Diana Florence… The daughter of one of the highest ranking nobles within Aureus.
The Florence household.
The rank of Marquis was a significant achievement among noble families, second only to the coveted Duke status, which signified entry into the ranks of the Great Noble Families.
This status brought with it immense power, vast lands, and unparalleled wealth.
But the Florence household was destined for ruin. Their influence, prosperity, and wealth had potentially positioned them to ascend to the ranks of the Great Noble Families.
But their downfall began around this time, with Diana's kidnapping.
What was supposed to be a social gathering in Aureus's capital city turned out to be a trap orchestrated by the head servant Gregory, who plotted to steal their entire fortune.
That servant Gregory wasn't a true antagonist by all means but he was someone worth forgetting as the story went on.
With his current plot now and the future progressions of this story, he'd order the assassination of the head of the Florence family, Garland IV who mysteriously died during an expedition in the Grafted Forest of the Fallen and after The Marchioness heard of her husbands passing she'd too would be assassinated shortly from poisoned food.
As I knew these past backstory events of Diana it was tragic that these tragic events fell perfectly into place to create the strong-willed character she'd soon be.
"But those people—"
"Ezekiel, don't worry about them. They are there for a reason. Now, let's go."
The bickering between Ezekiel's complaints had finally met its end and Nivel seemed to have enough of what he was saying.
So we ended up walking past the Strata Veil Serfdom and arrived at the stable where we had parked our carriage.
We then set off for a local tavern, a mere fifteen minutes away from the portal station.
*
[Oakwood Town - Huncle's Lively Tavern]
Nivel opened the door and ushered us inside.
The tavern of Huncle was had a familiar layout just like in those countless manhwas and mangas.
A reception desk in the centre, rooms on the second floor, and tables filled with adventurers, knights, drunkards and people of all races. The atmosphere was surprisingly harmonious.
"Welcome to Huncle's Lively Tavern!" the receptionist chirped. "Can I get something for you to order today?" She held a magical tablet for ordering food and booking rooms.
"Can we get a room for three people tonight?" Nivel asked.
"Sure! That'll be nine silver for today, sir."
Nivel pulled out a pouch filled with coins and placed it on the table with a heavy thud.
The receptionist initially assumed it was filled with bronze coins, but as she opened it, a flash of light momentarily blinded her.
It took a few seconds for her to process what she saw, but as soon as she realized what she was dealing with, her calm demeanour turned to one of urgency.
"Oh my... right away! I'll show you the rooms!" She jumped to her feet and bowed deeply. "Please follow me!"
She guided us to a room that was surprisingly different from the tavern's rustic charm. Instead of rough-hewn wood and flickering candlelight, we found ourselves in a space that blended modern sensibilities with magical innovation.
I had expected a basic bathroom with a hole in the ground, but I was wrong. It was spacious and lined with smooth, polished stone. The shower summoned a cascade of sparkling water with a simple voice command. The floor featured a mechanical heating system etched into the tiles, ensuring warmth even in the coldest winters.
In the main lounge area, there was a plush couch and a sleek dining table crafted from polished darkwood. Above it, a glowing orb emitted a soft, adjustable light. Three single beds were neatly made with crisp white linens.
It was a room designed for comfort and convenience, a harmonious blend of modern practicality and magical ingenuity.
"Woah... these rooms are better than I thought!"
Ezekiel shouted, bouncing on one of the beds.
He laughed and flipped around with his movements free and unrestrained.
I was relieved he seemed to have recovered from his earlier distress at the slave house.
We would be staying here for a day while the portal station was repaired.
Nivel had informed my mother via scroll that we couldn't cross the Grafted Forest until then.
She had simply asked that I be good to Mr. Nivel until we could meet again.
Thinking back, I hadn't been keen on this trip initially.
Luckily, that decision had been made for me. If I had stayed home, I would have starved since I didn't know how to operate the technology or cook.
"Okay, Ezekiel and Julian," Nivel said, "it's time for bed. I'm going out for a bit, so when I get back, you two should be asleep."
We nodded, and I lay down on the bed, sinking into the soft mattress.
"Ah... that's the spot," I sighed contentedly.
I spent hours staring at the ceiling, unable to sleep. Fidgeting and rustling sounds kept interrupting my attempts at rest, but I ignored them, hoping to save my energy for tomorrow's explorations.
Finally, Nivel returned from his guard duty and collapsed onto his bed, asleep the moment he lay down. But the rustling continued.
I tossed and turned, pretending to be asleep while trying to pinpoint the source of the noise. Then I heard the window open.
A rush of cool air filled the room, along with the sounds of the town outside. Nothing beats a natural breeze, I thought, assuming it was Ezekiel. I closed my eyes again, but fifteen minutes later, the wind stopped.
Strange.
I opened my eyes and looked at Ezekiel's bed. "Hey... Zeke, did you open the window—" I reached for his bed and fell to the floor with a thud.
I glanced at Nivel, who was snoring softly. Thankfully, my fall hadn't woken him.
I got up and stood beside Ezekiel's bed. He was hiding from me. I lifted his blanket to find a bucket and a mop where he should have been. He had snuck out.
If something wasn't bound to go wrong today, this would be it.
"You've got to be kidding me..." Now I had to find him before dawn.