Chapter 4: meeting a new friend

As Seraphine neared the capital, she completed her first batch of face wash and moisturizer. The face wash, crafted from natural ingredients, provided a refreshing and effective cleanse. For the moisturizer, although she couldn't find all the exact ingredients she wanted, she managed to source suitable alternatives from this world. She experimented with local flowers for fragrance and a type of root for hydration.

After extensive testing, Seraphine discovered a combination of ingredients that worked well. To her relief, these ingredients were both abundant and affordable. A single silver coin could purchase a large quantity, making it feasible for her to produce a significant amount of her moisturizer at a low cost. This affordability ensured that she could continue to refine her products while preparing to make a successful debut in the capital.

Upon arriving in CryptoCity, Seraphine was both excited and overwhelmed. She had 15 gold coins remaining from the generous 20 gold coins given to her by the baron. With 5 gold coins spent over the past month on ingredients and experimentation, she was left with a substantial amount. The coins were valuable, given that 5 gold coins could sustain a peasant family for a year, and she had managed to secure lower prices for her ingredients through agreements with merchants and the help of the knights.

As she and the knights parted ways, they agreed to stay in the city but would focus on their separate tasks. The knights needed to return to the castle to report on their mission, leaving Seraphine to navigate the capital alone.

Her first priority was finding suitable accommodations. She set out to locate a tavern or inn within CryptoCity, aiming to find a place where she could stay while she established her new business and adjusted to city life.

Upon arriving in CryptoCity, Seraphine, unfamiliar with the city's layout and customs, inquired about the locations of telephones and inns. Her appearance, reflecting a sense of sophistication, led locals to assume she was of noble status. They directed her to the popular, luxurious inn favored by the upper class.

In this world, a stark divide existed between nobles and commoners. The noble and commoner classes rarely mingled; their lives were separated by distinct social spheres. Nobles stayed in exclusive, opulent inns that catered specifically to their high status, while commoners and adventurers frequented more modest lodgings.

In this world the nobles and commoners rarely crossed paths in everyday life, except when commoners were employed in noble households or worked in the service industry. The societal gap ensured that the two classes seldom interacted directly, reinforcing the social divide.

As Seraphine strolled through the bustling streets of CryptoCity, every passerby—whether male, female, or child—gazed at her with awe. Her beauty was unparalleled, like a goddess to their eyes. Although the people in this world were generally well-groomed and clean, they were not accustomed to the polished, ethereal appearance that Seraphine possessed.

In this society, the gap between the wealthy and the commoners was stark. The common folk, often preoccupied with labor and survival, lacked the means to maintain their skin or appearance. Only the noble families had the luxury of pristine, well-cared-for skin and immaculate appearances. Seraphine's appearance, with her flawless skin, elegant hands, and radiant locks, surpassed even the nobility of this world.

Her striking presence was akin to encountering a mythical being. To her, it was a familiar reaction, though she hadn't expected it to be so pronounced. As she explored the city, seeking stores and bustling areas, she noticed an unusual phenomenon: people seemed to follow her, their eyes glued to her every move. The constant attention was strange to her, as she had never experienced such pervasive interest, even as a popular influencer in her own world. The sensation of being the center of such rapturous attention was both unsettling and intriguing.

As Seraphine walked down the street, her gaze fell upon a luxurious clothing store through its grand window. Captivated by the display, she decided to step inside. The store staff greeted her warmly, and she began to explore the array of exquisite dresses. Each garment was more beautiful than the last, showcasing rich fabrics, intricate designs, and elegant styles that immediately enchanted her.

Even though Seraphine was from another world, the moment she entered the clothing store, she felt a sense of comfort, as if she were back home. Fashion had always been her passion, and as a beauty influencer, her love extended beyond just makeup; she adored clothing as well. Being both a fashion major and a beauty influencer, she found herself in her element among the luxurious garments.

As she browsed through the racks, she noticed the fabrics were beautiful, but they didn’t quite captivate her in the way she expected. The styles were too conservative for her modern sensibilities, with high necklines, long sleeves, and full coverage that seemed excessive for the hot summer season. While the craftsmanship was impressive, the fashion was too traditional for her taste. However, she knew she needed to blend in, so she resolved to adapt.

Among the many outfits, a particular dress caught her eye—a stunning grey-blue gown that shimmered like a night sky filled with stars. It had long, flowing sleeves made of breathable, see-through fabric, but the attached white turtleneck seemed out of place to her modern mind. Despite this, she knew it might be a popular style in this world, so she didn’t question it. She decided to purchase the dress, reasoning that it was an investment in her appearance, which she believed was important for her future endeavors.

The dress was far more expensive than she anticipated, costing 100 silver coins, a small fortune by any measure. But Seraphine chose to buy it anyway, confident that presenting herself in beautiful and refined clothing would serve her well in this new world.

As Seraphine stepped outside, she was taken aback by the sight of a large crowd gathered around the entrance. Word had spread quickly about the stunningly beautiful woman seen walking through the streets, and now it seemed that everyone wanted a glimpse of her. Seraphine felt a bit overwhelmed by the sheer number of people, their eyes wide with awe as they looked at her. Despite being new to this world, she was already drawing the kind of attention that made her feel like a celebrity.

Rather than feeling intimidated, Seraphine quickly recognized the opportunity that lay before her. She knew that such attention could be a powerful tool for her burgeoning business. Her beauty, she realized, could be more than just a source of admiration—it could be a way to market the products she planned to create and sell.

With this in mind, Seraphine walked through the crowd with confidence and grace, her every step radiating elegance. She could feel the eyes on her, hear the whispers of admiration, but she remained focused, knowing that this was just the beginning.

