CHAPTER 33: CH 33: YOUR CHOICE - PART 1

Lysera shut the door behind them with more force than necessary. The hallway light buzzed softly overhead, casting long shadows on the floor as she toed off her boots.

Kana stood by the entrance, hugging her arms to her chest, unsure whether to speak or wait.

It didn’t take long.

"So, what are you going to do now?"

Lysera said, her tone carefully neutral,

Kana blinked.

"I... I don’t know. I haven’t really thought that far ahead."

She admitted.

Lysera turned to face her fully, leaning against the wall.

"Listen. I know what I said back there to Delran. But you don’t owe her anything, Kana. You’re not enlisted. You’re not bound to the military like I am."

Her voice dropped.

"If you want, I can get you out of this. No more favors. No more involvement. Just walk away."

Kana looked at her, startled.

"You mean that?"

"I do. I can make the request vanish. Delran has strings she can pull, but so do I. And I’ll pull all of them if it means keeping you safe."

Lysera’s eyes were steady.

Kana stayed quiet for a long moment, considering. Then she smiled faintly.

"Thanks... but it’s fine. I’ll hear the details first, of course—but if it helps you, Lysera, I don’t mind helping."

Lysera’s mouth opened slightly, the protest caught in her throat. Guilt flickered in her eyes.

"Kana, that’s not fair to you. You’re just—"

"It’s okay. Really. I’ll find a way to pull through. Somehow, it’ll be fine."

Kana stepped forward and gently placed her hand on Lysera’s shoulder.

Lysera shuddered at the touch.

"That’s what makes me more worried. "You saying that like it’s simple."

She whispered.

But her expression eased, and her shoulders slumped slightly as if a weight had been lifted.

"Still... thanks. For saying it."

They returned home just as the sky turned gold with the last light of evening. Lysera turned the key quietly and stepped inside. She paused by the door, turning back to Kana.

"Don’t tell Irielle what happened. Please. Not until we know what Delran really wants."

She warned, almost pleading.

Kana nodded solemnly.

"Alright. I won’t say anything."

But that plan unraveled the moment they stepped into the living room.

Irielle sat curled on the couch with a book in hand, her brows lifted the moment she spotted them.

"You’re late."

She said, setting the book aside and standing.

Lysera stiffened.

"We got caught up in—"

"What happened? Something did. I can see it on your faces."

Irielle asked, already closing the distance between them.

"Irielle, it’s not—"

Kana tried to interject, but she was already swept into Irielle’s arms.

"You were supposed to rest!" Irielle exclaimed, gripping Kana tightly.

"Not go on some mysterious errand with her again!"

Kana flushed as Irielle pulled her close, her arm snaking around her waist, the other under her legs as she lifted Kana into her lap and sat back down on the couch in one smooth motion.

"Wh-what are you—!"

"Shhh. Talk. What happened?"

Irielle said, voice firm but warm.

Kana felt her heartbeat thump erratically in her chest. Her mind screamed to hold back. She’d promised Lysera.

But with Irielle holding her like that, her head resting lightly against the older woman’s shoulder, it was hard to think, let alone lie.

So, helplessly, Kana spilled everything.

"I was at home, and this officer showed up with a warrant. He said I was being called in for questioning... about yesterday. But the questioning never happened and—"

She began,

"Wait! You were taken in?"

Irielle interrupted.

Kana nodded slowly.

"Sort of. I panicked when the officer got too close. I... may have knocked him out. On reflex. Then I carried him back to the station."

"You what?"

Irielle was too stunned to even raise her voice.

"And then Sergeant Delran got involved and... and now I might be getting roped into helping with something."

Kana slumped slightly.

"But I said I’d only do it if I got the full details first."

Irielle stared at her in disbelief. Then, slowly, she let Kana go and stood.

Her expression was... complicated. The corners of her mouth twitched with frustration, but her eyes were clouded with something softer—concern, maybe. Or guilt.

"I need a moment."

She muttered, and disappeared down the hall.

Kana turned slowly toward Lysera, who was standing by the door with her arms crossed and a look that screamed I told you so.

"I tried."

Kana whispered.

Lysera sighed.

"She was going to find out either way."

Far away, beneath the shade of an ancient willow tree in a sprawling, walled garden, a woman with long red hair sat in still silence.

Her gaze drifted toward the horizon, where the sun had begun to dip beyond the hills. A tea set sat untouched beside her, the steam long since faded.

A servant approached slowly, head bowed, movements careful. Even so, they didn’t speak until acknowledged.

The lady was beyond beautiful, and in a way that caused people to look back again and again.

But that was not what attracted anyone’s attention at the first glance.

Rather than the atmosphere or the female’s beauty, it was her wrecked appearance as well as the unruffled dress she wore that caused the servant to look away.

One of the red-haired woman’s hands were inside her dress, and the long flowing white hid what she was doing.

But the sound her hand made was loud and very audible. The wet noise caused the servant’s ears to turn red and look away.

The poor female servant felt as if her soul had left her body as she stood there, waiting for the next orders.

But she had been here long enough to know that the red-haired female won’t stop until she was satisfied.

Finally, a muffled moan reached her ears as the red-haired woman finished and pulled her hand out.

She held her wet hand toward the servant who quickly stepped toward the beautiful female and wiped her wetness off her hand.

The smell made the servant’s head swim. It made her flinch and lean in at the same time. But thankfully, the servant was able to control herself before an incident happened.

Finally, once the red-haired female’s hand was all cleaned up, she decided it was time to acknowledge the other female.

The red-haired woman didn’t look at them, but her voice came soft and clear.

"Is it done?"

"Yes, my lady. As you ordered. We sent your message to those people, asking for help."

The servant replied quickly.

"And?"

They told me they had someone ready as per your request. They will send that person soon."

The beautiful lady’s lips curved upward, though her eyes remained cold.

"Good. Those irritating people are finally being of use to me now."

She murmured. "

The servant hesitated.

"Shall I prepare the next step?"

Celestine finally turned her head, one crimson strand falling across her cheek.

"Not yet. I want to see how her protectors move. Especially that annoying officer- Lysera. I have a feeling she would have words to say about this."

The way she said the name carried weight. Heavy. Personal.

Then, gently, she plucked a petal from the flower blooming at her side and let it fall from her fingers.

"Soon...But not yet."

She whispered.