Ignatius was silent for a beat, then gave a single, sharp nod. "There's no reason to hide such information."

"We took the long path, if that's what you're wondering. And we did, indeed, suffer… issues. Which is precisely why I am advocating for the shorter return. It should lessen our number of casualties."

Leo, seeing the concern on Adrian's face, quickly added, "We have no intention of going back on our promise to keep you all safe, Adrian. You have my word."

Ignatius gave another curt nod in agreement. "My young master is correct."

"You have the word of the Morningstar household. The guards accompanying us are highly skilled. They will ensure your protection at all costs."

Adrian fell silent, his mind racing. ' What kind of place is this kingdom' he thought inwardly, a wave of disbelief washing over him, 'where you have to pick your travel route based on which one has a lower body count?' It was a stark reminder that the world beyond his village was not just bigger, but infinitely more dangerous.

He glanced behind him, first at Grey, then at Snow, and finally down at Emma. He didn't need to speak. One by one, they each gave him a small, definite nod. Grey's was serious, Snow's confident, and Emma's a sharp, eager jerk of her chin. They were not afraid, Emma herself even seemed eager to encounter this so-called danger.

A new certainty settled within him. If they did encounter something on this "short path," he was no longer a helpless herb-gatherer. He had a wolf shifter, a gorgon, and a devilish goblin at his side, not to mention himself, who could draw on the strength of each and every one of them.

From the looks of it, he believed they could handle it.

He looked back at Ignatius, his own expression now resolved. "We agree," he said, his voice firm. "We will travel with you. And we intend to arrive at the capital with you."

"I'm happy you've decided to put your trust in us." Ignatius stretched his hand forward; Adrian grasped it, and the two shook firmly. "I promise you, you won't be disappointed."

"I sure hope so," Adrian chuckled.

Some time flew by as the two groups finished preparing for departure.

The villagers had gathered into a small crowd to send them off. Most offered well-wishes; some were silent, like Mr. Miller in particular.

Two sturdy, enclosed carriages, pulled by teams of patient horses, stood waiting in the street outside Adrian's house. Around the carriages were the mercenaries hired by the Morningstar household to guard them on the trip back—each seated atop a horse.

The girls, following Ignatius's quiet instructions, were already seated inside the second carriage, their faces glimpsed through the small windows before they withdrew inside.

Adrian stood beside the lead carriage, offering final waves and nods to the familiar faces in the crowd. He caught Thomas's eye; the patrolman gave him a firm, approving nod. Further back, he saw Mr. Miller, arms crossed, expression inscrutable, but the old man offered a slight, almost imperceptible tilt of his chin in acknowledgment.

Ignatius, looking impeccably neat and utterly out of place, stood by the carriage door. "Do you have all you require?" he asked Adrian in a low murmur.

"Yes, we've got it all."

Adrian nodded. "They're all packed within the carriage," he said.

' To be honest, we really didn't have much to begin with,' he thought inwardly, a bittersweet feeling washing over him.

' Once I start making it big in the capital, the first thing I need to do is procure new clothing and essentials for Mom and the girls.'

He turned to climb into the carriage when a sudden voice cut through the crowd's noise.

"Wait! Wait for me!"

Both Adrian and Ignatius halted. The door to the first carriage swung open and Leo leaned out, relief clear on his face. "She's finally here," he said.

"I was wondering if she'd keep us waiting any longer."

*Who's he talking about?*

Adrian blinked, then felt a cold dread trickle down his spine.

' Wait… he can't mean…'

The voice shouted again, closer now. "I'm coming!"

"Excuse me."

"Watch your step."

"Coming through."

The crowd parted, and Amy emerged, her orange pigtails bouncing, face flushed from running. She carried a small satchel and a bundle of medical texts. She skidded to a stop in front of them, breathing heavily.

Adrian could only stare, stunned, as Leo stepped down. "You finally made it."

"Your luggage is already stowed. You had me worried, I thought you'd changed your mind."

Amy chuckled. "Why would I do that?"

"She actually decided to come," Adrian muttered, the words escaping before he could stop them.

Amy turned her bright, challenging gaze on him. "What do you mean I actually decided to come?" she asked. "Are you saying you wished I didn't?" She squinted.

"Not at all. I'm sure he meant something else," Leo interjected smoothly before Adrian could reply. "There was no way we'd leave without you." He gave her a warm, encouraging smile.

Amy beamed at him. "Thank you!" Then she stuck her tongue out at Adrian. "See? At least someone seems happy to have me along."

Adrian let out a long, weary sigh. The complications were multiplying by the second. "Amy, are you really sure about this? What about the clinic? Your life here… and your father? What does he think?"

She shut him down with a wave of her hand. "My father is perfectly fine with it. He was actually supportive. He even said it would be good for my studies."

"S-studies?" Adrian was confused again. As far as he could remember, there was no such thing as a school in the village. The villagers learned through experience and real-world time.

Leo's smile widened. "Excellent. You can ride with Mrs. Melissa and the others in the second carriage. It will be more comfortable for you."

Amy's smile faltered slightly, replaced by confusion. "The others? What others?"

"Oh?" Leo paused, curious. "Adrian didn't tell you?" He turned to his friend, looking puzzled.

"No… no he didn't." Amy frowned at Adrian, wondering what he was keeping from her this time.

