NEW LIFE IN ANOTHER WORLD

4. Meeting a new friend

As Seraphina neared the capital, she completed her first batch of face wash and moisturizer. The face wash, crafted from natural ingredients, provided a refreshing and effective cleanse. For the moisturizer, although she couldn't find all the exact ingredients she wanted, she managed to source suitable alternatives from this world. She experimented with local flowers for fragrance and a type of root for hydration.

After extensive testing, Seraphina discovered a combination of ingredients that worked well. To her relief, these ingredients were both abundant and affordable. A single silver coin could purchase a large quantity, making it feasible for her to produce a significant amount of her moisturizer at a low cost. This affordability ensured that she could continue to refine her products while preparing to make a successful debut in the capital.

Upon arriving in CryptoCity, Seraphina was both excited and overwhelmed. She had 15 gold coins remaining from the generous 20 gold coins given to her by the baron. With 5 gold coins spent over the past month on ingredients and experimentation, she was left with a substantial amount. The coins were valuable, given that 5 gold coins could sustain a peasant family for a year, and she had managed to secure lower prices for her ingredients through agreements with merchants and the help of the knights.

As she and the knights parted ways, they agreed to stay in the city but would focus on their separate tasks. The knights needed to return to the castle to report on their mission, leaving Seraphine to navigate the capital alone.

Her first priority was finding suitable accommodations. She set out to locate a tavern or inn within CryptoCity, aiming to find a place where she could stay while she established her new business and adjusted to city life.

Upon arriving in CryptoCity, Seraphina, unfamiliar with the city's layout and customs, inquired about the locations of telephones and inns. Her appearance, reflecting a sense of sophistication, led locals to assume she was of noble status. They directed her to the popular, luxurious inn favored by the upper class.

In this world, a stark divide existed between nobles and commoners. The noble and commoner classes rarely mingled; their lives were separated by distinct social spheres. Nobles stayed in exclusive, opulent inns that catered specifically to their high status, while commoners and adventurers frequented more modest lodgings.

In this world the nobles and commoners rarely crossed paths in everyday life, except when commoners were employed in noble households or worked in the service industry. The societal gap ensured that the two classes seldom interacted directly, reinforcing the social divide.

As Seraphina strolled through the bustling streets of CryptoCity, every passerby-whether male, female, or child-gazed at her with awe. Her beauty was unparalleled, like a goddess to their eyes. Although the people in this world were generally well-groomed and clean, they were not accustomed to the polished, ethereal appearance that Seraphina possessed.

In this society, the gap between the wealthy and the commoners was stark. The common folk, often preoccupied with labor and survival, lacked the means to maintain their skin or appearance. Only the noble families had the luxury of pristine, well-cared-for skin and immaculate appearances. Seraphine's appearance, with her flawless skin, elegant hands, and radiant locks, surpassed even the nobility of this world.

Her striking presence was akin to encountering a mythical being. To her, it was a familiar reaction, though she hadn't expected it to be so pronounced. As she explored the city, seeking stores and bustling areas, she noticed an unusual phenomenon: people seemed to follow her, their eyes glued to her every move. The constant attention was strange to her, as she had never experienced such pervasive interest, even as a popular influencer in her own world. The sensation of being the center of such rapturous attention was both unsettling and intriguing.