Chapter 6 - First Night With The Troupe

Madam Helen drew deeply on her cigar, the smoke escaping in a slow, weary breath. Her eyes remained shut, her brow knitted with exhaustion. She hadn't slept a wink. All night long, she'd waited for news of the girl who had worked beside her for the past three years.

Sebastian returned first, his expression dark enough to tell the story on its own.

Rosella followed close behind. Her eyes were swollen, still red from crying over their failure to bring Isabella back. Madam Helen didn't need an explanation. One glance at their faces was enough. Isabella was gone.

"I see..." she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. "So she isn't coming back."

Though Rosella had only known Madam Helen for a short time, she had already come to understand the woman. She took in abandoned girls, gave them honest work, a roof over their heads, and a place where they could finally feel safe.

"She will come back," Rosella said firmly.

Madam Helen lifted her eyes to the girl. "No one ever comes back, child."

"I'll bring Isabella home, Madam. I promise I will."

"Ro—"

Madam Helen lowered the cigar from her lips.

Morning had broken. The first rays of sunlight spilled across the city as merchants raised their shutters and resumed their business. News of the missing girls travelled from street to street, yet life refused to stop. Shops reopened. Customers returned. The world kept moving, indifferent to those left grieving.

"So..." Madam Helen said at last, a faint smile tugging at her lips. "Are you telling me I'm about to lose not just one employee... but two?"

Rosella lowered her head awkwardly.

Truthfully, she had grown fond of working at the tavern. She had friends here, a caring employer, and customers whose stories made every day different. It was a world apart from the life she'd left behind.

"I'm sorry, Madam."

"You've nothing to apologise for." Madam Helen's voice softened. "You're still young. An old woman can't do much except support the children who choose their own path."

"Madam..."

Rosella's vision blurred.

Had Madam Helen not taken her in, she would have spent her very first night sleeping on the streets.

Had fate never brought her to this city...

Never brought her to Madam Helen...

She would still be back in Faraway, shovelling livestock manure every day.

Filthy.

Reeking.

Trapped.

Without another word, the two women embraced.

Madam Helen had never had children of her own, yet she cared for every girl who worked under her roof as though they were family. She could be strict, loud, and endlessly nagging, but beneath that rough exterior was a kindness as warm and comforting as a mother's embrace.

---

After packing her belongings and saying her farewells, Rosella climbed into one of the carnival wagons.

The troupe travelled with five wagons in total. She was seated in the lead wagon alongside Sebastian and Issac. The others stole curious glances her way, making her shift uncomfortably in her seat.

Sebastian clicked the reins.

"This is Rosella, our newest member," he announced. "Be nice to her."

Issac rested his chin in his hand and let out an exaggerated sigh.

"Great. Now we'll have to carry extra food."

Rosella glanced at him uneasily.

Issac simply turned his head away.

"Don't mind him."

The voice belonged to a beautiful young woman sitting beside Rosella. Bracelets and anklets adorned her slender limbs, chiming softly whenever she moved. Her bronze skin glowed beneath the afternoon sun, and her large eyes, framed by impossibly long lashes, carried an effortless charm.

She was one of the troupe's dancers.

"My name's Sahila."

"I-I'm Rosella. It's nice to meet you, ma'am."

Sahila laughed.

"Oh, don't be so nervous."

"I'm Sahila. And don't call me ma'am. We're all equals here."

She went on to introduce everyone else in the wagon.

The conversation quickly turned lively. Sahila and the others welcomed Rosella without hesitation, sharing stories of the countless towns and kingdoms they'd visited over the years.

Rosella listened with sparkling eyes, hanging onto every word.

Issac, meanwhile, contributed little beyond the occasional irritated grunt. Sebastian joined the conversation whenever the road allowed, tossing in a joke or story between guiding the horses. Before Rosella realised it, the sun had dipped below the horizon.

After hours of travelling, the wagons rolled into a vast grassy clearing.

Sebastian raised a hand.

"We'll camp here."

He climbed down first, giving one of the horses an affectionate pat before walking toward the rear wagon.

Rosella was about to jump down on her own when he offered her his hand. She blinked in surprise.

"Aren't you going to let me help?" Sebastian asked with an amused smile.

Realising he was waiting, Rosella accepted his hand.

"Why are we stopping?" she asked.

Issac snorted as he unloaded the camping gear. "To rest, obviously, genius. Was that really so hard to figure out?"

Rosella puffed out her cheeks.

Well, how was I supposed to know? she'd never travelled this far from home before.

Sebastian chuckled under his breath before raising his voice.

"Everyone! Start unloading the equipment!"

Rosella wandered through the campsite, unsure where she was needed. She wanted to ask Sebastian, but he was busy organising the others. Whenever she tried to carry something, another member would gently stop her.

