CH 21

They returned to the ducal estate. It was probably because of Desian that she wasn’t tired after walking a long time.

Citrina’s carriage soon arrived at the seaside pier. As soon as Citrina got off, the coachman set her luggage down. She watched for a while as the duke’s carriage left.

‘Let’s leave all lingering feelings in the sea, grow up, and come back, Citrina Foluin.’

Citrina stood on the pier. The harbor air smelled unsurprisingly like the sea.

She smelled the salty scent of the sea, which was different from the nervous air at the ducal estate.

‘The ship will be leaving soon, so I’ll have to present the tickets I bought through Harold.’

Drunk on the romantic and sentimental atmosphere, Citrina boarded the ship.

Fortunately, Citrina had very little baggage. There was only money, gifts, and a few clothes.

As soon as she entered the ship, a short boy who was one of the crewman approached her.

“We’ll take your luggage! As you know, this ship is scheduled to return after reaching the Drip Empire. You’re going as far as the Drip Empire, right?”

“That’s right.”

The boy heard Citrina’s cheerful answer. He checked her ticket one more time.

“You’re in the second room, right? That’s a two-person room.”

“Yeah. That’s right.”

Walking through the ship corridor, Citrina thought the cruise ship seemed larger than she had first guessed. Consequently it felt more like she was going on a trip.

The ship shook a little, but it felt cheerful.

“Here we are.”

The crewman slowly opened the door. It felt similar to a normal room.

“If you need anything, you can speak into the magic stone on the table.”

“Thank you.”

Citrina nodded her head, admiring the evolved form of magic.

Citrina entered the room, relaxed.

Although it was inside a ship, the room was similar to a general room as it was meant for long term travel. The was a bed on each side of the door. There was a table in between the beds.

‘Perhaps… there’s another passenger.’

With that in mind, she put her luggage on the left bed. Citrina sat comfortably on the right side of the bed.

Citrina looked for a place to set the music box Aaron had gifted her, and her eyes touched the small bedside table with the round stone on it.

“If this is a magic stone, it looks pretty rough.”

The magic stonework was crude. It was true that the concept of crafting something was not commonplace in the empire.

Citrina placed the music box Aaron had gifted her next to the magic stone. The narrow tabletop was already full.

“What kind of magic was used here?”

She forgot to ask that question. Citrina tapped the music box.

-thud-

Something small fell from the table to the ground.

“What was there?”

Citrina bent down and picked up the something that had fallen. It was a gem.

-rattle-