Chapter 453: Last minute

Seraphina's POV

After ending my call with Darius, I stayed sitting on the bed for a while, my phone still in my hand as I stared at nothing in particular. The room suddenly felt quieter than it had before, like the moment the call ended, everything I had been avoiding rushed back in all at once. I let out a slow breath and leaned back slightly, pressing my palm against my forehead as if that would somehow help me think clearer, but it didn't. No matter how much I tried to organize my thoughts, nothing seemed to fall into place, and every idea I came up with either felt too risky or completely useless.

I couldn't go back to the Ashwyn mansion, but doing nothing didn't feel right either. I owed her more than that, especially if what happened to her was because of me. My fingers tightened slightly around my phone as that thought settled in, and I closed my eyes for a moment, trying to calm the growing frustration in my chest.

Then, slowly, my thoughts shifted back to what Darius had said before we ended the call.

He had told me not to stay locked in my room.

At first, I had brushed it off without thinking too much about it, but now that I had nothing else to go on, it didn't sound like such a bad idea anymore. Sitting here wasn't helping me. It was only making everything feel much worse. I opened my eyes again and glanced around the room, taking in the stillness, the silence, and the feeling of being completely stuck. Maybe leaving wouldn't solve anything, but at the very least, it would give me something to do other than think in circles.

If I couldn't go directly to the Ashwyn family, then maybe I could learn about them another way, through the people here.

I sat up straighter, the idea slowly forming into something more solid in my mind. I didn't know much about Varynthia beyond what Yuna had told me in passing, and even then, most of it had been about how important her family was, how respected they were, and how different things were back here compared to Elysium. If her family really held that much influence, then there was no way the locals wouldn't know something that could help me decide just what they were capable of. Even if it was just small details, it was better than nothing.

I wasn't exactly good at talking to strangers, and the thought of going out there and starting conversations with people I didn't know made me a little uncomfortable, but I didn't really have the luxury of caring about that right now. If this was the only way I could get closer to the truth, then I would just have to deal with it.

With a small sigh, I pushed myself off the bed and headed toward the bathroom, deciding that if I was going to go out, I might as well get ready properly. The water from the shower helped clear my head a little, even if it didn't take away the questions that kept lingering in the back of my mind. I stood there longer than I probably needed to, letting the warmth calm me down just enough so I didn't feel like I was about to lose my mind the moment I stepped outside again.

By the time I was done and dressed, I felt a little more grounded, even if the uncertainty was still there.

I grabbed my phone and checked the message I had sent earlier, letting the driver know I was coming down, and when I saw that he had already replied, I didn't waste any more time. I slipped on my shoes, took one last glance around the room, and then stepped out, locking the door behind me as I made my way down.

The lobby was busier than I expected, filled with people moving in and out. For a moment, I just stood there, taking it in, feeling slightly out of place but not enough to stop moving. My eyes scanned the area until they landed on the familiar figure of the driver from yesterday, standing near the entrance as if he had been waiting for me the entire time.

The moment he noticed me, he straightened slightly and walked toward the door, opening it for me before I even reached it. "Good morning, Lady Seraphina," he said politely, his tone respectful as always.

"Good morning," I replied, offering him a small nod as I stepped outside.

The air felt different out here, fresher somehow, and for a brief moment, I allowed myself to take it in before heading toward the car. He moved quickly, and I slid into the seat, settling in as he closed it and walked around to the driver's side.

Once he got in and started the engine, he glanced at me through the mirror. "Where would you like to go today?" he asked.

I hesitated for a second.

I didn't really have a specific place in mind, and the truth was, I didn't even know where to start. I let out a small sigh, leaning back slightly in my seat as I tried to think of something that made sense. "Where would you recommend?" I asked finally. "For someone who's here for the first time."

His response came almost immediately, like he had already expected that question. "The Varynthia general market," he said. "It's the best place to start."

I blinked slightly, turning my head toward the window as the car began to move. "The market?" I repeated, more to myself than to him.

"Yes," he continued, his tone carrying a hint of enthusiasm. "You're actually quite lucky. The Snake Queen festival is in a few days, so the market is much livelier than usual around this time."

That caught my attention, and I shifted slightly in my seat, listening more closely now.

"It's one of the most important celebrations here in Varynthia," he added. "Everything is more colorful, more vibrant. There are more people, more vendors, more activities. It's the best way to experience the kingdom as it truly is."

I glanced out the window again, watching as the streets slowly changed around us, my thoughts shifting slightly from the heaviness I had been carrying earlier to something a little more curious.

"The Snake Queen festival…" I murmured.

"Yes," he said with a small nod, even though I could only see him through the mirror. "It's deeply connected to our traditions, especially to families like the Ashwyns."

That made my attention snap back immediately. "The Ashwyns?" I asked, trying to keep my tone as neutral as possible.

He nodded again. "Of course. They are… central to many of our customs," he explained carefully. "You will likely hear their name mentioned often if you spend time in the market."

I leaned back slightly, my heart picking up just a little at that.

Perfect.

I didn't say anything else after that, but my mind was already working again, this time with a clearer direction than before. If the market were as lively as he said, then there would be plenty of people, plenty of conversations, and plenty of chances for me to learn something useful without drawing too much attention to myself.