Chapter 258 – The Royal Capital Vinesdora

“We can see it now.”

Elliot leaned out from the dragon palanquin’s window and pointed ahead. Beyond the pale outer walls stood the royal castle with its blue roofs and tall spires. The royal capital of Silvatoria – Vinesdora.

“Shall we do some shopping first? Then we’ll head to my residence.”

“After that, we’ll need to arrange for an audience,” Princess Stephania nodded in response to Marquis Zilbolt’s words. There were many things to do upon arrival, so they couldn’t afford to rest first.

They first headed to the outer wall’s watchtower to complete the procedures for entering Vinesdora.

“This is Marquis Zilbolt.”

“Well met. We wish to enter Vinesdora – would that be acceptable?”

“Yes, sir! Please proceed.”

They passed through the outer walls as the saluting soldiers saw them off.

The dragon palanquin flew slowly over Vinesdora’s townscape. Reddish-brown roofs and cobblestone-paved roads. White stone pillars stood at various street corners. Crystals atop the stone pillars… those were street lamps. I’d seen them lit up at night in BFO screenshots.

While not particularly innovative as magic tools, they were items limited to major cities like Vinesdora and Termwills.

In terms of scale, it could certainly be called a major city comparable to Termwills. However, compared to Termwills which developed as people settled around the labyrinth, everything from the royal castle to the townscape and outer walls had a unified feel with well-defined districts, giving a much more orderly impression.

Vinesdora should also be a historic town… but since it was built after Beriondora was destroyed, it must have been constructed with thorough urban planning.

The main avenue stretched straight to the castle at the city center. Major facilities also seemed to be located along this avenue.

“That building near the square is the coliseum. You can see the public baths too. That large building is it.”

Marquis Zilbolt gave them a brief tour of the city. Like Termwills, the area around the castle was apparently where the wealthy residents lived.

“Where is the Sages’ Academy?”

“From here, it’s beyond the castle – at the city’s edge. That tall tower is it.”

“Ah… that one?”

At the city’s edge stood a massive tower nearly as tall as the castle’s spires.

“The academy’s magicians basically lived around the tower. Now… there’s some turmoil there.”

“Due to the conflict with Zadias?”

“Yes.”

I see. Buildings could be seen even on the tower’s surrounding grounds. Then… that would be where Mother was, I suppose.

“Should I guide you to the alchemist’s shop?”

“Yes.”

Rosemary nodded at Elliot’s words. Elliot emerged from the dragon palanquin and leaped into the air, landing astride Saphir.

“Then I’ll lead the way.”

“Lindwurm, follow Saphir.”

Lindwurm turned back and called out. The organized wyverns followed Saphir.

They landed the dragon palanquin in front of an alchemist’s shop in one corner of the city. True to an alchemist’s shop, strange odors hung in the air around it.

“Well then, I’ll go do some shopping.”

Rosemary disembarked from the dragon palanquin and entered the shop.

After quickly completing their shopping, they headed next to Marquis Zilbolt’s villa.

It was a large Western-style mansion befitting a marquis’s family, located near the castle.

When they landed the dragon palanquin in the courtyard, Elmer and others disembarked and hurried off to secure the mansion’s safety.

“Master, welcome.”

Soon a servant working at the villa appeared. The servant’s eyes widened at the unexpected visit from the marquis but bowed deeply.

“My apologies. Urgent business delayed our arrival notice.”

“Not at all. We’re always prepared to welcome you, Master.”

The elderly servant smiled as he responded to Marquis Zilbolt’s words.

They hadn’t brought servants from the marquis’s territory. Since this was a sudden visit without prior notice, apparently only a few housekeepers remained to watch the place.

So Marquis Zilbolt had said it might be somewhat inconvenient… but well, we’ll just have to take care of ourselves. Shouldn’t be a problem.

First, let’s get the hair dyeing done. It wouldn’t do if the escorts couldn’t move.

“May I borrow the kitchen?”

“Of course. This way.”

Guided by Marquis Zilbolt, they entered the mansion. They passed through corridors laid with red carpets and headed to the kitchen.

“Well then, shall we begin right away?”

Rosemary arranged the materials bought at the alchemist’s shop on the cooking counter. Tree fruits about the size of a clenched fist, like blueberries. Some liquid in a flask. Powdered medicine wrapped in paper.

