Rekindle The Light

Chapter 10: First Impressions

When the carriage arrived, Nagano was impressed. It was white with golden accents. The seats were scarlet red, and the cushions were extremely comfortable. He could tell its design was meticulous, each detail complimenting the last. It was certainly fitting of a noble and superior to the carriage they rode in the morning—the sports car of this world.

As they rode through the winding streets, people looked at the carriage, but none appeared scared or worried. They were excited. The Hyperions must be an extraordinary family, thought Nagano. Soon enough, something in the distance drew Nagano's attention. It was a large castle surrounded by enormous walls and four spires in each corner. It was all made of gray stone bricks and a dark red roofing. In the center was a larger complex of buildings. Alice informed him that its designer's intention was not beauty but protection. It was the last line of defense for the kingdom–in a dire situation, of course. As a result, the design was nothing magnificent, but it was still quite a site to see.

The carriage slowly rolled to a stop. In front of it were two massive doors made of solid metal, and there was no way to open them from the outside. The ground rumbled as the gates slowly swung open. The driver exchanged smiles with the guards before proceeding forward. The atmosphere bustled inside the castle's walls. Servants tended to the gardens with magnificent red, orange, and yellow plants, knights ruthlessly trained in the distance, and horses clopped in a stable to the right of the gates.

The carriage stopped in front of the main building, and a young servant came to help Alice out of the carriage. She had black hair tied up in a bun, wore a maid outfit, and had fair skin and brown eyes. When she came back to help Nagano, he noticed her freeze. Her eyes were locked on his ears before she snapped out of it and looked back at him. There was a mix of hesitance and fear in her eyes.

"I'm alright; I can help myself out," Nagano said as he stood up and stepped towards the carriage door.

The maid averted eye contact and stepped back. She seemed conflicted but also slightly relieved. Nagano ignored the girl and followed Alice. The castle's halls were lined with paintings, large windows, and closed doors to various rooms. Servants hurried past them, quickly attending to their duties. The servants also made it clear that Nagano was not entirely welcome. They gave him subtle looks. They were curious, fearful, and even disgusted, especially when they noticed Alice walking beside them.

They eventually arrived at two separate doors across from one another.

"Our servants will help you prepare for the meeting with my father." She gestured towards a nearby maid. "This here is Lilly; she has been serving as one of my personal maids since I was young."

Nagano sighed internally when he saw Lilly. She was the servant he encountered at the carriage. Lilly bowed, though her movements were stiff and uncomfortable. "This humble maid is honored to serve Mr. Kazuki." There was a slight tremble in her voice.

"Now then," Alice turned to the other door. "I will see you shortly, Nagano." Alice entered the room, and a servant shut the door behind them.

"Right this way, Mr. Kazuki." Lilly opened the door to the other room for him. When Nagano walked inside, he was impressed. The room was big. A neatly made queen-sized bed sat in the middle of the room. On the other side of the room, a window led to a balcony overlooking the courtyard and the kingdom below. A separate door in the corner led to a bathroom, and lots of other storage space and decorations were scattered throughout the room, along with a desk and chair near the bed.

"A bath is ready for you, Mr. Kazuki," Lilly said. She helped Nagano take off his cloak and shirt, and he heard her gasp slightly as his ragged clothes and bandages were revealed.