Chapter 4 - Shopie

The next morning, Rosella wandered through the bustling city marketplace with a woven basket swinging lightly from one arm.

In her other hand was a neatly folded shopping list. Madam Helen had entrusted her with a small pouch of coins and sent her out to buy the ingredients the tavern needed.

Rosella couldn't help smiling. She skipped lightly through the crowded streets, humming a cheerful tune beneath her breath. Her skirt swayed gracefully with every buoyant step. Earlier that morning, Isabella had tied her silver curls into a neat ponytail. She absolutely adored styling other people's hair.

"Coffee beans..."

Rosella murmured, glancing from one side of the street to the other.

"Where's the coffee bean shop?"

She had already reached the end of the alley without finding it. The apple seller had sworn the shop was somewhere around here. Yet there was nothing in sight. Only a few stray cats rummaging through overflowing rubbish bins.

The buildings lining the narrow alley were old, weathered, and neglected, as though no one had lived there for years. Still, Rosella continued walking.

Just when she was about to turn back, something caught her eye. An old wooden sign still hung crookedly above a faded storefront.

Despite its age...

The words painted across it remained unmistakably clear.

CLOVER BOOKSTORE

"Huh?!"

Rosella bolted inside.

The old wooden floor creaked beneath her feet as clouds of dust drifted into the air, accompanied by the cheerful chime of the bell above the door.

"Clo...ver?"

Her voice came out as little more than a whisper. This place was even older and shabbier than the Clover Bookstore she'd found hidden in the forest outside Faraway.

She glanced toward the window. Books were piled everywhere in complete disarray, just as Clover always seemed to leave them.

Silence.

"Is anyone here?"

Rosella cautiously walked toward the back door.

Click.

"MILK BREAD!"

A voice suddenly shouted.

Rosella nearly screamed.

Standing before her was a tiny old man who barely reached her waist. He wore round spectacles hanging from a chain around his neck...

...and, unmistakably, a green beanie.

"CLOVER!"

Rosella cried with delight. She grabbed the old man's hands and spun around in circles, practically hopping with excitement.

"Urgh...!"

"Stop...!"

"I'm getting dizzy!"

Clover groaned as she twirled him around. Realising what she'd done, Rosella immediately let go.

"Are you alright?"

"I think..."

Clover rubbed his temples.

"...my glasses have six lenses now."

Rosella burst into laughter.

"I've wanted to see you again so badly, Clover!"

She could barely contain herself.

"What happened to your treehouse?"

"This city is amazing!"

"No grumpy aunt."

"No filthy farm."

"And the travelling carnival is here!"

"Slow down."

Clover held up a hand.

"One thing at a time, young lady."

A small smile tugged at his lips.

"So..."

"Did you enjoy the book?"

"I loved it!"

Rosella answered without hesitation.

Clover nodded, looking quietly pleased.

"I'm glad."

He calmly returned to arranging the books on his shelves. Rosella blinked.

"...That's it?"

"So where exactly are we?"

"In the world."

Clover answered without even looking up.

"No, that's not what I mean!"

"The last time we met, your bookstore was in Faraway Forest!"

"Was it?"

Rosella frowned. "What do you mean, was it?"

"You're here now."

"So where's your treehouse?"

Clover finally looked at her.

A gentle smile softened his wrinkled face. "My shop has always been here."

"What?"

"The first time I met you, it was hidden in the middle of the forest!"

Clover simply chuckled. "I have always been here, child."

"Wherever someone seeks knowledge..."

"...they will always find my bookstore."

Before Rosella could ask another question, Clover raised a finger.

"Now then."

"I have another book for you."

He wandered toward an enormous bookshelf. Rosella followed close behind as the old bookseller climbed a tall wooden ladder. After searching for a moment, he pulled out an enormous volume.

It was so thick it looked more like a brick than a book.

The title read:

Encyclopaedia of the World

Clover struggled to carry it. For one alarming second, he nearly toppled off the ladder.

"Catch!"

He shoved the enormous tome toward Rosella.

"Ugh!"

She barely managed to hold onto it. The book was astonishingly heavy.

"You... want me to read this?"

Clover tilted his head.

"What?"

"You don't like it?"

"No!"

Rosella quickly shook her head. "I do."

She hesitated.

"It's just..."

"Are you giving this to me for free too?"

"I am."

Clover was silent for a brief moment. Then he smiled.

"You'll need it, little adventurer."

Before Rosella could thank him...

Clover planted both hands against her shoulders.

"Now, out you go."

"W-Wait!"

He pushed her straight through the front door.

The moment she stumbled outside, the massive encyclopaedia slipped from her arms.

