Chapter 73: Reaching Helianth
The journey from the Capital had been exhaustingly long, but at long last, our carriage approached the bustling outskirts of Helianth, our first destination.
In truth, it had taken well over a full day of travel; the sun had set once more, and we were now entirely enveloped by the dark of the second night. It was entirely understandable, of course. We had purposefully chosen an ordinary, inconspicuous carriage to mask our movements, which had forced us to make several necessary stops along the road to rest the mundane horses and stretch our own cramped limbs.
Yet, the sheer number of hours spent rattling over the cobblestones was still daunting. I felt particularly bad for Eleanor. As the daughter of the wealthiest merchant in the Kingdom, she was accustomed to traveling in absolute luxury, riding in opulent, Essence-powered carriages pulled by massive, magically bred steeds with almost limitless stamina. Had we utilized such elite transport, we would have likely arrived by early afternoon, perhaps even before noon.
I could not perfectly judge the exact distances of this world, as the previous Lumiel had rarely ever stepped foot outside the fortified walls of the Capital since his birth. Still, the fatigue settling into my bones was there. Even though I lacked extensive travel experience in Helios, my memories from my past life on Earth provided a contrast. The modern cars I used to drive were faster and smoother than this rattling wooden box. I knew exactly how tedious a long road trip felt.
"It appears we have finally reached Helianth, Your Majesty," Eleanor muttered with a soft, relieved sigh, gently pulling back the curtain to peer out the window.
"We have indeed," I replied, shifting my weight to ease the stiffness in my back. "I am certain this is not your first time visiting Helianth, Eleanor. Or am I mistaken?"
Helianth was no ordinary town. It was the sacred birthplace of Apollina, the legendary founder of our Kingdom. As a deeply revered and highly popular destination for both pilgrims and merchants, I fully expected my well-traveled wife to have walked its streets before.
"Indeed. I visited it perhaps two years ago," she confirmed, a fond smile gracing her lips as she looked at the distant lights. "It is a truly beautiful town."
"The last time I saw it was nearly five years ago," I said, suddenly finding myself brimming with an unexpected surge of excitement. "I am quite eager to see it again with fresh eyes."
Perhaps my anticipation stemmed from my recent awakening, or perhaps it was because I had literally stood face-to-face with the spirit of Apollina herself within the Tower. Either way, the town now held a personal significance to me.
"Exploring will be rather complicated at this late hour, Your Majesty," Eleanor cautioned gently.
Being a highly developed and prosperous town, Helianth would undoubtedly be well-lit, with Essence-fueled fire stones and glowing lamps hung on nearly every corner. However, I knew the lack of light was not what she meant. Towns in Helios were famously lively at night, often bustling with far more chaotic activity than during the day when the common folk were confined to their labor. The streets would be crowded, and amidst the cover of night, it could be incredibly dangerous for high-profile targets.
Such was the inescapable burden of our elevated status. I found myself suddenly empathizing with the paranoid celebrities of my past life on Earth.
"Well, do not worry yourself over that tonight," I reassured her. Leaning slightly out of the carriage window, I called out to our guards riding alongside us. "Oliver. We are heading directly to rest. Find us a respectable, secure inn."
"As you command, Your Majesty," he replied with a nod, steering his horse slightly ahead.
A few minutes later, our carriage slowed to a halt behind a lengthy line of weary travelers waiting to be inspected by the local garrison before entering the gates. Naturally, a place as culturally vital as Helianth would be heavily fortified and strictly monitored.
However, I had no intention of waiting in the cold. There was a strict limit to my willingness to blend in with the common crowd, and my patience had long since been eroded by this carriage.
Understanding my silent command, Mia swiftly dismounted her horse. As she strode toward the front of the line, she immediately drew a significant amount of attention. She was not wearing her resplendent Royal Guard armor, having donned a simple, unassuming set of boiled leather instead. Yet, her beauty and the aura she exuded made it impossible for the restless crowd to ignore her.
"Hey, pretty ass! You cannot just skip to the front of the line like that, you know!" A rough-looking man shouted from the crowd, followed by a mix of crude laughter from his companions.
Inside the carriage, I raised an eyebrow, my gaze drifting out the window to appraise the situation.
"’Pretty ass,’ he said..." I muttered thoughtfully, tilting my head. "Well, I suppose he is not entirely wrong. They are rather—"
"Your Majesty," Eleanor interrupted, clearing her throat with a loud, pointedly disapproving tone.