As she continued down the street, she began searching for a place to have lunch. Amid the bustle of the city, she spotted a small, cozy establishment that caught her eye. It wasn't exactly what she would call a cafe, but it had a welcoming atmosphere. The sign above the door read "The Hearthstone Inn," a name that suggested warmth and comfort—a perfect spot to take a break and plan her next moves in this new world.

As Seraphine stepped inside the bustling inn, she was struck by the lively atmosphere. The place felt more like a restaurant than a typical inn, with people gathered around tables, engaged in animated conversations while enjoying their meals. She decided it was the perfect spot to have lunch.

Curious about the offerings, she asked a waitress for the menu. The waitress explained that the inn served only two meal options each day, which changed daily.

"Today’s choices are a Viridum stew,a Mavrelli and a Feylun."

"I will take the one that have meat in it."

The waitress bring her the food that she order and Seraphine was excited to taste the food.

As Seraphine enjoyed her meal, she found herself intrigued by the unique flavors of the dish. The name of the meal had piqued her curiosity, but she wasn't entirely sure what kind of meat she was eating. Feeling a bit puzzled, she looked up at the waitress and asked, "Excuse me, could you tell me what type of meat this is?"

The waitress approached Seraphine with a warm smile, noticing her curiosity about the meal. "Ah, I see you're enjoying our special today," she said. "The meat you're tasting is called Feylun. It's from the Valkir, a magnificent creature that roams the forests nearby. Its meat is tender and full of flavor, a true delicacy. We prepare it as Roasted Feylun Medallions, served with our finest Zarlish greens. The Valkir is known for its rich taste, and it's not every day you get to savor something so rare."

Seraphine listened intently, intrigued by the exotic origins of her meal.

As Seraphine was happily enjoying her meal, she drew a lot of attention from the inn’s patrons, especially from young adventurers. They were eyeing her intently, some hesitating to approach, others making an effort to look presentable before talking to her. The empty seat at her table, which could accommodate four, became a coveted spot.

One particularly striking young man, with a refined jawline, a muscular build, and a rugged appearance marked by a scar near his eye, approached her. He seemed to be a seasoned adventurer, standing around 6'2". When he asked if he could sit next to her, Seraphina answer with a graceful nod, The man than Introduce himself

"Nice to meet you I'm Ronan, what is your name my lady?"

Seraphina unaware of the cultural implications of her full name, introduced herself as "Seraphina Elysia Vale."

The man, realizing that her name indicated nobility, was taken aback. He assumed she must be a noble due to the format of her name, which included a last name and middle name—an indicator of higher social status in this world. Apologetically, he declined to sit next to her and quickly retreated, respecting what he perceived as her noble status.

Seraphina, surprised by the man’s sudden withdrawal, called out to him,

“Why are you standing up like that? I thought we were having a nice conversation. Please, come and sit.”

The man hesitated, clearly flustered. He explained,

“My lady, I cannot just sit with you. You’re a noble, and I’m a commoner. It wouldn’t be appropriate. I apologize for the misunderstanding.”

He started to walk away again.

Seraphina, feeling puzzled, quickly clarified,

“No, I’m not a noble. It’s just my name; I’m not from here.”

She began to explain further, hoping to clear up the confusion.

Ronan, seeing Seraphine’s earnest attempt to explain herself, finally relented and sat back down. As he took his seat, Seraphine, curious about the social dynamics of this world, asked him to clarify the difference between nobles and commoners.

Ronan explained, “It’s not that nobles and commoners aren’t allowed to interact, but nobles are considered to have a higher social standing. Nobles generally don’t mingle much with commoners, and there are strict expectations about showing respect towards them. Commoners are expected to treat nobles with deference, and there can be consequences for those who don’t. That’s why I was so hesitant—nobles are held in very high regard here.”

Seraphine, intrigued, probed further about who could interact more freely with nobles. Ronan elaborated, “In our society, nobles are generally aloof, and most commoners don’t have much direct interaction with them. However, merchants have a unique position. They frequently engage with nobles because of their business dealings. While merchants must still show respect to nobles, they interact more often due to their role in trade. Among commoners, merchants have a higher social standing. Rich merchants, in particular, can be almost on par with nobles in terms of wealth and influence. Some of these affluent merchants even form alliances with noble families through marriage or business deals to elevate their status further. So, while nobles mostly avoid commoners, they often deal with merchants, especially the wealthier ones.”

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a golden glow over the city, Seraphine's evening took an unexpected turn.

With newfound knowledge and a curious companion by her side, she extended an invitation to Ronan, offering to treat him to dinner at a luxurious hotel she had been eyeing. Despite his reservations and lingering doubts about her true status, he accepted, intrigued by the enigma that was Seraphine.

“I look forward to it,”

Ronan said, his voice tinged with both anticipation and bewilderment.

“But are you certain you're not a noble? That hotel—”

“Trust me, Ronan,”

Seraphina smiled, her eyes sparkling with genuine warmth. “I’m not. I am just a stranger finding her way in a new world.”

As he watched her leave, the mystery of Seraphine lingered in Ronan's mind. She was an enigma wrapped in beauty and grace, a blend of innocence and sophistication that left him both fascinated and puzzled.

In a world where the lines between status and privilege were drawn with a firm hand, Seraphina defied easy classification. Her presence, like a breath of fresh air in the bustling city, promised new adventures and untold stories.

With a final nod, Ronan turned away, his thoughts drifting to the upcoming dinner. Seraphina had become a puzzle he was eager to solve, and the promise of that evening held the allure of uncharted possibilities.

The chapter of their encounter closed with a sense of wonder, as the city continued its ceaseless rhythm, unaware of the new and unexpected threads weaving through its tapestry.

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