Bound by the Mirror

At the grand palace of Lavenburg, celebration filled the air. Laughter echoed through the halls, and the golden chandeliers sparkled like stars.

"Happy 69th birthday, Your Majesty!" Duke Leonzor and his wife bowed respectfully before the king.

"Duke Leonzor! Hahaha!" the king bellowed, lifting his wine glass. The room grew silent as he stood and tapped it gently, commanding the attention of the entire hall.

"Everyone," the king announced with pride, "this is Duke Leonzor—our great general and the loyal commander of the royal army. A man who has served this kingdom with unmatched loyalty."

Cheers and applause erupted across the ballroom as noblemen and guests raised their glasses in celebration. The festivities continued with music and dancing, unaware of the chaos beginning elsewhere.

---

Meanwhile, back at the Leonzor Mansion…

Inside the once-sealed bedroom, Sofia stood wide-eyed beside Mateo.

"So," she asked eagerly, "you know magic, right? That means you can break this door down? Maybe with a—"

Before she could finish her sentence, Mateo smirked.

He stepped closer, placed a hand around her waist, and whispered, "Hold on tight."

Then—with a snap of his fingers—Puff!

A soft explosion of golden light, and in the blink of an eye, they were standing outside the mansion beneath the moonlit sky.

Sofia's mouth dropped open in amazement. "We're outside. Just like that!"

She turned quickly. "I have to go to the village! Maybe Meren has been released by now."

Mateo raised an eyebrow. "Wait, where are you going?"

"To check on my maid. She was punished because of me. I need to see if she's okay," Sofia said, determination in her voice.

Mateo didn't argue. He simply followed with a quiet sigh.

---

That night, as the celebration ended, Duke Leonzor and Duchess Alina returned to their mansion in their royal carriage.

The moment they stepped inside, Duke Leonzor headed straight upstairs.

"I'll go check on Sofia," he said coldly.

He climbed to the second floor and stood before her bedroom door. He didn't open it—just knocked firmly.

"Sofia. It's your father," he called. "I spoke with the king today. The decision has been made. You will marry the prince."

Silence.

He frowned and knocked again, this time with more force. "I know you won't dare to disobey us again."

Still… no reply.

Annoyed, he opened the door—and froze.

The room was in chaos. Books and pillows were scattered. The bed was empty. The window was still sealed shut. But Sofia was gone.

he muttered, eyes scanning the room.

He stormed downstairs, his voice thunderous.

"GUARDS! SERVANTS! COME HERE—NOW!"

Everyone came running. The maids stood trembling.

"Who opened the door to my daughter's room?" he demanded.

One of the older servants stammered, "N-No one, Your Grace. We followed your orders strictly. None of us dared to touch it."

"You lie!" Leonzor roared. "She's missing! Someone helped her escape!"

He turned to his head guards. "Search the entire estate. Check the stables, the gardens, the old cellar—every corner! Find her! And whoever assisted her... bring them to me in chains!"

The mansion erupted into panic. Footsteps echoed as the guards spread across the grounds, hunting for any trace of the vanished girl.

"It's already night. Aren't you tired?" Mateo asked gently, his voice calm as he turned toward Sofia. She was clearly exhausted—her steps slower, her breathing heavier, and her posture slightly hunched from the long walk they had endured.

Sofia glanced at him, brows furrowed. "Aren't you? I mean, with that mask on your face... you don't even look like you're sweating or out of breath." She pointed at the white mask that concealed every inch of his expression.

Mateo chuckled softly. "You forget—I'm not exactly human."

They continued walking in silence for a while until they saw a farmer driving a wooden cart full of fruit, heading toward the nearby village. The cart creaked and swayed with every step the horse took.

Mateo stepped forward and raised a hand, signaling the farmer to stop. "Would you be willing to give us a ride to the village?"

The farmer narrowed his eyes, inspecting the two strangers. "Not a chance," he replied bluntly. "Too dangerous to pick up people at night these days."

Without a word, Mateo reached into his coat and revealed a glimmering gold coin. He held it out, letting the moonlight catch its shine.

The farmer's eyes widened like saucers. He scratched his beard and leaned down with a grin. "Well, I suppose the back has space for two. Hop on."

As Mateo and Sofia climbed onto the back of the cart, the farmer muttered under his breath, "Rich little masked clown, huh?" He chuckled to himself and flicked the reins, setting the cart back in motion.

Moments passed.

Sofia, nestled beside a pile of fruit sacks, leaned her head back, eyelids fluttering. Before long, she had drifted into sleep, her breaths slow and steady, her body finally giving in to fatigue.

Mateo glanced at her in silence. He didn't say a word. He simply allowed her to rest, watching over her as the cart rolled forward through the quiet night.