Stella wandered through the market with them for yet another hour.
The vibrant stalls and bustling noise did little to distract her from the fact that she was already growing restless. Shopping had never held any charm for her.
And yet, despite her disinterest, her senses remained sharp, her gaze attentive.
Throughout the walk, she kept a close eye on both Annie and Rosamund.
Annie, as always, wore a look of calm indifference, giving little away. Rosamund, on the other hand, spent most of the time engaged in quiet conversation with her assistant.
"Is she truly not interested in me? Or is she just pretending? Am I simply overthinking everything?" Stella wondered, puzzled by the fact that nothing had happened to her so far.
Rosamund hadn't looked in her direction at all since they arrived in the city.
Yet, Stella had begun to notice something else, something subtle.
It seemed that Rosamund's assistant was the one watching her instead.
"Because of that group from the Caden family, I didn't notice it at first. But now that I think about it… this servant of our dear princess has had his eyes on me the entire time, huh."
Stella didn't show any reaction to being watched. She remained calm and composed, continuing to walk alongside Annie just like she always did, carefully pretending she was completely unaware of anything unusual.
"Well," she thought to herself, "I saw that servant following her and her mother ever since they arrived. They must've come up with some kind of plan together. Whatever it is, they're probably about to carry it out now."
Although she had been trying to slowly distance herself from the Loran family, hoping to avoid unnecessary complications, she couldn't allow this situation to unfold because of a trick planned by that spoiled girl.
No, if she were to leave, it would be on her own terms, not because she had fallen victim to some shallow deception.
The months she had spent with them had been incredibly valuable. She had learned a lot, and despite everything, she couldn't deny feeling a deep sense of gratitude toward them.
After spending another hour wandering around the market, the group finally decided to return home. The sun had started to dip lower in the sky, casting long shadows between the stalls, and the energy of the day was beginning to fade.
Annie, Stella, and Rosamund made their way to the carriage they had arrived in. But as soon as they reached it and climbed inside, both Stella and Annie were taken aback.
The entire interior was filled with an overwhelming number of packages and boxes, piled up high and tightly packed. There was barely enough space for two people to sit.
Clearly, the space had been preserved only for them.
Rosamund turned to Annie with a light, teasing tone, a playful smile on her lips.
"Oh dear, it seems we bought so many things that there wasn't any room left in the other carriage. Good thing there's still space for the two of us here."
Annie, however, didn't seem amused. Her voice was calm, but there was a clear hint of irritation behind her words.
"Then perhaps the servants should carry them home by hand. That would free up some space and make things easier."
At that moment, one of Rosamund's servants stepped forward and responded politely,
"Young miss, if I may these items are quite delicate and of high value. It would be impossible for anyone to carry them safely while riding a horse."
Annie raised an eyebrow, her tone sharpening slightly, "Oh, really? Then you could have sent someone ahead to fetch another carriage, or brought one of your newer ones. You do have several fancy models, don't you? That would've been a much better idea."
Her words, though not directly aggressive, carried a clear note of criticism.
A subtle tension began to appear on Rosamund's face. Her expression shifted, and the lightness in her eyes faded slightly, replaced by a hint of discomfort.
Still trying to maintain a composed atmosphere, the servant continued with the same courteous manner,
"Our sincere apologies, Miss. We were informed that those carriages are currently unavailable, as the master and mistress took them earlier for..."
Before he could finish, Rosamund stepped in, her voice calm but firm, attempting to prevent the situation from escalating,
"It's alright. This really isn't a serious issue, Annie. You and I can just ride home together now, and..."
Annie interrupted coldly, saying, "And what about Alina? How will she return? Will she walk on foot?"
Rosamund glanced at Stella at that moment, annoyance clear on her face.
Stella deliberately refrained from interfering in the discussion, as Rosamund's behavior was enough to confirm her suspicions.
At that moment, the servant politely intervened, addressing Annie with a smile, "No, Miss, of course not on foot. I will make sure to arrange a carriage, and I will accompany her. Please don't worry."
Annie was about to respond, but Stella cut her off with a calm smile and reassuring tone, "No problem, my Miss. As he said, I will accompany her for the return. Now, please get in so we don't keep Miss Linden waiting any longer."
Stella gently patted Annie on the back.
Annie seemed relieved by this and got into the carriage, sitting by the window as usual.
Stella watched her closely, while the servant helped Rosamund board, giving him a discreet signal.
Stella whispered to herself, "He must be the one taking care of me, but I know exactly what I'm going to do."