Lena and Lilith met after leaving the Adventurers’ Guild, then made their way back to the waiting carriage.
“Any luck?” Lena asked. “Did you manage to find any information?”
“Let’s head to the West City commoner district,” Lilith replied. “A child there reportedly saw her.”
Lena briefly relayed the information they had obtained. She then instructed the coachman to drive the carriage towards the West City commoner district, preparing to search for the little girl named Ruila.
****
The commoner district of Saint Ciel appeared notably dilapidated compared to other areas. Most of the buildings here were old and peeling, the roads were riddled with potholes, and far fewer pedestrians bustled through than in the prosperous commercial streets.
As the viscount’s carriage traversed this area, it drew even more attention than it would in the bustling streets. No one dared to approach it, and the usually lively street fell into an eerie silence upon its arrival.
After witnessing a kind-hearted person hastily pull their child aside to avoid the carriage, Lena rubbed her temples in frustration. She decided to disembark and walk to Ruila’s home, leaving the carriage behind.
She wished to avoid putting too much pressure on the young girl.
After walking for a while, the gazes that had lingered on them gradually dissipated. Lena approached a street bench and inquired about directions from a white-haired elder seated there.
“Excuse me, do you happen to know where Ruila lives?”
“Ruila? What do you want with her? Is it about that ‘Hero’ business recently?” The elder, who had been resting with closed eyes, lifted their eyelids. Their voice was somewhat hoarse.
“It’s the Silverbloom Sword Princess,” Lilith, standing behind Lena, reminded them, her brows slightly furrowed.
“Heh, I’m old,” the elder chuckled. “I can’t remember these things anymore.”
“Then, do you know where Ruila lives?”
“Follow this road to the very end, then turn left, and you’ll see a low-rise building. That’s where she lives.” The elder pointed their cane towards the end of the street, appearing quite familiar with Ruila.
“Thank you.”
Having received the answer she sought, Lena prepared to head towards Ruila’s home. However, as she started to leave, the elder called out to her.
“She’s usually not home during the day. If you want to find her, you’ll have to wait until late at night.”
“Late at night?”
“Yes, her sister is gravely ill. To pay for her treatment, Ruila works many jobs and often doesn’t return home until deep into the night. So, if you don’t have urgent business, it’s best not to disturb her. She desperately needs rest.”
“…Understood. Thank you for the warning.”
Seeing that Lena still intended to meet with Ruila, the elder shook their head in disappointment, secretly displeased by her actions.
Too many people had come looking for Ruila recently. Some sought her out while she was working, others waited until late at night.
As her neighbor, he had witnessed it all. What angered him was that these visitors only cared about the hero, causing the already exhausted Ruila to become even more fatigued.
At this rate, Ruila’s health would surely collapse.
Unfortunately, he was powerless to help. After all, those who came looking for Ruila were either heroes or city nobles, none of whom he could afford to offend.
Staring in the direction of Ruila’s home, he let out a deep sigh, muttering several times how pitiful her situation was.
****
Time swiftly passed, and night descended. Moonlight pierced through the clouds, illuminating the ground floor. Even in the commoner district, this particular building seemed out of place, its state of disrepair noticeably worse than other homes.
This was Ruila’s home.
During the day, Lena had knocked on the wooden door and, upon confirming Ruila’s absence, had left. She and Lilith had then patrolled Saint Ciel, awaiting the moon’s ascent.
Only after the moon hung high in the sky did they return to Ruila’s doorstep.
After a short wait, slow footsteps accompanied by the chirping of night insects drew Lena’s attention. Under the dim moonlight, she discerned the young girl gradually emerging from the darkness.
The girl was small and slender, dressed in a restaurant server’s uniform. Her long black hair was pulled up, with a few stray strands falling messily around her cheeks, giving her a somewhat disheveled appearance.
Due to prolonged malnutrition, the bones of her face were somewhat prominent. Coupled with the exhaustion from her work, her eyes appeared particularly listless, and her entire being radiated weariness.
Lena even worried she might collapse as she walked.
The girl paid them no mind, her gaze fixed on her home with a busy air. She brushed past Lena, and it was then that Lena called out to her.
“Ruila?”
Her steps faltered. The girl turned her head in confusion, and upon seeing Lena and Lilith, a flicker of envy crossed her eyes.
From their attire, they were clearly noble young ladies.
“Who are you?”
Lena briefly introduced herself. Before she could finish, Ruila’s expression subtly revealed a hint of impatience.
“You’re here for Senior Silverbloom again, aren’t you? I’ve told everyone, I don’t know where she went, and she won’t be coming back to me. If you don’t mind, please just go home.”
Pulling out a key, Ruila unlocked her wooden door. She stood at the threshold, not entering yet.
Despite her impatience, the two women before her were noble young ladies. If she truly angered them, a mere commoner like her wouldn’t be able to survive in Saint Ciel.
Her own fate didn’t matter, but she had a sister who needed care, and she couldn’t abandon her. Her sister couldn’t be without her.
“I’d like to know what Senior Silverbloom looks like.”
“She looks about the same as before. Very beautiful.”
“Would it be convenient for us to speak inside?”
Lena offered a gentle smile, trying her best to appear approachable. However, her noble status was undeniable, and Ruila dared not refuse.
“There’s nothing here to entertain noble young ladies like yourselves. If you don’t mind the humble surroundings, please come in.”
With that, she entered the house alone, followed closely by Lena and Lilith.
In contrast to the dilapidated exterior, the interior appeared somewhat cozier, as if meticulously cared for. However, the furniture inside was sparse, and what remained was patched, as was evident with the living room sofa.
“Please sit here for a moment; I’ll be right back.” After asking Lena and Lilith to sit on the sofa, Ruila ascended the creaking stairs to the second floor.
Watching her leave, Lena surveyed the room’s furnishings. She noticed a photograph and a bouquet of silver-white flowers displayed on a cabinet in the living room.
The photograph appeared to be a family portrait: a resolute-faced man holding a smiling woman, with two adorable little girls standing in front of them.
One of the girls looked like Ruila, while the other, with white hair, was likely her sister.
As for the silver-white flowers…
Did they represent the Silverbloom Sword Princess? Placed beside the family portrait, did it mean the Silverbloom Sword Princess was very important to Ruila? Or was she overthinking it?
Numerous questions surfaced in her mind. Hearing footsteps on the stairs, she set down the silver-white bouquet and returned to the sofa.