Maxi pulled back the curtains on the carriage window and watched the scenery pass by.
White birch trees lined the well-paved road in wide rows.
Warm sunlight penetrated the branches like rain.
The princess smiled as she listened to the birds singing.
"I'm glad it's sunny today.
I was worried when I saw the rain clouds yesterday.
Luckily for us, they moved west."
The princess poked her head out the window to enjoy the cool breeze before turning her gaze back to Maxi.
“May I ask what our first destination is?”
“I was… thinking about… the village square, Your Highness.”
The square was the busiest part of the village.
It was also close to the market, so Maxi was sure there would be plenty to see.
The princess nodded, pleased with Maxi's answer.
"We passed by the square on the way to the castle yesterday.
I noticed there were a lot of taverns and street vendors there."
“Your Highness, surely you are not intending to spend the day drinking at this time?”
The royal escort's tone was stern.
It was the first time that the handsome companion sitting next to the princess had spoken.
Maxi looked at the man curiously.
The companion cleared his throat and stroked his neatly trimmed beard before offering an explanation.
"Her Highness has a taste for alcohol.
There isn't a city she visits without stopping by the taverns."
“Your Highness… visits… village taverns?”
Maxi had heard that knights occasionally visited commoners' taverns to rest, but he had never heard of a noblewoman doing so.
When Maxi looked at the surprised princess, Princess Agnes gave her a sly look.
"Mercy, I visit taverns for information, not for the drink.
They are frequented by travelers, so you hear all kinds of rumors."
"Your Highness, you can always entrust this task to your knights.
Let's admit it's because of your love of excess.
You go out of your way to join the knights whenever they gather...
your actions make me too embarrassed to face Your Majesty, Your Highness."
“I have never done anything shameful,” replied the princess with a touch of irritation.
"I don't like being left out.
I can't stand it when the people I risk my life for are having fun without me.
Comrades must share all the joys and sorrows."
She lifted her chin elegantly and continued, “I believe it is this confidence that drives men to overcome adversity as one.”
The companion did not retreat.
“I don’t think alcohol is the only way to cultivate such confidence, Your Highness.”
The princess's lip trembled as if she wanted to respond harshly, but she only moved her hand in irritation.
"Enough lecturing, Sybil.
I don't intend to upset Lady Calypse by insisting on going to a tavern."
Not knowing how to react, Maxi let out an embarrassing laugh.
The princess apparently lived not unlike a knight.
The title of sorceress allowed her freedoms that were normally inaccessible to noble women.
Maxi wondered if he would also be able to travel freely and visit taverns like the princess if he improved in magic.
It didn't seem possible.
Riftan would never allow such a thing when he was already hesitant to let her roam his own lands.
The panel behind the front seat opened, and Maxi heard the coachman's voice.
"The path ahead is full of rocks, my lady.
Please hold on."
The four passengers held on to the handles fixed to the walls.
True to the coachman's warning, the carriage soon began to sway violently.
Maxi transferred his weight to his legs so he wouldn't slip.
The landscape outside now seemed to shake as if they were in an earthquake.
Soon, they cleared the forest path, and a swift stream, a watermill, and a wide bridge came into view.
The carriage went down a hill and crossed the bridge.
On the other side, they were greeted by wooden buildings, colorful tents and tents lining the wide paved road.
Maxi was surprised to see that the village was busier than she anticipated.
Large carts and carriages cluttered the road along with people driving donkeys and horses.
“There are a considerable number of large buildings,” marveled the princess, looking out the window.The princess was right.
All over Anatol, there were large establishments that one would not expect from a small village in the south of the continent.
Construction of the three-story buildings had begun last fall and was now complete, and more land was being paved to expand the congested road.
“More stores opened after the Leviathan Merchants Guild started bringing in more goods,” Ludis explained in a low voice.
“And as a large number of mercenaries come to Anatol at this time, the taverns and inns, as well as the armorers and blacksmiths, are able to make good profits.”
Princess Agnes stared out the window.
“I heard that the population here has increased… but I didn’t expect to see such a prosperous village,” he muttered in a low voice.
The princess seemed to be deep in thought.
Maxi gave her furtive glances.
Why on earth would the princess have come to Anatol?
His peculiar reaction made Maxi nervous.
"I was informed that Riftan left the castle at dawn to visit the quarry.
Does he plan to expand the castle?"
The princess's question was abrupt after a period of silence watching through the window.
"I-I heard that...
he's planning to build an extensive road...
connecting Anatol to the ports.
