The Enchanted Bond: A Howl's Moving Castle Fanfiction ft His Imaginary Son

Chapter 2: Of Herbs and Noble Charms

Days passed, and Eira had nearly forgotten about the incident in the market. Life returned to its familiar rhythm—tending to her grandmother's shop, gathering herbs, and assisting the townspeople with their ailments. But the looming Market Day Festival that is just a month away stirred the town into a bustle of anticipation. This year's event, however, carried with it an unexpected twist—a visit from the Pendragons, rumored to be searching for rare herbs found only in the forests surrounding Porthaven.

Whispers filled the air, but Eira, immersed in her tasks, dismissed the gossip as mere town chatter. Aristocracy wasn't her concern.

As Eira carefully bottled freshly mixed remedies, her grandmother, Galena, held up a vial to the light. The liquid inside shimmered, more vibrant than usual.

"Stronger than last year," Galena murmured, her brow furrowed in thought. "The herbs seem... more potent this season."

Eira glanced up. "More potent? Is that possible?"

Galena set the vial down, still puzzled. "Not naturally. But I'm not one to question fortune. Although..." She trailed off, eyes narrowing. "Something feels different about the forest lately."

Eira dismissed her grandmother's musings, focusing on the task at hand. But her indifference wavered later that afternoon when an unusual request arrived—a special order of herbs, meant for the Pendragons.

"The Pendragons? But we never do deliveries. Are they your special clients, grandma?" Eira said, frowning.

Galena gave a nonchalant shrug. "Does it matter? Business is business."

And so, with little choice, Eira set off, bracing herself for the unfamiliar. She arrived at the grand Pendragon estate in the late afternoon, the golden sun casting long shadows across its sprawling grounds. The estate's sheer size dwarfed everything she had ever known. As she approached the servants' entrance, the air felt heavy, laden with something more than just the grandeur of the place.

The housekeeper directed her to the library, where she was told the lady of the house would be waiting. Eira knocked softly on the door, pushing it open after hearing a quiet response. Her eyes widened at the sight—walls lined with shelves of books, more than she had ever seen. The room felt both imposing and mesmerizing.

But her awe was short-lived. The figure by the fireplace made her heart skip.

Ardain Pendragon. His presence lingered like the scent of smoke from the fire. He turned at the sound of her entrance, surprise flashing briefly across his face before he recovered with a familiar smirk.

"What are you doing here?" His voice carried that same teasing lilt, though beneath it, genuine curiosity flickered.

Eira raised her chin, determined not to let him rattle her. "Delivering herbs. Not that it's any of your concern."

His lips quirked into a smile, but there was a sharper edge to it this time. "Ah, the herbalist. Come to rescue me from the sheer tedium of noble life, or is this some form of penance?"

Eira's irritation flared. "Believe me, I wouldn't waste my time on either."

Ardain chuckled, his gaze never leaving hers as he leaned against the mantel. His confidence was infuriatingly effortless. "It's rare, you know, to meet someone who doesn't fall over themselves trying to impress me."

Eira shot him a withering look. "I suppose you're used to people fawning at your feet?"

His smirk faltered for a moment, something unreadable flickering in his eyes before it vanished, replaced with the familiar mask of charm. "I have my moments. But I see I've met my match."