Serena's hands shook as Giovanni led her inside Sonia's house. She was thrilled to have quickly entered the countess' property until Giovanni came demanding that she leave. What followed was a heated argument between Giovanni, James, and Serena, with Serena demanding that she see the countess. Serena was surprised at herself for being in such a heated argument, yet the woman in disguise was on a mission. No matter what Giovanni said, Serena was determined for the sake of Satoshi becoming happy even if she secretly wanted to be his wife. If nothing else, she felt she needed to see Sonia as though her employment depended on it.
Giovanni led Serena down the hall to a door on the north side of the estate. He stopped beside the door and waved his hand to gesture to Serena to enter. Serena nodded and took a few steps toward the door before Giovanni suddenly stepped in front of her and crossed his arms with a warning glare.
"Be careful what you say to the mistress, young man," Giovanni said. "I don't know what has compelled the countess to allow you to see her, but I expect you to leave as soon as you make your master's case. Otherwise, it will be my pleasure to drag you out by the hair with you kicking and screaming. Understand?"
"Yes, sir," Serena said.
Giovanni hummed as he glared, suspicious of whether the duke's page would comply. Serena grew uneasy, trying not to imagine what would happen to her if Giovanni grabbed her hair and discovered that it was fake. After a few seconds, Giovanni stepped aside, and Serena gave a short bow before she went in.
Serena struggled to see, for the curtains covered the drawing room's tall windows. Only the curtains for the middle window were open just enough to let in a small amount of sunlight. Jessie stood beside the middle window with her hands down and clasped together while Sonia sat on the couch facing the windows. Serena grew uncomfortable, unsure who was in the room with her. Jessie's appearance didn't match how Satoshi described Lady Sonia in his letter, and the woman in black covered her head with her veil. After a moment, Serena cleared her throat and put on a straight face.
"Excuse me, but are either of you the lady of the household?" Serena asked.
"Deliver your message, sir. I'll speak on her behalf," the woman in black answered.
Serena grew more uncomfortable, wishing she got a better answer. She took out the letter, cleared her throat again, prepared to proclaim Satoshi's feelings, and then stopped to think about it.
"If the countess refuses to let me see her, then I might have to accept that relaying the message to someone in her household is as close as I or anyone else will get to talking to her," Serena thought. "On the other hand, the lady on the couch appears to be wearing funeral clothes. So, maybe that's her, but she doesn't want to say it."
Serena continued to debate with herself until she decided that the woman in black was Sonia. She turned to face Sonia and took a breath to speak, but then she stopped herself again. Sonia scoffed, making Serena feel awkward as she walked over to Jessie.
"Madame, please tell me if that's Lady Sonia over there," Serena said.
"Oh, for heaven's sake," Sonia said. "Yes, Sonia's my name, I am the countess, and I tire of you not speaking your peace already. Give me the basics of what your master has to say, and be gone."
"I beg your pardon, my lady, but I cannot do that," Serena said. "I am instructed to deliver my master's letter as he has written it, and frankly, I am not comfortable completing my task without displaying the passion behind his letter."
"If Duke Satoshi's message is no good without the passion, then his declaration must ring hollow," Sonia said.
"That's not true. I must insist that you don't disregard my master's letter when I haven't even read it to you," Serena said.
"Watch your tone, sir," Sonia said. "I only allowed you into my house because I'm curious. Don't think I don't know how rude you were at my gate."
"I apologize, madame, but any rudeness I displayed came from how I was treated," Serena said. "If I may say so, your steward is not a sensible man."
"Granted. Giovanni doesn't have the patience of a saint," Sonia said. "Nevertheless, you are trying my patience, so speak your business."
"I would, but I'd rather I do so without your gentlewomen," Serena said.
"And what is wrong with my presence?" Jessie asked in disdain.
"Nothing except that what I have to say only concerns your mistress," Serena said. "Please, I'm not trying to come off as rude, for I only have great things to say to you on my master's behalf, Lady Sonia. Any other soul would disregard the duke's letter, for it holds no value to them, but to you, his words will be as precious as diamonds. If nothing else, I am uncomfortable with there being any prying eyes when I only wish to speak with you."
Serena bit the inside of her mouth after she made her request. She liked to think her request was reasonable, but she feared Sonia would think she was overstepping. Jessie raised her eyebrow at Serena, feeling sure that Serena overstepped her bounds. Serena and Jessie waited for Sonia to respond, not knowing if she was irritated or considering Serena's request. Finally, Sonia turned to Jessie.
