Chapter 18: Tour of the Capital with New Friends.
Western District Streets
Late Afternoon
Omni POV
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The girl gently dusted herself off after Leon helped her back onto her feet, a small faint blush still remaining on her face as she looked at him nervously. "Thank you, Mr. Leon," she said before doing a near ninety-degree bow. "For helping me."
Leon awkwardly waved his hands in panic. "You really don't need to do all that."
Then he pointed toward the unconscious boy lying on the ground. "I mean… they were pretty weak."
The girl let out a small laugh before quickly bowing her head again. "Still, thank you very much."
For a brief moment, silence settled awkwardly between them before Leon spoke again. "…Um, what exactly did they want from you?"
Olivia blinked slightly. "They wanted money from me."
Leon frowned immediately. "That's weird. Why would they want money from you? I mean… You're a kid. It's not like you'd have much money on you anyway."
Olivia suddenly made an awkward expression.
Leon narrowed his eyes slightly. "…Wait. So you actually do have money on you?"
Olivia slowly pulled out a small money pouch she had hidden beneath her clothes. "Mother asked me to buy groceries," she admitted quietly.
Leon blinked. "…You came out here carrying money by yourself?"
Olivia tilted her head slightly. "…Yes, is it strange? I'm always doing it"
Leon stared at her for several seconds before sighing. "…You know what? How about I come with you?"
Olivia looked surprised. "Why?"
"Well," Leon said casually, "you can show me around the Capital while I make sure nobody bothers you again."
Olivia stared at him quietly for a moment before smiling softly. "…Okay."
Then she immediately turned and started walking away.
At that exact moment, Luxion suddenly deactivated his camouflage beside Leon. "Sir," he said calmly, "if it were you, this would normally be the moment where you say: 'Your game was weak,' correct?"
Leon nearly choked. "HEY! That's offensive."
"She's ten years old. I wasn't trying to do anything!"
"My apologies then," Luxion replied. "It would appear I misread the situation."
Leon deadpanned at him. "Plus, I died a virgin in both my past lives, what exactly were you expecting from me?"
"…I appreciate your honesty, sir."
"Just shut up already."
Then Leon spoke again internally. "Also, get me some cash."
Luxion paused slightly. "I was under the impression you wished to avoid using replication technology due to the possibility of economic collapse."
"Luxion."
"Yes, sir?"
"Get me the cash."
"…Understood."
Ahead of him, Olivia turned around suddenly. "Mr. Leon! Aren't you coming?"
Leon quickly jogged toward her. "You really don't have to call me 'Mr.'"
Olivia blinked. "…What?"
"We're basically the same age," Leon said casually. "Just call me Leon."
Olivia smiled slightly. "In that case…"
"You can call me Livia."
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The streets were crowded with ordinary people going about their daily lives, merchant stalls lining nearly every road while transport boats drifted calmly through the canals between districts.
Children ran laughing across small bridges while musicians played near restaurants overflowing with customers.
Leon and Olivia moved from stall to stall together while Olivia occasionally stopped to buy groceries or supplies.
It quickly became obvious this wasn't her first time navigating the western district. She knew which stores had better prices. Which vendors were honest. And which streets were faster to travel through.
At the same time, she didn't forget about Leon.
Every now and then, she would point toward certain buildings or districts while explaining what they were.
"That bakery over there is really popular."
"The canal boats can take you to the northern district."
"And that tower is one of the public libraries."Leon listened surprisingly attentively.
"You really know this place well," he admitted.
Olivia scratched her cheek shyly. "I've lived here for a long time."
Meanwhile, Luxion floated invisibly nearby. "…Sir."
"What?" Leon replied quietly.
"I brought you the money you requested."
At that exact moment, Leon suddenly noticed Olivia had stopped walking. "…Huh?"
She stood in front of a merchant stall selling jewelry and small accessories, her eyes remaining fixed on a blue jewel necklace resting near the center of the display.
"…Beautiful…" she whispered unconsciously.
Leon glanced toward the necklace and honestly it wasn't even that expensive.
"…You want that one?" he asked.
Olivia immediately shook her head. "N-No, it's fine."
Then she quickly began walking away.
Luxion immediately spoke.
"She clearly wanted it."
"I can see that."
"…Then why are we continuing to walk away?"
Leon looked at him blankly. "…I literally just met her. Why would I suddenly buy her jewelry?"
Luxion paused. "Then why did you ask me for money?"
Leon shrugged casually. "I want to try some Capital cuisine."
Luxion fell silent for a moment. "…I truly do not know what I expected from you anymore, sir."
