The next day.
Sophia stirred slowly when she felt someone shake her. She rubbed her eyes, blinking away the sleep before sitting up and glancing at who had shaken her. It was her youngest daughter, who was clutching her arm tightly.
"Sweetie? You woke up early today~" Sophia murmured, her voice still heavy with sleep.
"Mama?"
"Hmm? Yes?"
Her daughter clutched her tightly before glancing toward the window, then back at her mother, mumbling softly. "There's a lot of people outside, Mama."
"Hmm? What are you talking about, sweetie?" Sophia adjusted her posture, tilting her head in confusion. She noticed Nathan's wife, Emalia, was staring outside through the window, her expression a mixture of curiosity and unease.
"Emalia?"
Emalia glanced at her before speaking in a low voice. "There are more carriages and people we don't know following us. And new adventurers have joined the escort."