"Don't worry about it."

"Get some rest."

Left with nothing to do, she simply stood there, feeling completely out of place.

Then someone tapped her lightly on the shoulder. She turned with a start.

"Don't look so lost."

The speaker was a man whose face was half-hidden behind an elegant folding fan. Black lace gloves covered his hands, and when he lowered the fan, Rosella caught sight of carefully applied eyeshadow, striking crimson lipstick, and impossibly long lashes beneath the brim of an oversized hat.

"U-Um... hello, sir... I mean..."

"Rowan."

"...Pardon?"

"Rowan," he repeated. "Surely your ears work. Call me Rowan."

"O-Oh! Right... Rowan."

"Much better."

His gaze narrowed ever so slightly as he caught her staring.

"What?"

"Never seen a man dressed like this before?"

Rosella flushed.

"N-No..."

"This is my first time."

"You'll get used to it."

He resumed fanning himself as though the conversation were over.

"Y-Yes!"

"Issac laughed from across the campsite.

"Easy, Rowan. Don't scare her off. She'll be running back home before tomorrow."

Rosella straightened.

"I won't go home until I've found Isabella."

Issac clicked his tongue.

"Suit yourself."

He walked away. Rowan watched him leave before hiding a smile behind his fan.

"What?" Rosella asked.

"Nothing."

He tilted his head.

"You don't know what you're supposed to be doing, do you?"

She shook her head.

"Come with me."

"We're spreading salt around the camp."

"All right."

Together, Rosella and Rowan circled the campsite, scattering handfuls of salt along its outer edge until a protective ring enclosed the camp.

"Rowan..." Rosella spoke hesitantly. "May I ask you something?"

"Hm?"

"Why are we spreading salt?"

"To keep crawling creatures away."

"I see..."

Silence settled between them once more.

Only the whisper of the night breeze filled the air, teasing loose strands of Rosella's unruly curls. The temperature had dropped noticeably. Behind them, the men had already built a crackling campfire while the women gathered nearby to prepare supper.

"Wear this."

Without another word, Rowan draped his cloak over Rosella's shoulders.

"It's getting cold."

"But what about you, Rowan? You'll be—"

"Oh, stop arguing." Rowan cut her off with an impatient click of his tongue. "If I tell you to wear it, then wear it. Don't make me repeat myself."

He tossed his hair over one shoulder before planting a hand on his hip with theatrical annoyance.

He gets irritated so easily, Rosella thought.

They continued their rounds until they reached the far side of the clearing.

Suddenly...

"AAAH!"

Rosella's cry shattered the quiet.

"AAAH! What is it?!" Rowan yelped, nearly dropping the pouch of salt.

"Look!"

Rosella pointed excitedly into the darkness.

"Fireflies!"

Tiny golden lights flickered to life among the trees, drifting lazily through the night like scattered stars.

"Oh, for heaven's sake!" Rowan pressed a hand against his chest. "You nearly scared me to death."

He let out a dramatic sigh.

"Getting this excited over fireflies... You really are a country girl."

He paused, eyeing her suspiciously.

"Don't tell me this is your first time seeing fi—"

The words died on his lips.

Rosella had turned to him, her amber eyes sparkling with pure wonder. Rowan stared for a heartbeat before letting out a quiet sigh. The irritation melted from his face.

A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips as he crouched beside her.

"Fireflies usually appear when summer is near," he said gently. "You'll often find them around marshes or damp forests like this."

As if on cue, one of the tiny insects drifted down and settled delicately on his fingertip.

Against the soft golden glow, Rowan's slender fingers looked almost porcelain. His neatly manicured nails caught the light, elegant enough to make even Rosella stare for a moment.

"They're amazing!" she breathed. "How do they glow like that?"

"A chemical reaction," Rowan answered matter-of-factly. "There's a compound in their abdomen called luciferin. When it reacts with oxygen, it produces light."

Rosella's eyes widened even further.

"...How do you know that?"

"My father was a scientist."

Rosella's eyes lit up.

"That's amazing!" she exclaimed. "Then you must be incredibly smart too! You're his son, after all."

Rowan's smile faltered.

"No." He shook his head. "There's nothing amazing about it."

For a fleeting moment, something lonely flickered across his face.

"I disappointed him." His voice grew quieter. "I dress like this instead of the way he wanted. I chose this life instead of following in his footsteps." He let out a soft, humourless laugh. "Besides... not every child inherits their parents' talents."

Rosella's smile faded.

"I'm sorry..."

She hesitated before brightening again.

"But you've travelled all across the kingdom. That's amazing too, Rowan!"

