"Wait... oh my goodness!" the friend gasped, leaning forward. "Where’s your favorite ring, Eshu?!"
Eshu blinked, then looked down at his bare finger.
There was a pause.
"Oh... that," he said with a soft chuckle, covering up his surprise. "I must’ve dropped it sowhere. No big deal."
"No big deal? That was your only real piece of jewelry!"
"Relax," Eshu said smoothly.
After few monts of sitting, Eshu suddenly stood up.
He placed a hand on his chest and slowly looked down at the spot where his ring should have been.
Then he turned around once, eyes scanning the floor.
Twice.
His expression slowly changed from calm... to puzzled... to panicked.
He started patting his robes, checking his sleeves and bag like he had just noticed sothing terrible.
His friends stared at him.
"Eshu?" one of them asked.
Eshu’s eyes widened. "It’s not here. I thought maybe I dropped it nearby but—" he looked again, crouching near the corner of the bench, brushing his fingers along the floor.
"It’s gone!"
His voice was louder now, drawing a few glances from nearby guests.
"Wait—what?!" his friend stood up quickly.
Eshu nodded quickly, eyes still moving, playing the role perfectly.
The second friend jumped up too. "Oh no, that ring cost you a fortune! You wore it every single day!"
"I did!" Eshu nodded again, now pacing, pretending to breathe faster. "It was just here. I don’t know where it went—I swear I didn’t take it off!"
People around them began to murmur, a few looking toward the entrance, so watching from a distance.
His friends joined him in searching, checking under the seats, behind the bench, and around the floor.
They didn’t know it yet...
But they were now part of a setup.
The mont the quiet murmurs began around the resting area, Eshu took it further.
He stood tall, ran his fingers through his hair with a worried sigh, and looked around the showroom with a dramatic twist of his head.
Then he walked quickly toward the front desk.
"Excuse ," he said to the receptionist, his voice serious but calm. "I’ve lost sothing very valuable. My ring. It’s extrely expensive—irreplaceable, actually. I need to speak with the manager."
The receptionist blinked, startled, but nodded and quickly called soone over.
A few monts later, a well-dressed manager ghost arrived, looking composed. "What seems to be the issue, sir?"
Eshu pressed a hand to his chest.
"I was sitting in the resting area, and now my ring is missing. It was on my hand earlier... but now it’s gone. I think I may have dropped it sowhere in the showroom," he explained, voice soft, trying to sound reasonable.
"We’ll check the area for you," the manager nodded politely.
"I really appreciate it," Eshu said, then paused dramatically, looking around with wide eyes. "But... it’s possible soone may have picked it up by mistake."
The manager frowned slightly. "You an—"
"I don’t want to accuse anyone," Eshu said quickly, shaking his head, "but that ring was a family heirloom. I’ve worn it every day since I was young. It holds great aning for ."
He sighed deeply, making sure others could hear.
"I know this is uncomfortable, but... for sothing that valuable, maybe we can ask to check everyone nearby? Discreetly, of course. Just in case."
He lowered his head slightly, pressing his lips together. "I’m really sorry to ask, but I just... I can’t leave without it."
The manager looked hesitant, but by now, several guests were watching.
So were whispering.
And in the background, Eshu’s two friends were helping the drama grow, talking loudly about how important the ring was, and how terrible it would be if it were truly gone.
The mood in the showroom shifted.
The peaceful, elegant air now carried a quiet tension.
The manager hesitated at first, clearly not wanting to create discomfort in the showroom. But Eshu’s calm, sorrowful expression and quiet insistence eventually tipped the scales.
"Just a quick check," Eshu repeated gently. "I’m sure no one ans harm. But I can’t leave without it."
And with a quiet nod, the manager agreed.
Within minutes, staff began quietly approaching guests, one by one, asking to check their bags and sleeves—all done politely, with soft apologies.
But the guests weren’t pleased.
The mood shifted fast.
A witch in a green robe clutched her purse closer. "Why should I be searched? I didn’t co here to be treated like a thief."
Another ghost frowned, holding out his cloth pouch reluctantly. "I’ve been a custor here for ten years..."
So ghosts grumbled under their breath.
Others looked around, offended.
The elegant calm of the showroom was gone replaced by tension, whispers, and embarrassnt.
Eshu stood quietly near the center of it all, eyes slowly scanning the room, watching every reaction like a hawk. His expression remained perfectly innocent.
"I hate this," one young ghost muttered, turning away as his bag was checked.
"I didn’t even go near that man," soone else mumbled.
And yet, one by one, the checks continued.
The pressure was building.
Karl had finally stopped whispering to Adrian, now distracted by the pretty vase.
He didn’t notice the two staff mbers walking toward them.
"Excuse us," one said gently, with a nervous smile. "Sorry to bother you, sirs... but we’re conducting a quick check of personal belongings. One of our guests has lost a valuable item."
Karl blinked. "A check? For what?"
"A ring. It may have been picked up by accident."
Karl scoffed. "We don’t even wear rings."
"It’s just procedure," the staff mber said kindly.
Karl frowned but nodded. "Fine, check my bag. But if you find crumbs, don’t judge ."
He handed over his little side pouch dramatically, glancing sideways at Adrian. "Watch them, in case they try to steal my snack bar."
Adrian said nothing.
The second staff mber turned to him.
"Sir... if you could allow us to check your belongings as well."
Adrian’s cold eyes narrowed slightly, but he gave a small nod and handed over his small bag. He didn’t like it, but he wasn’t going to make a scene.
Both bags were checked quickly.
Nothing.
The staff nodded, offering quiet thanks.
Then, one of them turned toward Julian, who was still seated, his arms gently folded over his stomach. He looked up slowly, sensing the air had changed.
—To be continued...🪄
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