"Give us this room," she said.
Jessie looked at her mistress, taken aback before she took a bow and walked to the door. She stopped halfway through the door to look at Sonia, hoping that she may yet like Satoshi's declaration of love or that the duke would accept her rejection so he would leave her alone. Jessie left the room and closed the door, easing Serena's mind.
"Now, is there anything else you wish of me?" Sonia asked.
Serena took a moment to think about it and said, "Yes. If it's not too much to ask, may I see your face, my lady?"
"Is asking to see my face an instruction from the duke, or is it a matter of you still feeling uncomfortable?" Sonia asked.
"I do feel uncomfortable not seeing your face, but that is not the sole reason behind my request," Serena said. "The truth is, I heard a great deal about you even before my master employed me, and I had hoped to meet you for some time. Now that I have an audience with you, I wish to see your face to know if what my master says about your appearance matches his text, even if it were for a moment."
Once again, Serena mentally prayed that her request wasn't too much to ask. She hated to think Sonia would throw her out for asking to see her face when she had just convinced the countess to be alone with her. Finally, Lady Sonia sighed, hoping Serena's request would be her last, and removed her veil.
The first thing Serena noticed was Lady Sonia's aqua eyes. While Serena found them pretty, she saw how Sonia's eyes lost their gleam like dimly lit candles. Sonia's peach curly hair reached halfway down her back, and her lips were red as a rose. The woman who caught Satoshi's attention was altogether lovely to view, yet her face was filled with grief as though she were a doll designed to be melancholic. Serena was jealous of the countess's appearance, yet simultaneously wished she could reveal her identity and offer comfort since they both lost a brother.
"Well, sir, are you satisfied?" Sonia asked.
Serena snapped out of her train of thought and gave the countess a smile. She opened the curtains to brighten the room with sunlight. Sonia covered her eyes as she adjusted to the light while Serena stood in front of her again.
"Exceptionally, my lady," she answered. "As surely as the Lord lives, you are blessed with beauty. My master wishes you to show your beauty to more than just your household, and I agree with him. In fact, I think you should hire a painter to make your portrait so your beauty can be kept for all time."
"Oh, stop it. I don't care about people seeing an image of me," Sonia said. "If people outside of my house care about my appearance, I'll make a detailed list. I have light orange hair, blue eyes, lips, cheeks, a neck, a chin, and so forth. All that to say, I hope you didn't come here just to praise my appearance."
"My good woman, you are too proud and dedicated to confine yourself," Serena said. "You could be the devil himself and still be beautiful. Regardless of my opinion, however, one thing is true about all else: my master, Satoshi, loves you."
"And how exactly does he love me?" Sonia asked.
"With adoration, tears, and passionate sighs," Serena said. "Night and day, he thinks about ways to make you happy if you give him a chance. That's a love that can't be repaid even if you had all the riches in the world or were crowned the most beautiful woman in the world."
Sonia furrowed her brow, making Serena uneasy. The countess closed her eyes and sighed through her nose. Then, she stood up and walked past Serena to look through the center window. Serena tilted her head, wondering if the countess was deep in thought before Sonia spoke.
"I'm sorry, but I can't love Duke Satoshi," Sonia said.
"But, why, my lady?" Serena asked. "Do you take my message as soulless? That my master is no better than some other nobleman who may attempt to woo you only because of your status or wealth or out of lust?"
"It's not that at all," Sonia said, turning to face Serena again. "You've proved the duke's message does come from a place of passion, which is more than I can say about most men. Furthermore, I'm well aware of the duke's qualities. Public opinion throughout the Kanto region reports his generosity to his citizens and that he is smart, brave, and a good-looking fellow. And while I never met him, my father and brother gave Duke Satoshi heartfelt respect. God rest their souls. Despite that, I cannot bring myself to fall in love with him."
"Ten thousand pardons, madam, but I can't understand how that is possible," Serena said. "As his page, I can confirm what a good man my master is and, if I may be so bold, he's the most stunning man I've ever seen or ever will. If I were a woman of your status who had his attention, I would rush to his estate, on foot if I have to, and jump into his arms as though we've been together for years."
"And I'm sure you wouldn't be the only lady who would do that, good sir, but my decision stands," Sonia said. "Just because a man has all the right qualities doesn't automatically make him someone I wish to marry. Falling in love cannot happen in the blink of an eye through good qualities and pretty words alone."
