Page 74 of Dark Rebel's Fortune

They followed her down another winding path that led away from the village center. The surroundings became more wooded, with homes nestled tastefully among the trees. Unlike the cookie-cutter developments Fenella had seen in suburban areas, these houses had character while maintaining a cohesive aesthetic.

"All our homes are single-story," Ingrid explained as they walked. "There are several exterior designs that repeat throughout the village, but with slight changes of colors and different plants in the front yards, we ensured that each house has its individual flavor. Most have either two or three bedrooms, and some include a detached guest house."

The girls had grown increasingly animated as they progressed through the village, their initial wariness giving way to curiosity and excitement.Even Arezoo, who typically maintained a stoic demeanor, looked impressed.

"Here we are," Ingrid announced, stopping before a cluster of houses. "These previously housed Guardians who have since relocated to another section of the village. They're in perfect condition—barely lived in at all."

The homes had a Mediterranean aesthetic—stucco walls in warm cream tones and wood doors with stone surrounds. They looked brand new to Fenella's eye, without a crack, peel, or discoloration in sight.

"Aren't they beautiful?" Jasmine asked. "Girls, what do you think?"

"Can we look inside?" Laleh asked.

"Of course!" Ingrid opened the door. "Let's start with this one. It's a three-bedroom."

"No locks?" Fenella asked.

"No need." Ingrid led them inside. "If you want, you can install a chain to lock it from the inside, but no one bothers. As I said, the village is very safe."

The interior was beautifully done. Earth tones, soft fabrics, and decorative pieces were perfectly coordinated without looking matchy-matchy. It required a real talent to put things together like that.

"This is beautiful," Donya breathed, running her hand along a smooth granite countertop. "It's like something from the movies."

"Ingrid did all the interiors," Jasmine said.

"You have excellent taste," Fenella admittedgrudgingly. "Very coordinated without looking too obvious. I could never accomplish something like this."

Ingrid beamed at the compliments. "Thank you. I strive for timeless elegance combined with modern comfort. Each home has its own character while maintaining cohesion with the village aesthetic."

As they moved through the bedrooms, the girls whispered excitedly.

The two smaller bedrooms each contained a queen-sized bed, while the master suite had a king.

"You two will share," Arezoo told Laleh and Donya, who nodded enthusiastically.

"We can replace the queen bed with two singles in whichever room the girls prefer," Ingrid offered.

After touring several more houses with similar layouts, some with only two bedrooms and others with three, the girls had reached a consensus on their favorites. Their excitement was palpable as they discussed which bedroom would belong to whom.

"What about me?" Fenella asked Ingrid. "Do I get my own place, or am I bunking with one of the happy families?"

"I can arrange a house for you alone, though most single residents share accommodations."

"I don't mind sharing," Fenella said. "I'm not even sure I'll stay long-term. Looks nice enough, but a bit too contained for my taste."

"You'll find there's more to village life than firstappears," Ingrid assured her with a knowing smile. "Would you like to see more housing options?"

Fenella considered it for a moment, then shook her head. "Everything looks great, and I'm not picky." There was no point getting attached to a place she probably wouldn't use for long.

Once the girls had decided not only on which houses would be theirs but also which would be perfect for the aunts and cousins, and Jasmine had snapped at least a hundred pictures with her phone, Ingrid led them to a different section of the village.

"Just to prove to you that the village isn't boring, I want to show you the bar and the restaurant." She showed them something that looked like a hobbit residence. "My partner runs the bar," Ingrid said with evident pride. "It's only open on weekends, but it's very popular. We have live music occasionally when the boys are up to entertaining us, and the cocktails are always excellent." She smiled at Jasmine. "Maybe you could sing for us sometime?"

"I would love to."

"Perhaps this place isn't completely hopeless after all," Fenella muttered.

Next, Ingrid showed them the village's only restaurant, an elegant space with both indoor and outdoor seating areas.

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