Princess – Part 03
The man recoiled slightly under the weight of their gaze. “Infernal Blade… Are you referring to Aria? She’s quite famous.”
“So it’s true,” the girl said. “Where is she now? So her name is Aria, yes?”
The walking Infernal Blade had become a notable figure in the Independent Trade City.
After an incident at last month’s fair, Aria was officially purchased by the city, and a member of the Knight Guards was tasked with wearing her. Whenever the knight patrolled the city, Aria would accompany them in human form. Her friendly demeanor had won her favor with the citizens.
Once the girl learned the knight’s name, gender, and that they mainly patrolled the Third District, she nodded, saying, “I see, that’s very helpful.” Her haughty attitude seemed at odds with her youthful appearance, leaving the man more bewildered than offended.
“I have one more question. Where does the blacksmith live?”
“How do you know that old-fashioned term?”
The man was genuinely surprised. As a craftsman at a smithy in the city, he knew that “blacksmith” originally referred to all smiths but had evolved to denote those with exceptional skill or ancient techniques in swordsmithing. It was a term common among smiths but not widely known outside that circle.
He could only think of one blacksmith who fit the description. This was something anyone in the city’s smithing community would know.
“Over at Atelier Liza.”
“Atelier Liza?”
“Yeah. It’s a smithy at the edge of the Seventh District. The previous master was incredibly skilled, and his name became legendary among us. Many came from outside the city just to seek him out, though most were turned away. I heard they stopped forging katanas after the previous master died in an accident. Why do you want to know anyway?”
The girl smiled. Her expression was unexpectedly mature for her age, catching him off guard.
“I’m a bit interested in swords. Thanks for your help. I’ll pay for your meal.”
She pulled a few copper coins from a small pouch at her waist and placed them on the counter. Then she gestured for the other women to follow her into the back of the diner.
The man quickly called out. “Wait, wait, wait, Miss!”
“What? Don’t worry about it. It’s a tip for the information.”
“But…”
The girl laughed. “Was it too much? Just keep the change.”
“It’s not enough.”
The girl slammed more copper coins onto the counter, her face flushed.
The five women moved to an empty table in the diner, seemingly intent on satisfying their hunger as well. Curious, the craftsman decided to eavesdrop, discreetly observing them.
“Doris, Margot, Penelope—once you’ve finished eating, go get the Infernal Blade Aria.”
The young girl gave her orders to the three women, and they acknowledged. All of them appeared older than the girl, likely in their late teens to early twenties.
“I’ll be heading to the blacksmith with Evadne.”
“Just the two of you? With her?” Doris asked, shooting an uneasy glance at the black-haired lady, who was still and silent as a statue. “I can join you if you need backup.”
“You three work best together. You may be up against some no-name knight in the sticks, but they have an Infernal Blade. Keep your guard up. As for me, I’m only going to negotiate with the blacksmith. No need to worry. I believe in you girls.”
The three women nodded firmly.
“All right, let’s eat. We must be fully prepared, as our fate depends on this mission. Master! We’re ready to order!”
The women, except for the dark-haired lady, quickly erupted into lively chatter, arguing about their orders before diving noisily into the food as it arrived.
“Hey, quit stealing my food.”
“Doris, you eat way too much. You’re all muscle and no chest.”
“You two are just as flat as boards!”
“Wh-Why are you dragging me into this? Mine’s bigger than you two. We even measured them before.”
“Mind your manners at the table.”
“Oh, please, Lady Charlotte. Stop acting so high and mighty.”
“Wh-What?! I’m only twelve. I still have time to grow!”
Their lively banter was typical of girls their age. The man who had sensed a disturbing tension in the air earlier now relaxed, standing to leave. His suspicions seemed unfounded.
“Yeah, no way,” he muttered to himself.
Even if they were up to something dangerous, they would be up against Cecily Campbell, the knight who wiped out demons. And with Aria by her side? Nothing to worry about.
With that, he lumbered out of the diner. “Time to get back to work.”
After finishing their meal and seeing off their employer outside the diner, the three women exchanged looks.
“Are we sure they’ll be all right? I’m worried,” Doris admitted.
Though the three were of similar height, Doris stood out with her dark skin, short and wavy silver hair, and muscular frame, discernible even through her clothes. Her loud voice and tomboyish attitude often drew attention, but she had a timid personality, as shown by the anxious look in her eyes.
“Doris, what’s our task?” Margot asked.
“Securing the Infernal Blade.”
“Exactly. Lady Charlotte has her job, and we have ours. Let’s focus on what we’ve been assigned. We’ve been over this before, haven’t we?”
As usual, Margot took the role of calming Doris. Despite being close in age, Margot’s sensual demeanor—including a habit of running her finger across her red lips—often made her seem the oldest of the group. Her long hair was swept to the left, pinned with a hair accessory.
Doris pouted. “Yeah, yeah, I get it.”
“Do you, though? We’ve had this conversation how many times now? You never seem to learn.”
“I said I get it! Stop nagging.”
“Who’s nagging? “It seems you’re lacking both in the bust and brains department.”
“You’re just as flat as Penelope!”
“Why do you keep dragging me into this?! Anyway, you two better cut it out. There’s no point in arguing here.”
Penelope played the role of peacemaker between the frequently clashing pair. With soft, downturned eyes, slightly pouty lips, and a perfectly trimmed bob, her baby face often made her seem younger than she was, but she was often the voice of reason between Doris and Margot.
“We’re drawing attention.”
Only then did Doris and Margot lower their voices, realizing a few passersby were glancing their way. They quickly pulled up their cloaks to hide their faces.
“If you’re so worried about Lady Charlotte,” Penelope said, “let’s get the job done quickly and get back to her. It’s a lot better than arguing here.”
The others nodded, each reaching for their weapons.
“Right. The sooner we finish this, the better.”
“Yeah, let’s wrap it up fast.”
“Agreed,” Penelope said. “We will succeed. We made a vow, after all.”
The three surveyed their surroundings. Though the flat terrain limited their view, they could see the solid stone walls enclosing the trade city. Within, a jumble of architectural styles filled the streets. In the outer areas, such as the farmlands of the Seventh District and the residential areas, mud-walled houses were common. Near the center, stone and wooden buildings stood clustered all over.
For outsiders, especially those from the other side of the continent, navigating the city could easily get confusing. The three women unfolded a map they’d bought near the main gate. Continental law prohibited issuing maps of the continent, but this city was an exception. They were in the First District. Their destination was the Third.
Doris patted the sword at her belt, Margot tapped the blade slung across her back, and Penelope touched the sword hanging at her waist, each one checking their weapons.
“For Lady Charlotte,” they said together.
Their footsteps echoed firmly on the cobblestone streets.
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