The Land Of Thorns
Rosten City part 1

They managed to get out of the mansion without anyone realizing that Edgar was hiding in a sack like luggage.

The three of them are still walking down the road to the city that they think they have traveled half the way, besides the distance from the big house to the city is not so far away, it only takes about 20 minutes of leisurely walking.

Not because the road is difficult, it is certain that the road to the castle in the layout is so good with solid rocks arranged neatly and flat, and so broad with a width of 12 meters, and so wide, it's just that the route is slightly rotating following the contours of the hill.

The road is deliberately made like that to facilitate the transportation of freight trains if carrying heavy goods, such as, in addition it was useful for the sake of military defense for surprise attacks to slowly drain the invading troops before arriving at the main castle wall, although in the history of the kingdom the defense technique was never used because no one attacked up to the main castle.

Continuing on their way, Celine, who did not know Edgar was in the sack, looked terrified because she saw the sack that was nearby from earlier moving, and then looked at the sack, making him see Lilia who was being a coachman seemed to want to call out to him.

Shrek - the shrek!

Celine seemed to tremble in fear as the sack looked like something was writhing in it, not long after it arrived - until the sack she saw seemed to stop moving. Seeing such a sack caused curiosity for him which made him touch the sack even though he seemed hesitant because he was still afraid even though he repeatedly touched it.

‘After arrival in the city?’

Edgar who thought it was a sign from Lilia that they were already in the city made him force himself to come out because he felt unable to bear being so sultry to linger, lurking for a long time, moreover, he did not dare to speak fearfully heard by the soldier later because he could not see the circumstances outside.

“Aaaaa!”

Celine, who was screaming at the sight of Edgar's hand, came out of the sack. The panicked Celine immediately grabbed Lilia from behind.

Edgar came out of hiding feeling so fresh as the wind touched his sweaty body holding back the sultry.

“Did I surprise you Celine?”

Celine seemed to immerse her face in Lilia's back feeling not daring to look, yet she felt familiar with that voice which made her try to peek at seeing Edgar. Celine looked confused when she saw Edgar was in this place, she saw Edgar was so astonished, let alone seen on his face looking questionable.

“What Prince from earlier hid?”

“You could say it like that, I think we've reached the city.”

Edgar was seen noticing the surrounding buildings only seeing the trees on each shoulder of the road.

“I think you want to forever hide inside it.”

Lilia laughed amusedly mocking him jokingly, upon hearing a visibly disappointed Edgar come out from hiding.

“Heard you so it seems you are still upset because I asked for this.”

“Not really. I was just kidding.”

“Have we passed the outer wall of the castle?”

“Not yet, I think it'll be a little later behind that bend.”

“It seems I have to hide again.”

“It is better not to.”

Edgar who was taking his sack back to be silent did not continue to hide, but he felt astonished when Lilia said it was not necessary to bother hiding.

“What do you mean?”

What Lilia said made Edgar obey her. As they passed the bend they saw a wall that was not so high with a castle building that was the same size as the Edgar residence. Edgar saw that the castle looked abandoned and unkempt, visible from the many plants that grew from between the building.

The castle was the first castle when the Rosen kingdom was formed, which even existed there before the Rosen kingdom was established. An old royal history that even Edgar did not know yet because he did not find any historical records regarding the old kingdom in this region before Rosen stood, that was all Edgar remembered about the first castle.

Due to the factor of expansion and security, the Rosen kingdom established a new castle in the deepest part which made this first castle as a border post that distinguishes the city limits and the outer wall area of the castle.

In the capital city of Rosten has 4 different areas, in the outermost part is the outer area of the city wall whose land is used for agriculture. The part of the city that the people use. The outer walls of the main castle are commonly used by the military as barracks, with a large house building inhabited by military officials, the area is also the residence of Edgar, who lived in the city, and the last area of the inner walls of the main castle as the last defense and residence of the royal family that Edgar was supposed to live there.

‘I never imagined the historic place was abandoned like that.’

He did not expect when he saw the castle was left unkempt and the gate that should be the border no one was guarding when this place should be occupied by some soldiers if it was to maintain the security factor, and the gate that should be the border was not guarded, because this is the only way to enter if you do not want to circle the wall through steep hills or cliffs of the north sea.

“Do they cut the defense budget or are they too concerned about security?”

“I don't understand it Prince, but this place has been 4 years like that.”

‘She said 4 years. Not reduced priority but instead left.’

Edgar knew that this sounded strange to him, a border gate between the castle and the city that was left the same allowed anyone to enter both residents and those disguised as residents.

“See that city Prince.”

In Edgar's silence while thinking, he was distracted as Lilia called out to him. Edgar saw the city of Rosten before his eyes, with buildings around the north road made of solid rock that is put together looks beautiful under the afternoon sky be it a small building or a multi-storey.

Edgar asks Lilia to stay away from the main road and pass through a small alley for doubt that they will later meet with the soldiers because they are in an area where the upper middle class population lives that may not be there 1 or 2 soldiers patrolling around.

Not long after they walked Edgar felt he had gone quite far inside the city and as the plaza was felt to be near, asked Lilia to stop and continue on foot.

“Thanks Lilia, be careful when you come back.”

“Eh? Just like that? Isn't it bad if I come home later and they find you not in place?”

Edgar's exclamation waved his hand after he jumped off the wagon and walked away from Lilia making Lilia suddenly stop the speed of the donkey. While Edgar who heard Lilia looked disappointed made him turn to see Lilia who looked to be frowning when answering her.

‘Actually it is troublesome, but if they are with me it will also be troublesome.’

Edgar frowned as if he refused when he saw them and was silent thinking for a moment to decide to see the two of them who looked like they wanted to ask him to stay.

“...., no! You guys just go home!”

But Edgar understood that these two sisters would only trouble him later, not to mention that they were women and children Edgar did not want anything bad to happen when they followed him.

“We won't be a hassle!”

‘How do they know what I think!’

“Stay no, from here I will go alone.”

The two of them answered him together but Edgar still insisted on refusing them to follow him which made them both look sullenly disappointed at having to return to the mansion. They both look according to nod their heads assent.