Their next destination was undoubtedly the Martel Family's castle, but now that they were in Bailiu City, Levi was in no particular hurry.
Levi led the two of them on a stroll along the wide streets of Bailiu City.
Until they spotted an inn—Lorina's Cottage.
It was a three-story wooden building, adorned with all sorts of greenery, giving it a remarkably fresh and charming appearance.
Levi led the way inside.
"Honored guests, are you looking for lodging?"
A beautiful woman with green hair stood at the counter, wearing a warm smile.
Looking at the trio, clearly ordered from shortest to tallest, Lorina couldn't help but think of the potatoes, eggplants, and pumpkins in her home.
"Can we take a bath here?"
Levi asked in return.
"Every guest room has a supply of hot water."
Lorina was still all smiles.
"I see."
Levi pondered for a moment, then reluctantly took out the money pouch from his waist.
"How much for a bath?"
"Fifty copper coins per person, but this big guy will be one silver coin."
"Why'd you have to go and eat so much?"
Shooting a glare of exasperation at the sheepishly grinning Zat, Levi painstakingly picked out two silver coins from his pouch, one by one.
"The rooms on the right-hand side upstairs are all empty. The three of you can go on up and bathe."
The smile on Lorina's face became a little more genuine. She tucked the silver coins into her wallet and then gestured upstairs with a finger.
Levi stared silently at the innkeeper. When she made no other move for a long moment, he finally couldn't help but speak.
"My change."
"What change?"
Levi was stunned for a moment, then flew into a rage. This was the first time anyone had tried to swindle money from him.
"Have you lost your mind? Trying to swindle money from a Lord? In Bailiu City, one silver coin is worth one hundred and two copper coins, which means you still owe me two copper coins!"
"My change!" Levi held out his hand.
The smile on Lorina's face vanished, and the corner of her mouth twitched.
She hadn't expected this kid, who looked like a noble, to actually demand back a mere two copper coins. He had none of the dignity of a noble.
She shot Levi a vicious glare before reluctantly taking two copper coins from her small green wallet and tossing them at him.
"Hmph, hmph. No one gets to swindle money from this Lord."
Like a victorious general, Levi gave a triumphant smile and headed upstairs.
"You money-grubbing brat, I hope you drown in the bath!" Lorina muttered under her breath, the curse utterly toothless.
At the same time, she wondered how Levi, who was so obviously from out of town, knew the currency exchange rate in Bailiu City.
Although the exchange rate between Debei's copper coins, silver coins, and Gold Coins was officially 1:100, it wasn't fixed.
The rate fluctuated in every region. It could even increase or decrease, more or less, due to rising or falling prices.
However, the variation was generally no more than 10 coins.
Usually, only merchants who did business locally or the locals themselves were aware of these things.
These three travelers looked so weather-beaten, she knew they must have arrived in Bailiu City with a merchant caravan. For them to know such details was truly surprising.
The trio went upstairs, each found an empty room, and began to bathe.
After a week of rough travel in the Wilderness with the caravan, they were covered in dust.
Levi had been dying to take a bath for a while, so he'd eagerly sought one out as soon as they arrived in Bailiu City.
That went double for Liya. Her whole life, she had never gone more than two days without bathing. Now, she felt like she reeked of sweat, and her golden hair was matted into a single lock.
Zat, on the other hand, wasn't bothered. Back in the Wilderness, going months without a bath was common for him.
When the three emerged from their baths, they looked completely refreshed. Liya had changed back into the pink, gold-embroidered long dress she wore in Kolon. The aura of a top-tier noble she naturally possessed radiated from her, making her look just like a princess from a storybook.
It was just a shame that her ears and neck were missing something.
"Not bad. Now you look like the Highland Tulip, the heir of Kolon," Levi praised.
Liya smiled faintly. It seemed that after a bath, her confidence had returned.
Of course, Levi's reason for bringing Liya to bathe was so she could clean up before meeting Duchess Fulina.
Otherwise, in their previous beggar-like state, the Guards would have probably chased them away before they even reached the castle gates.
Besides, if the Duchess of the North saw her own niece looking like a beggar, she might think he had been mistreating her.
When the trio came downstairs, Lorina was taken aback and couldn't help but stare at Levi for a few extra moments.
'The kid cleans up pretty well.'
When her gaze finally fell upon Liya, she was startled.
*Gasp!*
'How does this girl look so much like the Duchess?'
'And that top-tier noble aura radiating from within her is impossible to hide. You know, that's not the kind of aura you can just learn.'
'It can only be cultivated by living in luxury every single day.'
'Could this kid have run off with the Duchess's illegitimate daughter?' Lorina guessed wildly.
This was exactly like the plot of the novel about a Knight and a Princess she had read last night.
"Stunned, aren't you? This is Miss Liya, the Duchess's niece!"
With his nose in the air, Levi left her with those words and a view of his dashingly departing back.
Leaving Lorina staring blankly after him.
When the three of them arrived outside the castle, they were stopped, just as expected.
Normally, one would need to send a formal request for an audience to meet the Duchess, but Levi couldn't be bothered with the trouble and just brought Liya here directly.
After all, who knew how long it would take for the request to reach the Duchess's hands? He didn't have that much time to waste here.
His top priority was to get the money, buy some slave soldiers, and begin his pioneering.
"Please wait a moment, Miss. I will go and report to the Duchess."
Facing this girl who bore such a striking resemblance to the Duchess, the soldier didn't dare to be negligent. However, bound by his duty, he did not let the trio in directly.
Instead, he had another soldier go and announce them.
The three of them didn't have to wait long before a woman emerged from the castle, walking down a gravel path.
She looked to be about twenty-seven years old, wearing a handmade, black, strapless formal dress. A circle of lace adorned the bust, creating a striking and eye-catching contrast with the expanse of pale skin.
Her long, wine-red hair cascaded down her back. She had a beautiful face with enchanting, spring-like turquoise eyes whose every glance could steal a soul. Her figure was slender, her hands immaculate, her aura as subtle as an orchid, and her charm, timeless.
Her features were at least seventy percent similar to Liya's; she looked like an adult version of her.
Before she had even spoken, Levi felt that the Duchess of the North was like a ripe, succulent peach.
Liya saw Fulina and cried out.
"Auntie Fulina!"
"Isn't this little Liya? What brings you here to visit me? Where is your mother?"
As Fulina spoke, the faint, elegant fragrance of angelica wafted from her.
The moment Fulina mentioned her mother, Liya could no longer hold it together. Like a lost fawn that had finally found its way home, she threw her arms around Fulina, choking back sobs.
This scene startled Fulina, but she still held Liya in her arms.
Levi, meanwhile, looked up at the sky, his expression full of untold stories. He felt that a cigarette would have made the moment perfect.
Although Liya had seemed strong throughout their journey, she was, in the end, still just a fourteen-year-old child.