"That doesn't make any sense to me when I know my master's words are sincere," Serena said. "If I was in love with you just like my master, I wouldn't understand you not accepting my feelings even if I tried."
"Oh? What would you do to woo me?" Sonia asked.
Serena's face fell into a look of confusion.
"Beg pardon?" she asked.
"You said you wouldn't understand my rejection if you were in love with me as much as the duke," Sonia said. "So, what would you do to woo me if you were your master?"
Serena stuttered, taken aback by Sonia's question. Sonia crossed her arms, thinking she gained the upper hand by asking something the duke's messenger was unprepared for. Serena tried to utter words, then turned away, trying to think of a way out of the situation.
"What do I do? I wanted her to let me say what's in the duke's letter, and instead, she's asking me what I would do if I was in love with her?" Serena thought. "Then again, my lord did give me permission to take artistic license. Maybe if I paraphrase and establish that what I'm saying is what Duke Satoshi would say, his feelings will reach Lady Sonia, and she'll accept his love."
Serena scratched her chin as she thought of how to answer Sonia's question. Sonia tapped her foot in impatience, expecting Serena to give up. After several seconds, Serena smirked and lifted her head in confidence.
"Alright, Serena. Time to put on a show," Serena thought. "If this doesn't make the countess fall in love with Duke Satoshi, nothing will."
Serena turned to Sonia, grabbed her by the hand, and knelt before her. Sonia gasped, taken aback by the sudden gesture. The woman disguised as a man took a breath with her eyes closed to prepare herself before she lifted her head to Sonia and held Sonia's hand with both hands and her eyes fixed on Sonia's.
"If I was to woo you, madam, I would do exactly what my master would do if he were here right now," Serena declared.
"W-w-which is?" Sonia asked still startled.
"I would ask - no, I'd beg to be your lifelong attendant. Someone to stand by your side to praise you for being the benevolent woman you are with all my soul," Serena said. "I'd build a cabin by your gate so I'm ready to be by your side whenever you exit your estate, read poems, and sing songs day and night while you're alone in your tower."
Sonia giggled and looked away, her free hand on her cheek. Serena's face lit up with hope that Satoshi's feelings were coming through. She let go of Sonia's hand and stepped back, looking at the ceiling with her hands clasped together as though praying.
"Yes, in the dead of night, even if the mountains fall, the rivers rise, and everything you know crumbles before your eyes, I will be there singing love songs for you," Serena said. "And when I run out of songs and poems, I will shout your name to the hills and make their echoes cry out, 'SONIA!'"
Sonia's eyes widened, and she shushed Serena, trying not to laugh again. Serena chuckled sheepishly and looked away, embarrassed for shouting Sonia's name. The women looked away from each other bashfully for several seconds before Serena cleared her throat and turned to Sonia with a serious face.
"You must take what I'm saying with a grain of salt, for I'm merely copying everything my lord and master says," Serena said. "If it were a competition, my declarations would be nothing compared to the passion behind how Duke Satoshi would say them."
"I don't know. I can't imagine anyone expressing their love better than you, even if you were copying off of someone else," Sonia said. "Tell me, sir. What is your name?"
Serena took a moment to resist saying her real name out of habit.
"My name is Timothy Durbin, my lady," she answered.
"Timothy Durbin," Sonia repeated. "And what rank are your parents?"
"I was born in a lower rank than what I have now. My parents never had a steady income as I do as a page to the duke," Serena said.
"And you are content with being a page and nothing more?" Sonia asked.
Serena smiled as though the answer was obvious.
"Content is just the beginning, madam," she said. "The truth is I treasure being there for my lord. He is a man I deeply admire, and I feel a purpose in wanting to make him happy. If you could see him looking at you with a cheerful grin, you would understand how easy it is to love Duke Satoshi."
Sonia's face soured as though Satoshi's name was a trigger word. Serena's heart sank as Sonia looked away. To the page, it seemed like she got Satoshi's feelings to come through to Sonia, yet saying his name undid all her hard work. After half a minute, Sonia walked over to the door and faced Serena as she opened it.
"Get to your lord. Tell him I cannot love him no matter how hard he tries," Sonia said. "Make my decision as plain as possible so he accepts my rejection. I do not want him to ever send you or any other messengers again."
