Before long, we finished our meal.
Leslie called one of the workers over, settled the bill, and before leaving, took out a small piece of paper. After carefully writing down the address of the Hartwell estate, she handed it to me.
"Come tomorrow morning," she said with a cheerful smile. "I'll be waiting for you."
I accepted the piece of paper, glanced at the address written on it, and slipped it into my pocket.
"I'll be there."
The moment she heard my answer, the smile on her face grew even brighter.
"Then... I'll see you tomorrow."
With one final wave, Leslie turned and walked toward the entrance of the inn. Outside, the guard who had been waiting patiently by the door immediately straightened his posture before following behind her. A moment later, she stepped into the waiting carriage.
Seeing her leave, I couldn't help smiling faintly.
However, that smile lasted only a moment.
As I turned around, I immediately noticed several pairs of eyes fixed on me.
The inn owner stood behind the counter looking in my direction. A number of customers had paused in the middle of their conversations, while even several of the workers were openly glancing between me and the entrance through which Leslie had just departed.
Seeing me standing there with a faint smile on my face after the young noble lady had happily left the inn, the curiosity in their expressions only seemed to deepen.
"..."
A trace of awkwardness crept over me.
Without lingering any longer, I quietly gathered the empty bowls and dishes from the table and carried them straight into the kitchen, pretending not to notice the countless curious gazes still following me.
The moment I stepped through the kitchen entrance, I immediately noticed someone standing there waiting for me.
It was Miguel.
Judging by the way he stood with his arms folded across his chest, his attention fixed entirely on me, it was obvious he had been waiting for me to return.
The instant our eyes met, I couldn't help forcing a smile.
"Brother Miguel..."
Miguel slowly narrowed his eyes, a suspicious look gradually spreading across his face.
"Would you like anything for dessert..." he asked in an unusually polite tone before pausing for dramatic effect.
"...sir?"
"Hehe..."
An awkward laugh escaped my mouth.
The moment he heard it, Miguel walked over without another word and casually slung an arm around my shoulders. A broad grin immediately spread across his face as he leaned in closer.
"So..."
His eyes sparkled with unconcealed curiosity.
"Who is she?"
I blinked innocently.
"I don't know."
Miguel simply stared at me for several long moments, as though waiting for me to admit I was joking.
"...You don't know?" he repeated slowly.
I gave him a serious nod.
"I don't."
The corner of Miguel's mouth twitched.
"...Arthur."
"Hm?"
He looked me straight in the eye.
"Do you honestly think I'm stupid?"
I maintained the same calm expression.
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
Miguel let out a long, exaggerated sigh before rubbing his forehead in defeat.
"Come on, Arthur," he said, immediately changing his approach. "Don't be like that. You can't seriously expect me to believe you don't know her."
Miguel refused to let the matter go.
He immediately began counting on his fingers as one question after another left his mouth.
"What were you two talking about? Why did she insist on eating with you? Did you already know each other? And why was she crying just now?" He suddenly narrowed his eyes at me. "Don't tell me... did you make her cry?"
The questions came so quickly that there wasn't even enough time for me to answer one before the next followed.
I simply ignored every single one of them.
Walking past Miguel, I calmly placed the empty bowls and dishes beside the washing area before turning around and heading back toward the dining hall to continue working.
"Arthur!"
Miguel immediately hurried after me.
"At least answer one question!"
I continued walking as though I hadn't heard him.
"Arthur!"
Still, I remained silent.
"Brother Arthur!"
Miguel continued pestering me all the way back into the dining hall, yet no matter how many times he called out or how many new questions he came up with, I simply ignored every single one of them.
---
The next morning arrived quietly.
After finishing my usual cultivation, I changed into the cleanest set of ordinary clothes I owned before leaving the house. Taking the piece of paper Leslie had given me from my pocket, I glanced at the address once more before making my way toward one of the nearby carriage stations.
After showing the driver the address, I climbed aboard the horse carriage.
With a gentle crack of the reins, the horses began pulling the carriage forward. The carriage slowly rolled through the familiar streets of Astravia, passing bustling marketplaces, rows of shops, and countless pedestrians going about their daily routines as we made our way toward the Central District.
As our journey continued, the lively atmosphere outside gradually began to change. The crowded commercial streets slowly gave way to quieter avenues lined with elegant buildings, while the roads became noticeably wider and far better maintained. Even the constant noise of merchants calling out to passing customers gradually faded, replaced by a calmer, more orderly atmosphere.
Compared to the bustling commercial district, this part of Astravia felt entirely different. Large estates stood behind tall stone walls, each separated by carefully maintained gardens and broad avenues. Horse-drawn carriages traveled at an unhurried pace, and the pedestrians who passed by were dressed far more elegantly than those in the market.
This...
...was the Central District.
It was here that most of Astravia's noble families had established their estates.
Before long, the carriage gradually slowed before coming to a stop.
"We're here," the driver said.
I stepped down from the carriage and paid the driver before turning my attention to the estate before me.
A tall iron gate marked the entrance, flanked by sturdy stone walls that stretched out on either side, enclosing the entire property. Through the iron bars, I could make out a broad stone pathway leading across an expansive courtyard. Carefully maintained gardens lined both sides of the path, their neatly trimmed hedges and colorful flowerbeds adding a touch of elegance to the estate. At the end of the pathway stood a large mansion, its refined architecture and imposing presence clearly reflecting the status of the family that resided within.
Standing guard before the entrance were two men, each holding a long spear in hand. The moment I approached the iron gate, both of them stepped forward in unison, blocking the path before I could get any closer.
"Halt."
One of the guards gave me a scrutinizing look before asking, "Who are you?"
"I'm here to meet Leslie."
The two guards immediately exchanged puzzled glances.
"Leslie?" one of them repeated before his brow furrowed. "You mean the daughter of our lord?"
I gave a small nod.
"Yes."
Hearing my answer, both guards slowly looked me over once again, this time far more carefully than before. Their gazes traveled from my ordinary clothes to my plain leather boots before returning to my face.
There was nothing about my appearance that suggested I possessed any noteworthy status. I wore no noble attire, carried no family emblem, and displayed nothing that would distinguish me from any other ordinary citizen walking through the streets of Astravia.