"Well, I guess this will be your first time meeting them then." Leo thought nothing of it and offered his arm. He expertly guided her toward the second carriage.

Leo opened the carriage door for Amy. Inside, Melissa sat calmly; across from her were Emma, Snow, and Grey. Amy's eyes went wide. She leaned in. "Good morning, Mrs. Melissa," she said, her voice a little uncertain. Then she turned her confused gaze back to Adrian, who had been forced to follow. "Adrian, who… who are they?"

Before he could even open his mouth, Snow leaned forward, a sweet, possessive smile on her lips. "Darling," she said, her voice dripping with false innocence, "who is your… friend?"

Amy's jaw dropped. "Darling?" she exclaimed, the word too disbelieving. She had never expected to hear someone else address him that way.

The air around the carriage door suddenly grew thick and heavy. The girls instantly understood what was happening from Amy's genuine reaction.

'So she's the one…' Snow thought, her lips pressing thin.

Grey and Emma frowned but said nothing. To think the one they'd been waiting to travel with was an unforeseen rival.

Amy looked utterly bewildered, her gaze darting from one beautiful, unfamiliar face to another.

Adrian glanced desperately at his mother, but she seemed to be studying a loose thread on her sleeve, deliberately oblivious to the brewing storm.

It was as plain as day and night: he was on his own. She had no intention of butting in.

He took a deep breath, the weight of the inevitable pressing down on him.

"Amy," he said, his voice strained but firm. "These are… Emma, Snow, and Grey. They're… my betrothed."

Amy froze. The colour drained from her face. "Your… your what?" she stammered, the words barely audible. She looked as if she'd been physically struck. "All… all three of them?"

From his position several yards away, Mr. Miller—whose keen hearing missed nothing, closed his eyes for a brief moment. A deep sadness settled on his weathered features.

He had always known how his daughter felt about the boy, had watched her affection for Adrian grow from a childish crush into something deeper and more real. He had worried she was too slow, too hesitant to ever speak her heart. And now, it seemed, she was far too late. He let out a soft, weary sigh for the heartbreak he knew was coming.

Inside the carriage, a satisfied, triumphant look flashed across Snow's face before she schooled her features back to polite interest.

'She might be his best friend.' Snow thought, a surge of possessive joy warming her chest, ' but this should at least let her know the truth. Our darling is not available to anyone else anymore.'

'She's already too late. Now he's ours and ours alone.'

The four women, the three bound by a supernatural pact and the one bound by a long-held, unspoken hope,stared at each other in a silence louder than any farewell the village could offer.

Adrian stood in the middle of it all, the point where all their gazes converged, wishing more than anything that he could just climb into the carriage and start moving. But he knew he couldn't, nor could he do anything to avoid this.

He had always known the day would come when she learned the truth.

The silence that followed Adrian's declaration was profound, broken only by the soft snorting of the horses. The villagers had already begun to disperse earlier, so none remained to witness the dilemma.

Amy stood perfectly still on the carriage step, her knuckles white where she gripped the doorframe. Her face, flushed from running moments ago, had gone pale; her eyes swam with a storm of emotions Adrian couldn't begin to decipher. The cheerful, energetic girl he had known all his life seemed to have vanished, replaced by a stunned stranger.

Adrian felt a knot of guilt and awkwardness tighten in his chest. He wanted to say something, anything, to ease the hurt blooming in her eyes. But a sharper, more cautious instinct held his tongue.

' I shouldn't…' he told himself firmly. ' If I try to comfort her now, it will only make things worse. It's best not to send mixed signals before everything gets completely out of hand.'

He owed her clarity, not comforting lies that would give her false hope.

Just as the tension threatened to snap, Amy let out a shaky breath. It wasn't a sigh of defeat, but one of steeling resolve. She lifted her chin, her gaze locking onto his with a fierceness that took him aback.

"I don't care," she said, her voice low but clear.

"W-What?"

Adrian blinked. The three girls in the carriage leaned forward almost instantly, their expressions shifting to surprise.

"I love you, Adrian." Amy stated, the words simple, direct, and devastating in their sincerity. The world seemed to fade away. "I have for… for as long as I can remember. You're the kindest, sweetest, most caring person I know. You've always been the one to comfort me whenever I needed it, and even when I didn't, you never once let me feel unsteady… And for that, I've always loved you." Her voice gained strength, fueled by desperate courage.

"So I don't care if there are three of them. I'm not afraid of being your fourth."

Adrian's heart hammered against his ribs. This was a thousand times worse than he'd ever imagined.

He couldn't let this go on. He raised a hand, cutting her off instantly before things continued to spiral out of control.

"Amy, please stop," he said, his own voice quiet but filled with a firmness that made her flinch.

"You are my best friend. You're smart, you're kind, you're the most talented person I know." He saw a flicker of hope in her eyes at the compliments, but alas, he had to crush it.

"But I can't. I can't guarantee I'll love them all equally as it is. I made a promise to them. one I don't intend to break." He looked at her, willing her to understand the unshakable resolve in his eyes. Inwardly, a darker, more private truth whispered.

' The boy you loved, the one you grew up with… had died by his mother's bed that day. I'm someone else, living in his skin. You're loving a ghost.'

' Mother is different story but I can't bear to take advantage of you like this... It's not right.'

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