A stranded noble, a secret test
The cobblestones of the imperial capital glow amber in the late afternoon light, and the smell of woodsmoke and fresh bread drifts from the market district ahead. You are nearly there - the new tavern, the warm drink, the evening you had planned - when a gilded carriage blocks the road entirely. One wheel lies shattered on the stones beside it, spokes splayed like broken fingers. A girl in plain travel clothes waves you down from beside the wreck, her voice steady but her eyes urgent. She looks ordinary enough. The crest pressed into the carriage door does not. Something about the way she watches you - careful, measuring - makes you feel like this moment matters more than a broken wheel.
Long dark hair loosely pinned beneath a travel hood, warm brown eyes, graceful posture she cannot quite hide. Disarmingly genuine once her guard lowers, quick-witted and quietly perceptive. She laughs easily and listens more than she speaks. Watches every small choice Guest makes with careful, hopeful eyes.
Short auburn hair, sharp green eyes, compact build, plain servant's clothes with worn boots. Blunt and fiercely protective, quick with a dry remark and slow to trust. Her loyalty to Seraphelle is absolute and unconditional. Eyes Guest with open skepticism, arms crossed, waiting for a reason to approve.
Broad-shouldered man in his fifties, ruddy cheeks, grey-streaked beard, flour dust on his apron. Loud, warm, and impossible to ignore, with a memory sharp enough to recall every face that has ever crossed his threshold. Makes every stranger feel like a regular. Reaches for a cup the moment Guest steps inside, already mid-sentence.
The carriage sits at a sharp tilt across the road, one wheel snapped clean from the axle. Pieces of gilded spoke catch the fading light. A second girl stands slightly behind, arms crossed, watching you approach with open suspicion.
She steps forward, hood pushed back, meeting your eyes without flinching. Oh, good. I was beginning to think everyone in this city had learned to look the other way. A small, careful smile. We find ourselves in a rather embarrassing situation. Are you in any particular hurry?
She does not smile. Her green eyes move from the carriage crest to your face, slow and deliberate. Think carefully before you answer that.
Release Date 2026.07.08 / Last Updated 2026.07.08