"Isn't that Rich?" Kael spoke up as he saw someone on horseback. Their carriage hadn't yet entered the city limits of Mierre-Park, but seeing Rich outside the city walls made Luna wonder from the back seat.
Everyone tried peeking through the small windows on the left and right sides of the carriage. Meanwhile, Kael and Elric, who were seated at the front, could see him. It was obvious that Rich wasn't planning to leave the city. He was there on his horse, waiting for Luna and her companions to arrive.
"My guess was right—you did come to Mierre-Park. Fortunately, you made it safely into the city," said Rich with a relieved smile. "Come on, I'll take you to my house. There's so much I want to tell you."
Rich pulled the reins of his horse and turned to enter the city at a slow pace. He matched the speed of the two horses pulling the carriage from the border of Mierre-Park and the Oron Mountains, which had come to fetch Rhea.
"Luna, could it be that Rich knows something?" asked Mia, who was seated to Luna's right. Before Luna could respond, Thalia spoke first.
"He must've seen or at least heard something," said Thalia, sitting to Mia's right.
"Or, King Finn told everyone in this city that they kidnapped Rhea." Mia tossed out a silly guess that made Luna turn and glare at her. "Sorry if that sounds ridiculous."
"There's no way they'd be that open if they broke a rule, Mia," Leon chimed in with a smile. The man still had enough energy to respond to Mia, though Luna was already tired of hearing her.
"I was just assuming," she said quietly, bowing her head in regret.
Luna observed the familiar city streets. She often came here on a horse given to her by King Finn. Luna used to wander through the city's corners while working, deceiving many people with various outfits she got from someone in the palace. And now, she hated having to do all this again, except just to save Rhea.
She wanted her sister back as much as she wanted to stay alive. Rhea had become like a younger sister to her, just like Alea, whom she could now only remember through pictures on her phone.
Passing through the city's main road, the carriage carrying the seven of them continued heading toward the beach. But before reaching the beach, they turned left into a neighborhood of large houses that Luna knew belonged to the rich people of Mierre-Park.
Turning left was the road to Rich's house; the road to the right led to the palace. So close to the main road, but Luna wasn't foolish enough to go through the main entrance to the palace.
She knew exactly which door the palace's servants and guards often used—and that was the door she would use to sneak inside. The carriage rolled on further. These houses were so big that Luna would still have to walk some distance to reach the palace.
Eventually, the carriage entered the yard of a house as big as the Everglow estate. The two-floor house wasn't just large—it was so spacious that Luna was sure it could hold dozens of people.
Just as big as her own home, but it must be at least three times more expensive than her estate in the middle plantation. Luna couldn't underestimate the value of a house in the middle of the city.
Once Rich got down, everyone else in the carriage stepped out one by one. They all praised the grandeur of the house, just like Luna, who couldn't stop staring at it.
"Come in," Rich entered the house first and guiding his guests inside. The seven of them were brought to a living room on the second floor. They passed a staircase adorned with expensive paintings that decorated the house's elegant wooden accents.
"Way better than our house, Luna," whispered Thalia during their walk to the living room. "Still young, and I'm sure his wealth is so vast that he could pass down a house this big."
"Does he have a wife?" whispered Mia, making Luna glare at her. "I mean, if he doesn't have a partner, I'd suggest you marry him."
Luna saw Rich open a door that revealed a fairly large room. Inside were several chairs and a brown piano. The man was rich—or maybe too rich, to the point of owning a piano in this huge house.
"Please take a rest. I'll change clothes before speaking with you all," he said gently before leaving the seven of them. Luna watched as everyone looked excited. Including her two sisters, who immediately explored the room, too beautiful for them to ignore.
Rather than admiring the elegant interior of Rich's house, Luna was more curious about how he selected the people who worked for him. Several times, she saw people passing by this room, occasionally stepping inside where she and her companions were.
Although they wore simple clothing, Luna could tell they had athletic builds. They reminded her of the palace guards.
Could Rich be one of King Finn's right-hand men?
The suspicion arose—she couldn't think positively about these people. Especially since she had brought her friends and sisters here. To her, Rich was highly suspicious.
Footsteps approached the room where Luna and the others were. Luna turned to see Rich, now dressed in his most casual clothes, at home. He closed the door tightly, making sure no one else could hear this conversation.
"Sorry, I couldn't send word or even send someone to the camp. A few days ago, I wasn't sure if the girl I saw was Rhea or not. But seeing all of you come to Mierre-Park, I'm convinced now that King Finn is once again stirring trouble," he said before sitting down on an empty chair.
"Is Rhea still in the palace?" Luna asked directly, without preamble.
Rich turned, giving her a gentle look before replying. "Yes, but her exact location is still unknown."
"Are you sure it's Rhea? I mean, is there anyone who knows her? Our sister isn't someone who socializes—she's lived on the plantation since childhood and never had peers her age," Thalia tried to clarify, worried that the girl Rich saw wasn't their Rhea.
"Up to now, it hasn't been confirmed. But I'll look into it further by monitoring the palace situation," Rich said carefully. Luna's mind was growing even more chaotic—she had to find a way to locate Rhea as soon as possible. Her sister might not survive if they delay.
"Isn't there a faster way, Rich? I doubt we can afford to wait several days just for uncertain news," Luna interjected, unable to hold back anymore. Time was short, and she couldn't afford to waste it.
"Unfortunately, there isn't another way yet, Ms. Everglow. I haven't thought of a faster solution. But I believe it won't take seven days to find Rhea. I should be receiving a report on the palace's current situation today," Rich replied before turning his attention to everyone in the room. "Several people will assist you during your stay in this house. I hope it's comfortable enough for you to live in for the next few days."
Rich clapped his hands twice, as if signaling someone. Just seconds later, a man entered the living room and smiled at everyone inside.
"His name is Jan. He and his friends will help you during your stay," Rich introduced a tall man with neat brown hair. He wore a white shirt and black trousers, complete with a red ribbon that made his appearance look formal. "Jan, please escort them all to their rooms."
Everyone stood, including Luna, who had been sitting at the far end. She would be the last to leave the room. Her steps followed her friends out of the room until Rich grabbed her arm, making her spin around instantly on high alert.
Rich gestured by covering his mouth, signaling she shouldn't scream or make a sound. He waited until everyone else exited the room before finally speaking about something deeply troubling him.
"I know where Rhea is now."