Chapter 455: Caught

Seraphina's POV

I continued to stare at the familiar silhouette of Yuna and Yura, and I almost let out a laugh right there in the middle of the crowd when it finally settled in my mind that Yuna was really alive. It wasn't just a desperate thought anymore or something I had convinced myself of because I needed it to be true. She was right there in front of me, breathing, moving, and alive, and the voice I had heard back at the mansion had really belonged to her.

My chest felt lighter in a way it hadn't in days, and I had to press my lips together to stop myself from doing something stupid like calling out her name.

I could see them clearly, but they couldn't see me, and that strange imbalance made me hesitate. My first instinct was to run to her, to grab her arm and demand to know how she was standing there like nothing had happened, but reality caught up to me just as quickly. Yura was with her. The same Yura who had made it very clear that I was not welcome anywhere near her family. If I approached them now, there was a very real chance that Yura would react the same way she did at the house, or worse, especially since this was out in public.

I stood there for a few seconds longer than I should have, stuck between wanting answers and wanting to avoid another confrontation that I knew I might not win, but then another thought came to me, and it was enough to push me forward.

What were the chances of this happening again? Of me just randomly walking into them like this, in a place this crowded, at a time when I needed answers more than anything else? It didn't feel like something I could afford to ignore, not after everything that had happened. I swallowed, steadying myself, and made a decision before I could talk myself out of it. If I couldn't approach them directly, then I would at least watch them. Follow them for a while, and figure something out from a distance.

Quickly, I pulled out my phone and sent a message to the driver, telling him that I had run into some friends from school and that he shouldn't wait for me. I didn't want him worrying or coming back to look for me, especially not now. Once the message was sent, I slipped my phone back into my bag and adjusted my position slightly, making sure I wasn't too close but not too far either. I kept my eyes locked on Yuna and Yura, careful to blend into the crowd as much as I could, even though I still felt like I stood out in the worst way possible.

As I watched them, something about their dynamic immediately caught my attention. Yura was holding onto Yuna's wrist tightly, almost like she was afraid of letting go for even a second, and it wasn't a casual hold either. It looked desperate, like she was trying to keep Yuna grounded, to stop her from slipping away somehow.

On the other hand, Yuna looked completely different from how I remembered her in that moment. She was looking around the market with wide eyes, her gaze moving from one stall to another with a kind of excitement that felt almost childlike. It made no sense to me. This was her home, her kingdom, so there was no way this was her first time seeing this market, and yet the way she reacted to everything made it seem like it was.

I frowned slightly, confusion settling in as I continued to watch them. Why was Yura acting like that? Why did she look like she was trying to keep Yuna under control, while Yuna herself looked like she wanted to break free and run off in any direction that caught her interest? It didn't look normal. There was something off about it, something I couldn't quite place yet, but I knew I wasn't imagining it.

They eventually stopped in front of a stall that sold beaded jewelry, and I slowed my steps even more, making sure I stayed hidden behind a few people as I watched. From where I stood, I could see the way Yuna leaned forward slightly, clearly interested in what the vendor was showing her. Her eyes lit up in a way that made her look almost younger, like she had forgotten everything else around her and was just focused on the colorful pieces in front of her. Meanwhile, Yura looked tense, her grip on Yuna tightening as she spoke to her, her expression serious, almost like she was trying to talk her out of something.

The vendor, on the other hand, was doing the opposite. She was animated, smiling, holding up different pieces and clearly trying to convince Yuna to buy something. It was almost funny, the way Yuna seemed so eager while Yura looked like she would rather drag her away than let her spend even a second longer there. I found myself getting pulled into the moment, my attention completely focused on them, trying to pick up any small detail that could explain what was going on.

I didn't even realize how distracted I had become, not until it was too late.

Two women dressed casually approached me, and I didn't notice them at all until they were already standing right in front of me. My heart jumped in my chest as I suddenly became aware of their presence, and instinctively, I stepped back, my body reacting before my mind could catch up. For a split second, I genuinely thought I was about to be robbed or something, the panic hitting me fast and hard as I tried to move away from them, but I didn't get far.

One of them reached out and grabbed my arm, pulling me back with a strength that completely caught me off guard. I stumbled slightly, my eyes widening as I looked up at her, my pulse racing as I tried to understand what was happening. The look on her face wasn't just serious. It was dangerous and cold in a way that made my stomach drop instantly.

"Who the hell are you?" she asked, her voice low but stern enough to cut through the noise around us. "And why are you spying on the Mistresses?"

For a second, I just stared at her, completely thrown off by the question. My mind went blank, trying to process what she had just said, and for a moment, I didn't even understand what she meant. The Mistresses? Who were they talking about?

Then it clicked.

My gaze flickered past them for just a second, landing on Yuna and Yura in the distance, and everything suddenly made sense in a way that made my heart start pounding even harder. They weren't just random girls in the market, they were the daughters of the Ashwyn family, important, protected, and watched, and I…I had been following them.

Spying on them.

I swallowed hard, my throat suddenly dry as I looked back at the two women in front of me, my mind racing for something to say that wouldn't make things worse, but the truth was, there wasn't a good explanation for what I was doing, not one that they would accept easily. I could already feel the intensity of their suspicion, their eyes scanning me like they were trying to figure out if I was a threat.

"I…" I started, but my voice came out weaker than I intended, and I had to clear my throat before trying again. "I'm not spying on anyone."

The woman holding my arm didn't loosen her grip. If anything, it felt like she tightened it slightly, her expression not changing in the slightest as she leaned in just a little closer. "Then explain," she said, her tone making it very clear that she wasn't in the mood for excuses. "Why have you been following them?"

My heart was still racing, my thoughts moving too fast for me to properly sort through them, but I knew one thing for sure. There was no way I could lie my way out of this easily, not when they had already caught me in the act, and yet, telling the truth didn't seem like a safe option either, not when I didn't even fully understand what was going on with Yuna and Yura myself.

Still, as I stood there, caught between fear and the need for answers, I realized that one way or another, I had already gone too far to turn back now.