Chapter 4
Part 2. The Capital of the Kingdom
The invention of the train had miraculously shortened travel time. Leaving her village in the morning, Noxia arrived in the capital before sunset the same day.
After being shaken around in the train all day, her face looked pale and sickly. But the moment she stepped off the platform with her luggage, a healthy blush returned to her cheeks. Her dark green eyes sparkled with life again.
“Wow…”
Her eyes widened as she looked around. For an eighteen-year-old girl full of curiosity, everything was fascinating.
The capital’s train station was bustling beyond comparison to her quiet village. There were crowds of people everywhere, wearing all sorts of clothes and carrying all kinds of luggage.
The noise and smoke made the air heavy, but to Noxia, even that was exciting. She wasn’t afraid—her anticipation for her new life outweighed any fear.
Clutching her bag tightly, she wandered through the station, turning her head this way and that. She worried a little that she looked too much like a stranger, but the flood of new sights quickly pushed that thought aside.
She left the station, heading down the stairs to the busy streets below.
‘To get to the boarding house, I’ll need to take a carriage… I hope there are still some empty ones left.’
There were plenty of carriages waiting, but with so many people, she worried they might all be full. Hugging her bag, she carefully stepped down the stairs, squeezing her way through the crowd. And then—
“Ugh…!”
She collided hard with someone. Before she could even see their face, her body tipped forward.
‘I’m going to fall!’
The ground rushed up toward her. She shut her eyes in fear.
But before she hit, strong arms caught her waist. A large hand gripped her shoulder and steadied her, lifting her back onto her feet.
Blinking in shock, Noxia turned her head to see the man who had saved her.
“Are you alright?”
His voice was a smooth baritone—less like a voice and more like the sound of a fine instrument.
He was so tall that even though Noxia was considered tall among women, she had to tilt her head back quite a bit to meet his eyes.
Her gaze rose from his broad chest to a pale, sculpted neck, a sharp jawline, soft lips, a strong nose—until finally, she reached his eyes.
They were large, framed with long dark lashes, and their deep navy-blue color looked like a frozen winter lake.
A shiver ran through her. Somehow, it felt as if she had met him before—both welcoming and frightening at the same time.
‘Welcoming? Why would I think that?’
She shook her head. That was impossible. She had never seen him before in her life.
‘And fear? Why would I be afraid of someone I just met?’
She stared at him in confusion. Before she could think further, the man spoke again:
“Are you sure you’re alright, young lady?”
Only then did Noxia realize she had ignored his question, rudely staring without answering. Embarrassed, her face flushed.
‘What’s wrong with me?’
She quickly bowed her head. “Yes, thanks to you. Thank you for catching me.”
“You’re welcome.”
He smiled at her—a smile so dazzling it made her feel dizzy.
“Take care, miss. The city is crowded at this hour. Be careful not to fall again.”
“Ah, yes, thank you. And…”
Just as he turned to leave, Noxia impulsively called out:
“My name is Noxia. Noxia Deccan.”
As soon as she said it, she regretted it. Why had she introduced herself so suddenly? A simple “thank you” would have been enough.
‘What’s wrong with me today? I keep doing things I normally wouldn’t.’
She nervously studied his reaction. Would he find her strange? But instead, he smiled again.
“I see. Nice to meet you, Miss Deccan.”
He even gave his own name in return.
“I am Jade Lannon.”
Noxia blinked and nodded awkwardly.
“Nice to meet you too, Mr. Lannon.”
The name sounded oddly familiar, though she couldn’t place where she’d heard it.
“Perhaps if fate allows, we’ll meet again. For now, I hope you reach your destination safely.”
“Yes, thank you.”
He didn’t seem eager to prolong the conversation, but neither was he cold. It was as if he was politely drawing a line, saving “next time” for another day.
Realizing she was overthinking, Noxia gave him a polite smile.
“Then goodbye, Mr. Lannon.”
He gave a small nod of farewell, and she bowed shyly before turning away.
She pushed through the crowd until she finally found a carriage with a free seat, paid the fare, and climbed inside. Exhaustion settled into her body, but she also felt proud of navigating the busy station on her own.
As the carriage waited to depart, Noxia glanced out the window, almost against her will. She had the strange feeling that someone had been watching her.
But outside, there was only the usual crowd of busy travelers. The blue-eyed gentleman was nowhere to be seen. For some reason, that left her oddly disappointed.
‘Jade Lannon… Where have I heard that name before?’
She tried to recall, but nothing came to mind.
‘Maybe in a newspaper? Could he be someone famous? I’ll have to check later.’
She gave up for now. The carriage began moving, and her excitement returned. For the moment, she forgot all about the mysterious stranger.
‘Finally. I’ve arrived. I’m really here—in the capital of the kingdom.’
The heart of the nation, the home of her dearest friend, a place where new inventions appeared every day, where new fashions swept through society—it was dazzling, ever-changing, alive.
Would she fit in here? She didn’t know yet. But she was determined to try. She would take it slowly, learn step by step, and adjust to her new world.
The carriage carried her through the streets, and her heart swelled with excitement.
At last, Noxia arrived safely at her boarding house. As expected of a place arranged by the daughter of a marquis, it was reasonably priced yet clean and well-kept.
“Thank you, Kali,” she whispered to herself as she looked around.
There was a bedroom, a living room, a separate kitchen, even a small bathroom with a tub, and a tiny balcony. It was more than enough for her to live comfortably in the city.
After setting down her bag, she went across the street to buy bread and warm milk from a bakery. She would usually cook for herself, but tonight she was too tired after the long train ride.
After eating, she unpacked a little, washed up, changed clothes, and lay down on the soft bed.
But sleep didn’t come easily. It felt strange to lie in an unfamiliar room. Though her body was tired, her mind was wide awake. She stared at the ceiling, thoughts swirling.
One by one, memories of the day surfaced—the egg sandwich she ate on the train, the crowded streets of the capital, and the elegant stranger at the station.
When she recalled the sensation of his strong arms and large hand supporting her, her face grew hot in the darkness.
