marriage.
She doubted the minds of the people here but as she learned the custom, she figured out that at the age of 17, they are considered as women and are able to marry.
No, actually, they are forced to marry!
Leticia didn't want that, especially since she's new to everything. And so, she did everything she could to dismiss every suitor that wanted to court her.
For the past two years, she was known for having a feisty personality, it only changed when she reached her age of 20.
Leticia, at 17, considered to be the prime of woman's youth, is hot as the newly baked bread but 3 years later at 20, Leticia is considered a late bloomer, a bread that has passed its time to be eaten deliciously. Meaning, one of those people who are considered to reach the limit of marriageable age.
But still, Leticia didn't mind, she has the mind of a modern woman, and 20 is still the start of youth for her.
So, with a smile on her face, Leticia greeted the people in the market.
"Good morning, Bart!"
"Good morning, Leticia… going to work now?"
Smiling at the old man who is the owner of the only bakery in the town, Leticia replied.
"Yes… Sister Emma asked me to be there early."
"Oh… is it that time of the year again?"
"Yes…!"
"I see… I hope the kids get picked up by good people."
"I also wished for that…"
"Take this…"
Bart handed a basket full of loaf that the orphanage always orders from him.
"Oh~ Thank you Bart!"
Smelling the freshly made loaf from the basket, Leticia couldn't help but smile at the old man.
"I'll go ahead now~"
Old man Bart waved his hand at Leticia who was running cheerfully with her chocolate hair tied up in a ponytail and swaying against the wind.
She's considered to be the refreshing breeze in the town. And everyone was happy that a beautiful woman was also in their town. Her smile that was so lovely always had the effect of scattering flowers in the background.
Bart thought that it was a pity that a beautiful flower was left alone as the other marriageable young men already left the town or gave up on her and married another girl.
"What a lovely lady… she should get married soon." Bart mumbled as he looked at the figure of Leticia waving her hand at the people.