"Wow. Rude much."
Olivia looked back toward him curiously. "…Did you say something?"
"Nope."
Eventually, the two continued walking through the city together. And somewhere along the way—
The awkwardness between them slowly began to disappear.
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Leon suddenly stopped walking, looking at a restaurant nearby. "…I'm hungry."
Olivia looked slightly startled. "Oh— um— there are cheaper places further ahead."
Leon stared at her for several seconds before speaking. "No."
"This is my first time in the Capital," he declared confidently. "So naturally, I want to try the best food nearby."
Olivia blinked slightly before letting out a small nervous laugh. "…O-Okay."
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A short while later.
The restaurant overlooked one of the canals running through the western district. Warm sunlight reflected beautifully across the water while soft music drifted through the building itself.
The place was far more luxurious than anywhere Olivia had suggested at first, which was exactly why she stopped walking the moment they reached the entrance.
"Thank you for today, Leon," she said politely. "I should probably head back now—"
"Huh?" Leon tilted his head slightly. "Why don't you join me?"
Her eyes widened immediately. "W-Wait no, you really don't have to—"
"Olivia," Leon interrupted casually, "without you, I wouldn't know anything about this city." Then he shrugged. "So lunch is my treat."
"But it's expensive here…"
"You don't need to worry about the price."
Before Olivia could argue further, Leon casually walked inside anyway.
Luxion floated silently beside him.
"…And you continue insisting you're not trying anything."
"Shut up."
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The moment Leon and Olivia sat down, several customers nearby began glancing toward them strangely.
Olivia shrank slightly into her seat. "…Leon, people are staring."
"Just ignore them."
Then a waiter approached the table.
Unfortunately, Instead of taking their order, he simply frowned at them. "I'm sorry children," he said awkwardly, "but I think you may be lost."
Leon immediately frowned. "No, we're not lost."
"We'd like to order."
The waiter forced a strained smile. "Kid… this restaurant is expensive."
"I don't think you can afford to eat here."
Olivia immediately lowered her head in embarrassment.
Leon Instead stared at the waiter silently for several seconds. Then he casually dropped a stack of coins onto the table. "…I think we'll manage."
The waiter froze. His expression instantly changing. "…M-My apologies, sir."
A painfully awkward smile appeared on his face. "Please allow me to take your order."
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Leon aggressively stabbed another piece of meat with his fork. "How dare that guy treat me like some random child," he complained while stuffing food into his mouth. "I'm a paying customer."
Olivia couldn't help smiling slightly. "I think it's because you really are a child, Leon."
Leon looked betrayed. "…You're seriously taking his side right now?"
Olivia panicked immediately. "I-I'm sorry!"
Leon sighed dramatically. "You really apologize too much."
"I'm sorry"
Giving her a 'just like I said' look he noticed, Olivia still hadn't touched most of the food in front of her.
"…Why aren't you eating?"
Olivia jumped slightly before hurriedly grabbing her utensils. "N-No, I am eating!"
Leon watched her silently for a moment before chuckling slightly and returning to his own food.
And just like that, the two quietly enjoyed their meal together while conversation flowed naturally between them.
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Evening
Omni POV
By the time they left the restaurant, the sky had already begun turning orange beneath the setting sun. The Capital somehow looked even more beautiful at night.
Golden lights reflected across the canals while glowing magic lamps illuminated the streets and bridges throughout the district.
"It's getting late," Leon said as the two walked side by side. "I should probably escort you home."
Olivia hesitated slightly. "…You really don't have to. I can make it back on my own."
Leon placed a hand against his chest dramatically. "Olivia, what kind of gentleman would I be if I didn't walk you home properly?"
Olivia stared at him for a moment before letting out a small laugh. "…Okay."
And so the two continued quietly through the evening streets together. The crowds had thinned slightly compared to earlier, leaving the city feeling calmer than before with soft music drifting through the air from distant restaurants while transport boats moved peacefully through the canals below.
Eventually the two stopped walking.
Leon blinked slightly as he looked up at the enormous structure standing before them.
A gigantic church stood at the center of the district, illuminated softly beneath the evening sky. Towering white spires stretched upward while glowing stained-glass windows reflected colorful light across the surrounding stone pathways.
"…You live here?" Leon asked quietly.
Olivia nodded. "Yes. This is where I live."
Leon froze slightly. "…Oh."
And suddenly a lot of things started making sense.
Why she had been so careful with money. Why she had been wandering around alone. Why she seemed so happy just spending time with someone her own age.
