Time passed quickly, and within a week the departure was finally confirmed.
Stella was set to travel to the western region, specifically its capital, the city known as "Lily Pier," accompanied by Morel and five others.
On the day before leaving, she said goodbye to Annie.
The moment felt uncomfortable and quietly painful, the girl had grown attached to her, and the news of her departure clearly unsettled her. Annie's eyes lingered a little too long, her hands gripping Stella's hand before she slowly let go.
Stella crouched slightly to meet her gaze, forcing a gentle tone, "my dear, it's just a trip back home. I actually need to see my family for a while too, so don't worry. I'll come back soon and..."
Too many words came at once, stitched together to keep the child calm.
The truth sat heavier underneath. Returning was unlikely. Worse, Annie might end up reliving the same emotional shock as before, and that thought lingered uncomfortably.
After the final farewell, Stella moved through the wide corridor of the estate, gathering her belongings.
Earlier, she had also said goodbye to Carla, Mrs. Howard, and a few servants she had grown fond of over time. The house felt unusually still, as if it had already begun to forget her presence.
She paused near the entrance, exhaling softly.
"That's the last time I'll be here," she murmured to herself. "Hopefully, what comes next will be better… and I'll find a way forward."
She headed toward the gate, waiting for Muriel to arrive with the group that would accompany them on the journey.
A few minutes later, he arrived as expected. The carriage rolled to a stop right in front of Stella.
Morel stepped down first and opened the door with a courteous, welcoming smile that felt practiced yet sincere.
"Welcome, Miss Alina. Please, get in," he said politely.
Stella nodded and stepped inside with him. The interior of the carriage was quiet and modest, and as she settled in, she noticed that he was the only one there.
She glanced at him and asked, her voice calm but carrying a trace of curiosity, "Are we going alone? Mr. Liam said I would be with a group."
Morel maintained his polite smile, though his expression grew a touch more serious, "Yes," he replied, "We are currently on our way to meet them outside the city."
Stella gave a small nod, accepting the answer without further question. She shifted her gaze toward the window.
Outside, the estate of the Loran family began to drift away slowly, the grand house growing smaller and more distant with every passing moment, until it felt almost unreal, like a place that belonged to another version of her life.
She watched in silence, her thoughts settling into something quieter, more reflective.
This, she realized, would likely be the last time she saw this place. The months she had spent here had not been without meaning, they had been, in their own way, stable and even kind. Yet nothing here was meant to last forever. Eventually, she had to return to her homeland.
The journey continued in silence between them, broken only by the soft rhythm of the carriage wheels and the faint sway of movement.
Stella remained focused on the passing scenery, until suddenly Anthony's voice cut through the quiet.
"You… which region of the West do you come from exactly, miss?"
The question made the stillness feel slightly sharper. Stella turned her head just enough to acknowledge him, her expression composed and unbothered.
"From a small village in the northwestern part," she answered evenly.
It was a prepared answer carefully thought out long before this moment. She had anticipated questions like this a month earlier and shaped her responses based on the history and geography books she had studied, making sure nothing about her origins would raise unnecessary suspicion.
About two hours later, the carriage finally came to a slow halt, its wooden wheels creaking softly as they settled against the uneven ground. Morel opened the door and stepped down, the faint sound of gravel shifting beneath his boots.
He then extended his hand to help Stella, saying, "Come on, go ahead and get down. We're now at the nearest village to the 'Plein Of The East.' The other carriage should arrive shortly."
Stella stepped out of the carriage and adjusted her bag securely at her side.
The air outside felt slightly cooler, carrying with it the quiet stillness of the countryside.
Her bag contained her belongings, clothes, some medicine, and medicinal herbs she had found earlier at a market, along with the most important items, her phone, her dairies, and a small book on the continent's history.
The village around them was modest, almost too quiet, with only a few scattered structures and no clear signs of movement nearby.
" Why are they late? Ugh, I wonder what kind of people I'll have to deal with this time," she grumbled inwardly.
" I should also wait for an opportunity to escape as quickly as possible,preferably before reaching ' Lily Pier'," Stella decided firmly, her gaze drifting briefly toward the distant road as if measuring her chances.
While she was lost in planning and thought, the distant sound of approaching wheels finally broke the silence. The other carriage soon came into view and stopped nearby. Morel stepped toward the driver and asked,
"Did you bring everyone?"
"Yes, Sir. Everyone is here," the driver replied.
He turned to Stella with a smile and said,
"Now, I'll introduce you to them quickly, and then you'll be on your way."
"Oh, so you won't be coming with us?"
"Yes, not for now. But I'll join you later," Morel answered briefly.
" Hah, escaping will probably be easier this way," Stella thought, a faint, almost imperceptible sense of relief crossing her mind.