0713

CHAPTER FIVE; The stranger

Luna didn't realize how late it had become until the church bell echoed through the town.

One...

Two...

Three...

She froze.

"Oh no."

She had stayed out longer than she intended.

If Clara came to check on her room before she returned...

If one of the guards noticed...

If her father—

She quickly pushed the thought away.

Pulling her scarf tighter around her hair, Luna hurried through the dimly lit streets, trying to remember which turn led back to the hidden path in the woods.

Everything looked different at night.

The market that had been bursting with life only an hour earlier was slowly emptying.

Shopkeepers packed away their goods.

Lanterns flickered outside the remaining stores.

The cool evening breeze carried the scent of fresh bread, smoke, and rain-soaked earth.

Luna turned into a narrow alley.

"...This wasn't here before."

She frowned.

She was lost.

Again.

She let out a quiet sigh.

"So much for blending in."

Taking another step, her foot caught on a loose cobblestone.

"Oh!"

She stumbled forward.

One of her boots slipped off completely, skidding several feet across the ground before stopping beside a pair of worn work boots.

Luna stared.

Please don't...

A hand reached down before she could.

Long fingers picked up the boot with little interest.

She slowly lifted her gaze.

The man holding it looked only a few years older than her.

Dark hair fell carelessly over his forehead.

His sleeves were rolled to his elbows, revealing forearms streaked with grease and tiny scars that spoke of years of hard work.

He looked at the boot.

Then at Luna.

Then back at the boot.

His expression didn't change.

"So..."

His voice was calm.

"You planning on walking home with one shoe?"

Heat rushed to Luna's face.

"I—"

She laughed awkwardly.

"I wasn't planning on losing it."

"I figured."

He brushed a bit of dirt from the boot before holding it out.

Luna reached for it.

Instead of letting go immediately, he paused.

"You aren't from around here."

It wasn't a question.

Luna's heartbeat quickened.

"What makes you think that?"

"You got lost."

"I could just be bad with directions."

"You are."

She blinked.

"You've been walking in circles for the last ten minutes."

Her mouth fell open.

"You saw that?"

He nodded once.

"And you didn't think to help?"

"You didn't ask."

Luna couldn't help smiling.

"Fair point."

Only then did he release the boot.

She slipped it back on before dusting off her skirt.

"Thank you."

He gave a small shrug.

"It's just a shoe."

Silence settled between them.

Luna expected him to leave.

Instead, he glanced toward the end of the alley.

"If you're trying to reach the northern woods..."

He pointed casually.

"...wrong direction."

"Oh."

She looked where he was pointing before laughing softly.

"That explains a lot."

He simply folded his arms.

"You really shouldn't be wandering around here alone."

"You sound worried."

"I'm not."

"You could've fooled me."

"I just don't want to explain to the town guard why another stranger got herself into trouble."

She smiled despite herself.

"You don't seem to like strangers very much."

"I don't."

"Why?"

He looked at her for a long moment.

"People usually leave."

The answer surprised her.

Before she could ask what he meant...

He stepped aside.

"Go."

She frowned.

"That's it?"

"You know the way now."

"...Right."

For reasons she couldn't explain, she suddenly didn't want the conversation to end.

Yet she knew she had no choice.

"Well..."

She smiled politely.

"Thank you... again."

He gave a small nod.

Luna turned and began walking toward the path he had shown her.

After only a few steps, she glanced back.

He was already walking away.

Not once did he look over his shoulder.

Luna watched him disappear into the darkness before quietly murmuring to herself...

"What a strange man."

Luna lingered for only a moment before forcing herself to turn away.

She had already stayed out far longer than she intended.

The stranger's directions proved correct.

Within minutes, the narrow dirt path appeared between the trees, almost hidden beneath overgrown branches. Relief washed over her as she hurried into the woods, the sounds of the town fading behind her.

The further she walked, the quieter the world became.

Only the rustling of leaves and the occasional chirping of crickets accompanied her.

