Time passed smoothly without any problems and so the day of departure arrived.
Right now, I'm inside a VIP room in the train station along with my father and mother, our destination, the royal city Claudius.
Thanks to the advancement of magic engineering, enchanted trains were made and a rail line connecting the whole kingdom was made. Thanks to this, traveling between cities became much faster and easier.
Carriages are still used for traveling, mostly by commoners and merchants for obvious reasons.
So instead of a week of traveling we will arrive by the end of the day. Usually that would be tiring but since I'm part of noble family I get special treatment Like this giant VIP room.
It's like those airlines first class lounges you would see on social media, with a Victorian design.
By the way by, some luck my siblings won't be coming due to Exams at the academy.
'Well at least I will have some peace of mind.'
*Chooooooo.
The sound of smoke coming out of the engine announces the train's arrival.
- Esteemed guests please come this way.
Our assigned attendant guided us to our suites. We also got to be the first ones to board thanks to us being first class passengers. Naturally we each got our own rooms.
-Welcome young master.
Elise was waiting at the door and was also coming due to being my personal maid.
I greeted with a simple nod and entered my assigned suite.
'Wow this is straight out of the orient express'.
A spacious cabin, made with the finest materials, with a light brown along with golden touches gives off a vibe of royalty.
It only has a small desk, a couch that turns into a bed and a king size bed, but their craftmanship perfectly compliment the room.
First class also benefit of a private bathroom with a shower along with countless perks.
'Might as well enjoy while I can'.
Switching to more comfortable clothes I asked Elise to order me some coffee. Most nobles prefer tea, but for me coffee is the superior drink.
Few minutes later, we depart from the station.
Taking a sip of my drink I turn to Elise.
- Elise is there any information about the 2nd princess?
-Not much young master, the only thing I managed to find out was there she only has one maid and a female knight as a servant, and they take care of most affair regarding her.
Ever since she found out about my deal with father, Elise dedicated herself to forming more connections with others in her line of work. Thanks to her efforts she became my source of information regarding high society.
- Oh, but there is an intriguing rumor.
-Do tell me.
- it seems that due to an incident in the past, the princess has a disgust for men.
Ah shit. Sometimes I wonder if I'm inside a novel.
A princess with issues, a party for someone who has never showed her face and is also part of royalty. It's the formula for an incident to happen!
*sigh
Guess I will have to make some preparations.
- Is everything alright young master?
- huh, yes why do you will ask?
- you were making a troubled expression.
- It was nothing, just thinking about something.
After instructing Elise to prepare somethings the next day, I spent the rest of the trip making full use of the train's services. Mostly indulging in the free food and watching the change of scenery.
Nearing midnight, we've arrived at our destination. Leaving our luggage to the maids we quickly exited the station, where a steam car and a carriage were waiting.
Me and my parents got on the car while Elise and the other's got in the carriage.
Despite being dark, the city's majestic presence was still noticeable, with the well-built roads and well-designed buildings. In the distance you could see a giant white castle which stand out in comparison to the darker colored buildings it was the royal palace, although I couldn't see much due to being far away.
Our ride to our villa was fast thanks to the lack of stoplights. Due to no many of cars being in circulation now, it hasn't been invented yet.
Once we arrived at the villa, which looked just like our mansion just smaller, a long brown-haired maid with green eyes greeted us. It was the head maid responsible for maintaining the villa, Ashley Rhodes.
While my parents were talking with her, I simply went to my room while I waited for Elise to arrive with my clothes.
Shortly after she arrived, I took a quick bath and went to bed.
Tomorrow is going to be a busy day.
**
After a good night's sleep, a took a quick breakfast and changed into a plain dark blue shirt, black trousers with black boots and a simple hat to hide my hair.
It was enough to not look like a noble or a peasant. I was going to buy some questionable things and dint want this to come back to bite me in the back.
Exiting the room, I saw Elise waiting, she was wearing a simple white shirt along with long black shirt with black boots, all covered with a dark brow cloak and her brown hair tied in a ponytail.
