Capítulo 25: Capital City of Aurelius Kingdom
The journey from Lilac City, my hometown, to the capital of the Kingdom wasn't very long since we flew. It only took about 6 hours.
Nero went all out on this one; he even rented a private plane just for the three of us. He said it would be a problem if people saw a Regalizen commander at the capital's airport.
The presence of a Regalizen commander usually signals serious criminal activity or preparations for war, which could cause panic.
I don't know much about Regalizen's status in the capital, but according to Nero, Regalizen is a special unit directly under the command of King Aurelius. It's an elite force made up of exceptionally talented, powerful, and intelligent individuals.
I hope the test isn't too difficult.
Well, anyway, Nero is covering all travel and living expenses for Lily and me, so I'm not worried about that.
Fortunately, Lily was quite calm during the trip. She was a bit startled when we first boarded the plane, but she looked cute nonetheless.
Lily, who used to cry for attention in my mother's arms and was selfish at home, has slowly been turning into a more resilient child.
Even though it's natural for her to be a bit spoiled, given her age, no one would blame her for it.
"Alright, we've arrived."
"Welcome to Altair International Airport."
Altair, huh? That's one of the names of a star constellation. It's a pretty unique name choice, and I'm curious where they got the idea for it.
"Please collect your belongings," Nero instructed.
After handling things at the airport, we quickly headed to my new home, which Nero was paying for.
I had seen the capital of the Aurelius Kingdom online several times, but seeing it in person is truly impressive. The real thing is so much more incredible compared to what you see on the internet.
My view was filled with towering glass buildings, laser lights, and gigantic holograms stretching from one corner of the city to another, like a massive parade.
The city is incredibly advanced in technology, with robots and androids bustling around everywhere, and some even just standing as advertising boards.
People were everywhere, dressed in all sorts of outfits, and the storefronts displayed a variety of colorful goods.
There were even skyscrapers reaching up into the clouds. It was truly breathtaking!
Lily couldn't stop gazing up at the sky as soon as we left the airport, like a child who had just seen a dragon flying above.
Then, my attention was caught by a massive steel wall rising 100 meters high on the west side of the city. But it didn't encircle the whole city; it only bordered the western part.
What was even more impressive were the six giant statues, each 100 meters tall, lined up in front of the wall.
Each statue was unique, with incredibly detailed carvings that made them look like real humans. The armor on the statues was intricately designed, and each statue held a weapon in a striking pose.
The wall and the statues were visible from afar, with the wall being particularly striking due to a large black gate in its center.
Many helicopters and jets hovered above the wall, and there were hundreds of large cannons positioned along it, making it seem like a formidable defensive structure. I wondered what could be behind such a massive wall. Why build something so enormous at the continent's border?
As I was marveling at the massive statues, Nero led us toward the gate at the base of the statues.
"What's behind this gate?" I asked.
"You'll find out soon enough," was his only reply, which only deepened my curiosity about what lay beyond. But I decided not to press further.
Geographically speaking, the capital of the Aurelius Kingdom is the farthest west city in the entire kingdom, and also the westernmost city on the vast continent of Olfein.
This means that the city serves as the border between the Olfein and Fertissio continents. So, the massive wall is essentially a boundary between these two great continents. But why such a large barrier?
I've been trying to find information about the Fertissio continent for a long time, but there's nothing available online or even in books.
Every article or book I've read only mentions that Fertissio is one of the two major continents in the world, the other being Olfein, which is inhabited by humans. Fertissio is described as a large, uninhabited continent.
There's no further information, no matter how hard I search.
But I don't have time to dwell on this right now; I need to focus on my own matters and not get distracted.
"Alright, this is your new home. What do you think?" Nero suddenly snapped me out of my long contemplation about the continents. He looked very excited as he pointed to a fairly large house standing among several others, like an upscale neighborhood.
"By the way, my house is right next door," he continued.
Well, I did ask him to arrange for a separate house, but I forgot to specify that it should be a bit farther from his own place. That was a mistake I won't repeat.
"Alright, I'm heading home now. You two go on inside; I've already set up all the furniture and interior," he said, walking into his house next to mine.
"Let's go, Lily."
Lily, who had been silent and downcast, gave a small nod when I invited her inside. It seemed like her mood hadn't improved much, which is understandable. I wasn't going to scold her for it.
Once inside, the house appeared much larger than it seemed from the outside. It was fully furnished with sofas, tables, a TV, carpets, air conditioning and heating units, and even plenty of paintings on the walls. It felt like someone had lived here for a long time and then Nero had it prepared for us.
I hoped it wasn't quite like that.
"Welcome. Are you Miss Ellora Evernoir?"
I hadn't noticed before, but there was a woman dressed in a traditional maid uniform similar to what Echo used to wear. Is this type of outfit popular among the upper class? Mother seemed to like the design and insisted Echo to wear it all the time. It looks quite charming with its white base and black accents, complete with lace at the edges.
