The moment the family stepped off the train, they were swarmed by a large group of people dressed as domestic servants. Eros raised an eyebrow, slightly taken aback—until their next move made everything click.

  I was wondering which family had the gall to be this arrogant in public, Eros thought dryly. Oh, wait. It’s my family. Never mind, then.

  The crowd of servants bowed in perfect unison before forming a human wall, physically pushing back the tide of passengers from other carriages to clear a wide, unobstructed path for the North family.

  From the opposite side, a man and a woman approached. The man appeared to be in his early thirties, dressed in a sharp, tailored suit; he was handsome, with a refined, scholarly aura. The woman, seemingly in her late twenties, had the poise of an elegant "older sister" figure—tall and slender in a black evening gown, her features exquisite and her movements full of composed grace.

  These were Eros’s half-siblings: his eldest brother, Micheal Lenka North, and his fourth sister, Silvia Lenka North.

  The pair walked up to Estelle and bowed respectfully. "Greetings, Mother."

  Estelle gave a slight nod but remained silent. Neither Micheal nor Silvia seemed to mind. They turned to Eros and Undine with warm smiles.

  "It’s only been three years since we last visited the estate, and yet Little Undine and Little Eros have grown so tall! Come, let’s get you into the carriage first."

  Micheal ushered them toward a luxurious carriage parked at the station exit. Once everyone was settled inside, Micheal pulled back the curtain and commanded the coachman and the mounted knights leading the way:

  "Unfurl the family crest!"

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  Returning to his seat, he began briefing Estelle on the clan’s recent developments and the challenges they were facing in the Capital. Eros, having zero interest in such administrative headaches, leaned over next to Undine to watch the passing architecture and the bustling crowds of the Imperial City.

  To be honest, Eros was disappointed. This was supposed to be one of the most prosperous cities on the continent of Croatia, yet the road conditions were... lacking. While the streets weren't exactly drowning in filth, they were far from clean. Most of the people scurrying about were dressed in rags, keeping their heads low as the carriage passed. Only a few well-dressed individuals stood out from the crowd, tiping their hats in a respectful salute to the North crest.

  Undine, however, was vibrant with energy. "There are so many people here!"

  Eros leaned his weight against her, sounding bored. "It’s the Capital. A crowd is normal for the most 'prosperous' city in the world."

  Just then, Barbara—who had been silent for nearly half a month—suddenly spoke in his mind.

  "Spirituality fluctuation in the alley to the front right."

  Her voice was calm, yet icy.

  Eros blinked, his gaze instinctively shifting to the direction she indicated. Deep within a dark, shadowed alleyway, his enhanced vision caught a glimpse of a slender figure with wine-red hair. She was using a dagger to pin a disheveled, scruffy man to the wall—dead.

  As if sensing his gaze, the red-haired woman snapped her head around to look at Eros. As their eyes met, a surge of eerie, supernatural power traced the path of her gaze, attempting to invade Eros’s mind.

  Heh. Failed to break through my defense.

  The woman looked visibly stunned, but Eros simply let a small smirk curl the corner of his mouth.

  Tsk. Running into this kind of drama the moment I enter the city? Interesting. Looks like life won't be boring here after all.

  His only frustration was that Barbara vanished again immediately after her warning. No matter how many times he called out to her, she didn't respond. Sigh.

  Undine poked him. "What are you looking at?"

  "Oh, just a red-haired woman over there. She’s pretty, so I took a few extra looks."

  Undine rolled her eyes, speechless.

  The carriage continued its journey, soon crossing from the Outer City into the Inner City. The environment here was a stark improvement—not only were the streets meticulously clean, but the people were dressed in finery, clearly belonging to the wealthy and influential.

  Shortly after, they arrived at their new home in the Capital.