Faria gave a small nod. She raised a hand slightly, signaling her knights to remain outside and stand by. They responded immediately, settling in around the gate while she followed the young dwarf girl toward the guard office.

As they walked, the girl suddenly snapped, her patience clearly running thin.

"You two! Enough already!" she shouted, her voice surprisingly loud for her size.

The captain and Alrik froze mid-brawl, helmets pressed against each other, hands gripping each other's armor like stubborn brothers refusing to let go.

"Ugh!" the girl groaned, rubbing her temple. "I swear, one day you two are gonna make me quit!"

Faria watched the scene with the faintest smile tugging at the corner of her lips.

Dwarves… always the same, no matter where you go.

"Through here, Miss," the dwarf lady said with a warm smile, gesturing toward the small stone building beside the gate.

"Thank you," Faria replied politely, following her inside.

The office was compact but well-kept. Maps pinned to the walls, shelves filled with scrolls and ledgers, and the faint scent of ink and dwarven liquor lingering in the air.

The young dwarf guided Faria straight to a sturdy desk at the center. "May I see the scroll?"

"Here." Faria handed over the sealed royal document without hesitation.

The dwarf carefully broke the seal and gave it a quick but thorough inspection, nodding to herself. "I'll process this. You're heading to the royal palace?"

Faria shook her head slightly. "Ah, no. We're just here for work and to visit the Adventurer Guild."

"Alright then," the dwarf said, stamping the scroll and filing a small slip onto the board behind her. "But since this is official business, we can only grant movement inside this town and the areas nearby. You won't be able to pass the next gate without permission from the royal palace."

"That's fine," Faria nodded. "We're not planning to leave this area yet."

The dwarf girl let out a small breath of relief, then offered a polite smile. "Can I ask… what's the purpose of your visit to this little town?"

Faria's expression didn't change. "I can't disclose the full details," she said evenly. "But I can share what's allowed, since this is official royal business. I hope you understand."

"A…ah… I'm sorry if I overstepped," the dwarf girl said quickly, bowing her head slightly.

Faria shook her head gently. "It's fine. It's your job to ask."

The girl straightened, her curiosity still visible, though she kept it in check.

"Understood, Miss. I'll make sure your arrival is logged properly so there's no trouble later."

Faria sank into the chair, the wood creaking softly beneath her. Her eyes moved over the small office, but her thoughts had already gone elsewhere.

Where is Princess Ellyna.

Is she safe?

It had been more than a week since the princess was force-teleported. The memory of that day tightened her chest: the panic at court, the king's silent fury, the envoys found dead in their cells. Every minute that passed without news felt like an insult to the trust placed in her.

If something happened to Ellyna… Faria's jaw hardened. She pictured faces, nobles with hungry eyes, halfling envoys who used teleport magic as a weapon. Her hand closed into a quiet fist at her side.

I will find her. I will hunt them down. I don't care if they wear crowns or cloaks. No one will touch the princess while I breathe.

The dwarf clerk returned then, paper in hand, breaking the loop of her anger with an efficient clearing of her throat.

"Everything's processed, Miss. Your entry's logged, and the gate's permissions are noted, movement inside the town and surrounding areas is clear. If you need anything beyond the next checkpoint, we'll have to wait for palace approval."

Faria straightened, meeting the girl's eyes with a brief, composed nod. "Understood. Thank you."

As the dwarf clerk turned away, Faria's mind wandered back to the words of King Lioness and the reports from the Adventurer Guild. There had been talk of a black-haired human adventurer in this town.

Hazuki.

Princess Ellyna Fiancee. Her pinky promise couple.

Maybe I should ask him for help… to find her. If anyone could stumble into Ellyna's path again, it would be him.

She cleared her throat softly. "Is there any human adventurer here?"

The dwarf girl blinked, then tilted her head slightly. "Hmm? Ah… yeah, there's one. Why do you ask?"

"Ah, nothing," Faria replied calmly. "Just curious. Where does he live?"

The girl scratched her cheek, thinking.

"Hmm… I don't really know where he stays. You should probably check the Adventurer Guild, or one of the taverns. Since Heelsman is often drinking around."

She tilted her head toward the window, looking at the brightening sky. "Sometimes they say he even sleeps in the middle of the road. Not sure if that's true, but folks talk."

"Heelsman?" Faria repeated, brow arching. "That's his name?"

"Ah, no." The girl chuckled, covering her mouth with her palm. "Everybody calls him that because he kept bothering the blacksmiths, asking if they could make heels of all things. A strange one, that human."

Faria let out a quiet exhale through her nose, somewhere between amusement and disbelief.

"Oh… you don't know his real name?"

The dwarf girl shook her head, still smiling.

"No~ but he's popular around here. Keeps buying rounds of drinks for folks and the soldiers. And everyone knows he likes talking to himself. Or… to the air. Or the ground sometimes."

She laughed softly again. "But he's kind to the townsfolk. Not a troublemaker. Just… weird."

Faria lowered her gaze slightly, a faint smile touching her lips.

That definitely sounds like him.

"So where's the nearest Adventurer Guild here?" Faria asked.

"Ah, let me show you," the dwarf lady said with a bright smile, already stepping out from behind her desk. Faria followed her out the office door and into the open air.

"Alright," the girl began, pointing down the main road beyond the gate.

"From here, walk past this gate. After that, turn right and keep goin' straight."

She gestured with her hand, tracing the directions in the air. "When ye see a shop with a big ol' tankard craft out front, not too big, but enough to catch yer eye, stick to the left side o' the street and keep walkin'."

"Once ye pass that, ye'll spot the adventurer sign. It's a small place though, more like a shop than a fancy hall. This town's not big, so it's easy to find."

She tilted her head slightly. "Want me to draw a map?"

Faria shook her head gently. "Ah, no thanks. I'll ask around if I get lost."

"Okay~" the girl chirped, stepping back with a polite nod.

Faria returned the gesture. "If you'll excuse me."

She turned toward her knights waiting outside. "Let's go."

( End Of Chapter )

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