“Just thinking. What brings you here? Please, come in," Ariana welcomed. They made their way into the house.

Once inside, after a brief exchange with Melon, Mitchel presented the box.

“It's my grandfather's birthday banquet tomorrow. I thought you might like this gown for the occasion," he explained, revealing an exquisite dress.

Intrigued, Ariana decided to try it on right away.

The gown was a perfect fit, accentuating her natural beauty. Emerging from her room, Ariana found Mitchel momentarily speechless, clearly taken aback by her elegance.

His gaze lingered on her slightly swollen lips, prompting him to inquire, "Are you alright? Your lips look a bit injured."

Caught off-guard, Ariana responded, “Oh, just a minor incident from yesterday."

Not wanting to pry, Mitchel simply offered advice on treatments that could help her lips recover faster.

As they continued their conversation, Melon reappeared, clutching a foreign language picture book. Eagerly, he hopped onto Mitchel's lap, anticipating another reading lesson.

Mitchel, ever the patient teacher, began helping Melon decipher the words, with Ariana watching the touching scene from a distance. The bond between Mitchel and Melon had indeed deepened, something Ariana deeply appreciated. Her thoughts drifted to Mitchel's prominent background, as a heir to the esteemed medical dynasty in Eleymond.

Feeling it was the right moment, Ariana asked, “Mitchel, have you ever met or seen Holden Fredrick?"

Mitchel's eyes widened, a flicker of surprise dancing across his face in response to Ariana's unexpected question. He paused thoughtfully, striving to regain his composure before offering a cautious response.

“Why the sudden curiosity?" he inquired.

Ariana replied with a nonchalant shrug, her tone lighthearted.

"Oh, I happened to catch something in the news. Apparently, he's never shown his face before, so it piqued my interest."

Mitchel remained silent for a brief moment, then gently shook his head.

"I haven't seen him either."

"This Holden sure is mysterious," Ariana replied, her laughter too bright as she swiftly changed the subject.

Their conversation flowed casually, meandering around the upcoming banquet, seemingly no different from their usual exchanges.

However, an underlying unease gnawed at Mitchel's thoughts. Ariana wouldn't inquire about Holden without a purpose. His instincts whispered that she must have already crossed paths with Holden in some way.