The next day.
Today we are looking around the town. Baron Adrius wanted to guide us in touring his town. I declined as I don't want to bother him more.
The three of us are looking around the town without any goal in mind. When the sun reached its highest point, we arrived at the port. That port is located at the lake near the town. The three of us don't know how far we had moved before we reach the port.
There are four ships docked at the port. They are all loading and unloading goods to and from the ship.
There is also another ship that is packed with logs. I recognized the logs are from trees that only grow near the sacred forest.
I wonder what is inside the crates? Also, where will the logs be sold? Is it the capital?
"Is this place always get this busy?" Lief asked in a voice that is almost drowned by the crowd.
"No, this place is not as busy as the last time I get here. Now that you ask that, I also wonder what happened that makes this place busier."
The last time I come to this port was when the civil war ended. I can only assume that day, the effect of the civil war was still affecting the trade in this place. As the kingdom has become peaceful now, it should be easier for goods to move. I will ask the baron later.
"Is there any other place you two want to visit?" I asked Lief and Gauvain.
"Not really," said both of them,
"Then let's go back to the baron's place."
When we reached Baron Adrius' house, I found someone familiar knocking on the main door.
The woman that is not very tall is knocking on the wooden door. She has pale silver hair that spans just right above her waist. Her semi-braided hairstyle is a perfect match for her rather curly hair.
On her side, there are two other women. I assumed they are her servants.
"Silvia…" I unconsciously muttered her name. Yup, she is Silvia Crowstar, my engagement partner.
Silvia heard her name called and looked back toward me. She smiled when she noticed me. She then said, "Long time no see… Aquila."
* * *
"How long has it been again?" asked Silvia.
Right now, we are in the guest room at Baron Adrius' house. Inside this room, there are only the two of us. We are sitting facing each other, only separated by a desk.
"A year at the very least," I answered. If my memory serves me right, the last time I met her was when the civil war almost started. Right before the civil war started, I have free time to visit the Crowstar family. After the civil war ended, I have no time to go near the Lockway or the Crowstar territory. I need to depart to the Northwellen as fastest as possible.
"So, how are you?" I tried to start a conversation.
"Not bad," Silvia sipped a little of the tea served by the servant. "How about you?"
"It is good… Sometimes, there is a problem and surprises here and there but all okay."
Silvia sighed a little before saying, "So, why are you not saying anything when you are going to the Northwellen?"
I take a deep breath before answering, "I have said all the things in the letter right?"
When the decision of promoting me to a count reach my ear, I contacted Silvia, the Lockway family, and the Crowstar family. As the distance between the royal capital and the Crowstar county, there is no time to receive a reply from them.
"But, that is… To be said that so suddenly… At least talk about it in person…" A lonely face appeared on Silvia's face.
I stand up and hug her over the desk. "I am sorry, it is my fault. I actually have a plan to visit your and my family when the situation at Northwellen stabilized. But who knows that it is you that will come here first."
Silvia hugged me back and we keep hugging each other for a few minutes. A few soft sniffles come from Silvia.
We are engaged by our family, but to say it is only political marriage is not true. We have meet before we got engaged with each other. After the engagement is formalized, we meet more frequently. From there some feelings developed. We both know there is a feeling from me toward Silvia and from her to me. I also felt a little lonely when I couldn't meet her. I am glad we can meet again after so long.
…
"I'm sorry," said Silvia. She has calmed a bit. "I get a bit emotional."
I smiled while I sit back on the chair. I looked at Silvia's face, her eyes are a bit puffy.
"So, how is life in the Northwellen?" asked Silvia.
"It is not that different from the other place in the kingdom…" I explained how the life of normal people in Northwellen. What people are doing in their day-to-day life? What are people eating? I also said about there are more magical beast attacks compared to other places. "Oh right, you might like the air in Northwellen. The air there has a higher mana and miasma density."
"I have heard about that, so that is real huh?"
"So, what about you? How is the journey? To reach this place from Crowstar, it should take a month, right? There are still two more days of journey to pass the sacred forest."
"It was a long journey. I never thought it will be this far. I get helped by many lords along the way." Silvia started to tell her stories. "Along the way, I can see many areas have a new lord. Most of them are promoted from knights like you."
Silvia then explains many things that she heard along the way. There is something that piqued my interest.
"Many merchants are going to the capital?" I asked.
"Yes, I heard it from a passing merchant. He said that there is a big project in the capital. Many merchants are trying to take a slice in that."
"Big project?"
"Yes, though I am not sure about that myself. I only heard that many new facilities are built in the capital." Silvia tried to recall what she heard. "If I am not wrong, things like theater, arena, and other entertainment places."
I find myself puzzled about that. I have heard that the new king likes to dabble in artistry. To think that he liked it that much and tried to spread it.
"So the logs and all goods from this town are transported to the capital?" I muttered what is on my mind. I then explained about what I saw at the port this noon.
Silvia is not that interested in the topic. So I let her once again tell the story of her journey. We then both talked about many other things, mainly about both of our families until the days close.