"My deepest apologies, my Queen," I chuckled lightly, entirely unrepentant.
Outside, Mia did not even break her stride. She merely shot a single, freezing glare into the crowd that instantly silenced the hecklers, before she approached the stationed guards at the towering iron gates to clear our path.
From the carriage window, I observed Mia engage in a tense discussion with the gate guards. Almost immediately, the conversation began to escalate into a heated argument.
I could clearly see the guards casting suspicious, lingering glances toward our unassuming transport. Obviously, Mia would never be so foolish as to announce that the reigning King of Helios was currently sitting inside, but she had definitely informed them that we were nobles of significant importance.
A moment later, I watched as she reached into her tunic, retrieving a small object and holding it up for the lead guard to inspect.
The man’s frustrated expression froze instantly. His eyes went wide with sudden realization, and he hurriedly sputtered out a string of frantic apologies, bowing his head in deep, terrified submission.
Satisfied, Mia turned away and strode back toward our carriage.
"It is dealt with, Your Majesty. We are cleared to pass," she reported.
"What exactly did you show him?" I asked, raising a brow.
"My emblem, Your Majesty," Mia answered. She opened her palm to reveal the heavy, gleaming golden insignia of the Royal Guard of Helios.
Looking at the finely crafted crest, a small smile appeared on my lips.
For nearly every young man across the Kingdom, joining the Royal Guard in the Capital was the ultimate, unattainable dream. To serve in the elite army protecting the royal family and the King himself carried an unparalleled level of prestige. Naturally, anyone bearing that specific insignia was instantly recognized as an incredibly high-profile VIP. And if a Royal Guard was personally escorting a supposedly ’ordinary’ carriage, the guards at the gate were smart enough to deduce that the passenger inside held an astoundingly high status.
It was no wonder the man had reacted with such immediate terror.
With the path cleared, Alan cracked the reins, expertly maneuvering our carriage out of the stagnant line. We advanced straight through the towering iron gates, completely ignoring the bitter remarks, frustrated groans, and hateful glares from the commoners left waiting in the dirt.
As instructed, we kept the curtains drawn tightly shut to conceal our identities. The moment our carriage breached the inner walls of Helianth, the suffocating noise of the bustling city grew exponentially louder, washing over us in a chaotic wave of voices, music, and commerce.
The carriage was forced to stop several times, driving at a frustratingly slow crawl through the crowded, lantern-lit streets. This was partly due to the sheer volume of nocturnal foot traffic, but mostly because Oliver and Mia were meticulously asking around to locate the best, most secure inn the town had to offer.
Eventually, roughly twenty minutes later, the carriage rolled to a final, smooth halt.
Mia approached my window once more. "Your Majesty, how many rooms shall I secure?"
"Book one suite for myself, a separate room for Eleanor and Leilah, and another comfortable room for the coachman and his son. That should suffice," I said clearly.
She gave a nod and turned to head inside the establishment.
"Your Majesty, there was truly no need to go to such expense for us," Alan called back from the driver’s bench, his voice tinged with genuine surprise.
"You must be exhausted, Alan. It is perfectly fine," I replied with a dismissive shrug. "You and Elric require proper rest if we expect to travel safely and swiftly tomorrow. Consider it an investment."
"Thank you, Your Majesty," he said, bowing his head in deep gratitude.
A few minutes later, Mia emerged from the inn and returned to the carriage.
"Your Majesty, it is done. We have reserved the entire top floor," she said quietly.
"Excellent work," I nodded in approval.
I immediately reached for my heavy traveling cloak, and Eleanor did the same. We both pulled our deep hoods up over our heads, casting our faces into impenetrable shadow.
At Mia’s silent nod of confirmation, we finally stepped out into the cool night air.
The carriage had been thoughtfully positioned right at the main entrance, minimizing our exposure to the street. Glancing up at the beautiful, imposing architecture of the inn, I could instantly tell it was a truly luxurious establishment. The exorbitant prices likely explained why there were so few patrons lingering about, and how we were able to effortlessly secure an entire, empty floor on such short notice.
There were a handful of wealthy individuals mingling inside the grand, polished lobby, alongside several members of the attentive staff. However, Eleanor, Leilah, and I completely ignored them. We swept silently up the grand staircase, tightly flanked by Oliver at the front and Mia guarding our rear.
Alan and Elric remained outside for the time being. They would likely need to tend to the horses and secure our transport in a nearby stable before they could finally join us upstairs for their well-earned rest.