Confusion

"Damn it, I lost again!"

With Frederick and Aiershortz teaming up, Rose lost half her travel money.

Frederick said with a smile, "Let's call it a day. We can play again tomorrow."

Rose wanted to keep playing, but her luck really had been terrible tonight, so she had no choice but to stop.

She looked at Renate, wondering what was on her mind.

Frederick returned to his guest room and had just lain down to sleep when Rose came in, pulling Renate along with her.

Before Frederick could ask anything, Rose led Renate to the bedside and asked, sounding anxious yet full of anticipation, "I'll sell her to you, okay?"

Renate's face was deathly pale. She clutched her skirt tightly with both hands and trembled uncontrollably.

Frederick asked, "How much?"

Rose replied, "Ten florins."

Frederick gave Renate a critical once-over, then nodded. "All right."

Then he pulled Rose into his arms and said softly, "Now we have something more important to do."

Rose's face turned bright red.

When she came to her senses, the noon sun was shining brightly outside the window, birds were singing on the branches, and ten gold coins gleamed on the bedside table.

The room was quiet, not a sound to be heard. Apart from some chairs and tables and her luggage, all her belongings and everyone else were gone. On the dining table downstairs sat freshly baked bread, which must have been baked early that morning.

Rose couldn't make sense of what had happened. Where had everyone gone? She felt as if she'd had a wonderful dream.

Meanwhile, two carriages sped along the main road. The stone pavement quickly drained away the rainwater, leaving not a trace of mud.

Aiershortz led the way in her own carriage, while Bellberk followed behind, driving the other.

Frederick