Cornflower Witch

Chapter 259 Night in Valley City
After spending more than half a month in Scorched Stone City, Hilti heard that the lockdown on Valley City in the north had been lifted and the situation had stabilized, so she decided to go there to visit Karen.

"Miss Tia, you can simply sit inside the carriage; we will take care of everything else."

A merchant with a small mustache respectfully invited Hilti to sit in the carriage; he was the son of the president of the Oak Barrel Merchants Guild.

Now, thanks to Hilti, the situation in Scorched Stone City has finally stabilized, and the Oak Barrel Merchants Guild no longer needs to worry about Antiy soldiers seizing goods, banning or extorting them under various pretexts.

The entire guild was extremely grateful to the young girl, and the guild president's wife, Polia, had also been a good friend of Mrs. Fran. She had known Hilti for several years and had given her some travel supplies and gifts before Hilti went to the woods.

Given this familiar and intimate relationship, when Lady Polya learned that Hilti was going to Valley City, she sent her son with a caravan to accompany her.

“After the lockdown on Valley City is lifted, there will probably be a shortage of supplies. It’s a good opportunity for us to do business there and earn some income. Miss Tia, if you come with us, the journey will be much easier.” After explaining the reason, Xilutia agreed to go with them.

The group heading to Valley City included members of the Oak Barrel Merchant Guild as well as some Antian soldiers, who were specially selected by Aru from the garrison.

These soldiers were originally members of the Somelin caravan and were very good at doing business. They didn't care much about who their leader was, as long as they could make money. With them as cover, the caravan was less likely to be intercepted or extorted by Antioch's army on the road.

After preparing the goods, Hilti sat in the carriage and followed the caravan towards Valley City.

……

The group traveled quietly through the mountains, with the lead rider occasionally walking back and forth, the clear sound of his bells echoing through the mountains.

Sitting inside the carriage, Hirutiya would occasionally lift the curtain to peek at the mountain scenery through the sliver of light.

To avoid drawing attention, she did not wear the pale yellow dress left to her by Madame Franz for this trip. Instead, she accepted a dark green gown given to her by Madame Pollya. The dress was understated yet luxurious, with a beautifully pleated skirt made of dark green silk, and intricate lace sewn on the cuffs and collar.

The silk scarf that complemented her collar, the gold brooch, the black loafers, and the snow-white socks made Hiltiya look like a young lady from a noble family.

At night, the group camped out in the mountains, with the carriages arranged in a semi-circle to shield them from the night wind, and a campfire lit in the middle, where everyone began to prepare dinner.

"Lady Tiya." A maid opened the carriage door and accompanied the young girl down from the carriage. It was already half dark.

The sun had long since set, leaving only a half-orange glow. Hiltiya gazed at the mountain scenery, then lightly stepped across the grass, preparing for a stroll.

Not far away, some members of the group lit firewood, some sat on the grass to rest and chat, and some whistled towards the valley, creating a relaxed and casual atmosphere.

Hiltiya found a relatively clean stone, swept it clean, then sat down on it, lifting her skirt and listening to the wind blowing through her hair.

There was no one in the mountains and forests, but the road still had clear tire tracks, telling a silent story that made one feel less alone.

At this moment, Hilti's heart gradually calmed down. She closed her eyes and could hear the soft rustling of leaves in the wind on the distant mountain. The sound was so gentle that it was even more moving than the sound of musical instruments.

Before they knew it, the sky had slowly darkened completely, and Hiltiya stood up at the reminder of her maid.

"Let's go back, dinner should be ready by now."

With the maid in tow, Hilti walked slowly toward the campfire that night. When she appeared before everyone, the firelight first illuminated her face and hair, as if everything was tinged with a faint gold, giving her an otherworldly beauty, like an elf who had stepped out of an ancient myth.

Of course, she was not an elf; then her entire figure was illuminated by the firelight, becoming softer and more real.

Sitting on a log by the campfire, Hilti took the dinner plate and enjoyed it slowly with everyone. After it was over, she didn't rush back to the car to rest, but continued to sit there, watching everyone talk about all sorts of things, occasionally bursting into loud laughter, arguing and betting, dancing while drinking, and so on.

Even though there were big conflicts at the beginning, now that they are getting to know each other better, the Antigonids and Regasians in the group don't seem to be fundamentally different.

The everyday warmth of this life gradually blurred the boundaries between them, and also reminded Hilti of many books she had read before.

Much knowledge, even if known, is still not as profound or memorable as firsthand experience.

Two days later, the group arrived at the foot of Valley City.

After some negotiation between the accompanying personnel and the guards at the city gate, the caravan to which Hiltiya was located was able to enter the city smoothly, and was even exempted from the cumbersome entry fee.

"How did they do that?" Hirutia asked curiously as she parted the curtains slightly in the carriage.

"Lady Tiya." The mustachioed man riding a horse outside caught up.

"It's actually not difficult. The Antirian army doesn't make things too difficult for each other as long as they give each other some money. This is completely different from how they treat us Regas."

"With them coming along this time, it really saved us a lot of trouble."

"Please wait in the carriage for a while. We will find a suitable hotel to settle you in before you get off."

Although the lockdown on Valley City has been lifted, there are still quite a few soldiers patrolling the streets. Moreover, given Siltia's appearance, it would be easy for her to attract attention if she were to suddenly appear in their sight.

"I understand, thank you for your help." Hilti nodded and then closed the curtains.

At night, the caravan finally found a suitable place to stay, where they settled down and began unloading their cargo.

The maids accompanying the caravan opened the carriage door for Hilti and led her to her resting place.

"Lady Tia, your room has been arranged. I just went in and tidied it up a bit. Please come with me." This maid originally served Lady Polia, but Lady Polia specifically asked her to accompany the caravan to take care of Siltia.

"Thank you." Hilti nodded slightly, got out of the car, and then looked around.

This must be a large hotel in the city, with ample space for carriages. There are several buildings in front, one of which is brightly lit and filled with the sounds of people talking and drinking. It must be the hotel's dining area.

"let's go."

The maidservant walked ahead, holding a candle, while Hiltiya followed behind. They avoided the crowded areas and headed directly towards a nicely decorated house on the side.

During this process, because it was dark, not many people in the hotel paid attention. However, on a building not far from the hotel, a figure was hidden in the darkness, silently observing the group and the girl in the dark green dress who went upstairs.

He didn't act until the girl's figure disappeared around the corner, leaving the observation point and heading quickly towards the castle on the south side of the city.

Since being seriously injured in an attack by the Hundred-Eyed Cult during the pursuit of the rebels by Nocton, Antioch's elite troops are now under the command of 'Baron of the Hellhound' Kachis.

This meritorious baron was skilled at raising hunting dogs and tracking tracks. Ever since General Norcton's incident, he had been searching for the members of the Hundred-Eyed Cult who were hiding among the crowds. Now, this unusual caravan entering the city quickly caught his attention.

In the staff office, illuminated by candlelight, Kachis listened to his subordinates' reports, nodded slightly, and then looked at the clearly drawn map on the table.

"From Jiaoshi City? And such a beautiful young lady at that."

"There must be many stories I don't know about these things, hehe." He smiled knowingly.

"Make preparations. We'll have a banquet at the castle tomorrow, and then send invitations to everyone on this list."

"What do you think should be done with that caravan you mentioned, sir?"

"Of course, we'll send out invitations as well, especially to that girl in the dark green dress you mentioned. I want to see just how much of her stunning beauty is real."

“It’s really upsetting if someone like that is involved with a cult.” As he said this, Kachis’s voice carried a hint of sinister ruthlessness.

"Yes, my lord."

(End of this chapter)