Summon the Modern Lady!

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An hour past noon, sunlight streamed through the windows of Oliver's Cup of Flowers and Coffee, casting golden streaks across the flowers of the sunroom. The group rose from their seats, having finished their food and enjoyed a well-deserved rest.

The meal, served graciously by Oliver's shop, had been nothing short of exceptional. Cheska dared say it was on par with the royal chefs back at the palace. Then again, she mused, if you have the right ingredients and better recipe to perfection, isn't all food equally delicious?

Brushing off the thought, Cheska smiled warmly and bowed politely. "It was my honor to eat and rest here. Thank you, Oliver."

Oliver, the ever-graceful host, returned her bow with practiced ease. "The pleasure is mine, my lady."

He led them back toward the front of the shop, his polished shoes tapping lightly against the wooden floorboards. The hum of voices and clatter of cups greeted them once more, the cozy bustle of the cafe alive and vibrant.

Cheska paused just before reaching the door, a memory surfacing. 

She turned back toward Oliver, her expression lighting up. "Ah, about the flowers you gave me last time. Snowdrops, right?"

Oliver's soft smile remained as he nodded. "Yes, snowdrops. Would you like to order a bouquet of them today?"

Her smile turned sheepish, her hand reaching for the royal crest pin on her chest. "That's right. Um, the palace mentioned they'll charge for anything I buy, but…" She hesitated for a moment before continuing, "The recipient is for a royal member anyway."

At her words, Riverus's gaze softened, the polite mask slipping just slightly to reveal a hint of something deeper. He moved with practiced grace, selecting fresh snowdrops from a vase nearby, their delicate white petals glowing faintly in the sunlight.

"...Is it for His Highness the Prince?"

Cheska blinked, surprised at his perceptiveness, then smiled faintly, nodding. "Yes. Since I know what it's like to grieve a loved one, it's hard to see it in others. Though I've hardly moved on from my own experience... I hope this can console a future friend."

Riverus's movements slowed for just a fraction of a second before resuming. His expression, though serene, seemed weighed with understanding.

Kayer.

Riverus knew well the grief that clouded the prince's heart.

It hadn't been long, but grief— if left unchecked —could spiral into a void darker than any abyss. And when that happened, it wasn't just the prince who would suffer, but his sister and his future too.

Fingers trailing over the blooms, Riverus murmured softly as he cast preservation magic on the bouquet. Golden threads of yellow mana weaved through the flowers, coating them in a warm glow.

"Here." He extended the bouquet toward Cheska, his voice gentle. "I hope His Highness will recover from his ailing heart soon."

Just as Cheska reached for the flowers, Riverus paused. "Oh, I nearly forgot."

Turning back to the counter, he selected a single amaranth and a deep green rose—its petals so dark they seemed almost black under the light. He nestled them carefully into the bouquet before presenting it to her once more.

"There."

Cheska accepted the arrangement, marveling at its beauty. The stark white of the snowdrops contrasted strikingly with the vivid amaranth and the unusual deep green rose.

"There are roses with a green this deep?" she asked, curiosity clear in her voice.

Riverus shook his head lightly, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Normally, green roses have a faded, pale hue. Not like this. I cultured this one with magic, coaxing its color to deepen over time."

His gaze lingered on the rose for a moment, his sigh soft, though it lacked any trace of weariness. Instead, it was the sigh of someone seeing a vision realized. A quiet relief.

"Here, my lady," Riverus said, offering the finished bouquet. Then, lowering his voice conspiratorially, he added with a playful wink, "If he asks about the arrangement, just say it was a random pick."

Cheska blinked before letting out a surprised chuckle. "I'll keep that in mind. Thank you, Oliver."

She cradled the bouquet carefully, its serene glow reflecting in her eyes.

"Can I get another amaranth-focused bouquet too?" she added...

As they stepped out of the shop, Cheska found her thoughts lingering on the exchange. Her fingers brushed the petals lightly, the weight of the flowers grounding her for a moment.

Snowdrops. Amaranths. A deep green rose.

For all their beauty, their meanings were not lost on her. She lifted her gaze toward the sky, the soft blue stretching endlessly above.

"Lady Cheska?" Kalis' voice pulled her back to the present.

She glanced over her shoulder at the maid and the knight, Walt, who both waited patiently by her side. With a small shake of her head, she forced a smile and set her shoulders straight.

The present, she reminded herself. Focus on the present.

After all, she still had no answers about how to return home.

The trio continued down the lively streets of Rudenheischt Square, the sounds of cheerful chatter and clinking glasses filling the air.

But back at the entrance to Oliver's Cup of Flowers and Coffee, a lingering shadow remained.

Riverus stood by the window, his gaze fixed on Cheska's retreating figure. The polite smile that had graced his face earlier was long gone, replaced by something far more serious. His dark eyes narrowed slightly, as though seeing something others could not.

What are you hiding, Cheska Reyes?

The question echoed silently in his mind as the golden glow of the flowers faded from sight.

And as she disappeared into the crowd, the uneasy feeling from earlier stirred again— this time stronger than before.

Besides him, another shadow followed her trace.

~

The trio: Cheska, Kalis, and Walt, disembarked from the carriage, stepping into the lively heartbeat of Rudenheischt's marketplace. A totally different area than the town square.

