Catherine, Thomas, and Pierre followed Cinderella toward the city center. The streets were filling with residents strolling leisurely, chatting, and enjoying the peaceful atmosphere. Cinderella seemed so cheerful, skipping lightly as if she had no worries in the world. Her glass slippers clicked loudly with each step, drawing glances from those around her.
"We're going to a very beautiful garden. I'm sure you'll love it!" Cinderella exclaimed with a bright smile at Catherine.
Catherine returned the smile gracefully. "Oh, of course. I love seeing beautiful places, especially when you're the one showing them. I feel fortunate to have met you here."
Thomas and Pierre exchanged glances behind her. Pierre's face clearly showed his doubt, while Thomas simply sighed. In their minds, the Navigator's voice urged them to continue letting Catherine lead the way.
Catherine began a casual conversation with Cinderella. "You know, it's rare for me to meet someone like you. You're so… captivating. Somehow, you have an aura that makes me feel at ease."
Cinderella's smile widened. "Really? That's so sweet of you to say. I feel happy meeting you too. It's not often I meet such interesting people."
"Oh, you're too kind," Catherine replied softly, then carefully added, "But my life hasn't always been this pleasant. I've been through so much—losses, sadness. Sometimes I wonder why life has to be so difficult."
"Oh?" Cinderella tilted her head, her clear eyes showing curiosity. "What happened? You can tell me, if you want."
Catherine gave a faint smile, pretending to hold back emotions. "It's a long story. Maybe I'll share it with you someday. For now, I want to enjoy this moment with you."
Thomas nearly choked on his breath hearing this but managed to compose himself. Meanwhile, Pierre covered his face with his hand, looking like he wished to disappear.
From behind, the knight in golden armor who had been following them kept his distance. His gaze was sharp, full of suspicion, as though he sensed something was off. Catherine noticed and asked lightly, "Oh, by the way, who's the knight that's always with you?"
Cinderella turned back and beamed. "Oh, that's Sir Gareth. He follows me everywhere I go. He's a great knight. He says he's part of something called the Round Table. I don't know what that means, but it sounds cool, doesn't it?"
"Sir Gareth," Catherine repeated sweetly, her gaze lingering on the knight with a subtle, unreadable smile. Gareth returned her gaze coldly, clearly unimpressed by her small talk.
"You don't need to pay him any attention," Cinderella said with a giggle. "He doesn't talk much, and he's often too serious. But he's a good person."
"Of course," Catherine replied, her eyes still on Gareth. "I'm sure you protect your friend very well, Sir Gareth. Your presence is most reassuring."
Pierre stifled a small laugh while Thomas muttered under his breath, "Seriously…"
"What was that, Thomas?" Catherine turned with a sharp smile.
"Nothing, nothing at all," Thomas quickly replied, raising his hands in surrender.
Catherine refocused on Cinderella and began a new topic. "So, what makes this garden so special? You seem to love it so much."
"Oh, it's because the garden is full of beautiful flowers. I often go there to relax. You'll understand once we get there," Cinderella answered enthusiastically.
They continued their journey, Catherine keeping the conversation lively while Thomas and Pierre followed cautiously. Sir Gareth remained silent, though his watchful eyes stayed fixed on Catherine, Pierre, and Thomas, as if trying to decipher the true intentions of the eloquent woman.
The walk to the garden Cinderella had mentioned felt long, filled with light chatter. Catherine continued her conversation with Cinderella, leveraging her innocence to gather more information. Behind them, Sir Gareth walked silently, his eyes never straying far from the group.
Amid occasional bursts of Cinderella's laughter, the Navigator's voice suddenly echoed in their minds. "Don't you think this is all too easy? I mean, the girl revealed her real name, shared details about other combat units sent by her Navigator, and even their total numbers. She's told you about Blanchette, herself, Sir Gareth, and another girl whose name we don't know yet. Doesn't that make you suspicious?"
Thomas, who had already been considering the same thing, responded in his thoughts. "So, do you think this is a trap? Or is she just too naïve to understand the importance of that information?"
The Navigator didn't answer immediately. Instead, the voice sounded tenser. "I'm just saying this situation is too convenient for us. I don't trust anything that comes this easily, especially from an opposing combat unit."
Pierre, who had been observing Sir Gareth's body language, added, "I agree this is strange, but I don't sense any immediate threat. If this were a trap, why didn't she attack us from the start? She clearly has the power to do so."
Catherine, still chatting with Cinderella, interjected in their mental discussion. "Calm down. I know what I'm doing. She's too innocent to realize what I'm extracting from her. But we still need to stay cautious. If she's part of the opposing group, it means one of two things: either she genuinely doesn't care about her mission, or she's playing a role."
The Navigator scoffed. "I want to trust you, Catherine. But remember, we can't miss this opportunity to dig deeper into the city's situation."
