0713

CHAPTER SEVEN; The second encounter

The mansion had finally fallen silent.

One by one, the lights in the west wing disappeared until only a handful remained burning along the corridors.

Luna sat on the edge of her bed, listening.

A guard's footsteps echoed outside.

Then faded.

A maid closed a distant door.

Silence followed.

She counted to sixty.

Twice.

Only then did she rise.

Within minutes, the familiar wardrobe had been pushed aside, revealing the narrow wooden door hidden behind it.

Luna slipped inside, closing it carefully before lighting the lantern.

The tunnel welcomed her like an old friend.

Cold.

Quiet.

Safe.

When she reached the small stone chamber near the exit, she changed quickly into the plain clothes she kept hidden there.

She wrapped a faded scarf around her dark curls and pulled the hood of her cloak over her head.

Looking into the cracked mirror, she smiled.

The Calipps heiress disappeared.

An ordinary girl stared back.

The town was quieter than the previous night.

Most shops had already closed, though a few lanterns still glowed outside small businesses.

Luna wandered slowly, enjoying the cool breeze.

For once...

No one expected anything from her.

A loud clang echoed from somewhere ahead.

Curious, she followed the sound until she reached a small workshop.

Outside, a wooden cart leaned awkwardly to one side.

One wheel had come loose.

A young man crouched beside it, tightening a bolt with a wrench.

Grease stained his hands.

His sleeves were rolled above his elbows.

Without looking up, he spoke.

"You planning on standing there all night?"

Luna blinked.

"You knew I was here?"

"I heard your footsteps."

She laughed softly.

"I wasn't exactly trying to hide."

"No."

He finally looked up.

"...You weren't."

Recognition flickered across his face.

"You."

She folded her arms with a small smile.

"Me."

"I thought you found your way home."

"I did."

"So why are you back?"

She hesitated.

"I like walking."

"At night?"

"It helps me think."

He gave a small shrug.

"There are easier hobbies."

Luna watched him continue working.

"You fix carts?"

"I fix whatever people bring me."

"You must be good at it."

"I'm good enough."

His answers were so short they almost made her laugh.

"Do you ever say more than three words at a time?"

He looked at her.

"Sometimes."

"When?"

"When people stop asking questions."

She couldn't help smiling.

"You really don't like strangers."

"I don't know strangers."

"And if you knew them?"

"That depends."

"On what?"

"Whether they're worth knowing."

The words caught her off guard.

For a brief moment, neither of them spoke.

The bolt slipped from his fingers and rolled beneath the cart.

He muttered something under his breath.

Before he could reach it, Luna knelt and picked it up.

"Here."

He stared at the bolt in her open palm.

"...Thanks."

"You smiled."

"I did not."

"You almost did."

"I almost sneezed."

She laughed.

"A terrible excuse."

He took the bolt from her hand and returned to the wheel.

A few minutes later, he stood, wiping his hands on an old cloth.

"There."

The cart owner thanked him repeatedly before pushing it away.

Luna watched in silence.

"You never charged him."

"He couldn't afford it."

"So you worked for free?"

He looked genuinely confused.

"The wheel needed fixing."

"As simple as that?"

"As simple as that."

Luna lowered her eyes.

She wasn't used to kindness that expected nothing in return.

Before she could speak again, headlights appeared at the far end of the street.

Black vehicles.

Moving slowly.

The young man's expression changed instantly.

His jaw tightened.

His easy indifference disappeared.

Without thinking, he stepped closer.

"Get inside."

"What?"

"Now."

She looked toward the approaching convoy.

"Why?"

"They're Calipps vehicles."

The name sounded like poison on his tongue.

"They don't belong here this late."

Luna's chest tightened.

He reached out, gently catching her wrist and pulling her into the narrow shadow between two buildings.

The convoy rolled past.

People lowered their heads.

Shopkeepers avoided looking at the windows.

Only when the last vehicle disappeared did he release her immediately.

"You should head home."

She rubbed her wrist gently.

"You really hate them."

His eyes remained on the empty street.

"I hate what they do to people."

Luna wanted to ask what he meant.

Instead...

She simply nodded.

"Thank you."

He didn't answer.

Instead, he turned and walked away without another word.

Luna watched him disappear into the darkness.

"...Strange man," she whispered with a smile.

The hidden tunnel seemed longer on the journey back.

By the time Luna reached her room, exhaustion tugged at her eyelids.

She quickly changed back into her nightdress, brushed the dirt from her boots, and pushed the wardrobe into place.

Just as she reached for the lamp—

A knock sounded at her door.

Three gentle taps.

Her heart lurched.

"Miss Calipps?"

Nathan.

She took a slow breath before opening the door.

He stood in the corridor, a book tucked beneath one arm.

"I hope I didn't wake you."

She offered a small smile.

"I wasn't asleep."

"I gathered."

His eyes drifted briefly toward the open balcony doors before returning to her.

"I couldn't sleep either."

There was an awkward pause.

Then his gaze settled on the sleeve of her nightdress.

A faint streak of dirt.

"So..."

he said carefully,

"Were you outside?"

For one terrifying second, Luna's mind went blank.

Then she forced a light laugh.

"I stepped onto the balcony."

Nathan nodded slowly.

"I thought I saw someone walking in the gardens."

She tilted her head.

"Did you?"

"I suppose it must have been one of the guards."

"...Probably."

Silence settled between them.

Luna studied him for a moment before asking,

"What about you?"

"What about me?"

"What are you doing wandering the halls this late?"

Nathan lifted the book in his hand.

"I tried reading."

She glanced at the cover.

"A history book?"

"Yes."

"No wonder you couldn't sleep."

He laughed.

"A fair criticism."

The tension eased.

"I know this arrangement wasn't our choice," Nathan said quietly. "I'd rather we didn't become strangers living under the same roof."

Luna met his eyes.

"I'd rather that too."

He smiled politely.

"Goodnight, Luna."

"Goodnight... Nathan."

As he disappeared down the corridor, Luna quietly closed her bedroom door.

She leaned against it, closing her eyes.

One evening.

Two completely different worlds.

And somehow...

She was beginning to belong to neither.