He blinked. Then, just as quickly, his usual arrogance returned.

"Naturally." He tossed his hair with exaggerated pride. "I'm the finest makeup artist in the entire kingdom. Even a plain little country girl like you could become beautiful if I were the one doing your makeup."

"H-Huh? Really?"

"Without question."

Rosella burst into laughter.

Soon the two of them were chatting happily, crouched among the drifting fireflies as though they'd known each other for years.

---

Back at camp, the bonfire crackled brightly.

Sebastian crouched beside it, feeding another log into the flames before standing to survey the campsite.

Something felt... off.

He glanced around.

"What's wrong?" Issac asked.

"Where's Rosella?"

Issac looked around as well. She wasn't with the women preparing dinner.

"I saw her with Rowan earlier."

Sebastian headed toward the cooking fire.

"Sahila," he called. "Have you seen Ro?"

Sahila looked up from the pot of soup simmering over the fire.

"Hm? I haven't seen her in a while."

Without another word, Sebastian walked past the tents. To the west, tiny specks of golden light shimmered among the trees.

Fireflies.

Then laughter echoed across the clearing.

"Hahahaha!"

Rowan.

"There they are," Sebastian murmured.

"You found them?" Issac called from behind.

"Yeah."

Sebastian watched from a distance. Rosella and Rowan were talking animatedly, completely absorbed in their conversation.

"ROWAAN!"

Issac's shout carried across the clearing. Both Rowan and Rosella turned at once.

"Dinner's almost ready! Get back here!"

Rowan sighed dramatically before offering Rosella his hand.

"Come along, my dear. We'd better not keep everyone waiting."

Rosella accepted it without hesitation. The two of them walked back together, laughing all the way. Sebastian remained where he was, watching them pass.

Issac smirked.

"You're jealous, aren't you?"

He snickered.

"I mean... it is Rowan, but still..."

Sebastian chuckled.

"As if."

He looked away.

"She's new to the troupe. Looking out for her is simply part of my job."

With that, he followed after them toward the fire. Issac merely shrugged.

---

Everyone ate heartily around the campfire before preparing to turn in for the night. It had been a long day's journey, and the next town was still several days away.

Sebastian spread a worn map across the ground.

"We'll follow this route tomorrow. It's still the safest road."

Around him sat the leaders of the five wagons: Issac, Rowan, and two other men. Despite his elegant appearance, Rowan carried himself with the quiet confidence of someone people naturally listened to.

He studied the map before shaking his head.

"Not anymore."

His gloved finger tapped a section of the road.

"I've heard bandits have been targeting travellers along this stretch. We should avoid it."

Issac frowned.

"Then we'll have to take the long way around."

Sebastian folded his arms.

"Our supplies won't last if we add several extra days."

"We'll hunt," Rowan replied without missing a beat. "We've done it before."

He glanced toward the forest surrounding the camp.

"And until we reach the next town, everyone rations their drinking water."

The others exchanged thoughtful looks before nodding in agreement. Rosella watched from across the camp, fascinated.

"They look... so dependable."

Sahila slipped an arm around her shoulders with a warm smile.

"Even if Rowan doesn't look like what people expect, he's one of the most reliable people in this troupe."

She gently steered Rosella toward the women's tents.

"Come on. You should get some rest. I've already prepared a bed for you."

Rosella smiled gratefully.

"Thank you, Sahila."

Rosella lay on her bedroll, staring up at the canvas ceiling of the tent.

All the women shared the same sleeping quarters. Some had already drifted off to sleep, while others were still whispering and laughing quietly in the dim glow of the lantern.

Just as Rosella was about to close her eyes, the tent flap rustled open. Someone stepped inside.

She looked up.

"Rowan?!" she blurted out, nearly sitting upright. "What are you doing here?"

"Relax," Sahila said with a sleepy chuckle. "Rowan always sleeps with us."

"...What?"

Rosella's eyes widened.

A faint blush crept onto her cheeks. Thankfully, the tent was lit only by the soft amber glow of the lantern, hiding most of her embarrassment.

But... he's still a man... isn't he?

Rowan caught the look on her face and let out an amused laugh.

"Oh, don't flatter yourself."

He settled onto the empty bedroll beside hers with effortless grace.

"I've no interest in a plain little girl like you."

Rosella's blush vanished instantly.

"...Hmph."

She turned away and yanked the blanket over her face. A chorus of muffled laughter rippled through the tent.

"Goodnight, my ladies," Rowan said.

He walked over to the lantern and carefully lifted the tiny firefly from its glass chamber. The little creature floated free, its golden light fading into the darkness.

One by one, the voices fell silent.

Soon, the tent was filled with nothing but the quiet rhythm of sleeping breaths.