Their mental conversation ended as Cinderella called out to Catherine. "Catherine, look! There's my favorite garden!" she exclaimed excitedly, pointing ahead.
The garden was expansive, filled with vibrant flowers and a large fountain at its center. Locals were scattered around, enjoying a tranquil afternoon.
"It's beautiful," Catherine said, her smile appearing genuine even as she replayed the Navigator's words in her mind. She then added softly, "There aren't many places like this where I come from."
Cinderella nodded with a face full of empathy. "I know how it feels to live in a chaotic place. This is where I find peace. I'm glad you can see it too."
Sir Gareth remained silent, standing a few steps behind them with an alert posture. His gaze once again landed on Thomas, who met it with a neutral expression.
In their minds, the Navigator spoke again. "Catherine, keep playing your game. We need to know their motivations for being in this city. Thomas, Pierre, stay alert. If this is a trap, we need to get out fast."
Thomas replied curtly, "Understood."
Pierre, who had seemed relaxed earlier, now appeared more alert. "I think we should avoid talking too much about our origins. She might be naïve, but who knows if someone else is watching," he said.
Catherine sighed in her thoughts. "I understand. Navigator, prepare a contingency plan in case something happens. Meanwhile, let me handle Cinderella. If I can extract more information from her, it will be invaluable."
Their mental conversation was interrupted when Cinderella eagerly grabbed Catherine's hand. "Come on, let's sit over there! I want to show you the most beautiful view of the fountain at sunset."
Catherine offered a small smile, playing her role flawlessly. Internally, she was already strategizing her next move to ensure their safety while uncovering more about the girl who seemed to be more than just an ordinary combat unit.
***
Elizabeth walked slowly beside Virginia, occasionally glancing at the market goods around them. The Arcadia market was as bustling as ever, filled with merchants advertising their wares, the footsteps of passersby, and the laughter of children playing at the street corners. However, the lively atmosphere wasn't enough to dispel the boredom creeping into Elizabeth.
"Do you feel something strange, Virginia?" Elizabeth suddenly asked, breaking the silence between them. She kicked a small pebble ahead of her as she spoke. "All of this feels too... calm."
Virginia turned to her, raising an eyebrow slightly. "What do you mean?"
"I haven't heard the Navigator's voice since we parted ways with Catherine and the others," Elizabeth explained. "Usually, he's always chatty, giving orders or making comments. But now, nothing."
Virginia nodded slowly, her expression thoughtful. "You're right. Maybe he's focusing on watching Catherine's team. The Navigator is like that; he prioritizes the group with a higher likelihood of encountering something significant."
Elizabeth sighed, folding her arms across her chest. "Then why are we left wandering aimlessly like this? No useful information, no signs of danger, and… everything feels too ordinary here." She paused, looking at Virginia. "Don't you think something's off?"
Virginia shook her head. "Arcadia seems like a peaceful city. There's no noticeable guard presence, and the locals are busy with their daily lives. Maybe there's nothing to worry about here. After all, it's vastly different from Esverita."
Elizabeth stared at the ground briefly before speaking again. "Speaking of earlier, I want to ask about the fortune teller we met. Do you think they're truly suspicious?"
Virginia was silent for a moment before answering. "I think so. They had the aura of someone untrustworthy. The way they talked, her demeanor—it all seemed like someone who thrives on manipulation and deceit."
Elizabeth frowned. "Really? I didn't feel that way. I didn't sense any ill intent from them—no signs that they wanted to harm us. They just seemed… ordinary."
Virginia let out a long sigh. "Elizabeth, you're too naïve. People like that might seem ordinary on the surface, but who knows what they're hiding? I'm convinced they're just waiting for an opportunity to take advantage of others."
"Don't you think you're overreacting, Virginia?" Elizabeth asked, her tone puzzled. "I didn't see any signs that they was trying to manipulate us. They didn't even pressure us to buy anything or divulge sensitive information. How can you be so sure they're suspicious?"
Virginia stopped walking and looked at Elizabeth. "Experience, Elizabeth. You're still young and probably haven't seen as much as I have. People like that often hide behind a friendly mask. They might smile, but behind it, they harbor ill intentions."
Elizabeth looked back at Virginia, not entirely convinced. "But I still don't feel there's anything wrong with them. My eyes might not be as sharp as yours, but… I think they're just an ordinary fortune teller. If she really meant harm, wouldn't they have acted on it already?"
Virginia remained silent for a moment, then sighed. "You're so stubborn. Fine, Elizabeth. If that's what you believe, I won't force you to see things my way. But remember, if something happens, I'll be saying, 'I told you so.'"
Elizabeth gave a small smile. "Then I'll prove you wrong, Virginia."
Virginia shook her head and resumed walking. They continued through the bustling market, occasionally chatting with merchants, but still found nothing suspicious. Yet, Elizabeth kept her questions about the fortune teller lingering in her mind.
***