A sharp knock from the front door echoed through the room, interrupting the silence, and a moment of stillness followed it. After a moment, another knock came again, louder this time. Then, it stopped.

"Coming!" a maid responded, hurrying towards the entrance to open it.

Frederick, reclining with a newspaper in the lobby, looked up and saw a familiar man enter. "Gregory?"

Gregory paced forward. "Is Oliver home, sire...?" he asked Frederick politely.

"He has not yet returned. I assumed you were with him?" Frederick asked, his brow furrowed with concern.

"I was with Oliver, sire. However... while en route to the city, he unexpectedly leapt from the carriage," Gregory said, casting his gaze downward.

"What?" Frederick's breath ceased. He then gestured towards a nearby sofa. "Please, be seated."

Gregory sat on the sofa as his eyes locked on the floor. "I am ashamed for allowing Oliver to leave the carriage, sire. I should've made a greater effort to prevent him..."

"Have peace, Gregory. All is well," Frederick reassured him, pouring a cup of tea and offering it to him. "Please, have some tea to ease your anxiety. I'm certain that Oliver will return soon."

"Thank you, sir," Gregory said, accepting the cup with a grateful nod. "I know he will... he is a strong man..."

     In the meantime, Oliver and Sophia sat inside a luxurious black carriage with plush red seats and a roof that shielded them from the wind. Oliver peeked through the window, and the children on the street saw him and chased the vehicle as they waved at him. Oliver smirked as he leaned back into his warm, cosy seat.

Sophia leaned closer to Oliver. "I can't believe how much you've changed," she whispered.

"What do you mean?" Oliver grinned.

"See? Look at that smirk you have. You're so confident now!" she replied.

"Mhm," Oliver nodded. "Well, ever since I knew there would be no more assassins out there trying to kill me, I've learned how to relax a bit."

"And those Pyro Void Monsters aren't your problem anymore, right?" Sophia asked, seeking clarification.

"Exactly," Oliver confirmed with a sigh. "It's up to the government to handle it now—unless they need backup, of course."

"That's lovely to hear," Sophia expressed as they rode along. "Now... where are we going?" she asked curiously, looking at the towering mansions through the carriage window.

"It's a secret," Oliver replied with a mischievous grin.

"Fine, then," Sophia rolled her eyes with a smirk. "Wait, can I ask you something?"

"Hm?" Oliver responded.

"Where do you live now? I'm sure you didn't return to your previous adoptive parents," Sophia asked.

Oliver's grin widened. "That, Miss, is where we're going," he answered.

"Oh, so we're going to your new home?" Sophia guessed.

"You'll know when we get there," Oliver replied as he glanced out the window.

"Alright," Sophia nodded as she leaned back. "Oh, also, may I ask? Are you still friends with Gregory?" she questioned.

"Definitely," Oliver said. He then felt the carriage coming to a stop.

     Oliver seizes the vehicle's doorknob and pushes the door open, quickly hopping off and taking a deep, satisfying breath. Sophia follows, descending from the carriage and tilting her head. Her eyes widen in awe as her gaze lands on an impressive building before her.