Chapter 48: Miss Lily

The Luban Duchy was known as the nation of art, and as its capital, Bild City had naturally earned the nickname “City of Art.”

The architecture here was profoundly artistic. Dome structures were everywhere, with a strong emphasis on the center and intensely rich colors.

On either side of the wide streets, fiery red maple trees and lampposts were arranged in an orderly, layered fashion. The autumn wind had blown down many red maple leaves, scattered across the ground like decorative patterns.

Many people were out and about, basking in the afternoon sun as they walked along the streets chatting and laughing. Both men and women dressed in far more vibrant colors than those in other cities, seemingly obsessed with vivid hues.

Flower shops, bookstores, taverns, clothing stores, restaurants, alchemy shops, general stores, racetracks, theaters, art galleries… all kinds of businesses were neatly distributed across different districts.

Occasionally, one could spot a Bard or two on the streets, playing enchanting melodies on a harp or guitar.

The carriage slowly made its way into the city. Amelia lifted the curtain to look outside, forming a favorable impression of such a bustling city.

Since arriving in this world, it was the first time she had seen a city so prosperous.

“Head directly to the Hicks family estate,” Amelia instructed.

Eileen nodded.

The location of the Hicks estate was already marked on the map found among the bandits’ spoils. Eileen knew exactly where it was.

After giving the order, Amelia lowered the carriage curtain and sat inside, listening to the music drifting in from outside.

‘That performance of “The Melancholy of Miss Klee” had a slight mistake…’

As they passed a Bard playing a harp, the thought subconsciously surfaced in Amelia’s mind.

In fact, her predecessor had possessed considerable skill in playing the harp, and these abilities had been inherited by the current Amelia, allowing her to discern the quality of a harp performance.

She didn’t dwell on the music’s quality. Her gaze shifted to the Mana Crystal Cannon, which was covered by a white cloth beside her.

An item like a Mana Crystal Cannon must be kept hidden at all costs, or it would bring considerable trouble. She couldn’t bring it into the Hicks family estate.

Amelia already had a plan: she intended to buy or rent a house in Bild City to store the cannon, ensuring it remained undiscovered.

However, as the capital of the Luban Duchy, Bild City had strict procedures for buying or renting property, requiring proof of identity. Buying a house required citizenship of the Luban Duchy, while renting could be done with foreign identification.

Unable to use her true identity, Amelia couldn’t even rent a house, let alone buy one. Thus, she first needed to go to the Hicks family estate, gain the recognition of Count Hicks, and secure the identity of Lily Hicks before she could purchase or rent a property.

“Miss Lily, we’ve arrived.”

Eileen’s voice came from outside the carriage.

Amelia snapped out of her reverie, lifted the carriage curtain, and stepped down.

What appeared before her was a grand mansion. Through the black wrought-iron fence, one could see the lush vegetation inside, though it had taken on a yellowish tinge in the autumn season.

A three-story building stood before her, with the movement of gardeners and maids faintly visible.