6. Seaside City
Xia Yi and Sera left the Dragon Kingdom together.
The journey to Golde was a distance away.
If she could ride on Sera, it would probably take less than three days to arrive.
However, for this trip, they decided to keep a low profile and not fly.
Fortunately, there was a big river within the Dragon Kingdom that flowed directly to Golde and into the sea.
So, Xia Yi and Sera went to the border of the Dragon Kingdom and then hired a boat to follow the river towards Golde.
"Finally, we've arrived!"
Xia Yi jumped off the boat, landing on the docks of Golde.
Sitting on the boat all this time was really boring!
Now she felt relieved.
She took deep breaths of the fresh air.
After Sera paid the boatman, she also followed Xia Yi off the boat.
"Sera, have you been to Golde before?" Xia Yi asked.
"No, Miss," Sera shook her head, "This is also my first time in Golde."
Since they didn't want to reveal their identities in Golde for the time being, Sera changed how she addressed Xia Yi, from "Your Highness" to "Miss."
According to their cover, they were from a foreign country, coming to Golde for tourism.
To avoid drawing attention, both of them used an alchemical potion to temporarily hide their tails.
In this world, not many people have actually seen members of the dragon race.
Most have only heard rumors.
Since Xia Yi and Sera hid their tails, it was even less likely for others to recognize them as dragons.
"Then let's go into the city, maybe we can gather some information!"
"Alright." Sera nodded.
Afterward, the red-haired maid in black and white followed the silver-haired miss in a white dress from the docks into the city of Golde.
Golde was a coastal nation, quite rare on this continent.
Most nations were inland, including the Dragon Kingdom.
Many people might live their whole lives in their own country without ever seeing the sea.
"Hehehe,"
The little princess agilely jumped onto the steps, standing on the railing, gazing into the distance.
In her view was the vast, endless sea, with waves undulating continuously, where the blue horizon met the calm sky, creating a stark contrast.
A gust of sea breeze almost blew away Xia Yi's white sun hat.
"Be careful, Miss." Sera helped her hold onto the hat.
"Mhm!"
Xia Yi smiled.
"Sera, what do you think is beyond the sea?"
The sea was a mysterious entity, and people's understanding of it was very limited; they didn't know what existed in its depths.
And what was on the other side of the sea?
However, this land was not lacking in adventurers.
In a certain era of its long history, there was a legend that on the other side of the sea, there was a Golden Country.
In the Golden Country, there were endless treasures, trees of gold, and soil full of diamonds.
People's fervent pursuit of wealth sparked the Age of Great Voyages.
It was during this age that Golde accumulated a lot of wealth and developed rapidly.
Unfortunately, no one was able to cross the ocean to find the legendary Golden Country, and countless people died in the vast sea.
Gradually, people began to regard the Golden Country as a lie, just something Golde made up to attract people to their nation.
The Age of Great Voyages gradually came to an end.
In later generations, although there were adventurers who wanted to challenge the sea, their fate was the same as those during the Age of Great Voyages, ending without incident.
"Do you think it's the Golden Country, Miss?" Sera asked.
Xia Yi shook her head, "I don't think it's likely. Perhaps on the other side of the sea, there's a vast land just like ours, and they also fantasize that our side is the Golden Country, trying to cross the sea, but they also failed."
"That's a very reasonable guess. I thought Miss's guess would be more childish…"
"More what?"
"Nothing, don't mind it."
"Hmm…"
Xia Yi pouted.
This Sera, she doesn't really think of her as a child, does she?
Hmph.
Well, this time she would act and let her personal maid see her in a new light!
"Let's go! We'll enter the city first and find an inn."
Xia Yi jumped down from the railing.
Then, they left the docks and entered the city.
The city's name was simple and to the point, called Seaside City.
The streets of Seaside City appeared somewhat deserted.
Despite the wide roads, there were few pedestrians and even fewer carriages.
To the uninformed, it might seem as if Seaside City was under lockdown.
There were hardly any shops in operation, and aside from Xia Yi and Sera, there seemed to be no other tourists, only locals.
These locals, each one stranger than the last.
Even though it was broad daylight, they weren't working; they just leaned against the walls of the street, with numb expressions and vacant eyes, almost like the living dead.
Xia Yi thought carefully; Golde was currently in a state of turmoil, the royal family had been dealt with, and various powers had intervened in the nation, vying for their own interests, leaving no time to manage the common folk.
A thin and dark little girl, seeing Xia Yi and Sera, crossed the street and ran over.
"Miss, could you spare some money? I'm so hungry… I want to eat something…"
The little girl looked pitifully at Xia Yi, holding out her hand.
Sera's expression was cold, showing no sign of emotion.
Xia Yi thought for a moment, then tugged at Sera, "Sera, give me some money."
"Are you sure, Miss?"
"Yes. First, we need to gather information here."
"Understood."
Sera handed some small change to Xia Yi.
Xia Yi took out a few copper coins and gave them to the little girl.
"This should be enough for you to buy some food."
"Thank you, Miss!" The little girl took the money and ran off.
Seeing the little girl's success, other children came over to ask Xia Yi for money.
Xia Yi gave to all of them.
The adults, witnessing Xia Yi's generosity, shamelessly crowded around her, each one starting to complain and beg for money.
More and more people gathered, surrounding Xia Yi and Sera.
"Miss, you don't need to overflow with sympathy for these lower races," Sera reminded her.
"Just wait, you'll understand soon."
Xia Yi gave a sly smile, then took out a handful of money and threw it into the air.
Instantly, the crowd erupted into chaos, forgetting everything else as they scrambled for the coins.
Using this distraction, Sera grabbed Xia Yi's hand and they ran, escaping the crowd and ducking into an alley.
In the alley, Xia Yi told Sera to wait, and in less than half a minute, the alley was blocked by a group of men with ill intentions.
"Sorry, pretty ladies, you're surrounded by us now."
Seeing this, Sera understood and smiled, stepping in front of Xia Yi to face the men, and said coldly:
"No, it's you who are surrounded by me."
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