Lyra's POV
The deeper Lyra walked into Lunaris, the busier the streets became.
The central road stretched wide and lively before her.
Merchants had set up stalls along both sides of the street, colorful cloth canopies flapping gently in the afternoon breeze.
The scent of freshly baked bread mixed with roasted meat and sweet fruits filled the air.
"Fresh apples! Two copper each!"
"Warm bread! Just out of the oven!"
"Fine fabrics from the eastern caravans!"
The voices of merchants overlapped endlessly.
Children ran through the crowd laughing while workers pushed wooden carts loaded with grain and vegetables.
Blacksmiths hammered glowing metal in nearby workshops, their rhythmic clangs echoing through the district.
For a moment, Lyra simply observed.
This was the rhythm of a mortal city.
Busy.
Simple.
Fragile.
Her soul sense quietly stretched outward again, flowing through the streets like an invisible tide.
She could feel the presence of everyone nearby.
Most had barely begun cultivating their qi, while many had none at all.
To Lyra, they felt like faint candles scattered in the dark.
None of them noticed her spiritual observation.
The gap between them was simply too vast.
Satisfied, she withdrew her soul sense.
Her gaze shifted to a nearby fruit stall.
Bright red apples and golden pears were stacked neatly in woven baskets.
Lyra paused for a moment.
Evan was still a baby.
He wouldn't need fruits for a while.
But it would still be good to have some food in the house once they had settled.
She stepped closer to the stall.
The merchant, a middle-aged man with a sunburned face, looked up immediately.
"Ah! Welcome, miss."
He glanced at the child in her arms and smiled.
"Traveling with your little one?"
Lyra nodded slightly.
"Yes. I'll take some apples and pears."
The merchant quickly gathered several fruits into a small cloth bag.
"Three copper coins."
Lyra handed him the coins without hesitation.
The man thanked her politely before returning to his other customers.
Lyra tucked the bag into her spatial ring and continued walking.
The man blinked in surprise.
Spatial rings?
Those were rare even in Lunaris. Only noble families or powerful cultivators usually possessed them.
He quickly hid his surprise and bowed slightly deeper.
As she moved deeper into the merchant district, the buildings became larger and more refined.
Stone shops replaced wooden stalls.
Signboards hung from iron brackets above doorways.
One particular building soon caught her attention.
A polished wooden sign hung above the entrance.
Lunaris Property Office
This was the place the guards had mentioned.
Lyra stepped inside.
The interior was quiet compared to the noisy streets outside.
Shelves filled with rolled parchments lined the walls.
Several wooden desks were arranged neatly across the room.
Behind one of them sat a well-dressed man in his thirties.
He had neatly combed brown hair and sharp, observant eyes.
The moment Lyra entered, the man looked up.
His gaze briefly assessed her appearance before settling into a professional smile.
He stood up from his chair and straightened his vest.
Walking toward her, he stopped a few steps away and gave a polite nod.
"Good afternoon."
His voice carried the smooth tone of someone used to dealing with customers.
"Marcus Vance, property broker of Lunaris."
His eyes briefly glanced at Evan in her arms before returning to her face.
Then he smiled politely.
"Madam, how can I help you?"
Marcus Vance clasped his hands together politely.
"A house, I assume?"
Lyra nodded.
"Somewhere quiet. Preferably away from the center of the city."
Marcus studied her for a brief moment.
A woman traveling alone with a child.
Simple clothing.
No attendants.
Marcus studied her briefly.
A woman traveling alone with a child.
Simple clothing.
No attendants.
Could she even afford a house like this?
Still, years of experience kept his thoughts hidden behind a professional smile.
"Of course, madam," he said smoothly. "We have several properties available."
He returned to his desk and pulled out a few rolled parchments, spreading them neatly across the wooden surface.
"These are some of the houses currently for sale."
Lyra stepped closer and examined them calmly.
Small houses.
Crowded neighborhoods.
Busy streets.
