Catherine chuckled but did not say anything, though she continued to kiss his nape. The news of the wedding seemed to have made her so happy that she could not quite contain her excitement, and Isaac could feel that happiness in the way she stayed close to him. Thankfully, Catherine was not like Celia, who would probably have found some way to tease him even further.
Despite being perfectly capable of concealing herself, Catherine did not try anything excessive. She simply kissed his nape before Selene called for him, and then she disappeared so completely that even Isaac could no longer sense her presence. Isaac chuckled and moved forward, shaking his head slightly as he walked toward Selene.
Catherine usually acted level-headed and rarely allowed her emotions to affect her judgment, but every now and then she behaved in a way that reminded Isaac that beneath all that composure, she was still a girl who could become genuinely excited about something as simple as a wedding. He found that side of her rather cute.
When he reached Selene, he stopped and looked at the dress she had chosen. It was unlike the clothing worn by humans obviously, though Isaac could not deny that the design suited her perfectly.
The dress was made from a smooth, pale material that seemed to shift slightly whenever she moved, as though a faint layer of moonlight had been woven into the fabric. It fitted naturally around her figure, following the curve of her waist before falling neatly along her hips, while the upper part was elegant without being overly elaborate. Small silver patterns were embroidered around the edges, resembling the faint markings one might see on dragon scales beneath moonlight. Isaac was surprised by the moonlight effect. The people of this era hadn’t seen it. the designer and tailor of this dress must be exceptional.
Selene stood quietly in front of him, waiting for his reaction. A faint blush had already appeared on her cheeks, and when she noticed Isaac’s gaze moving over the dress and taking in how well it suited her, the color deepened.
She did not turn away or try to hide herself. Instead, she allowed him to look as long as he wanted, her expression carrying a mixture of expectation and embarrassment.
"You look beautiful," Isaac said sincerely.
Selene’s expression immediately brightened. The slight tension in her shoulders disappeared, and she looked toward the mirror again with a small smile before turning back to him.
"Then I’ll take this one," she said.
"You should." Isaac nodded.
That should have been the end of it, but Selene apparently decided that choosing one dress was not enough. She tried another, then another, and soon Isaac found himself standing patiently while she compared different designs and asked for his opinion about each one.
Some were simpler, while others had elaborate patterns that seemed to have been made specifically for people of powerful bloodlines. These had high durability, and mana conductivity. One had long sleeves that shimmered when she moved, another had a high collar decorated with thin silver threads, and one seemed to change its shade slightly depending on the angle from which it was viewed.
Isaac indulged her without complaint. Seeing Selene so pleased with herself made the time pass more easily than he expected. By the time they finally left the shop, Selene had purchased several outfits.
They continued through the district, walking along a broad street filled with merchants and travelers. The area was much busier than Isaac had first realized, and he saw people from races he had never encountered before moving between the shops and stalls.
There were tall, thin beings with metallic-looking skin, small creatures with pointed ears and brightly colored eyes, and several races whose appearances were difficult for Isaac to categorize at a glance. Some carried weapons openly, while others possessed strange objects that gave off faint magical fluctuations.
The buildings were just as unfamiliar. Some appeared to have been carved from enormous pieces of stone, while others had strange curved structures that seemed to have been grown rather than constructed. Signs written in languages Isaac could not understand hung above many of the entrances, and magical lights illuminated the streets even though there was still enough natural light outside.
As they continued walking, Isaac gradually noticed something else. People were watching Selene, but their reactions were different from what one had expected.
Those who noticed her either stepped aside immediately or lowered their heads slightly, and even several people who looked quite powerful became noticeably more restrained when she passed. Isaac glanced toward Selene, but she did not seem surprised by any of it.
It made sense once he remembered what she was. Selene was a Moon Dragon, a noble species that most—especially powerful people who had more access to knowledge—believed had disappeared entirely, so even powerful beings would naturally treat her with caution and respect.
After walking for a while longer, they arrived at what appeared to be a small café. Isaac would have passed it without giving it much thought if not for the information he had received from one of the Lords he had met earlier.
According to the Mistborn Lord, the café contained a hidden information shop deeper inside. Isaac had been told that the place was discreet, and judging by how ordinary the café looked from outside, it seemed the information had been accurate.
They entered, and the atmosphere immediately became quieter. The smell of unfamiliar food and freshly brewed drinks filled the room while several customers glanced toward them, though most quickly looked away after noticing Selene. Even if people couldn’t tell what type of dragon she was, she was still clearly a dragon.
Isaac used the card he had been given by the Mistborn Lord. A server led them through a narrow passage behind the main dining area. Beyond it was a smaller room filled with shelves, documents, maps, and strange crystal devices that displayed moving images whenever someone touched their surface.
Isaac explained what he wanted, and after a brief discussion with the attendant, he purchased information about locations where dragon-type monsters were rumored to be found. The information included several regions where different varieties of dragons had recently been sighted, along with some details about their strength and habits.
Isaac stored the information carefully. The information had been expensive—50 Gold Coins—but it was worth the price. Alice had been hunting dragons, so this would make a useful gift for her, and he was sure she would appreciate having reliable locations instead of having to search blindly.
By the time Isaac and Selene returned to the house, the final preparations were already underway. Isaac went through everything one last time, checking their supplies, equipment, food, and the other things they would need during the journey, while the others gradually returned from their own preparations.
Before long, everyone had gathered inside the house. The atmosphere was noticeably livelier than usual, mostly because Celia could barely contain her excitement about finally leaving the city.
"Yes! I’m finally going on a vacation! I’m finally going outside the city on a journey!" Celia shouted, raising both her arms with an expression of complete satisfaction. It was her first time leaving the city for an actual journey, and judging by her reaction, she had been waiting for this opportunity for quite some time.