Serena frowned with a look of guilt, thinking she messed up. She gave Sonia a bow and walked to the door when Sonia suddenly closed it halfway, blocking Serena. Sonia bit her lip and drummed her fingers against the door hesitantly before looking at Serena again timidly.
"On second thought, he can send you again so you can tell me how he takes it," Sonia said. "I'll even pay you for the trouble of you coming back for that."
"Pay me? I'm not a third-party messenger, my lady. Serving my master is payment enough for me," Serena said. "That said, I hope you will reconsider my master's feelings. Whether he sends me again or not. Farewell."
Sonia furrowed her brow again and opened the door, allowing Serena to exit the room. She closed the door and sat back on the couch, pondering Serena's answer while resting her head on her arm. Sonia stared at the wall with her lips pursed as she pondered meeting the duke's messenger. Eventually, the edges of her lips curled up, and her cheeks turned to a subtle shade of pink as she replayed Serena's words.
"He said he is from a low-rank family, yet Timothy's speech and actions are more fitting for a lord," Sonia said. "Yes, if he presented himself to the court in a fine tux, I imagine he'd attract many ladies thinking he was a duke himself. Timothy's dedication to Satoshi is admirable, but it would be a sad waste if he were to forever be just a page. If only Satoshi and Timothy's positions were reversed, Satoshi would be the page and Timothy the duke. Then, I would love nothing more than for the duke to be my hu -"
Sonia gasped, and her eyes widened as she covered her mouth with her hands. Her face turned beet red as though finishing her sentence was the most embarrassing thing in the world. Yet as Sonia dwelled on the idea, she giggled as though the page was in fine clothes and kissing her hand while on one knee. As illogical as it was to feel this way so suddenly, Sonia couldn't deny that the person she thought was a man made her heart race.
"I told him I cannot fall for someone so quickly, and yet he made me fall for him without meaning to," Sonia said to herself. "Well, if this lifts my spirit, then I must pursue it. Although, Timothy doesn't know my feelings, and I don't know if Satoshi will send him again. I want him to know right now what is in my heart, even if it can only be a secret between us."
Sonia rubbed her chin, eager to get an idea, while Serena was still on her way back to Satoshi. Then she smiled and let out an "Ah" before removing her right glove and a ring on her finger. The ring had a gold band and a ruby in the center. Sonia exited the room with a smile and raced to catch up with Serena. Butlers and maids walking down the main hallway were shocked to see Sonia without her veil, revealing her red cheeks and her smile stretching to the sides of her face. The staff couldn't believe their mistress was suddenly showing her face and smiling for the first time since before Milo died, but Sonia paid no mind.
When she reached the front entrance, Sonia flung the door open and went outside, but her smile faded when she did not see Serena in the courtyard. She looked ahead to see the gate closed and realized she had taken too long to catch Serena before she left. Sonia frowned in disappointment until she noticed Giovanni going for a walk in the courtyard. The countess looked at her steward and then at the ring of her hand as she hatched another idea.
"Giovanni, come at once!" Sonia called out.
Giovanni turned to Sonia and stared at her, confused with her not wearing her veil. He put the matter in the back of his mind and walked over to Sonia with a professional face. Sonia took a moment to think of how to put her scheme into words before she held the ring to Giovanni.
"Did the man Duke Satoshi sent already leave?" Sonia asked.
"He did, madam. I saw him go through the gate not two minutes ago," Giovanni said.
"Go catch up with him. His name is Timothy Durbin, and he left this ring behind. The duke offered it through him as a gift, and I rejected it," Sonia said. "Bring it back to him and tell him not to encourage Satoshi. I will not love him, and that's my final word. Timothy can come back tomorrow to tell me how the duke takes my decision, and if he asks me, I'll give him more reasons why I reject his master. Make haste so that he doesn't go too far, Giovanni."
"At once, madam," Giovanni said.
Giovanni took the ring and began jogging to the front gate. Sonia watched her steward leave with a blissful smile and her hands clasped together, hoping the duke's messenger would accept her secret gift. Giovanni went through the gate and looked through the nearby streets of Viridian City, trying to think of which direction Serena went. He looked ahead and saw Serena walking through the marketplace at a distance and rushed toward her, bumping through people as he went without apologizing.
Serena walked with her hands in her pockets and her head down, wondering what went wrong with her audience with Sonia, until she heard a loud whistle. She turned to see Giovanni catch up with her. Giovanni took a moment to catch his breath with his knees before he stood straight to face her.
"Can I help you, sir?" Serena asked.
