Preparing to Take Action
Lily Evans and Cynthia Wu sat in the quiet shop, the air heavy with tension. Outside, the wind rattled the shutters, as if echoing the unease in their hearts.
"It seems so..." Cynthia Wu recalled carefully. She often overheard passersby chatting while working in the shop. Back then, she’d dismissed it as rural gossip, but now, thinking back, it seemed many villagers passing through had been discussing it.
Hearing Cynthia Wu’s words, Lily Evans grew increasingly uneasy about the situation.
The unease was contagious; Cynthia Wu’s words made Lily’s heart beat faster. She glanced at Charles Hayes, who was sleeping soundly nearby, oblivious to the adult worries swirling around him.
Lily Evans forced a smile, trying to lighten the mood. "Don’t worry, Cynthia. The truth always comes out in the end. Besides, if anyone dares to mess with us, I’ll make sure they regret it!"
Cynthia Wu nodded, feeling reassured by Lily’s words. "Alright, we’ll take a rest then. It’s just a shame—Uncle George brought back tens of thousands of pounds of spices, and now they’re all stuck in storage. If it weren’t for those damn rumors, we’d be making a fortune right now."
Lily Evans shook her head. "Don’t fret, Uncle George is clever. He’ll find a way to sell those spices, even if he has to go door to door. Besides, the rumors won’t last forever—once the truth comes out, business will boom again."
Cynthia Wu managed a small smile. "You always know how to cheer me up, Lily. That’s your superpower."
Lily Evans grinned, winking. "Well, if I can’t fix the world, at least I can keep my friends smiling."
Just then, Alexander Hayes entered the shop, his face stern. "Lily, I need a word with you. The rumors have reached the Capital Constabulary. They’re investigating the missing children and the gossip about our shop."
"Your Highness, could you take me with you?" Lily said, "These rumors aren’t as aggressive as the last scandal with Madam Lou, but they’re more secretive and even more damaging. They’ve wrecked several of my businesses and caused huge losses. I can’t shake the feeling these rumors are targeting me—and maybe even the missing children are meant to make the gossip seem more believable."
After Lily finished, she paused and looked at the sleeping Charles Hayes, sighing. "Ever since I became a mother, I’ve understood just how precious children are to their parents. But now, someone is stealing children just to fuel rumors against me and ruin my business—it’s beyond vile! Your Highness, you must bring those child-snatchers and rumor-mongers to justice. Don’t let them keep hurting people, or countless parents will be torn apart and innocent children will suffer! Losing money is nothing, but those children—each one is a living soul!"
Alexander Hayes, as a father himself, was especially repulsed by such cruelty toward children. He declared firmly, "Rest assured, my dear. Although this case is under the jurisdiction of the Capital Constabulary and shouldn’t technically involve me, since evil has targeted innocent children, I will personally assist the Constabulary and make sure the real culprit is swiftly brought to justice. First, to protect more children from harm, and second, to clear your name once and for all."
That night, Lily Evans slept fitfully, plagued by a recurring nightmare. In her dream, a faceless figure snatched Charles Hayes away. Charles cried out for his mother, arms reaching desperately for her, while Lily chased after them in tears—but no matter how hard she ran, she could never catch up...