The afternoon sun spilled down from the gray-white sky, falling on Cinderella's face with a faint trace of warmth.
She narrowed her eyes and stood on the steps before the Balak Royal Palace, glancing back at the palace where she had spent the past few days. High walls, deep courtyards, carved window lattices... The people inside were still busy, unaware of when she might return.
Cinderella withdrew her gaze, turned, and headed toward the city gates.
Her steps were quick, so quick that her skirt fluttered behind her like a tiny flag.
She did not have much luggage. Everything was stored in her storage ring, so she did not even need to carry a bundle.
She walked lightly, as lightly as a gust of wind sweeping through the streets of Balak Royal City, past the pedestrians coming and going, past the shops with doors either open or shut.
The pedestrians on the street remained hurried, and no one paid her any attention.
Occasionally, someone looked up at her, drawn in by her beauty, only to lower their head again and continue on their way.
In times like these, it was better to avoid trouble. Rather than look twice at someone else's face, it was better to watch the road beneath one's feet.
Cinderella passed through the city gates and left Balak Royal City. The walls behind her gradually shrank in her vision, turning from imposing outlines into blurry silhouettes, then into a thin line on the horizon.
Her next destination was Notting City, Holy Soul Village.
Notting City was close to the Balak Kingdom, separated only by the Balak River.
Once she crossed the river, she would be in Notting City territory.
She followed the official road eastward. Vast fields stretched along both sides, their crops already harvested, leaving only