"Yes. You have one last order of business with my mistress," Giovanni said as he held out the ring to Serena. "Lady Sonia sent me to return this ring to you. She ordered me to remind you to tell Duke Satoshi that she will not accept his feelings and you may come again tomorrow to tell my lady how he takes it and otherwise to list more reasons why she cannot love him."
"What are you talking about? I know nothing about this ring," Serena said in confusion.
"Come now, you relentless twit. My lady herself said you threw it at sir, demanding that you accept the gift," Giovanni said, annoyed.
"No, I didn't. The ring isn't mine, nor did my lord assign me to present it to the countess as a gift," Serena said.
Giovanni huffed as his anger grew, and he said, "Fine. If that's how you play, I shall leave the ring here. Either you take it and bring it back to your master, or some peasant takes it and sells it for drinking money. Either way, I have fulfilled my duty and wash my hands of you and your insolence."
"But I left no ring with her," Serena said.
But Serena's protest fell on deaf ears. Giovanni dropped the ring and turned around to walk back to the Magnolia estate. Serena stared at the steward befuddled, then picked up the ring. She examined it closely, finding it to be a pretty little thing. Certainly an accessory worthy of nobility.
"I don't get it. Why would the countess have her steward send me this ring and say I gave it to her as a present from the duke?" Serena asked. "She complimented me on my performance, yet she remains strongly against giving Satoshi a chance. I made it clear that whatever praise I gave her was copied off of Satoshi's letter, and still, she was more pleased with the idea of me making declarations of love. After everything I said about Satoshi's love, Lady Sonia wanted to see me again and sent her steward to give me this ring. She must know I didn't give it to her, so logically, she sent it as a present to me, and the only reason she would do that is -"
Serena's eyes widened, and she looked in the direction of Sonia's estate. She looked at the ring again as she accepted that her theory made sense. After a moment, Serena snorted before she burst out laughing. Bystanders looked at her, thinking she was mad, as she bent down and held her gut.
"I don't believe it!" Serena chortled. "Of all the things that could happen, Countess Sonia fell in love with me, Timothy the Page! She's gushing over someone who isn't even a man! If Timothy were here, he'd be laughing off his bum! I can only imagine the look on Lady Sonia's face if she found out I'm -"
Suddenly, Serena gasped and shot up straight, her eyes widening again as though she were waking from a nightmare. She covered her mouth with her hands as she looked at the direction of Sonia's estate again and then in the direction of Satoshi's estate. She backed up to a wall and put her hands on the sides of her head as she looked down in horror.
"Oh no. This is bad. Really, really bad. How could this happen?" Serena said. "I repeatedly said that my words were Satoshi's, yet she's infatuated with me? What if Satoshi finds out she's in love with me? What if they both find out I'm a woman? I could be imprisoned for deceiving them if I'm lucky. Not to mention, Lady Sonia will be crushed if she finds out I'm a fake. She must be thrilled that she thinks she found love while still grieving for her brother. Satoshi's one chance to take Lady Sonia as his wife is ruined and it's all my fault! Oh, Lord above, what am I going to do?"
Serena whined and slid to a sitting position against the wall. Her fear grew as she imagined Satoshi yelling at her in a jealous rage and throwing her out, stripped of her employee clothes. Serena then pictured Sonia looking devastated upon revealing the page was a woman and going back to grieving as though the moment she fell in love had ever happened. If neither Duke Satoshi nor Countess Sonia had Serena imprisoned, then she could see them having her banished from Kanto and shipped back to Kalos penniless. Horror overtook Serena as she realized this mistake could lose her new home, her new source of income, and, worst of all, the only man she would ever love.
At the docks of Fuchsia City, the dock workers were hard at work collecting scraps of destroyed ships. Several fishing and merchant ships also fell victim to the storm that washed Serena and Captain Drake to the Kanto region. Since then, the people of Fuchsia City have spent over a week trying to find survivors or salvageable supplies from the wrecks.
Among the people helping out was the Unovian sailor, Coovers. Coovers was fortunate that a ship pulled through the storm and found him trying to get to shore as the storm subsided. Since then, Coovers had been working for Fuchsia City's docking bay, making money for food and his room at the Fuchsia City Inn.
On the 9th day since he was rescued, Coovers and his fellow sailors finished retrieving the remains of the destroyed ships. The docking master paid Coovers one last time before Coovers returned to the inn. When he got there, Coovers paid the innkeeper for one more night, then went upstairs to his two-bedroom.
