Isabella hummed thoughtfully. “It’s nice you had a driver like that,” she said, gazing into the kettle to see the rising water level. “I apologize for leaving the three of you behind. I wanted to get things set up for your party. You gave me two-hundred gold to work with after all, that can buy quite a bit. It wasn’t like we needed the money either, like I told you,” Isabella smiled to show she was joking. “I managed to get a decent sized get-together made up. My apologies if a few strangers are there but I figured some of Noah’s old friends and some of our family’s friends would want to congratulate you two. It might not be a Benshiran wedding party but you’ll see how us Zeltivans get together, yeah?”

She pushed the lever up, cutting off the spout as she switched containers to the small spouted pot. She reran the water, setting the kettle off onto the counter.

“The city is quite large. It’s easy to get lost here, but I’m sure you’ll find your way around soon enough, especially once Noah remembers everything. Isn’t that right, Dove?” She looked to Noah as he approached her, picking up the kettle to set on the grate of the oven. He hummed to her in confirmation, setting the kettle down before resuming his quiet residence in the kitchen. He didn’t really budge when Elann brought up their trip, nor was there any sense of nervousness or anxiety in their bond.

The cellar door was heard opening and closing again from the back of the house and, soon after, Ryon came through the archway into the kitchen with a cask of ale hoisted up onto his shoulder.

“I return,” he announced, moving off to the side in order to put the cask down onto the counter before. He dusted off his hands then turned to face the whole of the kitchen. “What time is father supposed to be home?”

Isabella shrugged, not entirely sure. “I don’t recall what bell last rang, my mind’s all scrambled.”

Ryon nodded and crossed his arms, leaning against the counter. He watched Noah move to sit down at the dining table, resting his head in his hands.