New World with Four Husbands

The carriage came to a slow stop in front of the Hunter Guild building.

The wheels crunched to a halt on the cobblestone road, the horses whinnying softly in response to the command from the coachman.

The carriage stood still, the sound of the horses' breathing filling the air as they waited.

The guild building loomed in front of them, a large structure that served as the hub of hunter activity in the city— right beside the busy street of the market.

The guild's emblem gleamed in the sunlight, proudly displayed on the roof, and those who walked by ignored it.

Coco shuffled to the exit of the carriage and opened the door of the carriage, then stepped out, her figure emerging from the confines of the wooden vehicle.

The sound of the bottom of her shoes tapping against the ground broke the silence as she straightened herself and turned towards the guild's entrance, her eyes sweeping over the building, taking in the familiar sight before her.

However, before anything else, Coco turned towards the coachman, offering a polite nod towards the man.

"Thank you for picking me up." She expressed her gratitude, her voice still monotonous, but the coachman didn't seem to mind and just smiled back in response, tipping his hat in acknowledgment.

"No problem, miss." The gentleman replied graciously, his voice friendly and professional. "Please have a productive and pleasant day."

Coco merely nodded in return, unable to find the strength to smile back, but appreciating the driver's pleasant demeanor nonetheless before turning back to the guild building, allowing the couch man to leave the area.

Coco stood taller, her back straight, and walked towards the guild building's entrance.

The sound of her footsteps echoed through the entryway as she passed through the double wooden doors, the noise of the crowded guild immediately greeting her ears.

The busy, loud, yet playful chatter and the scent of sweat filled the air, the familiar sights and sounds of the guild building enveloping her senses despite the time being seven in the morning.

Coco's gaze swept over the various hunters loitering in the hall, segregated into small groups.

Coco walked through the hall, her footsteps light, but steady as she navigated the crowded corridor, her gazed fixed straight ahead while making her way across, her movements unhurried.

The sounds of the guild members murmuring and exchanging greetings faded into the background as Coco reached the staircase.

She placed a hand on the rail, the wood cool beneath her touch, and began climbing the steps to the second floor.

Once on the second floor, Coco walked down the hallway and turned left, moving towards the first room she encountered.

She opened the door and stepped inside, taking a moment to look around before she noticed a pile of paperwork on the desk which made her walk towards it, taking a seat on the vacant chair without hesitation.

The door opened and Sinclair stepped in, just in time to see Coco taking a seat.

Sinclair blinked as he closed the door behind him, the usual polite smile was nowhere to be seen, replaced by a more neutral expression.

"How was your sleep last night, master?" He inquired, his voice soft and quiet as he walked across the room.

His gaze was fixed on Coco, gauging her face for a response with a calm, almost detached, demeanor, but even through the lack of warmth in his expression and voice, his question was genuine.

Coco looked up from her paperwork, her focus shifting away from the stack of documents in front of her and towards Sinclair.

"So-so." She replied, her tone lacking enthusiasm.

She let out a sigh through her nose, quiet, but still loud enough for Sinclair's ears, as her shoulders slumped slightly.

"I couldn't sleep so I did my assignment to keep my mind off things." Coco added to her previous response, her eyes darting back to the paper she was holding.

Sinclair could still feel the same emptiness that clung to Coco since their visit to the farming rabbit, the weight of that feeling coursing through their connection as master and familiar.

However, this emptiness only affected half of his being.

Though it was lessened, the feeling was still felt, a shadow lingering within him, as if strangling him slowly— it was a strange sensation because he had never felt this empty before.

The link he shared with Coco meant that he was not completely immune to her emotions so he could feel the strongest emotion she was feeling.

A twinge of concern and understanding flickered in his eyes, even if his face remained blank.

Sinclair slowly nodded in response to her words, his movements quiet as a mouse as he took the seat beside Coco.

"Then, I hope you're ready for later." He commented.

Coco paused mid-reading, her grip on the page in front of her tightening involuntarily, her gaze remained fixed on the words written there, her fingers running over the dirty white sheet.

"I'm ready." She responded, but her words lacked the usual excitement that should be present.

Sinclair's heart felt a pang of pain all of a sudden, his red eyes widening in surprise at the doubled strength of Coco's emotion.

The connection between them allowed him to feel the ache of loneliness and longing that hung over Coco like a dark cloud— her pain became his, causing his heart to thump uncomfortably in his chest.

"That's.. That's great news." Sinclair gritted out, hand shooting up to his chest as he stood up from his seat, "Please excuse me for a moment."

He rushed out of the room, leaving Coco alone with her documents.

Sinclair's thoughts buzzed, puzzled by the mystery of Coco's sadness because despite the connection they shared, he was unaware of the cause of her suffering.

Her pain gnawed at him, leaving him with more questions than answers.

What could possibly be causing her such sorrow— no, just how could he help her when he doesn't even know the cause of her pain?