“I should go to where Aria stayed.”

Shangje, a street developed enough to be called the empire’s second capital by merchants. Aria lived near the slums known as the backstreets of Shangje Street.

Unlike Hazel, who had compared each photo nationwide, Renan could relatively easily find the location. It was thanks to Aria’s cooperation.

“Actually, there’s not much to expect… Probably, someone else is already living in that house. In the back alleys with poor security, empty houses often become shelters for homeless people or hideouts for thugs.”

Nevertheless, there was one reason to go to the back alleys of Shangje Street.

“There must be someone who remembers.”

Even if there were no traces left as evidence, people’s memories were longer-lasting clues than expected. After all, even the contact between Aria and Oliver seven years ago was discovered through someone’s testimony.

The possibility was slim, but it was worth a try.

“I’ll entrust you with the ride to Shangje Street.”

“It might take some time, is that okay?”

“Don’t worry; I’ll make sure you’re generously compensated.”

Lord Wythe’s carriage was intentionally not used.

In Shangje Street, where there were quite a few wealthy merchants, there was no need to pay attention to appearances. However, a luxurious carriage that only nobles could ride in, traveling through a street known as the commoners’ area, would attract too much attention.

After a few hours of continuous travel, the scenery outside the window began to change gradually.

The distinctive salty air of Shangje Street in the southwest of the empire was noticeable.

However, the sea was not visible. If they continued for another 30 minutes by carriage, they could see famous tourist attractions, but today was not a day for leisurely sightseeing.

“Thank you for your hard work.”

When Renan threw a gold coin to the coachman, he seemed quite embarrassed. Even if he had driven continuously for a few hours, a gold coin was considered excessive pay. Probably, on a regular basis, he would have to work for a whole month to earn that amount.

“Thank you, sir!”

Renan, who shook hands with him, jumped out of the carriage.

“Is this Shangje Street? It’s my first time here.”

Although the seaside was considered a tourist destination, it was only from the perspective of the upper class in the empire who enjoyed overseas travel. In the Aleph Kingdom, the concept of tourism was relatively unfamiliar. There were occasional cases of sending diplomatic envoys or sending ailing family members to live in distant villas for political purposes, but that was about it.

Thanks to this, as someone running a private business, Renan was visiting Shangje Street for the first time. It was inevitable.

Even with the grand title of the second capital, there were no nobles residing here. It was only a relatively developed small city based on the standards of commoners.

“So, Aria fled to this place…”
“Shangje, a free city outside the direct jurisdiction of nobility. Nobles who come and go here are only tourists from the empire or neighboring small kingdoms, and there aren’t many of them.

With no nobles around, it was rare for anyone to know that Bonita’s pink hair was a special symbol of Count Rothwell’s family. Even nobles from other countries would know about Count Rothwell’s business, but surprisingly, most of them didn’t know Rothwell’s name.

“It’s more developed than I thought.”

Renan, who was walking through the central street of Shangje, soon turned his head. Although this place, commonly referred to as ‘Shangje Street,’ had a unique charm distinct from the capital where nobles resided, the place where Aria Hilton mainly lived was naturally not here.

Most people who remembered her would probably be in the back alleys.

It was when he was about to ask nearby people for directions.

“Hey, isn’t that carriage for noble folks?”

“Yeah, there’s a coat of arms on it.”

“A big carriage like that is hard to ride, even for wealthy merchants…”

The surrounding area buzzed with conversation.

Renan’s brows furrowed at the people openly whispering.

“Nobles?”

According to the laws of the kingdom, nobles from other countries couldn’t ride in a carriage with a coat of arms within the kingdom.

The only exceptions might be dukes or royalty, but such upper-class individuals wouldn’t come down to Shangje Street.

That meant an aimless noble, who happened to visit Shangje Street on the same day as himself.

“Let us pass for a moment.”

“Ouch, my foot!”

“Sorry about that…”

Unintentionally stepping on someone’s foot, Renan quickly apologized and squeezed through the crowd.

Fortunately, being tall, Renan easily raised his head among the quite bulky men and could confirm the identity of the carriage.

“Viscount Hyacinth?”

The worried feeling that Oliver might have ridden the Delfinium carriage disappeared in an instant.

Viscount Hyacinth was the most influential family in the central politics.