I ACCIDENTALLY MARRIED A DUNGEON

They settled into their seats, eating quietly for a stretch, until Kite’s eyes darted between them and he finally spoke up. "I’m, I’m Kite. My mom, Marisol, works at Lord Sterling’s manor as a maid. We rent our house from the Sterling family. She always leaves early in the morning and comes back before it’s fully dark out. But she didn’t come home four days ago."

"Kite." Felix nodded, tapping his fork idly against his plate. "Did you go ask this Lord Sterling about her?"

"No. The next day his men came to our house instead, asking about her. I told them she never came home, I figured maybe she’d just stayed overnight at the manor for some reason. They searched the whole house for hours, then told me to let them know right away if I saw her before they did."

"How long’s she been working there? And who else is around to look after you while she’s at work?"

"I don’t know, maybe three years now." Kite hesitated, poking at his food. "I don’t know anything about my father. Mom always said he was a bad man, left before I was even born."

"That’s rough." Felix glanced sideways at Dune. "So no relatives or anyone checking in on you while she’s gone?"

"There’s Aunt Carmen. She lives near us. I usually spend time there with her son, Pablo. They’ve also got a new baby, Javier."

Felix finished the last of his food and reached for the wooden cup, drinking down some water. "But you haven’t gone to Aunt Carmen’s this time. Why not?"

"How did you—" Kite looked away fast. "Two weeks ago, Mom and Aunt Carmen had a fight. I don’t know what it was about, Mom never said. I haven’t gone over since. Pablo hasn’t come around to play either."

"That’s a lot for one woman to carry alone. How’s she been holding up under it all? Ever see her crying in her room, snapping at you over nothing, just seeming worn down—ouch." Felix turned toward Dune, catching the flat, cold look aimed his way. "This is for finding his mom. I’m not being a jerk about it."

"No, she doesn’t get mad at me unless I actually mess something up. She’s usually pretty happy. Sometimes sad, when things get hard, and she gets sick sometimes too, can’t make it to work those days."

"Alright, then." Felix pushed his chair back and stood. "Let’s head to your place."

"Okay." Kite scraped down the last of his food and got up too.

"Let me get dressed first." Felix turned toward the stairs. "You too, Dune."

They reached Kite’s house after nearly an hour on foot, Felix refusing to spend anything on a carriage along the way. He’d changed into a long black coat, the one that used to belong to his mother, along with dark trousers, and handed Dune a small notepad and an ink pen, telling her to write down whatever he signaled.

The house sat modest, single-floor, wooden, pressed close against the street beside its neighbors. Kite pushed the door open and led them in, Felix following behind, floorboards creaking under his boots as he took in the small front room, a worn table, four mismatched chairs.

"Where’s your room, and your mom’s?"

Kite pointed toward two doors on the left. "Mine’s first. Mom’s is second."

"Dune, go with him, check his room. I’ll take hers." Felix crossed to the nearest window, glancing out at the street a moment before turning his attention to the room on the right instead, stepping inside.

It was the kitchen. Dirty dishes sat stacked in the basin, the cooking stones cold, untouched, but fresh fruit and a loaf of bread sat out on the counter, still soft, not a day old.

"Kid sure eats a lot for someone that thin." Felix stepped back out and made his way toward Marisol’s room.

The room was small, a bed pushed into the corner, blankets and sheets left rumpled and unmade, clothes draped loose over a shelf, a cracked mirror hanging beside it. A small table sat in the far corner, and Felix crossed to it, noticing thin gouges carved into the wood surface, deliberate, repeated. He ran his fingers over them slowly.

Who said she was happy? I’d have left the kid long before this, if I were her.

He pulled open the drawer beneath it. Inside sat a few loose papers and a single earring, a small red stone catching the light. He lifted it out, turning it between his fingers. "Looks expensive."

He tucked it into his pocket and left the room.

Felix found Kite and Dune already stepping out of the boy’s room, Dune scribbling something onto the paper as she walked.

"Find anything?"

"Yes. The room was dusty, clothes scattered—"

"Okay, so nothing useful." Felix sighed. "Didn’t find much myself either. Let’s go check your aunt Carmen’s place next."

"Why?" Kite asked, quick and defensive.

"Could be she’s the reason your mom’s missing. You said they had a fight recently."

"That’s not right. Why would Aunt Carmen do something like that?"

"I’m not saying she did. Just that she could have, in theory. It’s all guesswork right now. But if we find out what the fight was actually about, might give us something real to work with."

"Alright." Kite nodded, still visibly uneasy.

They left the house and made their way toward Carmen’s, and partway through the walk Felix realized they were drifting closer to the North Ward, the noble district.

Kite knocked lightly on the door and waited. After a minute it creaked open.

"Kite!" Pablo’s face lit up, then his eyes drifted past him to the two figures behind. "Who are they?"

"They’re helping me find my mom." Kite hesitated. "Is Aunt Carmen home?"

"Yeah." Pablo pulled the door wide. "Come in. Wait, what do you mean, helping find your mom?"

"She hasn’t come home in four days."

Pablo led them inside, clearly caught off guard. "What, why didn’t you tell us sooner?"

Kite kept his eyes on the floor and didn’t answer.

They found Carmen in the living room, little Javier cradled in one arm.

"Mom, Kite’s here." Pablo said. "He just told me Aunt Marisol’s been missing for four days."

Carmen lifted her head, eyes moving from Kite to the two strangers behind him. "Who are you two?"

Felix offered a faint smile. "I’m Felix, this is Dune. We’re here to ask a few questions about the argument you had with your sister two weeks ago. We’re hoping to find Marisol as quickly as possible."

"Yes, of course. Sit." Carmen nodded, then turned to her son. "Pablo, take Kite to your room and play for a bit. I need to talk about something important."

"Okay, Mom." Pablo turned toward the hallway. "Come on, Kite."

Carmen watched them disappear before turning back to Felix. "Take a seat."

Felix crossed the room and sat across from her. "You’re a lot calmer than I expected. Guess you already know she’s missing."

"Yes. I know."

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