Olivia smiled awkwardly as she clasped her hands together. "…I'm an orphan," she admitted softly. "So I've lived here for most of my life."
Leon looked toward her silently, immediately feeling guilty for unknowingly touching on something sensitive.
But before the atmosphere could become heavy—
Olivia smiled again. "Still," she said softly, "today was really fun."
Leon slowly relaxed.
"…Yeah." "It was."
For a brief moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Olivia glanced toward the church entrance before turning back toward him. "…Well."
"I guess this is goodbye."
Leon rubbed the back of his head awkwardly. "…Yeah."
Olivia gave him one final smile before turning toward the church while Leon quietly watched her walk away.
But just before entering, Olivia suddenly stopped and turned back toward him. "…Leon?"
"Yeah?"
"…Will I see you again?"
Leon blinked slightly before smiling. "I'm staying in the Capital for a few more days," he replied casually. "So I can visit again."
Then after a brief pause, he added, "…If you'd like me to."
Olivia's expression immediately brightened. "I'd like that a lot."
And with those final words, she finally disappeared into the church.
†††
As Leon and Luxion walked back through the evening streets.
"…So another date, huh sir?" Luxion asked calmly.
Leon immediately groaned. "Don't even start."
Luxion remained silent for a moment before speaking again. "…Though I must admit, your approach today was surprisingly effective."
Leon looked horrified. "WHY are you speaking like some kind of romance expert?!"
"You died a virgin in both lives, sir. I considered self-improvement necessary."
"…Keep this up and I'm going to disable your voicemodule."
While complaining, Leon casually typed a message across the holographic interface hidden within his gloves. 'Are we still being followed?'
Luxion's mechanical eye flickered briefly.
"No," he replied quietly. "Our tail appears to have finally withdrawn."
Leon's expression relaxed slightly.
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Inside the Church
Night
Omni POV
The moment Olivia entered the church, she was immediately greeted by a warm voice. "You're quite late today, young one."
Olivia's face brightened instantly. "Mother!"
She hurried forward before throwing herself into the embrace of the older woman standing near the chapel hall.
The woman smiled warmly as she gently patted Olivia's head. "And what has you so excited today?" she asked softly.
Olivia looked up at her with sparkling eyes. "I made my first friend today!"
The matron blinked briefly before smiling wider.
"See?" she said gently. "What did I tell you? If you kept trying, eventually you'd make one."
Olivia nodded rapidly. "He's really nice!" she said excitedly. "And strong too!"
"Oh?" the matron asked with amusement. "Then tell me about this new friend of yours."
And so Olivia happily began recounting the events of the day.
From getting lost in the crowds… To Leon helping her… To their trip around the Capital together.
The matron listened quietly the entire time while the two sat together beneath the warm candlelight of the church hall.
Eventually, Olivia finished her story. "…And then he walked me home," she said softly.
The matron smiled warmly. "That sounds like a wonderful day."
Olivia nodded happily. "It was!"
The older woman chuckled softly before patting her head once more. "Well then, why don't you go see them before the sisters start worrying?"
"Okay!"
With that, Olivia hurried off down the hallway.
The moment she disappeared, the warmth completely vanished from the matron's expression.
In the silence filled church hall the matron says just one word "Report."
The shadows near the pillars shifted slightly.
A figure dressed entirely in black stepped out before kneeling respectfully. "Ma'am."
"What happened today?" the matron asked calmly.
"It occurred exactly as Lady Olivia described," the shadow replied immediately.
"And the boy?"
The figure lowered his head slightly.
"Leon fou Bartfort. Third son of Baron Bartfort."
"We have yet to discover anything particularly noteworthy regarding either him or his family."
The matron closed her eyes briefly.
"That is good," she said quietly. "I would rather not separate Olivia from the first friend she has ever made."
The shadow hesitated slightly before speaking again. "…Ma'am, are you certain it is wise to allow Lady Olivia to associate with nobility?"
"He is merely a backwater noble," the matron replied calmly. "There is little reason for concern."
Then after a brief pause, she added,
"And besides…"
"The Queen herself once said Olivia should not grow up isolated from others her age."
The matron slowly looked toward the distant hallway Olivia had disappeared into.
"…And I agree."
"The Saint needs companionship."
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(From here on our I won't be posting character images as it seems they aren't that important.)
I am writing my A Levels this year so I'm already stumped and if you add the time I use writing I think I'm entitled to POWER STONES sooooooo give them to me
P.S
Let it be known that the Story is undergoing a Rewrite, hence if you read the unedited chapters its on you, they are no longer part of the story.