The Villainess's Reputation [Kingdom Building]

"Oh my Goddess! Is this really Jola?!" Katrina gasped, her voice ringing with disbelief and excitement as she clutched the handles of her bags tighter. She walked briskly beside John, who carried the heavier load with an easy smile.

"I told you," John chuckled, adjusting the bags on his shoulder as they strolled down the bustling street. "Jola isn't anything like the rumors floating around in the capital anymore."

All around them, the cityscape of Jola spread out like a vision from a dream. Towering apartment complexes dominated the skyline, their architecture proudly Romanesque in style, with grand arches, ornate pillars, and wide balconies, evoking the majesty of the old Herptian religious cities of the distant western continent. Each building seemed to wear its history like a cloak, blending old-world charm with new-world ambition.

The night air was crisp and cool. The silver light of the moon bathed the city in a soft glow, while hundreds of lanterns lined the streets, casting a warm golden radiance that flickered across the neatly paved cement roads. Carefully planned patches of vibrant greenery broke up the urban sprawl — squares of lush grass and flowerbeds blooming in bursts of color — creating a striking contrast against the backdrop of distant desert dunes.

Katrina turned her head left and right, her wide eyes drinking in the lively scene: families laughing as they walked home, merchants closing up their brightly lit shops, and children chasing each other around the green patches under the watchful eyes of lanterns.

Finally, they reached a modest yet beautifully maintained building with an engraved bronze plaque that read Jola Knight's Quarters.

"Here we are," John said, setting down a couple of bags as he gestured toward the entrance.

Katrina tilted her head back, trying to catch a glimpse of the rooftop far above. The building soared higher than she had expected, its stone façade gleaming in the lantern light. Her eyes sparkled with wonder.

"Are we really living here?" she whispered, awe coloring her tone. "It looks like something built for high ranking nobles... or one of the Church's institutions."

John laughed warmly, stepping closer and slipping an arm around her shoulders. "All citizens are assigned a portion of housing in the apartment blocks," he explained patiently. "This entire street, up until that corner there," he pointed, "is reserved for the families of the Dukedom's Knights and the local militia."

Katrina's heart swelled at his words. She had steeled herself for hardship when she had left her family behind to follow John to Jola. Everything she had heard in the capital painted the city as a crumbling, impoverished outpost — a place where only the desperate would go. She had prepared herself for bleak streets, hunger, and struggle. But now, walking these well-lit streets, seeing the grand architecture and the vibrant life all around, she realized something different.

There was a future here. A future that might even surpass the one she had imagined for herself in the capital.

"We're on the second floor, come on," John said, gently tugging her forward with a chuckle.

As they walked toward the entrance hand-in-hand, Katrina allowed herself to smile freely, a sense of hope blossoming in her chest.

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They walked up the wide, polished stairwell, the smoothness of the stone steps and the soft glow of the lanterns on the walls adding to the almost surreal feeling of the evening. As they reached their flat, John unlocked the door and pushed it open with a small flourish.

Katrina stepped inside and gasped in amazement."Oh my! This looks like... a noble's room!" she exclaimed, her eyes darting from one corner to another, taking in the sight.

John coughed into his fist, pretending to clear his throat with a playful smirk. "Ahem. I am a noble too, love."

Katrina turned to him with a grin, her heart warming at his adorable expression."Yes, yes, I know you're technically a Baronet," she teased, walking deeper into the flat, "but... this place feels like something straight out of a Baron's or even a Count's estate!" She paused, glancing around, her voice softening. "Just... smaller in size."

The living room was elegant yet cozy. A clear glass teapoy stood proudly in the center, surrounded by soft, cushioned sofas arranged in a welcoming circle. Along the walls, multiple bookshelves reached upward, half-filled with books, trinkets, and a few framed paintings of serene landscapes. A wide balcony connected to the living room through a set of glass-paneled doors, and through them, the scent of neatly arranged potted plants drifted in, adding a touch of fresh greenery to the evening air.

Two bedrooms branched off from the living room, each equipped with their own attached bathroom. Katrina peeked inside one, her fingers brushing against the bed. It was soft, softer than anything she had ever felt, the mattress made from some rich material far superior to the usual straw or coarse cotton commoners and even many lesser nobles used.

The walls were painted with smooth, neat strokes, their soft colors reflecting the warm glow of the hanging lights. Nearby, an open kitchen beckoned, fitted with an oven made from cleanly sculpted cement, an exhaust system above it to pull out smoke, and polished wooden cabinets reinforced with fine metal frames. A broad, empty platform, perfect for preparing meals, extended from one wall, and beside it, a gleaming sink sat waiting.

Katrina turned to John, her curiosity piqued. "What's this?" she asked, pointing at a curious metal spout attached to the sink.

John smiled, clearly enjoying the role of guide."It's a tap," he explained. "Water flows through it whenever you need it — for drinking, washing dishes, cleaning... anything."

Katrina furrowed her brows in confusion, then reached out and turned the small knob attached to it.
Instantly, a stream of clear, cold water rushed out.

"Woah! The water really comes out just like that?!" she exclaimed, wondering, lighting up her face.

"No more fetching water from the well," John said, pride swelling in his chest as he watched her amazement. "There are taps in the bathrooms too and even a shower."

"A shower?" Katrina repeated, following him with eager steps toward the bathroom.

John leaned over and turned a handle, causing water to cascade down from a fixture above, like a miniature waterfall. Katrina gasped again, her hands instinctively reaching out to feel the gentle rush of water.

"This knob on the right adjusts the temperature hotter if you turn it clockwise," John explained, demonstrating with a twist, "and the left one gives normal cool water. So be careful."

Katrina stood frozen for a moment, simply marveling at the magic of it all. A bath without fetching water bucket after bucket... it was as if she had stepped into a fairy tale.

"Currently, water usage is free," John added as he leaned casually against the bathroom doorway, "but I heard her Highness talking about introducing a water bill in the future. Something about managing resources as the city grows."

"I see," Katrina murmured distractedly, her mind still reeling from the modern conveniences she never imagined she'd enjoy. Then, a mischievous glint appeared in her eyes as she turned to look at him.

"And what are you doing just standing there?" she asked with a playful smirk. "Join me!"

John barely had time to react before Katrina, giggling like a mischievous spirit, tugged him closer.
Their laughter filled the small flat, mingling with the soothing sound of running water, as the moon outside climbed higher into the star-speckled sky, casting its silver blessings on the hopeful new life they were about to begin.