The streets were alive with a cacophony of sounds: merchants shouting their wares, the clinking of coins, and the occasional bark of a stray dog weaving through the crowd. Stalls lined both sides of the street, their colorful canopies shielding goods that ranged from ripe produce to finely crafted jewelry.

"Stay close," Walt muttered, his sharp eyes scanning the bustling crowd for any sign of trouble. His imposing figure seemed to deter anyone from getting too close.

Kalis, ever-attentive, hovered near Cheska. Her green eyes flicked toward her mistress every few minutes, her polite smile betraying the concern in her gaze.

Cheska, however, remained largely undeterred, though her heavy eyes displayed her underlying sick feeling. The whispers had stopped completely.

Though it was an annoyance, one that overshadowed her solace, now it felt like an unnatural void.

She shifted her attention to the marketplace, Kalis and Walt continued to give her looks of 'why are we here?'.

Since they weren't assigned for food or manual labor in the castle, there was no need to mind the marketplace. Though it also sells eye-catching wares, every high quality item was on Rudenheischt Square.

"The marketplace is the window to the community's soul," Cheska murmured absentmindedly, quoting her own improvised reasoning from earlier.

"I see, my lady, and?" Kalis asked, sighing.

Cheska straightened slightly, feigning unease to hide her enthusiasm. "It's simple. If you see unchecked crime, visible poverty, or blatant neglect in a marketplace, it reflects poor governance. But if it's clean and functional, it shows the governing heads are coordinated."

Kalis nodded approvingly, marching with her mistress' pace. "An insightful observation, my lady."

Just then, she remembered something important. She wheeled her way through the streets with her companions in tow and addressed a craftsman, ready to follow her order.

With the craftsman's confirmation, she sat down on the side.

She observed the vibrant streets, her gaze drifted to the organized chaos around her. The roads were unexpectedly clean, though the natural bustle of trade lent the area an air of disorder. She noted the well-maintained stalls and the cheerful chatter of merchants, their voices blending into a pleasant hum.

It reminded her of the night markets she had visited with Amaranthe in their own world before everything had changed.

Her thoughts drifted.

Do I miss it? Do I even want to go back?

Cheska and Amaranthe had been in this world for three and a half months, and while it wasn't without its challenges, living here didn't seem unbearable.

She now had a temporary job, a steady routine, and the royal family's promise of good living conditions and financial assistance during their adjustment period.

Perhaps…

She paused mid-step, chuckling softly to herself.

Of course, I want to go back. What kind of question is that?

The thought was strangely intrusive, almost foreign, and she shook her head, trying to dispel the whispers that seemed to shape her thoughts.

Going home is the only option, she reaffirmed to herself. His things are there too...

But just as she dismissed her wandering thoughts, Cheska froze.

Her gaze caught on something at the edge of the street— a mirror, or something that resembled one.

Its surface shimmered unnaturally, rippling like liquid rather than solid glass. It reflected her image, but the movements were unnervingly fluid, almost delayed, as though the reflection had a mind of its own.

There was a faint, dark shimmer around the edges, like fumes rising from a dying fire. And yet, instead of repelling her, the aura was curiously inviting, drawing her in like a moth to a flame.

Cheska's feet moved as if on their own, carrying her toward the object.

She didn't notice Kalis or Walt calling her name from behind as she stepped into an open stall to get a closer look.

The mirror stood tall, its ornate frame intricately carved with twisting vines and tiny, grinning faces. It seemed out of place amid the mundane wares of the stall, an object of eerie beauty that demanded attention.

Cheska leaned closer, her fingers brushing the edge of the frame. Her reflection stared back at her, but something was off.

Her breath hitched.

The eyes staring back at her weren't blue.

They were black.

A sharp, cold frustration welled up in her chest as she tore her gaze away, clenching her fists.

Not his, she hissed internally.

But then she noticed something else.

The vibrant hum of the marketplace was gone.

It was silent.

Too silent. Like the whispers from earlier...

Her heart began to pound as she slowly lifted her gaze to the mirror again. The reflection showed the empty street behind her.

Stalls stood abandoned, their colorful goods untouched, and the bustling crowd had vanished as though they had never been there.

The quiet felt oppressive, pressing down on her chest like a weight.

She hesitated, her lips trembling as she turned away from the mirror to look behind her.

But the streets were still bustling. The people were still there. The world behind her was normal.

Her confusion deepened as she shifted her gaze back to the mirror.

Once again, the streets were empty and deserted... But a change occurred.

Three figures now stood behind her, their outlines faint but unmistakable.

A man with a stern expression, a woman with a warm but tired smile, and a younger boy with wide, eager eyes.

Her breath caught in her throat.

A voice whispered from behind her, soft and familiar.

"Dear, I'll let you do whatever you want. I promise… so come home, okay?"

Cheska's body froze, her blood running cold. She didn't turn. She didn't dare.

Another voice, lighter but tinged with guilt, followed.

"Are you still into sports training, Ches? Fine. How about I buy you those spikes you wanted?"

And then, a cheerful, boyish voice.

"Sister! Come hang with me and my friends. I'll tell everyone about how great you are!"

Her legs trembled, and her throat tightened as fear wrapped around her heart.

She didn't move, didn't speak.

In the mirror, the figures behind her became clearer.

It was them.

Her family.

And their smiles… weren't right.