Exquisite pastries and beautiful drinks always had a way of lifting one''s mood, and Natalie was no exception.


    She smiled faintly and picked up a piece of pastry with her fork, taking a small bite. A subtle jasmine flower fragrance lingered on her pte. It was clear that jasmine had been incorporated into the dessert.


    After finishing the pastry, she took a sip of the orange-vored sparkling water. As expected, her mood improved even further.


    Marcus''s way of repaying a favor was certainly thorough. If Sophia had leveraged his influence, she could have easily made herself stronger. Yet, Sophia hadn''t.


    Then again, Sophia herself had admitted that she had stolen the identity of his savior. All these years, she had lived in constant fear of being exposed.


    Otherwise, Shane wouldn''t have ckmailed her for so long.


    At the thought of Shane, Natalie''s expression turned cold.


    Shane was Cindy''s son, Emma''s devotedpdog, and a despicable human being.


    Yet, such a scumbag was still workingfortably in the Walker family, earning a hefty sry. During the wee party, the person who had secretly taken photos of her was most likely Shane.


    Then, there was the listening device Noah found behind the umbre tree.


    All of it pointed to a malignant presence within the Walker family.


    Just as Natalie was lost in thought, Marcus returned with the drawing materials. "Nat, here''s the paper and pencils."


    While Natalie was still lost in thought about the Walker family, Marcus returned with the art supplies.


    "Why aren''t you eating? Is it not to your liking?" he asked, ncing at the table.


    Only a small piece of pastry was missing, and one of the sparkling beverages had been barely touched.


    It was far less than he had expected her to consume.


    "No, it''s not that," Natalie said, taking the supplies from him. "I''ll be here for quite a while. Is that okay?"


    "Of course. Stay as long as you like."


    "Alright."


    "Help me clear some space on the table, then."


    "Got it."


    Marcus didn''t call for the helpers. Instead, he personally moved things exactly as Natalie directed. Soon, half the table was cleared, and before she could say anything, he had already arranged the art supplies neatly for her.


    "Do you need any help?" he asked.


    Natalie raised an eyebrow. "Can you actually help?"


    Then, she realized it was a redundant question. These high-society heirs were all trained in music, chess, and painting.


    "Here, you can help me with this one," she said, handing him one of the sketchbooks.


    "Alright."


    Marcus pulled up a chair and sat across from Natalie. The sketchbook she gave him was thest of the set.


    Since Natalie already had the first one, she started copying from the second, while Marcus worked on the fifth.


    For the next few hours, neither of them spoke.


    The window was open, carrying in the faint fragrance of jasmine with the asional breeze. Sunlight streamed into the room, shifting gradually as time passed. Byte afternoon, a golden beamnded right on Natalie''s face.


    Marcus looked up and found himself staring.


    Natalie sat therepletely absorbed in her work, bathed in soft, golden light.


    She had delicate, well-defined features—a petite face, a straight, dainty nose, and beautifully shaped lips that were slightly pursed in concentration. The sunlight illuminated her refined profile, casting a warm glow on her wless, porcin-like skin.


    Without a trace of makeup, she exuded a natural, pristine beauty.


    Her captivating eyes were fringed with long, thickshes that fluttered asionally, like delicate little fans.


    Paired with her focused expression, she seemed to be bathed in a radiant glow.


    Marcus wished time could stand still for a moment-no conflicts, misunderstandings, or mistaken identities. Just the two of them, quietly painting


    together.


    The moment was serene with her by his side, and the air seemed to flow with a sweet, blissful fragrance.


    When Natalie focused on a task, she gave it her full attention. Her


    exceptional memory made copying the sketches effortless. She


    beside each one. When her wrist


    began to ache, she gently lifted it


    and shook it out.


    The next second, Marcus held a piece of pastry to her lips. "Have a bite."


    "Thank you. I can do it myself."


    Keeping a polite distance, Natalie epted the fork from his hand. Just as she finished the pastry, Marcus ced a ss of sparkling water beside her.


    "Take a sip to refresh yourself."


    "Thank you."


    Natalie was indeed feeling thirsty. Whenever she concentrated intensely, she tended to get hungry and thirsty quickly.


    After taking several sips of the sparkling water, she was about to pick up her brush again when Marcus handed her a piece of chocte.


    Natalie instantly recognized the packaging. It was the same brand she had enjoyed while staying at Holden Residence-the one Lincoln hadter acquired just to gift her a lifetime supply.


    "Thank you."


    She unwrapped the chocte and took a bite before ncing at Marcus. "Let me see your work."


    "Sure."


    He handed over his sketchbook. Each nt he had drawn was vivid and lifelike, down to the finest detail. Not only that, but he had worked faster than her.


    Marcus''s artistic skills were clearly superior.


    "This is great. After you finish the fifth book, go ahead and copy the fourth one for me."


    "Got it," he agreed without hesitation. Then, he urged, "Have some more pastries."


    "No more," Natalie said.


    Natalie flexed her wrist, then stood up and stretched before spinning around a few times to loosen up. After that, she sat back down and continued sketching.


    Marcus smiled slightly, but he said nothing. He simply picked up his pen again, and soon, the room fell back into afortable silence.


    No one knew how much time had passed when Natalie''s phone suddenly chimed with a notification. Marcus nced up and immediately recognized the sender''s email address.


    It was the mysterious site where King of Hearts posted updates on the search for his parents'' whereabouts.


    He narrowed his eyes slightly, and just as he reached out to take a closer look, Natalie swiftly picked up her phone.


    She looked up at him, only to find that Marcus had already lowered his gaze and returned to his drawing.


    "I''m stepping out for some fresh air," she said, standing up and heading outside with her phone in hand.


    Once outside, Natalie opened the email. The message was brief, containing only


    a single line. "King, Wesley Holden and Laura Reed are in Scarlet Hill, Amberton."


    Natalie deleted the email


    immediately and opened a map. Amberton was thousands of miles from Dithoria. There were no direct transportation options avable; reaching it would require multiple transfers. Driving there would take even longer.


    She quickly searched for more information about Scarlet Hill.


    It was a small vige named after its vast fields of scarlet poppies. The entire hillside would be awash in a fiery red hue during the blooming season. Every year, from May to July, tourists flocked to Scarlet Hill to witness the breathtaking sight.


    This three-month period was also the peak earning season for the vigers of Scarlet Hill. Once the blooming season ended, the number of visitors dropped significantly.


    Marcus''s parents were hiding there just as the scarlet poppies were in full


    bloom.