THUD!

It crashed onto the stone pavement with a deafening bang.

"Clover!"

Rosella spun around.

BANG!

The door slammed shut. She crashed straight into the firmly locked door.

"Ow..."

Rubbing her forehead, Rosella looked up, searching for the wooden sign that had hung above the entrance only moments before. There was nothing. No sign. No bookstore.

Just another abandoned building with boarded-up windows and crumbling walls. The bookstore had vanished. Just as it had in Faraway.

A pair of elegant hands reached down and lifted the enormous encyclopaedia from the ground. The young man carrying it gently blew a layer of dust from its cover. Rosella continued staring blankly at the deserted building until she finally turned around.

A tall man stood behind her, effortlessly holding the heavy tome as though it weighed nothing at all.

"AH!" She jumped.

"You dropped this."

Sebastian smiled. Rosella let out an exasperated groan.

"Why do you always appear out of nowhere just to scare me?"

Her eyes landed on the encyclopaedia.

"Give it back." Sebastian merely adjusted the book against one arm.

"It's heavy."

"I'll carry it."

Then his gaze drifted toward a small piece of paper tumbling across the cobblestones.

"Looks like you're about to lose your shopping list too."

Rosella slapped a hand against her forehead. "Oh no!"

She hurried after the paper before the wind could carry it away. Sebastian glanced at the list and chuckled.

"The coffee shop you're looking for is in the next alley."

"You took a wrong turn, my lady."

Rosella's cheeks immediately warmed. "I've only just moved here!"

"It's perfectly normal to get lost!"

Sebastian laughed quietly. "I never said it wasn't."

Together they walked into the neighbouring alley. This time they found the coffee merchant without any trouble, and Rosella managed to buy everything Madam Helen had requested.

Despite her protests, Sebastian carried most of the heavier bags.

"Sebastian..."

Rosella looked at him curiously as they walked.

"What are you doing in the city?"

Young women along the streets couldn't stop staring at him. Some whispered. Others openly admired him.

Sebastian seemed completely accustomed to the attention. "Our troupe will be staying here for a while."

He smiled. "We've been travelling for months."

"Even entertainers need a little rest."

Rosella nodded. "That makes sense."

By the time the familiar tavern came into view, the afternoon sun had begun sinking toward the rooftops.

"Thanks for helping me."

"My pleasure."

Madam Helen opened the door before Rosella could knock.

"You're back already."

A second head immediately popped out from behind her.

"Sebastian?!"

Isabella practically shrieked into Madam Helen's ear.

Madam Helen frowned.

Thunk.

She smacked Isabella lightly on the head with a wooden rice paddle.

"Ow!"

Isabella pouted, rubbing the sore spot. Madam Helen ignored her entirely before turning toward Sebastian.

"You helped carry everything?"

"Thank you."

"Would you like to come inside for a cup of coffee?"

Rosella blinked. She had been planning to say goodbye here. Sebastian's smile brightened. "I'd be delighted."

Today he wasn't dressed for the stage.

Instead of his elaborate costume, he wore a simple white shirt with the sleeves rolled neatly to his forearms, black trousers, and his long blond hair tied loosely behind his back.

Even dressed so plainly...

He still looked impossibly elegant.

He settled beside the window. Without trying in the slightest... He somehow made the entire room look brighter.

Rosella set a steaming cup of coffee in front of him before leaning closer. "I bet Madam only invited you because handsome men attract customers."

She whispered the accusation. Sebastian laughed. "If I can be useful, I'm happy to help."

Rosella sighed. This man really does flirt with the entire world.

"Don't your cheeks hurt?" She rested her chin on one hand. "You smile all the time."

Sebastian's smile slowly disappeared.

For the first time since they'd met...

He looked completely serious. He reached toward her face. Rosella instinctively stiffened.

"There's something behind your ear."

She lifted a hand to check.

Sebastian gently caught her wrist first. Then... With a smooth flick of his fingers... A white rose appeared between them.

His smile returned. Rosella snorted. Nice trick. Not falling for that. She clapped politely.

"Very impressive, Sebastian." Setting her tray aside, she leaned across the table.

"So..."

"Why were you really in that alley?"

Sebastian hesitated. It was strange. Most girls would have been blushing over the flower. Rosella barely seemed impressed.

"I just happened to notice a lost girl wandering around." Rosella narrowed her eyes.

"So you saw me enter one of the buildings there?"

For the first time... Sebastian fell silent. His gaze drifted to the thick encyclopaedia resting beside him.

"No."

"When I looked into the alley..."

"...you were already standing there, staring into space."

