Bell City, the fiefdom of Prince Andrew the Third of the Kingdom of Chirethia, was renowned as a hub of commerce. Merchants thrived here, and the wealthiest among them was none other than the prince himself—Serei Andrew.
Exhausted but relieved, Sophie and her family finally arrived at the grandest estate in the heart of Bell City—Seahaven Manor, the residence of Prince Andrew. Before their departure, the king had repeatedly insisted that they stay here, assuring her that they would be well cared for and that Andrew could help locate Master Marifao, who happened to be one of the prince's mentors.
With the king's handwritten letter in hand, Sophie's family was smoothly ushered into the magnificent Seahaven Manor. Unfortunately, Prince Andrew was away, so the king's urgent message would have to wait. Left with no choice, Sophie turned to the steward, Albert, for answers.
"Albert, do you know where Master Marifao is? It's urgent!" she asked, barely sparing a glance at the luxurious guest room.
"Miss Sophie, Master Marifao left over a week ago. I expect he'll return in a few days," Albert replied courteously, his sharp eyes discreetly assessing her. As both the steward and Prince Serei's closest friend, he had his own methods of judging people. The moment Sophie presented the king's letter, alarm bells rang in his mind—this was unprecedented. The king had even referred to Serei as *Andrew*, a name only family and close friends used. *Is His Majesty matchmaking?* Albert mused. *Serei would hate this… though she does seem like a good match.*
Unaware of the silent scrutiny, Sophie simply nodded. If Marifao wouldn't be back for a few more days, she could wait. After months of searching, what were a few more?
Once Albert left, Sophie took in the room—blue hues, elegant yet simple furnishings, and a gentle breeze fluttering the pale curtains. But the real prize was the enormous bed. The moment the door closed, she sprinted and flung herself onto it with a satisfied sigh. *This is even better than my old mattress back home.*
*THUD.* The door burst open as Charles and Agatha tumbled in, spotting their mother buried in blankets. With a shared grin, they pounced.
"Mom!"
Trapped under the covers, Sophie groaned. "Alright, you little monsters, get off! You're crushing me!"
"Only if you make us two big cakes!" Charles bargained.
"Deal!" Gasping, Sophie wriggled free.
After lunch, Albert gave them a tour of Seahaven Manor. By afternoon, Sophie's legs ached—she hadn't expected the refined steward to walk so fast! The kids had long since ditched them to play with the servants, but Sophie was determined to see every corner. *If I ever get back home, I'll have bragging rights for life.*
The manor was vast, with meticulously designed gardens and even an artificial lake. Sophie eyed the boats wistfully, but Albert hurried her along.
Exhausted, she tucked the kids in early and collapsed into bed. *Finally, a proper night's sleep.*
---
The next day was Bell City's mid-sized market.
Here, small markets happened daily, mid-sized ones weekly, and grand ones monthly. But the real spectacle was *Bizarre*, a special quarterly market featuring exotic goods from distant lands—the very reason Bell City thrived as a trade hub.
Sophie, ever the merchant, declined Albert's escort and set off early with the kids to secure a prime spot.
Too late.
By the time she arrived, the marketplace was packed. Bartering a small space with some finely crafted dwarven tools, she set up a modest stall and let the kids handle sales while she went treasure-hunting.
*No worries—those two could haggle better than me anyway.*
Bell City's market was a feast for the senses. Sophie splurged on oddities, mostly food—her family's weakness.
A growling stomach snapped her out of her shopping trance. *Lunchtime! The kids must be starving.*
But when she turned back, the sea of stalls looked identical. *Where did I leave them?!*
Meanwhile, Charles and Agatha, having sold out their stock, sat bored beside an empty shelf. Too responsible to wander, they pooled their coins and sent Charles to fetch lunch.
Passersby smiled at the odd sight—two kids and a dog feasting behind a vacant stall. *Where are their parents?*
Sophie finally found them patting full bellies. *At least they're self-sufficient now.*
After a quick meal, she packed up, ready to head back—until a voice froze her in her tracks.
"Carina!"
Her stomach dropped. *No. He can't have found me.*
Only one person would call her that—Amanda.
She turned to see him, beaming. "Amanda! What a coincidence!"
His smile faltered. "I searched everywhere for you. Why did you leave without a word?"
The pain in his eyes was unmistakable. *Again. She left me again.*
A shriek cut through the tension.
"Agatha!" Sophie sprinted toward her fallen daughter, Amanda close behind.
**What happened to Agatha—and why is Amanda really here?**