The maid's outfit definitely looks expensive. I can't imagine what would happen if she accidentally dirtied it.
"Then this little lady must be Lily Evernoir, correct?" she continued, crouching down to greet Lily, who was hiding behind me.
"Allow me to introduce myself. I'm Arianne Grandella, a maid hired specifically for this residence by Mr. Nero Beryl. I come from the Republic of Cestisia. I look forward to working with you, Miss Ellora Evernoir and Miss Lily Evernoir," she said, bowing politely.
Her demeanor was very professional for a maid, even though she looked quite young—perhaps around my age or a bit younger. It seemed she had been trained from a young age. Is there a maid training bureau in the Republic of Cestisia? It sounds very cute.
I don't want to admit it, but Nero did a great job finding a maid like this. Or maybe it's just his hobby? I might be overestimating him.
"Yes, I am Ellora Evernoir and this is Lily Evernoir. We'll be living here from now on. Please assist us with everything, Arianne," I replied.
"Of course! That's why I was hired. Leave all household matters to me, Miss Ellora!" she responded eagerly.
"Alright, thank you, Arianne."
After that, I toured the house with Lily. It turned out the house had six bedrooms, three bathrooms, a room that seemed to be a kitchen, a dining room, a family room in the center of the house, and a living room at the front. Each room was furnished appropriately, with everything painted neatly in white with golden yellow accents, giving the interior a luxurious feel. The exterior had a classic style with beautifully arranged patterned stone tiles, like a house fit for the upper class.
I hope this house isn't too much of a burden on Nero, but why should I care? It was part of our agreement, so I guess I don't need to worry about it.
Or maybe this is a special residential area for the upper class? After all, Nero, a Regalizen, lives here as well.
By the way, Lily, who has been following me quietly, still keeps her head down, holding my hand. She occasionally looks at the assortment of cakes and food on the dining table and spends a moment in the backyard garden.
I can see her eyes are lost in thought, probably missing our old home in Lilac City, where our whole family used to gather, laugh, and live our daily lives happily.
"Do you miss our old home, Lily?"
"Yes, well, I mean, no."
"Then why have you been staring blankly in the garden?"
Lily was silent for a moment before she hesitantly answered.
"Will you leave Lily here by herself later?"
So that's what's been on her mind. Of course, I won't leave Lily alone; I'll be with her all the time. But if the situation becomes dangerous, I might have to leave her here with Arianne to keep her safe.
"I won't leave you alone, Lily."
"Promise?"
"Promise! Don't worry," I replied with a reassuring smile at Lily.
"Alright, I'll go wherever you go, big sister."
"Yes."
Lily finally seemed a bit more cheerful than before. I felt relieved knowing that her worries weren't solely about Mom and Dad. Although I wasn't entirely at ease, I felt better knowing that Lily was feeling a bit happier.
"Miss Ellora, Miss Lily, I baked some cookies. How about we have them together?"
Arianne suddenly appeared with a tray holding a plate of cookies and a teapot with three cups. This scene reminded me a bit of Echo, even though Arianne was human, not an android.
"Yaaay, cookies!" Lily exclaimed with excitement.
"Oh my, Miss Lily really likes cookies. I'm glad to see that," Arianne said with a wink towards me. It seemed she understood that Lily was feeling down and decided to bake cookies to cheer her up.
Seeing Lily eating made her look adorable. It seemed that the cookies were quite effective in lifting her spirits.
"Eat as much as you like. I made a bit too much, so there are plenty of cookies left in the kitchen," Arianne said.
"Thank you, Arianne."
"Thank you, Miss Arianne!" Lily added enthusiastically.
"Oh my, you don't need to thank me. I'm a servant in this house, so it's only natural for me to do small things like this."
"But by the way, these cookies are really delicious."
"Thank you, Miss Ellora. I was trained as a servant for noble families, so this is indeed one of my skills."
With the atmosphere now a bit more cheerful, I felt relieved seeing Lily enjoying the cookies and settling into her new home. It seemed that Arianne's presence and small attentions had helped ease our burden.
So, training bureaus for servants really do exist. I thought novice servants were trained privately within their master's home by senior servants, and their relationships were limited to their families.
Unlike Echo, who is an android and learns things very quickly—once taught, she masters it immediately—humans like Arianne need to practice hundreds or even thousands of times to master something. It's clear Arianne has undergone extensive training, as her walking style is very characteristic and polite, much like a professional servant.
Well, she is undoubtedly a professional servant.
"By the way, have you been in the Royal Capital of Aurelius for long, Arianne?" I asked while munching on a cookie.
"Yes, Miss Ellora. I've been in the city for quite a while because I was previously a servant for a noble family, the Beryl family."
"Beryl? You mean Nero's family?"
"That's right, Miss Ellora."
So, that person is a noble? Even a high-ranking noble, an Earl. I never imagined someone as seemingly incompetent as Nero could be part of a noble family in the Royal Capital of Aurelius. It makes sense now that he used to be a Royal Guard. I hope he didn't become a Royal Guard solely because of his noble family connections.
