Route 1: Unknown Dream Part 1

**Scarlet Aubrielle**

“If you need anything please don’t hesitate to cal l us my lady. We know that it is quite hard for you as well traveling alone without even an attendant.” The head maid said with a sad expression plastered on her eye. I guess she is worried about me even though this is the first time that she actually saw me.

Well, there is actually something that I am curious about - I would like to ask her if she actually knew my existence because she acts differently from the other maids who are quite curious who I was or if I am really a child from the Elvoi but I guess I shouldn’t be prying that much.

“Thank you” that is the only thing that I have said and as if on cue the head maid left and I am the only one left in my room.

And so, what I did is that instantly made my way towards the bed and I threw myself there. Finally, after twelve hours of journey, I have already laid down on a soft bed which means that I could already rest. Well, I really need to just sleep I am still full so I no longer need to eat lunch. I suppose I could still survive until dinner.

And so, I closed my eyes and I let myself succumb to the dream land.

*dream*

"Good Morning Scarlet"

"Good Morning Scar"

"Good Morning dear"


Those are the few greetings the townspeople said to me as I walk down the streets. Of course, I greeted them back. I decided to take a stroll awhile ago because this is my last day here. I was actually expecting that tomorrow will be my last but I can't help it, because I can't afford to be seen by those people living here also I need to stop those pests before they reach this place.

As I take a stroll around town, I asked the two; Aesir and Alarick to bring our things to our new home so that it would be not a burden to us later. Well as if it would be a burden but anyway, I just don't like wasting time.

I looked around and I realized that my feet bought me to the inn where I first stayed to recuperate. I stared at the huge name placed just a few meters above the front door and I can't help but to smile because from their old name "Paradise" they really changed it into "Scarlett".

The owners of this inn are named Lady Helena and Sir Arthur. They both served the empire for quite some time, if I remember correctly they said that they served the Emperor and the Empress for about twenty years. Lady Helena being maid and Sir Arthur being a knight.

Lady Helena manages the inn and since she gained quite a lot of experience inside the imperial palace it has become a great advantage. while Sir Arthur although already retired, he trains the knights who protect this town.

He was one of the few people who also patrols around town to check if there is something wrong and if there is he directly reports it to the mayor. Well, the 'mayor' is actually a baron, but I'd like to call him 'mayor' in my mind because it makes me remember how politics work in my past life.

A few days ago, they the couple visited me to get the flower arrangements they asked me to make for every room and every corner of their inn. Actually, another thing that this inn is famous for other than its service is the calm and relaxing vibe it radiates.

One reason for that are the flowers, every two weeks the couple always order a bunch of flowers that has meaning. Last week, they ordered Dahlia flowers which symbolizes 'Dignity' well it is because starting last week until the end of this week is the two weeks where this town celebrates and remember those who died protecting the empire and this town itself not only from monsters but also from bandits, rebels and many more.

On that very day they got the flowers they need, they informed me that they are planning to change their inn's name to Scarlett. I actually asked them why exactly they want to change their inn's name where its name is already catchy and not to mention it was the name that is already popular not only around the empire but also some parts of this world that I still don't know if it truly exists because I only heard it from Aesir and Alarick.

Of course, seeing is believing so I'll only believe them when I already see those places with my own eyes. Wondering why I can't go there using magic? Well I actually can, but I don't want to. I want to be surprised and I want to know what kind of road do ordinary people or magicians who cannot use teleportation magic take when they are traveling towards that destination.

Anyway, so the couple, Lady Helena and Sir Arthur answered me that it is because I changed them, not only them but the whole town. They said that it was hard to explain but they feel that my arrival to this town is destined and I am their lucky star of some sort. Because when I came, the economy bloomed, a lot of tourist visit the town first because of my flowers and second because of how safe the town is that the mayor or the baron could already held a night festival. And they said that they just feel grateful towards my appearance to this place.

Well I can't deny that but still, they shouldn't be that grateful towards me because I am about to leave anyway.

I let out a wide yet also sad smile, turn my back and I was about to walk away when suddenly I heard someone called my name which made me turn around again

"Scarlet"

I smiled even widely when I saw the person who called out to me and its none other than Lady Helena, the one owner of this inn and of course one of the few persons who took care of me when I am bedridden and on the verge of death.

"Lady Helena"- I greeted her and she instantly let out a smile.

"What are you doing here? Don't you have customers? Do you want to come in and have lunch with us? I've just cooked chicken pastel and you know our children, they don't eat that much when that's the food" - she said in a fast yet excited manner. I can't help but to let out a chuckle because she is actually indirectly saying that I should come inside and eat with her family.

Why did I say that? Because chicken pastel is my favorite. I actually did not like it at first but on my second try I already loved it. And when I was still living her and even when I am just starting my business and still can't afford to buy lunch or dinner she would always give me a pot of chicken pastel once a week.

Well, until now actually and I guess she would just go over my shop to give me some but since she already saw me then she would just invited me instead.

Another reason for her excitement is that it is because her second son likes me. Hmm what do teenagers call that in my past life?-- oh yeah ship. She is actually shipping us. However, her son already knows that I don't like him romantically and I only see him as a brother since we technically grew up the same. But of course, our way of thinking is way different.

"My apologies Lady Helena but I can't eat with you today. I have an appointment outside of town and I was just passing by" - I apologetically said and I could clearly see how down she suddenly looked. Maybe it is because this is actually the first time I rejected her. However after a second, her face lit up once again and she smiled at me.

"If that's the case, then I'll just bring you some tomorrow. You need to eat well Scarlet, especially that you are so busy. Health is so much more important always remember that" - she said as took a hold of my hands and I too cannot help but to smile because she is acting like a worried mother.

A thing that I never experienced back in that mansion because my biological mother was killed due to my biological father's incompetence and ignorance and because he blamed himself and he could see my mother's facial features in me he decided to neglect me to hide his guilt.

Anyway despite my smile, I also can't help but to feel a little bit sad because apparently this is going to be the last time we are going to meet or cross paths.

Only a few hours left and I am about to leave and disappear from this place completely. Of course, I am going to miss everyone here especially the chicken pastel that Lady Helena cooks for me every week but I can't go back here once I leave.

"*sigh* Why do I feel that you are going to leave us?" - she suddenly blurted out which made me stare at her.

Well that's a feeling is right. I am going to leave this place and never return because this is for the better.
*

"Master, if we are planning to finish off those pests you have to be careful" - Aesir suddenly said which made me look at her and just then I realized that they are neither in their human or wolf form. They are in their spirit like forms where I am the only one who could see them, the same form they had when I escaped the Bicester mansion.

"Someone is following the horde?" - I asked because just when she said it I suddenly felt a different presence far away from our position, however since whoever that person is following the horde, he or she was able to conceal his or her presence and magical abilities. It is a must because the horde could immediately attack him or her when detected.

But the weird thing is, why is that person following the horde? If he or she is planning to finish of the monsters shouldn't he have done it already while his presence is concealed? Or he or she has been sent by the emperor to kill the horde of monsters but before that he must make sure whether or not the town is indeed safe from monster attacks by intentionally letting the horde arrive there?

Fuck.