After two more days of bickering and reluctant companionship, Seraphine and Lionel Kisaragi finally reached their first stop: the quiet, woodsy town of Hanlorien.
Town Troubles
Hanlorien was simple and busy, nothing like the grand, organized chaos of Asteruya. Seraphine, who was naturally careless, was immediately overwhelmed.
"Stay close to me," Lionel grumbled, pushing her slightly behind him. He looked like he was annoyed, but he was really trying to be protective in his possessive way.
"I can take care of myself!" Seraphine protested.
Famous last words.
As they walked through the market, Seraphine saw a bright, shiny apple. Distracted, she forgot to look down. She promptly tripped on stairs leading to a small shop, landing with a soft oof! Lionel sighed loudly and stopped to pull her up, his fierce face twitching.
"Are you trying to attract attention? Stop being so clumsy!" he snapped, though he checked quickly to make sure she wasn't hurt.
"It wasn't my fault! That stair was uneven!" Seraphine said, a cute little pout on her face. She was still recovering from almost losing her small pouch of money when they heard shouting nearby.
Herbal Heroes
A merchant was yelling at a poor farm boy who had injured his leg while carrying heavy crates. The boy was crying in pain, and no one knew what to do.
Seraphine's usual kind-hearted nature took over instantly. "Oh, that looks bad!"
Before Lionel could stop her, Seraphine rushed forward. She knelt by the boy's side, opening her bag of supplies. Her gentle expression was focused, and her unique star-like pupils narrowed slightly in concentration. She quickly and calmly mixed some herbs she carried, using her excellent Herbal & Medicine Skills to create a soothing poultice.
The crowd watched silently as the runaway princess, covered in a little dust from her fall, expertly treated the wound.
Lionel watched too. He was supposed to be angry at her for being careless, but the sight of her being so humble and helpful—forgetting she was a royal—made his heart twist.
When she finished, the merchant thanked her profusely, and the boy's tears stopped. Seraphine, looking slightly embarrassed by the attention, simply said, "I'm glad to help," and walked back to Lionel.
"See?" she whispered proudly. "I'm not completely useless."
"Still clumsy," Lionel muttered, trying to hide the fact that he was actually impressed. He was already getting attached to her, falling for her "stupid-act adorable" charm and her good heart.
He grabbed her arm—not harshly, but firmly—and steered her toward an inn. He knew he had to keep her safe, even if it meant traveling with the most accident-prone person he had ever met.