Despite the plain clothes it perfectly highlighted her qualities. If it wasn't for the cloak she could easily be mistaken for a daughter of a lower noble.
- Ready young master?
-Yes
Double checking one last time we departed from the villar and proceeded to our destination on foot.
The city isn't officially divided by districts, but once you wonder around you will see clear differences between the areas.
We are currently on the shopping district, as named by the city's residents. With bright colored stores and houses along with bustling citizens giving a multicultural atmosphere.
'It certainly is lively'.
While admiring our surroundings, we focused on the various stores selling a variety of products from herbs to firearms everything you needed you could find in one of those.
But I wasn't looking for those types of stores.
Not only they are expensive but may also sell overpriced products due to mostly being owned by greedy merchants. Only high-class stores sell high quality products, but I wasn't looking to flex my money.
Also, I wasn't looking for attention so those were a no go.
But no matter how great a city is they all have their dark side, even the royal capital.
Straying farther from the well-maintained roads and buildings, we eventually entered a back alley. Buildings made of cheap bricks and wood dominated the streets, the once bright atmosphere a few blocks ago was replaced by and depressed and sad mood.
Even though the people were dressed like well lived commoners most gave off an aura of thugs.
Some tried to approach us with the intention of robbery, but I simply dropped a fireball near them, and they went running.
Few block later we arrived at the supposed store, which looked more like an abandoned house. Turning to Elise I asked.
- Are you sure this is the place?
- Yes, if my sources gave me the right directions.
- If???
I answered, giving her a side eye.
- Anyway, let's go young master!
With an awkward smile she took the lead and entered the door with me right behind.
The store looked exactly like the typical shady place you would see in many movies, with dark walls, covered windows and a dim lamp illuminating the place. In held a variety of goods in its shelves, from common herbs to shiny rings though those were either of low quality or fake.
Hearing the door, a middle-aged black-haired man behind the counter turned his head in our direction, the dim light showing his massive scar running across his face.
Scrutinizing us, his expression turned into one of annoyance.
- Hey this isn't the place for kids, leave!
Ignoring him, I strolled toward him, staring at him with an indifferent look. He tried to aim a gun at us, but I fired a gust of wind that I prepared in advance, disarming him.
Arriving in front of the counter, I said in a threatening tone.
- Show me what you really sell.
He nodded in panic and took us to the basement where "illegal" stuff was sold.
While selling weapons, potions, magic items etc. wasn't illegal, only authorized shops were allowed to sell them, any unauthorized business if caught usually resulted in 10 years in jail.
Without wasting time, I quickly went through the shelves and got what I needed. A pair of revolvers, some marbles equipped with the flash spell, tear gas and poison vials along with some a few smoke grenades.
All decent quality items for 15 silver coins. Like they say High risk high reward.
By the way, the currency in this world goes like this:
100 bronze coins = 1 silver coin.
1000 silver coins = 1 gold coin.
Before leaving I dropped a gold coin so that he keeps my visit a secret.
After that we spend the rest of the morning wandering the city before returning to the villa in the afternoon.
Before returning to my room Ashley informed me that my clothes for tomorrow have arrived and are in my room. It was a fancy white shirt covered by a navy blue vest, matched with navy blue pants and black shoes. A white cloth tied by a blue sapphire covered the neck area and a blue cape with my family crest embroidered into it hanged from the right shoulder.
-Elise.
-Yes?
- Call the shop and tell them to turn this cape into an overcoat before the party tomorrow, also tell them I'm willing to compensate them for the extra work.
*sigh.
- Understood.
'She must be tired'.
Well at least she will be able to rest tomorrow.
Dumping all the stuff all bought on the desk I began to inspect them one by one. I disassembled the revolvers and cleaned each part to make sure they don't jam.
I may have got them for cheap and the looked like they were in decent condition but looks can be deceiving.
I also did an inspection on the other items and made sure they were in good conditions. I also used some leather I bought before coming home to make a holster for the revolvers and straps for the vials.
By the time I finished, Elise returned and told me that the overcoat would be ready in the afternoon to which I nodded in satisfaction.
With this everything was ready for tomorrow, let's hope I don't have to use anything.