"Hehe, good morning!" Amanda didn't mind Lieber's tone at all. After all, he was her defeated opponent, and she could understand his mood!
"Hmph!" Lieber turned his head away but couldn't help sneaking glances at the food in Amanda's hands.
Though Amanda frustrated him, he had to admit her cooking was amazing!
On the first night Amanda appeared, Lieber had already met this decent-looking man. After a night of intense fighting, Lieber gave it his all but still lost. He realized Amanda hadn't even used her full strength, which left him feeling bitter. He came here just to teach Amanda a lesson for making Sophie cry earlier that day—but it didn't go as planned. Still, he made sure to throw some harsh words around before leaving.
"If you dare hurt Sophie, I won't hesitate to take you down with me—even if I lose now!" Lieber had every right to say this because vampire nobles possessed a "Life Curse," a terrifying magic that even dragons feared. It cost them their eternal life, so no noble vampire used it unless someone truly deserved it.
"All right!" Amanda divided the food into several plates and watched as Charles and Ecgatha eagerly grabbed two of them.
She handed one plate to Lieber, who hesitated by the kitchen door. Amanda knew Lieber had come to pick a fight because of Karina. But since their relationship wasn't romantic—just playful bickering—she didn't see him as a rival.
"Help yourself! Enjoy!" Amanda grinned mischievously, knowing Lieber couldn't resist good food. If there was one way to win him over, it was through his stomach.
"Hmph! Consider this plate payment for using our kitchen!" Lieber took the plate and joined Charles and Ecgatha at the table.
Looking at Karina's still-closed door, Amanda chuckled. She hadn't expected Karina to sleep so much after breaking free from the seal. Back in the kitchen, Amanda prepared a few extra pastries for her. Hopefully, Karina would like them when she woke up.
"Mmm…" Sophie groggily pulled off her blanket, squinting at the bright sunlight streaming through the window. Sitting up, she scratched her soft hair and thought about what to do today.
It had been ages since she last visited Roms. Just thinking about his indifferent expression annoyed her. And now, with Amanda around, going to Roms felt awkward. Even though they'd broken up, seeing someone who looked so much like him made her feel guilty.
"Forget it. Let's eat first. I'll figure things out later!" Sophie got dressed and opened her door.
"What? You started without me?" Sophie immediately spotted Lieber and the others digging into their food.
"Stop eating! Leave some for me!" Seeing their plates almost empty, Sophie rushed forward but was blocked by a tall figure.
"Move! Can't you see I'm starving?" Sophie tried pushing past the person blocking her path, eyeing the last bits of food on the table.
Amanda stifled laughter. Karina was adorable when flustered. "Don't worry, there's more!"
Sophie's mouth watered as a large hand holding a plate of food appeared in front of her. Grabbing the plate, she finally looked up at its owner.
"Hehe, good morning, Amanda!" Sophie greeted awkwardly, sticking out her tongue. That was embarrassing.
Once Sophie finished eating, Amanda handed her a glass of soy milk, a recipe he learned from Karina. Gazing softly at Sophie, Amanda felt content.
"Karina, I need to leave for a while. A mercenary group asked for my help." Amanda hesitated before speaking. Saying goodbye to Karina was hard, but completing this mission would earn him enough gold to return often.
"Have a safe trip," Sophie muttered, keeping her head down. Though they'd been apart for a long time, hearing Amanda leave still left her feeling uneasy. Humans were strange creatures.
"Karina, when will you forgive me? Seeing you act like this… it hurts." Amanda stared at Sophie, feeling an unbridgeable distance between them.
As Amanda walked away, Sophie pinched herself. "The same mistake twice? Never again."
---
"Teacher Sophie! Father said Master Marifao is in my third brother's territory!" Milta called out from afar, followed by a line of neatly arranged guards.
"Marifao?" Sophie frowned, confused. "Who's that?"
"Teacher Sophie, I came running as soon as I heard! My third brother's territory is in Bell City. Master Marifao doesn't stay in one place for long. If you're looking for him, hurry!" Milta repeated what her father told her, unsure why it mattered but certain it was important.
"Marifao?" Sophie laughed nervously.
"You went to the palace asking for him once, remember? The spatial mage Marifao!" Milta emphasized his title loudly.
"Oh! Marifao! Where is he?" Sophie suddenly recalled his significance—he was her ticket back to Earth. How could she forget such an important person?
"He's in Bell City, in my third brother's territory!" Milta sighed, realizing her panic might have been unnecessary.
Meanwhile, in the palace, an elderly king chuckled triumphantly. "Boy, I've found you a fine girl! This time, I *will* have grandchildren!" Unfortunately, King Elroiraldin didn't realize his plans might fail. His eldest son was obsessed with war, his second son too cunning to control, and his third son focused solely on business. His daughter was too young. So, he pinned all his hopes on his third son, convinced Sophie would win his heart.
"Grandchildren! Grandchildren!" The king cackled, oblivious to his son Tode's exasperated sighs.
After learning about Marifao, Sophie spent the rest of the day excited. By nightfall, however, she grew reflective.
Lying in bed, arms behind her head, Sophie replayed everything that had happened since arriving in this world. Despite having Charles, Ecgatha, and "Magic Doll," she still felt lost—a wandering soul without roots.
Finding Marifao was essential.
Initially, she thought Roms was her perfect match, her chance at a home. But love wasn't mutual. Why chase someone unwilling to express their feelings? Amanda resembled someone who broke her heart deeply, yet they weren't the same person. Amanda loved Karina's original body, not Sophie. Neither of them was the one she waited for. Before falling again, she needed to leave. One shouldn't stumble twice in the same place. After all, he wasn't him, and she wasn't her.
All she could say to Amanda was: "Sorry. I don't love you."
Closing her eyes, Sophie stopped thinking. Let fate take its course. Night had fallen.
"Lieber, I'm leaving for Bell City to find someone. Stay here if you want or follow whenever you're ready." Sophie gave Lieber complete freedom.
"I'll be fine. Go ahead—I'll catch up soon." Lieber masked his fatigue with a casual smile. Using his powers recklessly the other night had exposed him to danger. For now, staying close to Sophie wasn't safe, even if she stayed put. Once he resolved his issues, he'd reunite with her. She was the first person he cared about in centuries. Whether as a friend or something more…
"Alright! I might need your help anyway. Haha." After saying goodbye, Sophie headed toward the familiar little cabin.
But what dangers awaited her in Bell City? Will she survive?