Windrest City was situated at the junction of the western wasteland and the lush eastern regions of the Empire. Seen from above, the entire city radiated outward from Windrest Tower at its center.
The seven-story ancient tower was the last frontier watchtower in the Empire's western territories. Its outer walls were made of grayish-white brick, and it now served as the administrative office and private residence of Viscount Kane Valen.
The city had a permanent population of about twelve thousand, which could swell to over fifteen thousand when accounting for transient merchants, mercenaries, and adventurers.
It served primarily as a hub where minerals, hides, and desert specialties from the Golden Sea were exchanged for grain, cloth, and alchemical products from the heart of the Empire.
On the central avenue in the early morning, a cacophony of noises and the cries of street vendors intertwined. In the corner of an open-air tea stall, a gray-haired old merchant held his cup and spoke in a lowered voice to his companion at the table: “Have you heard? That princess who was sent to the Golden Sea has managed to grow trees in the desert.”
“Here we go again,” the mercenary in leather armor across from him couldn't help but roll his eyes, his disbelief clear in his voice. “Last month you were the one saying this was just a new tale from the bards. How are you taking it seriously this month? Don't you know what the Golden Sea is like? Not even grass can survive there, and you're talking about planting trees?”
“I'm not lying to you! My nephew's caravan returned from the west last month and told me himself. He said the princess didn't just plant trees; she created an oasis and even held back the sand spirits!”
“Sand spirits?” The mercenary nearly choked on his tea. He set his cup down and stared. “Is your nephew a drunk? People in the Golden Sea go out of their way to avoid those things, and you're telling me someone stopped them? And it was that exiled princess?”
The old merchant opened his mouth, but even he felt the story sounded too absurd. He finally deflated. “Fair point... maybe he really was drinking too much.”
The two shared a laugh, shook their heads, and continued drinking.
However, similar conversations were taking place in every corner of Windrest City. No matter where one went, people were whispering and leaning in close, with the topic always pointing in the same direction: the west, the Golden Sea, and the Third Imperial Princess who had been forgotten by the heart of the Empire.
“The princess didn't just grow trees in the Golden Sea, she defended against sand spirits? This story is getting too ridiculous.”
“Some people are saying the beans she grows can restore stamina or even heal wounds when eaten. Who would believe that?”
“Shh... not so loud. I heard the druid under her command, Elon Windrunner, is actually quite powerful. Maybe they really are up to something.”
“Give it a rest. No matter how powerful a druid is, they can't make trees grow in the desert. That's the domain of the gods.”
Most people scoffed at these rumors. After all, to ordinary people living in the Empire, the words “Golden Sea” were practically synonymous with “dead land.”
Strangely, however, these rumors did not dissipate despite the widespread disbelief; instead, they grew more intense. It had evolved from the princess planting trees to an oasis having already formed, and now to the princess starting to sell specialties that could make a person feel a hundred times more energetic.
The speed of the rumors' spread and evolution was so fast that even those who were initially the most dismissive couldn't help but chime in with a few words of gossip.
“Do you think... what if it's true?” someone finally muttered, only to be answered by a companion's sneer.
In the southeast corner of the circular plaza in the city center, a building that had been vacant for some time had been rented out by someone. The storefront wasn't large, nor was the facade particularly grand, but its location was excellent. It directly faced the fountain sculpture in the center of the plaza, the area with the highest foot traffic in all of Windrest City.
The shop was tightly covered from roof to ground by a dark gray curtain, making it impossible to see the interior. The only thing revealed was a massive painting on the front of the curtain.
The image depicted a golden sea of sand with rolling dunes, and in the center of that sand sea, a patch of emerald green oasis was strikingly visible. But the most prominent feature was a fiery red figure with long hair like flames and a tall, upright posture. Although the facial features weren't clearly painted, any citizen of the Empire could recognize who it was at a glance.
The Third Imperial Princess, Alicia von Augustus.
Finally, at the bottom of the curtain, there was a line of small text written in a delicate yet forceful hand: “Silver Sand Lake Specialties, Unveiling Soon.”
As the news spread, the foot traffic in the plaza increased by thirty percent compared to usual.
“Is that painting real? Did Her Highness really grow trees in the desert?”
“Is some merchant just using the princess's name as a gimmick? Since Her Highness was exiled, there's no one here to debunk the rumors.”
“But look at the brushwork; that doesn't look like the work of an ordinary artist. And being able to rent a shop in this location means the person behind this definitely isn't simple.”
The discussions echoed continuously in the plaza. More and more people gathered around the shop, trying to catch a glimpse of something through the gaps in the curtain, but no matter how hard they tried, they could only see darkness.
“I heard the unveiling is tomorrow.”
“For real? Then I'll definitely have to come and see tomorrow.”
“I'm coming too. I want to see what kind of scheme these people are running.”
By the time the crowd dispersed, the setting sun was sinking into the western horizon, gilding the tip of Windrest Tower in a golden-red light. In the office at the top of the tower, Viscount Kane Valen sat in an armchair by the window, holding a cup of warm black tea.
He was in his early forties, of medium build, with a gentle face. When he smiled, fine lines would crinkle at the corners of his eyes, making him look like a good-natured country gentleman. However, his light brown eyes were exceptionally sharp, and they were currently fixed on the silhouette of the curtain-wrapped shop in the plaza through the window.
He took a sip of tea and spoke at a measured pace: “Is there news from Her Highness's side?”
The trusted steward standing across from the desk bowed slightly. “The scouts just returned. It's said that the shop was rented by a merchant close to the princess. The paperwork is in order, and it even came with an agency permit personally signed by Her Highness.”
“Oh?” The Viscount's eyebrows rose. In the twenty years since he inherited the territory of Windrest City and developed it from a small border outpost into the most important trade hub in the West, he had relied not on loyalty or faith, but on a truly keen intuition.
He would draw close to whoever offered profit and distance himself from whoever brought trouble. On the surface, he was indeed one of the First Prince's men. After all, he had to deal with the noble lords in the heart of the Empire to some extent, but this was the West, far from the Emperor's reach. He didn't want to tie himself too tightly to any one ship.
“Did the First Prince's side send anyone to ask?”
“They came once last month to ask about Her Highness's movements in the Golden Sea. I reported everything truthfully as you instructed, including the recent rumors.”
“Mm.” The Viscount set his teacup down and tapped his fingers twice on the armrest. The scouts had only said the princess had gained a foothold in the Golden Sea, but he hadn't expected her to actually produce an oasis, crops, and specialties.
While he didn't know the specific quality of these goods, the fact that she could open a shop in the center of Windrest City indicated that her ability to take action far exceeded expectations.
“The unveiling is tomorrow, right?”
“Yes, Lord Viscount.”
“Then let's go have a look.”
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