Timothy Durbin was sitting in his room on a chair beside the window. He looked out the window with a crestfallen expression. Coovers sighed, for Timothy had been spending his time alone like this since they were brought to Fuschia City. He walked over to Timothy and snapped his fingers in front of Timothy's face. Timothy jumped and looked around until he saw Coovers standing next to him.
"Good evening, Timothy," Coovers said.
"Is it evening already?" Timothy asked.
"You've been looking out the window and haven't noticed the sun setting?" Coovers said.
"I guess I've been so lost in thought that I haven't been paying attention to what's happening outside," Timothy said.
Coovers sighed again and said, "Look, Timothy, I understand you're mourning. I honestly can't imagine how it must feel to lose a sister. Still, you've been in our room, barely eating and sleeping since we arrived. I didn't know Serena very long, but I wager she wouldn't want you to stay like this. You're still young, after all."
"It's not that simple, Coovers," Timothy said. "Serena was my twin sister. We were born within the same hour and have known each other our entire lives. Not to mention performing together is all that we learned to do. Even if Serena would want me to move on, I don't know how I can. I only know how to perform with her, and there is no place I could go to except perhaps Kalos simply on the merits that it's my home region."
"Do you not have any friends or relatives in Kalos?" Coovers asked.
"Not one," Timothy answered.
Coovers furrowed his brow and looked down while scratching the back of his head. There seemed nothing he could say to encourage the Kalosian man with his depressing predicament. Then, something clicked in Coovers's mind and he hesitated before he spoke.
"Well, there may be one way to make things better for you, but I'm not sure it's a good idea," Coovers said. "If memory serves correctly, the Duke of Kanto was a member of Kalos nobility. Perhaps if you plead for an audience with him, he will help you."
Timothy paused, looking away as though he didn't hear Coovers. Then he lifted his head in realization before he rubbed his chin in thought. After half a minute, Timothy smirked and got up, feeling confident, much to Coovers' relief.
"Yes, that's a good idea," Timothy said. "The duke's name is Satoshi Ketchum. Isn't it?"
"It is," Coovers said. "Are you particularly familiar with him?"
"Not entirely, but my sister met him," Timothy said. "Duke Satoshi was exploring Lumiose City when he was only 10 and got separated from his escort. Serena found him and treated his leg before taking him to the park, where he was reunited with his guard. If memory serves correctly, the duke was so grateful that he asked for Serena's name and she gave him a ribbon to remember her by. If Duke Satoshi still remembers that day, perhaps I can get an audience because I am her brother. Maybe he can help me find a job so I can support myself. If I'm lucky, the duke might be more than willing to help me in memory of dear Serena."
Coovers smiled and said, "Well, if that is the case, then may God be with you so you are granted an audience, and the duke will grant you help. That said, if this is your decision, I'm afraid you will have to journey to Viridian City without me."
"What? Why can you not join me?" Timothy asked.
Coovers hesitated before he said, "I have a bad history in Viridian City. I won't go into details, but to put it mildly, I'm on unpleasant terms with Duke Satoshi. If I were to go with you, I may hurt your chances of gaining an audience."
"Oh, I see," Timothy said with a hint of disappointment.
"Please understand that I would go with you if it were anywhere else in the world, Timothy," Coovers said. "I would hate for us to be separated after going through the shipwreck and the aftermath together, especially when there's no guarantee this plan will work."
Timothy turned to Coovers with a smile and put his hand on his shoulder.
"Coovers, whether you go with me or not, I owe you my life," he said. "You lifted me out of the water and helped me swim until we were rescued. As surely as the Lord lives, your deed will not be forgotten. If I am successful with my audience with Duke Satoshi, I swear to make the most of where my life goes to whatever end."
Coovers smiled in gratitude, feeling his guilt fade away.
"If that is so, then I will order a ticket to a ship heading to Viridian City," Coovers said.
"I appreciate that, Coovers," Timothy said.
"Think nothing of it, dear Timothy," Coovers said. "Now, come. Let us go downstairs for supper."
Timothy nodded, and together, he and Coovers exited their room. However, as they went downstairs with Timothy ready for stew, bread, and a mug of ale, Coovers' smile faded. He glanced at Timothy, who smiled in the hope that he would gain his audience with Satoshi. Coovers grew uneasy as he feared what would happen if the man he rescued failed to get help and how he would be alone in a foreign region.