I arrived at the place where I was supposed to meet Gabrielle.
The familiar sign of the Leonamon Cake Shop greeted me from the outside, though something immediately felt… off. The usual faint chatter from customers was missing, and when I stepped closer, the warm, sugary scent that usually drifted out the door was faint—muted.
The first thing I noticed was that the staff were already gone. The second was that Amy was in the middle of closing up shop.
That alone was strange enough—considering it was still well into the afternoon. The orange hue of the sun had only just begun to spread across the streets, painting everything in that soft, dreamy glow that usually made the place look even more inviting. There was no reason at all for the store to be shutting down this early.
"Ah, Master."
"Amy," I called out, stepping toward her. "Why are you closing so early?"