That must be why...
he went to the quarry."
Princess Agnes' eyes widened before her entire face turned serious.
"If he manages to build this road and renovate the ports, he would be creating the shortest route connecting the Western and Southern Continents.
Anatol would instantly become the most important commercial center."
From her tone, Maxi got the impression that the princess was not very pleased with this fact.
His heart sank.
Had Riftan angered the royal family?
Could this be the reason why the king had sent the princess to inspect his lands?
It was just a guess, but Maxi felt a chill run down his spine.
As if sensing his discomfort, Princess Agnes quickly changed her expression and added lightly, "However, of course he will have to do something about the monsters first.
If he doesn't drive them out of Anatol, it won't be easy to convince the large merchant guilds of the Southern Continent to come to Anatol."
“I suppose a lot will depend on the influence Sir Riftan’s reputation has in the South,” the companion added.
Maxi silently studied their expressions and then turned his gaze to the intricate roads and dense buildings that passed by the carriage window.
Would Anatol really become a prosperous city?
Although it was full of people, Anatol was still a small land that had not yet completely lost its rural atmosphere.
While the area around the main road leading to the square and castle gates was busy, only old houses occupied the outer areas of the village.
The people who lived there mostly tended small orchards or raised livestock such as sheep, goats, chickens and geese.
The idea that this peaceful, simple rural setting could disappear left Maxi a little disappointed.
"I'd like to take a look at the market.
Should we get down and walk from here?" suggested the princess when the carriage had already covered half the village.
Maxi nodded and opened the panel to ask the coachman to stop the carriage near the market.
Shortly after, the carriage stopped at a quiet corner of the road.
The knights opened the door.
“Are you going to the market, my lady?” asked Hebaron when Maxi came down.
When Maxi nodded, he turned to Ursuline, who was behind him.
"Take the horses to the watering hole.
I will accompany His Highness and his lordship."
Ursuline frowned.
“Why do I have to“” he stopped mid-objection, looked at Maxi and pursed his lips.
Without saying anything else, he led the four horses to a fenced area near the market.
Hebaron tossed the coachman a coin and told him to find a meal nearby, then led the other knights after the princess and Maxi as they entered the market.
The place was busier than the last time Maxi had visited with Ruth.
Tight tents lined both sides.
Merchants sold their wares alongside mercenaries with their monster bones and magic stones.
The princess was interestedly examining the items for sale when she pointed to a tent in the corner.
“How about we have lunch there?”Inside the tent, there were wobbly tables made from wooden planks placed on top of wine barrels.
Judging by their worn-out clothes, the men who were sitting around playing cards while eating were a group of travelers.
Surely the princess wasn't suggesting they eat at such a place?
Maxi observed the dirty establishment in perplexity.
The plump woman who was roasting meat in front of the tent's brazier lowered a rooster from the ceiling and placed it on a cutting board.
Maxi quickly looked away when the woman raised the cleaver.
The rooster's last cries echoed through the market and soon the newly decapitated bird was once again hanging upside down from the ceiling.
Maxi looked cautiously at the tent.
The woman calmly placed a bowl under the rooster to collect the blood and wiped her hands on her apron.
Feeling sick, Maxi covered her mouth and walked away from the tent.
“I-It’s a little early… for lunch…”
"Come on, can we just taste the food.
Nothing beats the taste of freshly roasted chicken."
It seemed that Princess Agnes was not shocked by the terrible sight.
Maxi broke out in a cold sweat.
It was Sybil, the companion, who came to his rescue.
“Your Highness, how can you even think about eating at the market?”
The escort shook his head in exasperation and walked past the tent.
"I hope you have not forgotten, Your Highness, that you are here on official business in the name of the king and not for personal pleasure.
We must not linger in this crowded place."
“Oh God, how insistent he is,” grumbled the princess.
She pursed her lips before following Sybil, dragging her feet.
Maxi let out a sigh of relief and walked after them.
The princess took her time to examine the market.
She assessed the dress of the Anatolians, as well as the quality and prices of the products they traded.
While doing this, she periodically directed questions to Maxi.
“How is the village protected?”
"T-The guards...
patrol the town...
three times a day.
The knights...
also take turns...
to guard the walls.
And visitors are expected...
to undergo strict inspection...
before being allowed entry.
Persons...
without proper credentials...
conferred by the church...
are denied entry."
“How do you punish criminals?”
Maxi looked stupidly at the princess, confused by the unexpected question.