"Good morning, valued guest!"
Tessa stopped at the bottom of the grand, red-carpeted stairs. She looked at the female staff member standing behind the polished mahogany front desk of the Grand Celestine.
"Yeah, morning," Tessa replied. "I am heading out for a walk."
"How may I elevate your experience in Valcrest today?" the woman asked. She smiled warmly. It was a flawless, bright expression that did not reach her eyes.
"I am just looking for some normal food," Tessa said. "Not the expensive stuff you serve in the rooms. Do you know where I can find a cheap street vendor? A meat skewer stall or something?"
"I completely understand wanting a quick, accessible bite to start your beautiful morning!" the staff member said cheerfully, clasping her hands together. "While we do not feature traditional open-air markets to maintain our pristine street standards, I highly recommend the Sapphire Restaurant just two blocks down the avenue. Their artisan breakfast plates are a guest favorite!"
Tessa frowned. "I don't want artisan. I want cheap."
"I hear your concern regarding the pricing, miss," the woman responded smoothly, her tone dripping with polite empathy. "Valcrest prides itself on curating an exclusive, high-tier dining experience to ensure your absolute comfort. The Sapphire Restaurant offers wonderful value for the unparalleled quality provided."
"Are you even listening to my actual question?" Tessa asked. She leaned against the marble pillar near the door.
"Of course I am listening!" the receptionist nodded enthusiastically. "We are always attentive to our guests to continuously improve our world-class services. Can I arrange a luxury commute carriage to take you directly to the restaurant?"
"No," Tessa said flatly. "I will walk."
"Have a truly magnificent day!" the woman beamed. "We hope you find everything you are looking for in our paradise!"
"Right," Tessa muttered. She pushed through the heavy glass doors. "Thanks."
The morning sun blazed against the pale limestone avenue. The glare was intense, but the street itself felt pleasantly cool.
"This entire place gives me the creeps," Tessa whispered to herself.
She walked past the hotel courtyard and merged into the bustling foot traffic. Wealthy people strolled casually in small groups. They wore vibrant silk coats and carried expensive parasols to block the sun.
"Isn't this city just wonderful, dear?" a woman wearing a heavy diamond necklace laughed loudly. "The service is completely impeccable!"
"It really is, Martha," the older man walking beside her agreed, patting his round stomach. "The hotel and restaurant staff are very respectful. I have never seen such polite peasants in my entire life. They really know their place here."
Tessa rolled her eyes. "Tourists," she scoffed quietly. "They don't see anything past the shiny rocks."
She kept walking until she reached a small, pristine bakery with huge glass windows. A man in a spotless white apron stood outside holding a tray of golden pastries.
"Welcome!" the baker announced as Tessa approached. "Would you like to sample our morning selection?"
"Sure," Tessa said. She looked at the tray. "How much for a simple loaf of bread?"
"I completely understand looking for the classics!" the baker smiled kindly. "However, to elevate our culinary standards, we have transitioned exclusively to premium artisan pastries. This honey-glazed tart is only two silver coins!"
"Two silver?" Tessa gasped. "For a single bite of bread?"
"This is absolutely ridiculous!" an angry voice shouted from the nearby corner.
Tessa turned her head. A wealthy tourist in a thick fur coat was glaring down at a city street sweeper. The tourist looked incredibly red in the face.
"I have been walking for twenty minutes looking for a simple tavern to get a pint of ale!" the angry tourist yelled. "Where are the normal drinking spots?"
The street sweeper paused his broom. He stood up straight and looked at the angry man with deep, practiced sympathy.
"I deeply apologize for any inconvenience this has caused your morning, sir," the sweeper said politely. "I completely understand your frustration regarding your search. However, to ensure a refined and elevated atmosphere, Valcrest transitioned exclusively to luxury Bars and high-end Restaurants many years ago."
"A bar?" the tourist spat. "What the hell is a bar? I just want a cheap wooden mug of ale, not a fragile glass cup!"
"I appreciate your preference for traditional drink, sir," the sweeper continued smoothly, his voice never losing its cheerful customer-service tone. "While we do not offer rustic taverns, the Grand Crystal Bar features a wonderful selection of high-quality ales served in premium glassware. Our guests often find the elevated presentation truly enhances the flavor profile of the beverage. It only costs ten silver."
"I am not paying one ten silver coins for a glass of ale!" the tourist screamed.
"I understand the pricing may feel different from your home region," the sweeper deflected gracefully. "Our rates directly reflect the unparalleled purity of our imported ingredients and the world-class service our bartenders provide. Your satisfaction is our highest priority."
"You people are completely insane," the tourist grumbled, turning around and stomping away down the limestone avenue.
"Thank you for visiting Valcrest!" the sweeper called out after him. "Please enjoy the rest of your luxurious stay!"
