'Finally!'
Elias's eyes lit up as he saw the twinkling city coming into his view. After hours of a long journey that had once again left him sore, they had finally reached Brenst.
Fortunately, nothing happened during today's journey, and they reached "The City of Wagers" just before the night could darken the surroundings.
Clip-clop
The hooves of horses echoed as the carriage reached the city gate. The identity check was conducted by the guards stationed there, and after the check, they let Elias's carriage pass through.
The carriage entered the city, which was supposedly a town but looked nothing like one.
There was an interesting reason behind this. It was known to most that Velkyn Cross had refused to accept the promotion to a city of his "town" from the imperial court. He had said, "I want my estate to be known as the only city while being a town."
The imperial court accepted.
'It is not a weird thing they did, considering he is still paying taxes and doing the required duty.'
Thinking, Elias looked around.
People were roaming here and there, and the commoners were busy with their work, running amok while doing their best so that they could fill their stomachs.
However, the main thing in this city was the nobles. There were a lot of them.
Lines and lines of carriage were lined up, some before the flower shop, some before the ale houses, some before the gambling houses, etc.
Elias could also see some wandering here and there. However, he didn't know most of them, to be exact. It was not a surprise, considering they did not seem that important.
'They could be merchants, guild owners, or others, too. I am still the same goldfish-memory guy.'
Elias cheered himself as his eyes moved to the surroundings.
The whole area smelled of richness. Buildings, which were different and bigger than the Varen barony that Elias had seen, lined up on both sides and made him feel small.
Lights shone in every building like a twinkling star in a darkening evening.
The road was better paved and well-maintained.
All of this made Elias's eyes glitter. Still, in fact, it was not that surprising for him, considering where he was.
'The night will be when everything will really start.'
Elias knew that what he saw was nothing but a small part of a very large whale. In the night, "The City of Wagers" was really going to appear.
But he wasn't interested in this. His interest lay somewhere else, in some person, to be exact.
'I hope she is here.'
Elias thought as his eyes still roamed all over the place. Maybe he could get lucky, and he could already see her.
'Yes, who knows, maybe God pities me after that life-ending panic attack.'
But his search was of no result. And it did not discourage him. He already knew that searching for a person while sitting in a carriage did not have a high percentage of finding them.
It required effort, which he would give, but not now!
Shaking his head, Elias entered the room. They had arrived at the hotel that was already booked by Victor.
As Elias entered his room, his eyes took in the surroundings.
'It's nice.'
Elias muttered to himself as he looked around. The room had most of the things needed.
A bathroom, a bed, a balcony, and there was even a desk and chair.
It lacked in comparison to his own room in the barony. But Elias felt free here. The feeling was entirely different from what he had always had in his luxurious room.
This was not the only reason that Elias had started to feel free. He had also arrived at the place he wanted.
And... if everything were going to be how he had read in the novel.
'Which is going to be.'
Elias could meet the person who could set him free from the burden of his barony.
Sip
Taking a sip of the tea and the refreshment that the maid had prepared for him, Elias moved to the balcony.
The air blew, caressing his face and hair. The smell of alcohol and richness in particular assaulted his nose as he glanced at the moving city.
Lights literally covered every building as people screamed and enjoyed.
However, a few showed other emotions, contrasting with happiness and joy. And these people were those who seemed to have lost a lot of money.
The city had not even properly started, and Elias already could see what type of place this was.
Some enjoyed it, who were mostly rich.
Some cried and regretted. In this, not only commoners but Elias could see some nobles, too.
But it did not matter to him.
'I should wait a little bit more.'
Elias already had something in mind.
According to the novel, the person was going to be here during this time. But where in this huge city? That Elias was not very sure of.
Elias had some places where he knew she could be found, and he planned on checking them first.
'I should be a little optimistic,' he cheered himself. 'Panicking is not going to help.'
***
Time didn't wait for anyone, and it didn't wait for Elias, either. With the ticking sound of the watch that sat on Elias's wrist, time blurred.
Elias also didn't continue to wait for the "perfect moment." He started the search.
Drinking from tavern to alehouse. From one bar to another.
Losing money, which really pissed him off, from one gambling house to another, Elias went on.
Sylphie and the knights followed behind as he continued his search.
'Damn it! She is not here, either.'
Elias came out of a gambling house, his face twitching.
'Not only can I not find her. I am losing money too.'
But even then, Elias didn't stop.
'She could be there.'
Not minding the eyes of Sylphie and his knight, Elias reached his last destination. The final one.
A huge structure stood before him, dwarfing all the buildings near it.
[CROSS GAMBLING DEN]
The name of the gambling house, officially owned by the baron of the city himself, glowed. It's light shining in the night, outshining the surroundings in an almost intimidating way.
'I beg to god, please let her be here.'
Elias entered the gambling house while pleading inside. This was the last place he could think of where she could be found.
If he didn't.
'Don't think negatively. Be optimistic! Yes, be optimistic!'
Elias, shaking his thoughts off, entered... As he did.
"Fuck! I lost again," a feminine voice echoed.
'Found you!'