Isai was one of the three cities of the Domain.
Or rather, one of the two that remained after Duldera's destruction.
It stood as both a city and the first line of defense against the Domain of Blood Certa, the long-time rival to Blood Denegis in the northeast.
For Blanc and his companions, Isai was also the gateway to their journey toward the Domain of Celine's family, Blood Maroux.
Though called a bastion, Isai's defenses, in terms of a standing army, were thin, especially after the fall of its Lord.
With only a shallow but far-reaching moat circled the city, fed by running water, and only four gates breaking the battlements beyond it, allowing the people to freely enter and exit the city.
Even so, with such fortifications meant a small force could hold the city for a time.
And yet, as people strolled the streets outside of the city and chatted freely, one could almost believe peace still ruled the empire, rather than civil war.
"Such a strange sight," muttered Blanc, seeing a woman running while holding the hands of her two children, laughing, "Why wouldn't they run away?"
"While many suffer, those in the parts of the empire untouched by war live their life the same way, after all," Celine replied as she was watching the sight Blanc was looking at while placing her hand slowly on her stomach.
"They can't just hide or run away, all that woman has is right there," Miyanna added, pointing at the woman's children, "She would rather die holding their hands than let them go."
Blanc sighed, "Yet another thing I was ignorant about."
"That's how things are, my love. You are no High Monarch nor Heir for you to worry about them too," Celine said, placing a hand on his shoulder and squeezing it lightly.
"You're right," Blanc nodded, pushing the thought aside. "Let's talk about what matters now."
The scene they had witnessed earlier was on the opposite side of Isai from where they jumped off the carriage.
After that, they soon made their way toward the city's third entrance.
There they stood in the shade of another tree near a crossroads roughly three hundred feet from the gates.
Behind the tree, on the road, the woman with her two children ran along, and less than a mile away stood a tall wooden mansion.
An inn.
This inn stood as one of the first things travelers would see as they entered the Domain.
Blanc did not remember or consider it.
But now that he did, they could use this to their advantage.
"I suggest we stay at the inn tonight. The higher levels of such inns may have connected rooms, or something akin to a house for rent on top of the inn," Blanc explained.
"Fuck no," Miyanna shook her head, "Do you have any idea how expensive those are?"
"I doubt they are as expensive as you make it sound, dear Miyanna," Blanc replied, "But even so. It will be safer, and it might keep unwanted attention away from us."
"And it sounds like a better place to do any ceremony than in the open," Celine agreed.
"Kael, Lune?" Blanc asked.
As Kael nodded, agreeing with Blanc, Lune replied, "I will not say no to a bath and a proper toilet."
"Well then, Miyanna,' Blanc chuckled.
"If you all agreed to it, I can't just say no," Miyanna sighed.
"Before we go, though," Celine began, "I will go with Miyanna inside the city."
"What are you planning on doing?" Blanc asked, unfazed by Celine's words.
"Send a letter to Father. Tell him we are fine and the next stop of ours, where he can send his reply," Celine explained.
"A good idea, but I pushed that aside since I did not want to risk giving information to the wrong hands. Do you know any organization that you can trust?" Blanc asked.
"Believe me, nobody reading that letter will understand its contents besides my family. And I am not quite sure there are any organizations I can trust, but I can only check and see if there are some that I at least know of," Celine replied, half-thinking.
"I see no issue, my love," Blanc nodded, "As long as you dress more like a commoner and keep your hair in a ponytail or something akin to that, none should question who you are."
"Good point," Celine agreed.
"Is there anything else?" Blanc asked the others.
And when no answers came from them, Blanc continued, "In that case, let's head to the inn."
"Good day!" said a young lady as she sat on a chair behind a large wooden counter.
"G'day," nodded Miyanna as it was decided she would be the one speaking to draw all attention onto her.
"What are you interested in? A room or meals?" asked the young lady.
The young woman donned a dress held in place by a leather belt at her waist. While unusual among commoners, the material of the dress was lacking.
This inn seemed to be quite the establishment for commoners, but nothing much in the eyes of the Noble Bloods.
Something that probably merchants or important commoners would visit.
Perfect, thought Blanc as he figured these things out only from the dress of the young lady.
With a look at Celine, who only gave him a smile and a nod, he knew he was right.
"We need the biggest room you have available for the night. There are five of us," Miyanna replied, a coldness in her voice that reminded Blanc of how she was after they met her.
"I'm sorry to assume, but that is the most expensive room in this inn. Are you sure you can afford it? The sum for the room is paid upfront, and any meals you might like are to be paid before you leave," the young lady explained.
"What the?" muttered Miyanna as she got angry, but a pinch on her back from Celine calmed her down. "How much is it?"
"Six silvers for the night."
"Pfff," Blanc tried to hold back the laugh that was almost to leave his lips, but he managed to calm himself down with a cough.
When Miyanna turned back to the two, with a look that screamed, 'See, I told you it was expensive,' Blanc took out his purse and placed the silver coins in her palm.
"Take it," Blanc whispered.