Chapter 24 <Flurea>

[Rey! Rey! Look at this weird-looking object!] (Violet)

…Please, I beg of you, stop. I understand that likely due to your family background, you've never seen life outside royalty. I also don't mind you being excited and jumping about like a young child but…

My arm, I think its breaking.

Princess Violet, please remember that you're a vampire with superhuman strength, and I am still a recovering patient.

Someone, please save me.

Currently, I'm being dragged around like a ragdoll with ridiculous force by a certain princess around the streets of Flurea. As suggested – or strongly insisted – by Princess Violet, we travelled to another human country within two to three days after leaving Terdia. It is in no way a safe option given the commotion we were involved in back there and then, but curiously there were no signs of pursuit or calls for capture for us. This only increased my suspicions even more, but before I could let my thoughts wonder, I was yanked out of the carriage once I parked and secured it by the side.

I quickly took Princess Violet to an apparel store before she got lured by her fascination of Flurea. Her royal garments simply gather too much attention, which is what we don't need. We did spend quite some time inside since it was her first time wearing clothing foreign to her, but since it worked out fine I have no complaints at all. Though, I had to spare quite some effort to explain her attire to the store manager when we first entered the store.

I must admit, being good looking makes everything you wear fit. Another reason that delayed us was probably because we couldn't decide which type of clothing suited Princess Violet most. Even the store manager was trying hard not to stutter when she was trying to comment about Princess Violet's attire. In the end, we settled with three different sets, out of which Princess Violet currently dons one.

After that, I got pulled towards the crowd, where I had to endure headaches. I am not really good with crowds, but Princess Violet seems to be naturally attuned to the ones in Flurea.

Flurea is a town that is characteristic of flowers and vegetation. It seems to be the complete opposite of the desolate and remote looking Terdia. The town is surrounded by densely gathered bushes and flowers blooming to their seasons, and even within town the storekeepers are mostly selling goods related to the plants. We happened to pass by the largest inn of the city, Eikraum, which is known to be a very old oak tree hollowed out to accommodate travellers. It seems as if the whole town decided to embrace nature since the start, and it wouldn't be surprising to be charmed by such a beauty that Flurea boasts of.

Due to the large selection available, the variety of plants that Flurea possess gives the town almost anything visitors are looking for. From medicinal herbs to architectural materials, this town is one of the most bustling ones within the country of Skairolmr. Additionally, its location at the border of Skairolmr makes it a town where different races arrive to trade and cohere.

One might think that being a border town, Flurea is prone to invasion from other countries. However, it is likely due to a reason that the prosperity of trade that Flurea enjoys is the sole reason to the lack of invasions. The idea of trade is the concept of give and take, and the result of profit for both sides. In the case an attack occurs, many sides would lose out from the fall of Flurea, and the aggressor would only stand to suffer from attacks of other countries, either by rage or by intent to buy favour from Skairolmr.

While it may still be within the human country, the existence of other races makes it easier for Violet and I to roam about. No matter how slight, it is still better than a town that consists solely of humans. It would be easier for Princess Violet to blend in to the society that consists of a cohesive community of differing races. Also, due to such a characteristic, it also gives Flurea a reason to set an environment that promotes convenience among races that need special conditions to live in.

In other words, there is a magical barrier that Flurea possess which is capable of blocking sunlight, and give off artificial light, allows Princess Violet to roam about in the day, experience life in the day and feel the atmosphere in the day.

Of course, the vast range of different plant species would mean the necessity of natural sunlight, but it also meant that some plants can only grow in the absence of it. With such a huge variety, the magical barrier does not limit the growth of Flurea as a town, but rather only serve to promote its growth. Such an environment would allow Flurea to ready any form of goods anytime, with all types of plants growing constantly regardless of time and season.

Of course, such an elevation of ease to move about for two of us does not mean that our safety is definite. We still cannot be sure about the existence of Princess Violet's assassins, and there is still the issue of the adventurer's guild due to the commotion with Cheff.

[Rey, Rey, this plant moves along with my fingers!] (Violet)

…Don't play with the man-eating flower like it's a docile pet, please.

After being dragged from store to store, I finally managed to calm the excited princess down and convince her that looking for an inn before sunset is a good idea. As I led Princess Violet by hand through the bustling crowd of Flurea while making sure not to let anyone collide into her, I begin to recall about the conversation that we had back in the carriage when we were still on our way towards here.