"Ben, are you unwell?" Shirin asked. "You seem zoned out."
"Oh, my apologies. I was just lost in thought," Benjamin replied, letting out a feigned chuckle to hide his discomfort.
"We're planning to visit the market today. Did you want to join us?"
Benjamin didn't want to go with them. He craved the freedom to browse alone. Arcadia was famous for its trade ports, offering unique items from the far corners of the world. He wanted to talk to different travelers and buy souvenirs for the attendants, Madam Wagner, and his other patients. Most of them had never traveled beyond the outskirts of Aster, let alone crossed the borders of Isadora. He wanted to bring them a piece of the world from beyond those borders.
Benjamin hated the idea of going as part of a royal envoy, but he knew he couldn't refuse. If they found him wandering the streets by himself later, it would be disastrous. He also needed to get souvenirs while he had the chance.