Tessa watched the exchange with a deep, creeping sense of dread. She looked back at the baker. The man with the tray was still smiling at her, completely unfazed by the screaming tourist just a few feet away.
"Is there a specific flavor profile you are looking for today, miss?" the baker asked pleasantly.
"No," Tessa said, backing away from the stall. "I lost my appetite."
"We hope to serve you soon!" the baker waved. "Have a truly magnificent day!"
Tessa hurried down the block. She needed to talk to someone who did not sound like they were reciting a rehearsed script.
She spotted a group of small children playing near a huge, sapphire-inlaid fountain in the center of the plaza. They wore clean, tailored velvet coats and nice leather shoes. They laughed and splashed water at each other.
Tessa walked over to the edge of the fountain. She looked closely at the kids.
They are smiling, Tessa noted, narrowing her eyes. But look at their wrists. They are basically just bone. Their cheeks are completely sunken in. The clothes are expensive, but they are drowning in the fabric. They are malnourished. They are starving.
"Hey, kids," Tessa called out. She crouched down near the white stone basin.
The children immediately stopped playing. They lined up in a neat row and faced her. Their wide smiles looked incredibly strained.
"Good morning!" the tallest boy chirped happily. "We are having a wonderful time playing in the King's beautiful plaza!"
"You guys look pale," Tessa said, keeping her voice quiet. "Your arms are shaking. Are you hungry? I don't have food on me, but I can go buy you something from that bakery."
"I appreciate your generous offer!" a little girl replied quickly, her smile frozen on her face. "However, the children of Valcrest are currently participating in a highly curated wellness and dietary program sponsored by the crown. We are perfectly nourished and very happy!"
"You are literally shivering," Tessa argued. "The sun is hot, but you look freezing."
"The morning breeze is wonderfully refreshing today!" another boy answered smoothly. "Valcrest's climate control architecture ensures a brisk, invigorating atmosphere for all our guests to enjoy."
Tessa dropped her head into her hands. "I am not a guest right now. I am just talking to you person to person. Look at me. Are you kids actually okay?"
"I hear your concern, and it is very kind of you to ask," the tallest boy said. He clasped his hands together in a polite, practiced gesture. "Rest assured, the King provides everything we need to maintain a joyful and productive lifestyle. Is there anything else I can assist you with today?"
"You guys are terrified," Tessa whispered. She looked around the plaza to see if any guards were watching them.
"We are always happy to serve!" the little girl giggled. It sounded hollow.
Tessa let out a heavy sigh. She realized she was not going to break their script. If she pushed them too hard, she might actually get them in trouble with whoever was forcing them to act this way.
"Yeah, actually," Tessa said, standing back up. "Where does the King live? I want to see the palace."
The children immediately raised their hands. They cheerfully pointed their small fingers straight down the avenue.
"The Royal Palace is our most spectacular architectural achievement!" the tallest boy announced. "You can find it directly to the North. Just follow the Grand Avenue of Gold. It is a stunning sight you absolutely must not miss!"
"Thank you," Tessa said. She managed a small, sympathetic smile. "I will go check it out."
"See you later, big sis!" the kids shouted in perfect, eerie unison.
Tessa turned and walked away. She moved fast. She did not want to linger, but she made sure not to run. Running would definitely attract the attention of the heavily armored city guards patrolling the intersections.
She walked briskly down the Grand Avenue of Gold.
"Need a lift, miss?" a polite voice called out from the street.
Tessa glanced over. A highly polished, luxurious wooden carriage was rolling slowly beside her. The driver wore a top hat and a clean vest.
"How much to the northern palace?" Tessa asked, not stopping her quick pace.
"For the luxury commute carriage, the fare is one silver coin for a direct, incredibly smooth ride," the driver answered warmly.
"One silver?" Tessa scoffed. "That is insane. I will give you three copper coins."
"I completely understand your desire for a more economical option, miss," the driver pivoted effortlessly, his tone full of forced empathy. "However, our commute carriages feature premium suspension and climate-controlled interiors. The one silver coin fare ensures we can maintain this impeccable standard of comfort for your journey."
"I don't need a climate-controlled interior," Tessa argued. "I just need to get to the end of the street."
"I hear what you are saying," the driver replied, keeping his carriage perfectly matched to her walking speed. "Since our entire fleet is standardized to provide only the highest quality experience, we do not offer downgraded transit options. The premium fare is non-negotiable, but I guarantee the ride will entirely exceed your expectations."
"I'll just walk," Tessa said, waving him away. "It's too expensive."
"Walking is a fantastic way to experience the pristine beauty of our limestone avenues!" the driver cheered. "Have a truly magnificent day!"
The carriage sped up and rolled away. Tessa watched it go, shaking her head in sheer disbelief.
"Every single person here sounds like they're reading from a script," Tessa muttered. "It is actually starting to make me sick."