"Hey, Hulda, get back here!" Sophie suddenly remembered Hulda's promise to treat her to a meal and urged her monibeast toward him as he tried to sneak away.
"Hulda! Didn't you say you'd treat me to something delicious once we reached the Beastmen Kingdom? We've already left, and I still haven't seen any of your so-called 'delicious food'!" She glared at him accusingly. "So? How are you going to make up for my broken heart?" She crossed her arms, clearly not letting this go.
"Uh…" Hulda had been too busy with business—and partying with his brothers—to remember his promise.
"I checked carefully, but the place I mentioned was closed! And the other restaurants were terrible, so I decided to wait until we reached the Otherworld to treat you properly!" Hulda spoke with such conviction that it almost sounded believable.
"Really?" Sophie narrowed her eyes. She wasn't buying such a flimsy excuse.
"Of course! Ask the others if you don't believe me!" Hulda said confidently, shooting his teammates a meaningful look.
"Yeah, Sophie, I went with him! The place was totally shut!" Brook chimed in without missing a beat, his face the picture of innocence—because, of course, the restaurant Hulda mentioned had never existed in the first place.
"Fitz, you tell me!" Sophie turned to the most honest member of the group.
"Uh…" Fitz hesitated, glancing between Sophie and Hulda, who was now giving him a threatening look. Then he spotted Silay approaching. "I was with Silay the whole time, so I didn't see where they went!" Finally, a solid excuse.
"Fine! I'll let you off this time—but next time, you're definitely treating me!" Sophie waved a tiny fist at Hulda before steering her monibeast toward Silay. Being near him just felt… safe. Comfortable.
Time flew by when they were having fun. A whole month had passed, filled with laughter and playful bickering, deepening Sophie's bond with everyone—especially Silay, who had become a close friend she could talk to about anything. She'd even caught herself thinking that, if she were human, he'd be the perfect partner. But his emotions were so unpredictable—sometimes warm, sometimes distant, his mood shifting with a single word. Maybe he hadn't moved on from someone else yet. But then… what did that make her?
Lost in her tangled emotions, Sophie barely noticed when they finally arrived at the Otherworld.
A world completely different from the desert unfolded before her. At the end of the street, a crystal pillar sprayed water into the air in the central square, surrounded by floating, dreamlike rainbow crystals. Towering trees lined the streets, flower beds bursting with vibrant blooms. Butterflies flitted about, and the cheerful babble of a nearby stream added to the serene atmosphere. Quaint but elegant shops crowded the streets, and people strolled by with smiles, children laughing as they played.
"Is this… the Otherworld?" Sophie murmured, enchanted.
"Yeah. Beautiful, isn't it?" Silay smiled at her awestruck expression—probably the same way he'd looked when he first arrived.
"It's incredible!" Sophie wondered if the legendary ancient kingdom of Loulan had ever been this breathtaking.
"I'd love to live here someday." She watched the passersby with envy, imagining waking up to this beauty every day.
"Living here would be nice, but wouldn't it be even better to turn your own home into a place like this?" Silay mused. His dream was to build Bell City into his own version of the Otherworld.
"Yeah… that would be amazing." Sophie smiled at his confidence, though she couldn't help but think, *But that's nearly impossible.* None of the cities she'd seen—not even Singapore, the so-called "Garden City" of Earth—could compare.
"Well, well—if it isn't young master Silay? Back so soon?" A melodious voice called out from a nearby street.
Sophie and Silay turned to see a lavish procession, led by a striking blue crystal magic carriage.
"Madam Odeli, greetings! It's an honor to see you again." Silay bowed gracefully in noble fashion.
"No need for formalities." Odeli's eyes gleamed as they landed on Sophie. "And who is this?"
"This is my good friend, Sophie." Silay answered politely, though he found Odeli's interest odd.
"Oh! There's a party tonight at the Rose Pavilion. You're both invited." With a wave of her hand, Odeli's procession moved on, leaving behind two golden rose-embossed invitations.
Silay stared at them in disbelief. In eight years here, he'd never once received an invitation from Odeli. Why now?
"Wow, these are gorgeous!" Sophie snatched one, her eyes sparkling. *Who uses gold for invitations?*
"What's her deal? She acts like royalty." Sophie traced the intricate rose design while Silay explained.
"Odeli holds a unique position here. She's neither a politician nor a business magnate, yet her decisions shape the entire Otherworld—politically and economically. She's essentially the shadow queen, more influential than the actual king." He paused. "Oddly, she's shrouded in mystery. No one even knows if she's truly married, though everyone calls her 'Madam Odeli' or 'the Rose Lady.' She rarely appears in public, hosting only a few parties a year at her Rose Garden. Being invited is considered the highest honor."
Silay's expression darkened—likely remembering someone who'd once been thrilled to attend.
Noticing his mood shift, Sophie lost interest in the invitation and shoved it back at him before marching toward Hulda.
"Hulda! We're in the Otherworld now—time to pay up!"
Seeing her foul mood, Hulda quickly plastered on a smile. "Sure! Whatever you want!"
"Everyone, drop your things and follow me! Tonight, I'm treating you all!" Hulda announced loudly to the caravan, desperate to avoid being alone with a disgruntled Sophie.
"Tonight, I'm eating Hulda into bankruptcy!" Brook declared.
"Let's make him spend his dowry!" Even the usually reserved Balen joined in.
The group erupted in laughter as they headed to the Emerald Pavilion, the finest restaurant in the Otherworld. Only Hulda looked queasy—until Silay whispered something that made him brighten instantly.
After a raucous meal, Silay whisked Sophie away to a boutique.
"Candice, got anything new?" he called as they entered.
A green-haired girl—Candice—barreled out and leaped into Silay's arms. "Silay! Where have you been? I've had no one to drink with! You owe me!"
Sophie coughed loudly, glaring at the two.
"Candice, behave. This is Sophie." Silay introduced them before leading Sophie inside. "This is our flagship store in the Otherworld—the best boutique here. Every woman in the city shops here. You'll find your perfect outfit."
He smirked at her pout. "And trust me, the dresses here rival even your 'Western-style' ones."
Candice scowled at being ignored. "Fine! Be that way!"
Silay turned back. "Candice, we need outfits for Odeli's party tonight."
"Too bad! We're sold out!" She plopped onto a stool, arms crossed.
Silay sighed, then grinned. "What if I told you I brought you something special?"
Sophie handed over the Western-style dress they'd prepared earlier.
Candice's eyes widened as she examined it. "Who made this?"
"Sophie did." Silay said proudly.
Candice stared at Sophie, then declared—
**What shocking words would Candice say next? And what secrets did Odeli's invitation truly hold?**