Time passed, and Austin was now dressed in a commoner's robe.
His aunt had arranged the outfit to help him blend in with the common folk and avoid drawing unwanted attention the moment they arrived in the city.
Once he was ready to leave his room, Austin slipped his feet into his straw sandals, then he grabbed his bamboo hat before stepping out and walking towards the courtyard.
There, he noticed Sue heading toward him with a middle-aged man right behind her.
The man was none other than Eunuch Po, who bowed respectfully the moment he reached Austin.
"Greetings, Your Highness. We've located the lady you're looking for."
"Where is she?"
Po blinked in surprise because it was the first time the prince had ever spoken to him directly.
But that wasn't the only reason he was surprised, the eunuch could sense that there was something different about the prince's mannerisms.
He noticed that Austin was confident, composed, and far more mature than the quiet boy he had observed from a distance all these years.
While his mind was preoccupied with these baffling thoughts, Po realized that he hadn't replied to Austin's question yet.
"A-at Graypine City, my Lord. It's a four-day journey by carriage, but since His Highness will be riding on horseback, we should arrive within two days." He assured him.
"Are the horses ready?" Austin asked Sue.
"Yes, I've had them prepared. I also arranged for two guards to accompany us to the city."
Austin nodded in understanding then adjusted the brim of his hat, allowing it to cast a slight shadow over his eyes. "Good. Then there's nothing else keeping us here. Let's head for Graypine City immediately."
Immediately after he said those words, he turned around and began walking towards the gates, leaving the palace and heading over to the capital city.
Upon arriving at the capital city, Austin was amazed by the sight of the streets filled with tile-roofed shops and street food vendors.
He also noticed children running around the street while banners containing the imperial seal fluttered on red lacquered poles.
There was even a large bronze statue of the founding emperor in the main square, but because Austin wasn't here to admire the scenery, he swiftly focused his attention on what was more important.
Their journey to Graypine City took exactly two days, just as the Eunuch had predicted and now it was currently the third day since Austin had left the palace. But even though everyone was exhausted by the time they arrived at the city on the second day, Sue and Po still carried out their duties diligently.
Now, Austin was staying at a rest house while waiting to hear from his aunt and Eunuch Po.
Although he had remained indoors since arriving in the city, he hadn't just been sitting around idly.
For several hours, he had been working on a few important things, and right now, he was done with them.
Just as he completed what he was doing, Austin heard a knock on his door.
*Knock* *Knock*
"Come in." He said, and Sue walked into the room.
"Good morning, Your Highness. Have you eaten?" Since she hadn't seen Austin last night and this morning, Sue couldn't help but feel worried about whether Austin had eaten or not.
Austin was her cute little nephew, and as his Aunt, it was her duty to be concerned about his health and well-being before anything else.
"Yes, I have. But what about you?"
"Not yet, but I will very soon," Sue assured him as she sat across from him, but Austin placed a cup in front of her, and then he poured tea for her to drink.
Sue thanked him before taking a sip of her tea. Once she was satisfied, she leaned towards him and whispered softly for Austin to hear.
"About the girl we went out to look for."
"What happened, were you able to find her?"
"Yes, we were… but there's something you should know."
"What is it?"
"There are rumors about that girl. Dark rumors."
"Tell me."
"The slavers were whispering to themselves about some things that they had heard about her. Some said she was cursed and that anyone who stayed too close to her would fall ill before dying shortly afterward. They also said that dangerous spirits were drawn to her."
"Spirits?"
"Yes."
"And why would they say that?"
"It was what they were told moments before she became a slave."
"Who told them this?"
"Her parents."
"So no one had heard of these rumors until she became a slave?"
"I believe so."
"And why is that so?" Austin asked.
"Apparently, her parents didn't want the world to know about her being cursed, so they kept it a secret while trying their best to covertly help her lift her curse."
"Hmm, so the curse only became known to the public when she was about to become a slave."
"Exactly. But it's strange, don't you think?" Sue asked.
"Yes, it is. But what did the slavers say about her curse? Did they witness anything strange going on around her?"
"Yes. Some of the slavers claimed that they saw torches flickering in her holding cell, doors creaking without anyone touching them, and they occasionally heard strange sounds at night as well."
"But what about her parents and relatives, are any of them still slaves?"
"No, Your Highness, everyone related to her or her household has successfully been bought by either a noble or an aristocratic family.
A long silence passed between them before Austin lifted his head to ask.
"So, what do you think, Aunt Sue? Do you really believe she's cursed, and that her parents were protecting the slavers by warning them about it?"
"Actually, I believe her parents were protecting her, not the slavers."
"What do you mean?"
"Think about it, dear. Her parents had only one daughter, and as a fox-tailed demi-human, Lily wasn't just young… she was beautiful. That alone would've made her a target for perverted and corrupt nobles who were eager to take her as their personal plaything."
"So the best way to scare them off was to spread rumors like she was cursed, she brought death and misfortune, and that she attracted dangerous spirits."
"Her parents knew no sane noble would want to bring a girl like that into their home, and they were right, because no one tried to touch her, nor did anyone dare to claim her."