Starting With an SSS-Rank Swordsmanship Talent

The Garden of Roses was located within the territory of Baron Argus, in the district of Malettan.

The trip this time was unplanned, but Argus still greeted them at the entrance of Malettan when he heard that they were coming.

"Welcome to Malettan, my lord and my lady!" The old baron welcomed them together with his adopted son and a few of his most trusted subordinates.

"This is my adopted son, Terry. He is not a warrior, but he is very talented in business and managing the household. When I am not around, he does most of the administrative duties." The old baron proudly introduced his adopted son.

It was a middle-aged man with curly brown hair. His looks weren't impressive, but he had a kind aura that would make one feel drawn to him.

"I have heard a lot about you, my lord! It's an honor to finally meet you!" Terry lowered his head.

"Oh, my! I didn't know that Lord Argus actually has someone as talented as you in his…"

The group exchanged greetings and some nice words.

"My lord, can you tell me why you have come to my small territory?" Argus could no longer hold back his curiosity.

Everyone glanced at Alaric, patiently waiting for his response.

Alaric scratched his head seemingly embarrassed, but he still told them the truth. "To tell you the truth, we came here to visit the Garden of Roses."

Argus' face relaxed upon hearing this. "Oh! So it is because of that! You made a great decision, my lord! I do not want to boast, but Garden of Roses is considered one of the most popular tourist destinations in the empire!" He proudly remarked.

"I am well aware of that." Alaric chuckled. He had never seen Argus this enthusiastic before.

The old man gave them some information about the Garden of Roses which the public didn't know. He also told them which spots were the best for sightseeing.

"Look at me and my manners!" The old baron exclaimed apologetically. He was so excited that he didn't notice the time.

"I will not disturb your visit any further, my lord! If you need anything, do not hesitate to inform me. Please enjoy your visit to the Garden of Roses."

The group bid each other farewell before they separated.

Argus was smart enough to give them the privacy they needed. Following them would only annoy Alaric so he tactfully excused himself.

"I didn't think Lord Argus could speak like that to someone." Hershey chuckled, unable to believe what she had witnessed.

The old baron had visited Ryvaad on multiple occasions, but he had never displayed such humility in front of her father.

Alaric laughed and shook his head. "Please do not misunderstand him. Lord Argus may look strict, but he is a kind person."

Hershey didn't agree or disagree with him. She only chuckled in response.

The group took a short stop to a not so famous restaurant for a simple meal. They chose this place since it was relatively obscure and far from the noisy areas of the district.

Hershey was wearing a veil to cover her face, but even though her face was covered, the crowd was still mesmerized by her presence. Her footsteps and her light movements were full of grace, making the men inside the restaurant fall into a trance.

"Who is that young lady? I bet she is very beautiful."

"Man, look at that graceful movement. I guess she is from a noble house."

"Look at the young maid next to her. She is also cute."

"Hold on… I think I recognize those crests."

One perceptive guest was shocked when he realized their identities.

"I'm pretty sure that is the crest of House Paxley. As for the other one, that's definitely House Silversword. That young warrior with silvery-white hair… that must be Lord Alaric!"

There was a commotion when the guests discovered their identities, but Alaric and the others ignored the crowd of onlookers.

They booked a private room and ordered a bunch of dishes.

While waiting for their food, Alaric and the two ladies went to the balcony of their room and observed the quiet street down below.

"I wish every day would be as peaceful as today." Elena suddenly said with a sigh.

Hershey patted her back and nodded in agreement.

Alaric didn't want to dampen the mood so he didn't say anything, but he knew it was impossible. The empire was about to erupt into civil war and the neighboring countries were eyeing them like vultures, waiting for the opportune moment to invade. Not to mention the vast unknown filled with untold dangers.

Peace is difficult to achieve, but I promise that I will not allow anyone to harm you two.

Alaric thought to himself.

At this moment, there was a series of knocks on the door.

"It must be our food." Alaric tapped their shoulders and asked the ladies to head back to their seats.

The servers came in to serve their food.

"Oh, wow! The food looks amazing!" Alaric exclaimed in surprise. He didn't expect much from the food here since it was a relatively obscure restaurant. However, it seemed like he had underestimated their ability.

Out of curiosity, he pulled one of the servers and asked. "Can you tell me who the owner is?"

The server hesitated for a moment, but knowing Alaric's identity, he decided to tell him what he knew. "I'm not so sure about it, my lord. I only saw the owner once and she was wearing a mask at that time. I don't even know her name."

Alaric raised an eyebrow.

There are only two reasons why someone would wear a mask. One is that they are trying to hide the scars on their faces. And the second reason is that they don't want their identities to be revealed.

Alaric was intrigued by this information. He felt that there was something unusual about the owner.

He tried to ask the other servers, but they all gave him the same response.

Interesting…