None of them interested her.
Then her eyes stopped on one particular parchment.
Marcus noticed her gaze linger and raised an eyebrow.
"That one?"
Lyra picked up the document.
It described a two-story residence located near the outskirts of Lunaris.
Her eyes carefully scanned the details.
A two-story house.
Large enough for several people to live comfortably.
A stone fence wall already surrounded the property.
There was also a small garden and even a pond inside the courtyard.
Isolated enough to avoid unnecessary attention.
Yet still close enough to the city.
It matched her needs almost perfectly.
"I would like to see this house," Lyra said calmly.
Marcus hesitated for half a second.
That property wasn't cheap.
Still, he nodded.
"Very well."
He quickly called for a carriage outside the office.
A short while later, Lyra was seated inside while Marcus sat across from her as the carriage rolled through the streets of Lunaris.
The city slowly grew quieter as they moved away from the crowded merchant district.
Lyra glanced out the window briefly before asking,
"Who lived there before?"
Marcus shook his head.
"No one."
Lyra looked back at him.
"No one?"
"It was originally built for visiting nobles and VIP guests when they came to Lunaris," Marcus explained.
"But over time, most of them preferred staying closer to the city center."
He shrugged slightly.
"So the property was eventually listed for sale."
Lyra nodded thoughtfully.
That actually made it even better.
A house with little previous attachment.
The carriage soon left the busier streets behind.
After a few more minutes, it finally slowed to a stop.
Marcus stepped out first and gestured toward the property.
"Here we are."
Lyra followed him out.
Her eyes quietly examined the surroundings.
The house stood peacefully at the edge of the district.
A modest stone fence wall surrounded the property just as the document described.
Inside the courtyard, a small garden grew beside a clear pond, its surface reflecting the afternoon sunlight.
The house itself was simple but elegant.
Two stories tall.
Clean stone walls.
Wide windows.
A balcony on the upper floor.
There was enough open space to move freely.
It would be useful for the prince's future training.
Marcus pushed open the gate.
"Allow me to show you around."
They walked through the courtyard first.
Then inside the house.
Marcus explained each room as they moved.
"The ground floor contains a kitchen, dining room, and a common living area."
He opened another door.
"This could serve as a guest room or study."
Upstairs were several bedrooms and a small balcony overlooking the garden.
Lyra silently inspected everything.
Every corner.
Every wall.
Every window.
Her soul sense swept through the entire property without Marcus noticing.
The structure was solid.
The location was quiet.
And the space was more than enough for her plans.
By the time they returned to the courtyard, she had already made her decision.
"I'll take it."
Marcus blinked.
For a moment, he wasn't sure he heard correctly.
"You… will?"
"Yes."
Lyra calmly reached into her spatial ring.
The moment Marcus saw the coins she placed on the table inside the house, his doubts completely disappeared.
The payment was more than sufficient.
His posture instantly straightened as he produced the purchase documents.
"Excellent choice, madam."
They completed the initial purchase paperwork inside the house.
Marcus carefully rolled up the remaining documents.
"The final ownership papers will be delivered to you later once the registration is completed."
Lyra nodded.
"That will be fine."
Marcus gave a respectful bow before leaving to arrange the remaining formalities.
Soon, the courtyard grew quiet again.
Lyra stood alone inside the small garden.
The wind gently stirred the leaves of the nearby trees.
She looked down at Evan, who was still resting quietly in her arms.
A faint smile appeared on her face.
"Well, my prince," she said softly.
"It seems we have a home now."
She turned slightly so Evan could see the garden and pond.
"This will be our home from now on."
Her voice carried a gentle warmth.
"Not a palace…"
"But I think it will do for now."
Lyra looked around the peaceful courtyard one more time.
Yes.
This place would be perfect.
Here—
Her prince could grow.
And no one would disturb him.
For a brief moment, Lyra's eyes glowed faintly red.
She pulled Evan closer to her chest.
Just a little tighter.