"Really?"

"Really."

Rosella frowned thoughtfully. Then... he never saw Clover? Sebastian lightly tapped the cover of the enormous book.

"Aren't you curious what's inside?"

Rosella blinked.

She was.

Without another thought, she opened the encyclopaedia at random.

The pages fluttered...

...and stopped in the middle of a chapter on the flora and fauna of the continent.

The instant the book lay open...

A butterfly fluttered out from between its pages.

Rosella gasped. Sebastian's eyes widened. In one swift motion...

Snap!

He slammed the book shut. His breathing turned uneven. He quickly scanned the tavern. Fortunately... No one seemed to have noticed.

Anyone who had glanced over probably assumed the butterfly had flown in through the open window. Rosella stared at him.

"Sebastian?"

"What's wrong?"

He looked at her with an expression she had never seen before. Utter seriousness.

"We need to talk."

"Alone."

His words echoed across the suddenly quiet tavern. Several customers turned to stare.

"...Huh?"

"Where's your room?"

Rosella's eyes went wide.

"What?"

"Why my room?" A few customers immediately began whistling and grinning. Ignoring every one of them, Sebastian grabbed Rosella's wrist.

"Madam Helen."

"Which room is hers?" Madam Helen silently pointed toward the back hallway. Without another explanation, Sebastian pulled Rosella along.

"H-Hey!"

"Wait!"

"Let go!"

"What are you doing?!"

"Madam?!" Rosella's protests echoed all the way upstairs.

Sebastian pulled her inside the small room.

Click.

The door closed behind them.

Rosella immediately yanked her hand free. "What is wrong with you?!"

"You can't just barge into a girl's room like that!"

"You..."

Sebastian's voice was unusually tense.

"...You went to that bookstore."

Rosella blinked.

"W-Why does that matter?"

"What on earth was that old man thinking...?"

For the first time since she'd met him, Sebastian completely lost his composure. He slammed a fist against the wall. The sharp crack echoed through the small room. Before Rosella could react, he strode toward her bedside table and pulled open the drawer.

"Hey!" She rushed after him, trying to stop him.

Too late. Sebastian lifted out the novel.

The Travelling Carnival & the Shadow Bandit.

"I knew it." He placed the novel beside the thick Encyclopaedia of the World on the table.

"I became suspicious the moment I saw you carrying this."

His golden eyes met hers.

"You're not from Great City... are you?"

Rosella froze. So that was why. Why he'd noticed her. Why he'd given her free tickets. Why he'd appeared in that alley.

"It was Clover who gave them to me!"

She frowned. "He was kind enough to give me these books for free."

"I don't understand why you're acting like this."

Sebastian took a slow breath. "Listen to me."

His expression remained deadly serious. "Girls are disappearing all over the kingdom."

He stepped closer. "This place is dangerous for you."

Rosella folded her arms stubbornly. "They won't kidnap me."

"I've already heard the rumours."

"They only target beautiful girls."

"...What?"

Sebastian stared at her in disbelief.

"Do you even realise what you just said?"

Rosella stubbornly looked away. "I'm telling you."

"No one's going to kidnap me."

Sebastian clenched his jaw. "All of this..."

"...started because of Clover."

Rosella's eyes widened. "If he hadn't interfered so carelessly..."

"...none of this would've happened."

"What?!"

Rosella immediately stepped forward. "There's no way Clover would do something that cruel!"

Sebastian's voice rose. "What do you know about him?"

"You've only met him a handful of times!"

Rosella glared back without backing down."And I've only met you a handful of times!"

"So why should I believe you instead?"

For a heartbeat... Neither of them moved. Then Sebastian finally shouted.

"Sophie was kidnapped by the Shadow Bandit!"

His voice shook with anger.

"You've read the novel, haven't you?"

"Sophie."

"The singer."

"The dancer in the travelling carnival."

He swallowed hard.

"...She was my mother."

Silence. Rosella's mind went blank. Her lips parted, but no words came out.

Sophie...

The Sophie from the book.

Sebastian's... mother?

Then... This wasn't the story she'd been reading anymore. This was after it. After the ending.

After Sophie had disappeared. She had never returned. She had become one of the Shadow Bandit's victims. Rosella slowly looked down at the two books resting side by side on the table.

The novel. The encyclopaedia. And Clover...

Was somehow connected to all of it. She looked back at Sebastian, her voice barely above a whisper.

"...What do you mean?"

Outside, the afternoon sun still shone brightly through the window.

But inside the room...

The air had grown unbearably heavy.

Neither of them spoke.

The silence between them was darker than any shadow.