When she finally reached the hidden stone door, she slipped inside, closing it carefully behind her.

Darkness swallowed the tunnel once again.

Luna lit the lantern she had left near the entrance and began the familiar walk back toward the mansion.

A smile tugged at her lips before she could stop it.

"What a strange man..."

He hadn't smiled.

Had barely looked at her.

And somehow managed to make her feel as though she had been the one inconveniencing him.

She laughed quietly to herself.

"Rude."

Yet...

Honest.

No one in the Calipps estate would have spoken to her that way.

Not even her siblings.

Everyone measured their words around her.

Everyone.

Except him.

Back in town, the young mechanic continued walking toward the small workshop near the edge of the market.

The lights inside were still burning.

An older man glanced up as the door opened.

"Took you long enough."

"There was a loose wheel on Mrs. Bennett's cart."

"Fixed it?"

He nodded.

The older man returned to sorting tools before casually asking,

"Anything interesting happen?"

The young man shrugged.

"Met a strange girl."

His coworker smirked.

"A pretty one?"

"I didn't notice."

The older man laughed.

"You didn't notice?"

"I noticed she was lost."

"And?"

"And she was smiling."

His coworker frowned.

"That's a strange thing to notice."

"So was she."

He couldn't quite explain it.

There had been something...

Different.

She didn't carry herself like the people from town.

Her clothes were simple enough, but the way she spoke...

The way she thanked him twice for handing back a boot...

It felt unusual.

He shook the thought away.

Didn't matter.

He'd probably never see her again.

Luna emerged from the hidden passage inside her room and quickly pushed the wardrobe back into place.

She had barely finished changing into her nightdress when a soft knock sounded at the door.

"Miss Luna?"

Clara.

Luna's eyes widened.

She took one steadying breath before opening the door.

The older woman stood there holding a silver tray with a cup of warm tea.

"I thought you might still be awake."

"I... couldn't sleep."

Clara studied her for a moment.

Then her eyes drifted toward Luna's boots.

There was dried mud along the soles.

Luna's heart skipped.

"You've been walking."

"Just around my room."

Clara raised an eyebrow.

"Your room has become quite muddy."

For a terrifying second, Luna thought she had been caught.

Then...

The older woman smiled.

A tiny smile.

One that barely lasted a heartbeat.

"I'll have someone clean them in the morning."

She turned to leave.

"Goodnight, Miss Luna."

"Goodnight, Clara."

The door closed.

Luna leaned against it and released the breath she'd been holding.

Did Clara know?

Or had she simply chosen not to ask?

The following morning arrived sooner than Luna would have liked.

Sunlight filtered through the curtains as maids busied themselves preparing her room.

By the time she entered the breakfast hall, her father had already returned from his business trip.

"My Little Moon."

Alexander smiled warmly as she approached.

"I trust you slept well."

Luna hesitated for the briefest moment.

"I did."

He nodded, apparently satisfied.

"The Ashcroft family arrives this evening."

"I remember."

"They'll be staying for dinner."

One of her sisters leaned closer with a mischievous grin.

"I heard the Ashcroft heir is rather handsome."

Another laughed.

"Perhaps our Luna will finally fall in love."

Luna smiled politely.

"I wouldn't count on it."

Her father chuckled softly.

"Love isn't always immediate."

"No," Luna replied.

"I suppose it isn't."

Yet as she buttered a slice of bread, her thoughts wandered unexpectedly...

Not to the Ashcroft heir.

But to the rude stranger with grease-stained hands who had looked at her as though she were just another girl who couldn't keep hold of her own shoe.

She frowned at herself.

Why was she thinking about him?

She didn't even know his name.

Outside the mansion gates, far beyond Luna's sight, the same young mechanic tightened the final bolt on a customer's carriage.

For reasons he couldn't explain...

He found himself glancing toward the road leading into town.

As though expecting to see someone.

He scoffed at himself and returned to work.

Some strangers...

Were better forgotten.

Neither of them knew that before another day had passed...

Fate would give them no choice but to meet again.