They followed her.
Through the busy market square, where the scent of fried dumplings and honey-glazed pastries hung thick in the air.
Rie wandered like she'd forgotten the weight of the world. Buying skewers, biting into sweets, licking her fingers between stalls like a child who'd just run away from home—and was celebrating it.
Kiel stood with arms crossed, watching from a distance, unimpressed.
"She's going to regret that when her stomach explodes," he muttered.
Lily, beside him, couldn't help it—her eyes followed a spiraling candy Rie had just bought. She leaned toward Kiel a little, voice soft.
"…I kinda want to try one."
He glanced at her. Deadpan.
"Forget it. There's no way I'm letting you eat that junk."
"Please?"
"No."
"Just one bite"
"NO"
"…Fine"
She made a sullen face as she looked at Rie hands with longing eyes....
Kiel can swear he saw her drooling....
"Ahem," he straightened up, clearing his throat. "I'll ask the royal chef to make a cleaner version. Properly cooked. With… vegetables."
Lily's eyes lit up. "Really?"
He gave a vague hum, not meeting her gaze.
She giggled.
Kiel ignored her, focusing instead on the girl in the distance.
"Looking at her… she sure is enjoying herself," he said after a pause. "Shall we go back?"
Lily shook her head. "No. We wait."
Kiel sighed. "Of course we do."
They stayed hidden near a fruit cart as the sky dimmed and the crowd thinned. Eventually, Rie turned off the main road—into a narrow alley.
"Where is she going?" Lily frowned.
They followed at a distance, careful with each step.
The alley led to an old, rust-covered gate. Rie pushed it open without hesitation and disappeared into a crumbling house on the other side—half-buried in vines, windows boarded, door hanging off its hinges.
Kiel stared, eyebrows raised.
"She… went in there?"
Lily stepped forward instinctively, but Kiel grabbed her wrist.
"Wait. Don't."
"But—"
"If we go in, it'll be obvious we've been following her. We'll get caught."
"But it's not normal, Kiel. What is she doing here? It seems dangerous...
Kiel let go of her wrist and turned away.
"It's not our problem what she does."
"it's time we go back"
Lily didn't respond. She just stood there, watching the door like it might open again at any moment.
"But-"
After a beat, Kiel sighed again, more tired this time.
"five minute... after that we are going back... "
lily nodded.
And so they did.
Minutes stretched into an hour. Then another.
Still, Rie didn't come out.
Still, the door stayed shut.
Still, Lily waited—without a word.
Kiel leaned against the wall, arms crossed again. Watching. Frowning.
"…What are you even doing in there, Rie?"