.

By the next week, two things had happened. 

First, Sebastian had slowly gotten multiple sores all across his body after multiple hours of backbreaking work. His skin had gotten a bit more tanned too, just a bit, but enough to make him look slightly different. 

Second, his eye bags had gotten darker. Much darker. 

"No sleep again, Sebas?" Jylan asked that morning when he stepped downstairs, drinking water from a glass while leaning on the wall. Sebastian rubbed his eyes and shook his head, yawning widely. Jylan smiled faintly and took another sip of water. 

Then they both turned as there was a knock at the door. 

The little girl, whose name was Maya, ran forward to open it, her dress bouncing slightly behind her. Almost instantly, Jylan put his glass on the oak table and rushed to yank her back. Sebastian pointed to the window and said, "Oh, look, Maya, there's a deer outside." 

In reality, there was no deer. they were simply being careful. Jylan nodded at Sebastian as Maya disappeared down the cottage and Jylan slowly opened the door. 

Outside was the carriage of the duke. 

"Hmm… don't you think it's better to leave before anyone realizes who we are, Sebas?" Jylan asked, and Sebastian nodded. He was - It was fine to go right now. It would be better if the two never found out who they had met anyway. Lei peeked her head out and waved to them, and Sebastian waved back, pushing Jylan out of the door and exiting as well. The door was closed and locked, but he did feel a bit bad that they had never said goodbye to Maya or the old lady. 

But right before the door closed completely, Sebastian thought he saw the edge of a pointy, bell-adorned red hat out of the corner of his eye.