A Chance Encounter in the Capital

After a long ten-hour journey, Fionella and Cassandra finally arrived in the Capital. Liana was joyfully reunited with her parents, who expressed their heartfelt gratitude to both Fionella and Cassandra for ensuring her safe return. As they bid farewell at the port, Fionella watched sadly as Liana and her family disappeared into the crowd. Despite their brief time together, she had grown fond of the young girl.

Awaiting them was a golden carriage drawn by flying horses, the signature transport of Hera's Fortress. Though the Fortress was a considerable distance from Averia's Capital, they had come to attend the grand festival hosted by the crown prince, to which all noble families and fortresses had been invited.

A disciple of Hera's Fortress, clad in a uniform bearing Hera's crest, greeted them with a bow. "Welcome back, my lady. I am First Rank Disciple Uriel. Our liege awaits you at the residence, and I have been assigned to escort you and your mage."

Fionella smiled and replied, "Please inform my mother that I wish to explore the Capital for a while. I know the way to our residence and will return in an hour."

Before Uriel could object, Fionella and Cassandra vanished, using their teleportation ability, a skill they had honed in the West.

True to her word, Fionella strolled through the bustling streets of the Capital, visiting various festival stalls with Cassandra by her side.

"My lady, where else would you like to go?" Cassandra inquired.

Fionella smiled and pointed to a stall selling accessories. "It's been twelve years since I last saw my older brother and sister. I want to buy them gifts."

Cassandra furrowed her brow. "But I thought you already bought gifts from the West?""Those aren't enough," Fionella replied. "They love things like this, and they rarely get to explore the Capital."

Cassandra chuckled, "You're right, my lady. You're the only one brave enough to disregard your mother's orders."

"It's not as if I ever followed them," Fionella said with a shrug.

It was well-known within Hera's Fortress that Fionella and her mother, Germaine, did not get along. Raised primarily by her nanny and Cassandra, Fionella rarely interacted with her mother, seeing her mostly during formal family dinners. Isolated in a separate palace away from the main residence, Fionella had grown accustomed to her solitary upbringing. What once might have hurt her now seemed a distant memory, as she had long accepted her strained relationship with her mother.

Fionella's face lit up with happiness as she spotted the perfect gifts for her siblings. While her relationship with her mother was strained, her bond with her siblings, Thealaine and Rozel, was different. They had always been close, often playing together when they were younger. However, her time in the West had kept her from communicating with them, as it was forbidden.

"Excuse me, I'd like to buy this—" Fionella started, but was cut off when someone else picked up the bow accessory she had been eyeing. She turned to the person beside her, frustration evident in her voice. "I was going to buy that."

The young man, dressed in the attire of a noble, smirked as he held the accessory. "But I got it first," he said, waving it teasingly.

"No, I saw it first," Fionella insisted, her tone serious.

"I apologize, young lady, but I was the one who picked it up," the man replied, clearly enjoying the exchange. "Besides, this design seems more suited for a man."

Fionella raised an eyebrow, her voice unwavering. "I was planning to give it to a man."

The nobleman was momentarily taken aback by her assertiveness but soon chuckled. "Bold of you, young lady."

Sensing Fionella's rising temper, Cassandra stepped in to diffuse the situation. "My lady, perhaps we shouldn't cause a scene. Let's let him have the accessory and find another shop."

However, Fionella had been taught never to back down. With a confident smirk, she proposed a challenge to the young man. "Fine, let's settle this with a game. Judging by your attire, you must be a soldier from Haris Fortress, correct?"

The young man nodded, "Yes, that's right."

"Then you must be familiar with the history of the Fortresses. I'll step aside if you can tell me the name of the founder of Hera Fortress," Fionella said confidently. She knew that only a few high-ranking officials were aware of the true founder's identity and was certain that this young man, based on his apparent status, wouldn't know the answer.

"My lady," Cassandra interjected, trying to caution her, but Fionella was resolute. Once she set her mind to something, she was unwavering.

Fionella's smile widened as the young man hesitated. "Alright, it seems like you can't answer—"

"Rose Fiona Hera, the true founder of Hera and the first keeper of the Arrow of Life," the young man interrupted, his tone steady and sure.

Fionella's eyes widened in surprise, her confidence momentarily shaken. She hadn't expected him to know such a closely guarded secret. "H-How?"

The young man smiled, a hint of triumph in his eyes. "It seems I've won this round. I regret that I can't stay longer, as I have pressing matters to attend to. It was a pleasure meeting you, my lady," he said, paying for the accessory before disappearing into the crowd.

Fionella stood there, still processing what had happened. If that young man knew the name of Hera Fortress's founder, he must be a high-ranking official. The realization hit her that there was a significant chance they would cross paths again at the festival. Feeling a mix of embarrassment and frustration, she quickly paid for the remaining accessories and decided to head back to the residence.

'I just hope I don't run into him at the festival,' she thought, her cheeks still warm with embarrassment.

As she and Cassandra made their way back to Hera's main residence in the Capital, Fionella couldn't shake the encounter from her mind. Despite her usual curiosity and love for exploring the city, the thought of possibly meeting the young man again made her uneasy. She reluctantly chose to return home, even if it meant facing her mother.

"Are you done exploring for the day, my lady?" Cassandra asked gently.

Fionella sighed, "I'll continue tomorrow. I'd rather endure my mother's nagging than risk running into that young man again. I'm so embarrassed!"

Cassandra chuckled, amused by her lady's rare display of vulnerability. With a reassuring smile, she opened a portal, and together they stepped through, returning to the safety of Hera's residence. 

To be continued