"If Miss Ellora doesn't mind, I could help show you around the city. How does that sound?"
"I know some nice places in the city," she added with a wink.
"Alright," I replied.
After that, Arianne took Lily and me on a tour of the city. We did many things, from shopping and eating to taking Lily to play in the park. I hoped these activities would lift Lily's spirits.
In the Royal Capital of Aurelius, there are many clothing stores I hadn't seen before in Lilac City. Here, they sell clothing that is a bit revealing, which makes me uncomfortable, but I might get used to it someday. Don't they consider the feelings of women wearing such revealing clothes when they go out?
Interestingly, even though Arianne was still in her servant uniform while walking around the city, no one seemed to find it odd. It seemed like a common sight in this city for someone in a servant uniform to be out and about.
This was very different from Lilac City, where people stared at Echo when she went out in her servant uniform with Lily. It made her uneasy every time she was outside, but my mother insisted she wear it despite Echo's repeated refusals.
The culture in the Royal Capital is truly advanced. They hold music concerts almost on every corner, making the city feel lively even at night. Most stores are open 24/7 because many androids and robots keep them running.
Moreover, I saw numerous Royal Guards patrolling every side of the city. There were no police officers at all. Could it be because this is the Royal Capital of Aurelius, or is there another reason?
Since my new home is close to the tall wall, there are many Royal Guards stationed around it. Occasionally, I would see a Royal Paladin commanding his troops for patrols.
Regarding the ranks of soldiers in the Royal Capital, as learned in school, the lowest rank is the Royal Guard. Their duties typically involve maintaining city security and assisting their superiors. The next rank up is the Royal Paladin, who are the commanders of the Royal Guards. Royal Paladins are further divided into specialized units such as scout teams, tracking teams, and pursuit teams, among others.
This information is usually covered in middle school. More detailed knowledge is taught at the university level, but since I couldn't attend university, I only learned up to that point.
However, my curiosity often drives me to seek out additional information online. I've studied advanced topics and even some university-level material while still in elementary school.
Royal Paladins are awarded their rank after graduating with high marks from the Lupusrica Knight Academy, which is located in the Royal Capital of Aurelius. The Lupusrica Knight Academy is a training institution for those who wish to serve the Kingdom of Aurelius as Royal Guards. Top-ranking students from this academy have the opportunity to become Royal Paladins, the commanders of the Royal Guards.
Moreover, students who achieve the highest rank at the academy can join the Regalizen, a special force with the highest rank in the entire Kingdom of Aurelius. The Regalizen are rarely seen in public, and their missions and locations are highly classified. Only high-level government officials are privy to this information.
"Mmmmm, this ice cream is so delicious."
Right now, we're taking a break in a café after a day of shopping and exploring. I couldn't resist buying a bunch of cute clothes for Lily, and Arianne was also very helpful in picking out outfits for me. I'm not sure if I'll wear all of them, though.
"Indeed, the food here is really good," I said.
"Of course, this is my favorite place to enjoy food when I'm stressed," Arianne replied proudly.
So even a professional servant can experience stress, huh? I hadn't realized that before. But thinking about it, it would be odd if a servant didn't get stressed given how much work they handle.
After all, Arianne is human, and I've been comparing her too much to Echo, who's an android. I'm sorry, Arianne.
"Lily wants more ice cream!"
"You might get sick if you eat too much ice cream, Miss Lily."
"Eeeehh," Lily pouted, puffing out her cheeks.
"Alright, I'll order another ice cream for you."
Wait, so Arianne is weak against cuteness? I've just discovered a potential weakness in the professional servant Arianne Grandela! This could be a game-changer in my household.
"Yaaay, thank you, Arianne!"
Arianne, who clearly couldn't resist the cuteness, started covering her face with a smile that seemed a bit over the top. Is it okay to leave Lily in her care?
Not long ago, when Lily first met Arianne, she was so shy that she hid behind me whenever Arianne came around. But now, they seem to have become quite close.
I'm glad to see Lily and Arianne growing closer, but at the same time, I can't help but think about Arche. I hope Arche is here somewhere. Oh, my adorable Arche, I miss you so much. You're so mean for leaving us and disappearing. I'll make sure you're mine when I find you again.
"Miss Ellora? Miss Ellora!"
"Huh? W-what's wrong?"
"Your face looks strange right now. Why are you smiling to yourself?"
"Yeah, your face is just like Dad's when he talks about Mom!"
"Eeeeh, that's not true! I'm not smiling to myself!"
"Instead of that, let's head home now!" I said.
"But Lily still wants the ice cream."
"Don't worry, Miss Lily. We still have plenty of ice cream at home."
"Don't spoil her too much, Arianne."
"Eeeeehhh."
"Alright, alright, fufufu," Arianne responded with a slight chuckle.
***
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