The carriage rolled along the stone path leading to Hugo’s mansion, its wheels creaking softly against the damp ground glistening with night dew.
The moon hung high, casting the silhouette of the grand estate in a pale glow. At the entrance, Hugo stood with crossed arms and a furrowed brow, his gaze fixed on the carriage as it finally came to a halt.
Inside the vehicle, Aria, her expression as impassive as ever, tilted her head slightly to observe María, who slept with her head leaning to one side, her breathing deep and steady.
For a brief moment, Aria watched her in silence. Then, without hesitation, she reached out and began tapping María’s head rhythmically.
“Wake up,” she said flatly, her tone devoid of impatience or warmth.
María frowned in her sleep, muttering something incoherent before shifting in her seat.
Aria didn’t stop the tapping.
“Wake up,” she repeated, her voice identical in cadence.
“Hnn… I’m not asleep…” María mumbled, squinting her eyes open as she jolted upright.
Her sudden movement nearly slammed her head into the carriage roof. Disoriented, she blinked several times and glanced around, confusion etched on her face. For a moment, she seemed to forget where she was.
Aria, her cold eyes unblinking, waited until María fully stirred before speaking with her usual calm.
“Get out first. Hugo is waiting at the entrance.”
María, still shaking off sleep’s haze, glanced toward the door and parted her lips as if to speak. But she stopped when she noticed Aria’s gaze—not reproachful or impatient, yet expectant.
“Oh… right. Yes.”
María hurriedly straightened her skirt, opened the door, and stepped out. As her feet touched the ground, she subtly stretched her arms to ease the stiffness from her awkward sleeping position.
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Once composed, she turned and offered Aria a hand. The girl took it gently, descending with her signature unflappable poise.
After both exited, the coachman flicked the reins, and the carriage clattered away to another part of the estate.
María, still half-dazed, began striding briskly toward the entrance. Aria followed, her footsteps nearly silent on the stone path.
María noticed her shadow-like proximity and a thought flickered through her mind:
‘Is she using me as a meat shield?’
The idea made María frown. She couldn’t be sure, but Aria positioning her as a buffer between Hugo and herself wasn’t entirely far-fetched. Still, she said nothing and kept walking until they stopped before the old mage.
Hugo studied them with sharp eyes, as though dissecting every detail of their state. Finally, he huffed and spoke in his gravelly, weary tone:
“Why did you take so long?”
María, still muddled from sleep, blinked twice before answering hesitantly:
“Well… things happened…”
Her words hung unconvincingly in the air. Hugo, however, wasn’t looking at her—his stare was fixed on Aria, his expression unchanging as he awaited her reply.
Aria, posture relaxed and face unreadable, answered without pause:
“Minor setbacks. But by tomorrow, Esmeria and Elizabeth will depart on a five-day trip.”
Hugo’s demeanor shifted instantly. His frown softened, and a lopsided smile crept across his face.
“You should’ve led with that,” he said, chuckling lightly. For a moment, he seemed almost relieved—but quickly straightened, nodding.
“Good, good. Glad you’re both back in one piece.”
María, silently observing, felt a pang of confusion.
‘Huh? They’re leaving for five days?’ She narrowed her eyes. That had never happened before. Why now? Her curiosity flared, but before she could ask, Hugo’s impatient voice snapped her attention back.
“And what the hell are you standing there for?”
María blinked.
“Uh…?”
Hugo scowled and waved a hand as if shooing a fly.
“I need you to go tidy the disaster in the library. Now.”
María pursed her lips, tilting her head. “What disaster…?”
“Don’t make me repeat myself, girl. Move.”
María hesitated, then sighed in resignation. “Yes, yes, going…”
As she turned on her heel toward the library, her stomach growled softly, reminding her of her hunger.
“Why do these jobs always come right when I want to eat…?” she muttered under her breath before disappearing down the hall.
Meanwhile, Hugo glanced at Aria and gave a curt nod.
“To the kitchen.”
The girl said nothing, simply following him with her trademark calm. And so, as María trudged off baffled and hungry, Hugo and Aria walked deeper into the mansion, the old mage already rambling about new ideas for their ongoing project.