Furthermore, what you might call standard ingredients for such mixtures. There were even dried geckos and bat wings.

“…What about a large cauldron?”

“It’s not that elaborate, so a regular pot will suffice.”

She put the tree fruits into the pot and crushed them with a pestle. Adding water to the pot and heating it, she slowly stirred while pouring in the liquid and powder.

“After this – just simmer it a bit and it’s done. Apply it to a comb and comb your hair. We’ll need to apply it to eyebrows and eyelashes too, but we have makeup tools so that shouldn’t be a problem.”

“…It really is simple to make.”

The pot was filled with black liquid. Since this would dye our hair… probably it would become purplish-black hair, I guess.

While waiting for the dye to complete, Rosemary was simultaneously mixing another medicine in a separate pot. This one seemed to use the dried ingredients and wings.

“This one is for removing the dye. Water won’t wash out the color, but this medicine can extract just the tree fruit’s pigment.”

“Huh…”

Convenient stuff. You could call it a decolorant or something. However, this one seemed to require more effort, as she was adding various magical processes like incantations while mixing.

“I wonder if it will become the same hair color as me?”

Claudia said while peering into the pot containing the dye.

“I think it will be a similar color. We could have made other colors, but this one is the safest.”

Well, certainly. Since it has to work for both me and Ashley.

The dye boiled and after coming to a boil once, she removed it from the heat.

“…Well then. Shall we divide the work and get it done?”

“Yes.”

Grace and Marlene brought two chairs.

“Take off your jackets. The color might stain them.”

“Mmm. Understood.”

“Marquis Zilbolt, do you have any spare sheets?”

“I’ll have them prepared.”

And so the hair dyeing preparations progressed rapidly.

After removing my jacket and sitting on the chair with a sheet draped over me, Sheila brought a makeup case from the dragon palanquin. Brush-like tools were taken out and arranged on the cooking counter.

“Hmm. Interesting stuff. Though I doubt it would work on my hair.”

Tephra peered in with interest.

“Fufu. These kinds of preparations are rather fun, aren’t they?”

Princess Stephania laughed.

Though it was for disguise… not just Princess Stephania, but everyone seemed somewhat cheerful. …If I had to describe it, the atmosphere was like preparing for cosplay at a cultural festival.

“First, let’s try dyeing just a little bit and check the color development. If the shade is too light, we’ll add more tree fruits; if too dark, we’ll dilute it.”

Me first. Applying dye to a brush, she combed the tips of my hair. Everyone peered in with serious expressions.

“Here. Theodore.”

“Mmm. Thank you.”

Seraphina held up a hand mirror to show me the result.

One lock of my bangs had become glossy black.

“Yeah. Seems good.”

“Yes. It’s a natural color.”

Irmhild nodded.

“Well then, let’s proceed carefully bit by bit. Try to avoid getting dye on the scalp.”

“Understood.”

Grace and Rosemary divided the work, dyeing my hair from left and right. As each section was dyed, Ashley used magic to remove moisture and dry my hair.

Marlene and Claudia took dye-covered brushes and carefully applied it to my right and left eyebrows. I tried to remain as still as possible so their hands wouldn’t slip. Somewhat ticklish.

“Perhaps we should leave the hair roots and eyelashes to Sheila?”

“Mmm. I’ll handle it.”

Sheila approached directly with a brush. When I closed my eyes, I felt a tickling sensation as she lightly brushed my eyelashes. Then she lifted my hair and lightly brushed the dye onto the still-undyed roots.

“While Sheila does the finishing touches, shall we proceed with Ashley’s hair dyeing too?”

“Yes. Please do.”

Next to me, Ashley also began her hair dyeing. They were dyeing from the tips first while checking the color development. Though using the same dye, since Ashley and I have different natural hair colors, the results seemed slightly different.

“Done.”

“Thank you.”

Sheila handed me the hand mirror.

I checked myself by lifting my hair to see if any spots were missed. For the back, Seraphina held another mirror, showing me through double reflection.

Yeah. Seems good. Since Ashley’s hair is longer, it will probably take more time than mine.

“Safety check of the mansion is complete.”

Elmer returned at that moment. Well, I suppose the disguise and securing our base are mostly complete? While we’re at it, it might be reassuring to create an emergency hidden room in the marquis’s villa too.