Chapter 14: Enjoying Leisure Time with Eliza

Chapter 14 - Enjoying Leisure Time with ElizaSolvaria was a vast imperial capital, spanning an estimated two to three thousand square meters. Thanks to the technological advancements of the Great Velmora Empire, the buildings near the city center stood tall and majestic. They included hotels, administrative offices, trading company branches, and more. Though it couldn't be called modern by Earth standards, the cityscape was still breathtaking for a fantasy world. "Wow! It's so crowded!" In the heart of the capital—where pedestrians bustled about and merchants eagerly called out to customers—Eliza couldn't hide her amazement. Her red eyes sparkled like stars, reflecting the light and making her expression even more endearing. Nolan smiled as he looked at the little girl in his arms, charmed by her wide-eyed wonder. "Isn't it beautiful?" He asked softly, gently poking her chubby cheek with his index finger. "Mm! It's Eliza's first time seeing something like this!" she replied excitedly. "Pfft!" Nolan chuckled and lovingly ruffled her hair. "Then let's walk around and enjoy the beauty of this city." "Okay!" Eliza nodded eagerly. The sadness and fear she had shown earlier were gone—replaced by pure joy, written all over her sweet little face. The two continued their leisurely stroll. Dressed in ordinary clothes, they weren't immediately recognized by the people around them. Still, Nolan's striking looks and uncommon black hair drew quite a bit of attention. "Hey, look at that man. His hair is black! Do you think he's from the Eastern Continent?" "I'm not sure, but probably. These days, a lot of Easterners come to the Empire to work or study. But wow... that man is really handsome, isn't he?" "He really is! And he looks so young. The child he's holding—is that his daughter? If so, that's a shame. Having a kid at such a young age..." "Pfft! You'd take him home if he didn't already have someone, wouldn't you?" "Eh!? How did you know!?" Whispers spread among the onlookers, most of them coming from young women drawn to Nolan's good looks and his rare black hair. Though they spoke quietly, Nolan could hear every word. Still, he felt no need to explain himself. To him, it didn't matter. They were strangers, and what strangers said wasn't worth caring about. "Brother Nolan, I want some juice!" Eliza suddenly pointed at a juice stand about fifty meters to their right. "Oh? You want juice, huh? Alright, let's go." Nolan nodded with a smile. With that, he led Eliza to the stall and glanced at the menu, which offered a wide variety of drinks. "Welcome, customer," greeted the stall keeper—a neat and polite-looking young man. "My sister would like a juice," Nolan said casually, then turned to Eliza. "Which one do you want, little girl?" Eliza rubbed her tiny chin thoughtfully, then pointed to a picture of orange juice. "I want that one!" "Alright, one orange juice and one apple juice," Nolan said, holding up two fingers. "Right away, customer. Please wait a moment," the stall keeper replied before quickly getting to work on the order. As they waited, Nolan and Eliza took in the atmosphere of the city, watching the flow of people passing by. "Brother Nolan, why are there so many people? What are they all doing?" Eliza asked innocently, her round eyes full of curiosity. Nolan smiled. "Most of them are either working or just enjoying the day, like us." "Oh..." Eliza formed her lips into a small O and gave a tiny nod. She was about to ask another question when their drinks were ready. Nolan paid two Sharn and handed Eliza her glass of orange juice. She took a sip right away, her eyes lighting up with joy. "Is it delicious?" Nolan asked. "Delicious!" Eliza answered, her eyes sparkling with delight. "I'm glad to hear that," Nolan said with a smile. "By the way, I'm guessing you haven't eaten yet. Would you like to grab something to eat now?" "That's a great idea! I'm really hungry, Brother Nolan!" Eliza giggled, rubbing her stomach. Nolan smiled and guided her toward a fancy restaurant in the heart of the city. The restaurant had a striking name—Dragon's Tears. The building was grand, with gold carvings adorning each side of its large doors. Crowds of people walked by, but a closer look revealed that most were wealthy merchants or nobles, judging by their luxurious attire. "Wow! It's huge!" Eliza exclaimed, gazing in awe at the restaurant's grandeur. Although its splendor paled in comparison to that of the Imperial Palace, to Eliza, this sight was entirely new and utterly breathtaking. "Of course it's big. Did you know this restaurant is just one branch of a business owned by the Blue Moon Trading House?" "Blue Moon Trading House? That's the largest trading house in the empire, right?" "Oh?" Nolan raised an eyebrow, surprised. "How do you know that?" "I heard it from Brother Cedric. He once mentioned that he really wanted to meet the owner of the trading house, but he always failed. He said the owner didn't want to see him at all." Eliza chuckled after that, clearly amused by Cedric's misfortune. Nolan joined her in laughter. "That four-eyed man really is unlucky." As they continued talking, they stepped into the restaurant. A waiter quickly approached, and when he saw Nolan's face, his expression shifted to one of surprise. He immediately bowed respectfully and, without waiting for any instructions, led them to a special room. The scene left Eliza stunned. She shot a curious glance at her brother. "Brother..." Just as she was about to ask, a sudden argument broke out from a table about ten meters to their left. "You thief! Give that woman back her purse!" Startled, Nolan and Eliza instinctively turned toward the commotion. There, they saw a stunningly beautiful woman facing off against two men who looked ready to fight. When Nolan's gaze landed on her, a smile appeared on his face. "Seems we've run into an old friend..."