Have I Been Ungrateful To Luke?

Oriana arrived at the Ahren mansion, where the guards recognized her without hesitation. Her presence went unimpeded; after all, she was the young lad who had piqued the interest of their Crown Prince.

With determined steps, Oriana made her way to the spot where Luke had been working two months prior. Surprisingly, the place had undergone a transformation, now serving as a residence.

She couldn't help but marvel at the extent of the change. A thought crossed her mind: had Luke, too, departed in her absence?

Just then, her eyes landed on the figure overseeing the mansion's servants. Recognizing her instantly, the man approached Oriana with a welcoming smile.

"Orian, it's been a while," he greeted her. "I heard from Luke that you accompanied His Highness on his journey to Othinia."

"You heard correctly," she responded politely before getting to the point. "Do you happen to know where Luke is? Has he returned to the village already?"