CHAPTER 35: CH 35: YOUR CHOICE - PART 3

Kana stepped lightly through the hallway, her footsteps muffled by the old wooden floorboards.

The mansion was quiet, the sort of soft stillness that only came in the earliest hours of the morning.

As she reached the dining room, she paused, half-expecting to hear the clink of dishes or the sound of Irielle humming some ridiculous tune while dragging Lysera into breakfast.

But there was no one.

The table was empty. No smell of coffee or toasted bread lingered in the air. Just silence.

’They’re still asleep.’

Kana guessed. Considering the argument last night—and the emotional whirlwind they’d all gone through—it made sense.

She didn’t want to disturb them, not when they probably needed the rest more than she did.

So, quietly, she made herself a simple breakfast: some bread, fruit, and a bit of tea. It wasn’t much, but it filled her stomach and gave her something to focus on while her thoughts tried to settle.

She cleaned up without making a sound, grabbed her satchel, and headed out the door.

The air outside was cool and crisp. The sun hadn’t fully risen yet, and the streets were still mostly empty as Kana made her way to the greenhouse.

The moment she stepped inside the building, the scent of damp soil and green leaves wrapped around her like a familiar blanket.

Penelope was already there, kneeling near one of the planter beds. She looked up in surprise when she spotted Kana.

"You’re here early. I didn’t expect to see you again so soon. You sure you don’t need a few more days to rest?"

The old woman remarked.

Kana shook her head with a small smile.

"I’m fine. I got more rest than I needed, honestly."

Penelope narrowed her eyes skeptically.

"You look fine, but you also look like you’re trying to pretend nothing happened."

Kana’s smile faltered just a little.

"I just... wanted to do something normal. Being here helps."

Penelope huffed.

"Hardworking types like you are always the same. Determined to take on the world just because they had one decent night’s sleep."

She stood and brushed the dirt off her apron.

"Let me give you some advice, girl. Having strong work ethics is good and all—but this world doesn’t reward that. You need to learn how to cheat the system a little, or it’ll chew you up and spit you out."

Kana blinked.

"So... should I have stayed home instead?"

Penelope glanced at her, then waved her hand.

"You’re already here, so you might as well help. Grab the gloves."

The next hour passed in a rhythm of quiet labor. Kana moved from planter to planter, trimming, watering, and checking the leaves for signs of rot, just like Penelope instructed.

She focused on the tasks, careful to avoid brushing against any particularly lively plants, especially after everything that happened recently.

Eventually, Penelope spoke again, her tone casual.

"Got a message this morning. From that Sergeant—Delran, was it? She asked me to lend you to her."

Kana straightened slowly, setting down the pruning shears.

"She did?"

"Mhm. Said it’s nothing dangerous. Just that she’d like your help."

Penelope glanced over her shoulder, watching Kana with that sharp, knowing gaze of hers.

"So what I wanna know is—do you want

to help her? Or are you being forced into it?"

Kana hesitated.

"I don’t mind helping... really. But I haven’t even been told what they need. It’s not like I can say yes to something I don’t understand. And I don’t want to lose this job just because they call me out whenever they want."

Penelope grunted.

"That’s fair."

Kana glanced down at her gloved hands, brushing a bit of soil off her thumb.

"It’s just... confusing. Everyone seems to have a different idea of what I should do. Lysera wants to protect me, Irielle wants to tease me into staying still, and now the military wants me to help them."

Penelope studied her in silence for a few moments. Then she sighed, walked over, and placed a hand on Kana’s shoulder.

"Let me make something clear, girl. I don’t mind if you decide to help the investigation. It’s your choice. But don’t get lost in doing what others expect of you. If you’re gonna go, then go—but always put yourself first. And if it gets too heavy? Drop it. Walk away. No shame in it."

Kana looked up, startled by the weight of the words—and the rare gentleness in Penelope’s voice.

"I... understand."

She said quietly.

Penelope patted her arm.

"Good. Now get back to work. The plants don’t care about your dilemmas."

Kana let out a small laugh and nodded.

"Yes, ma’am."

As she returned to her task, her thoughts remained unsettled. She wasn’t afraid of helping—not really.

But the uncertainty clawed at her in quiet moments like this. Would she regret agreeing to Delran’s request? Would it drag her deeper into a life she didn’t understand?

Thankfully, the rest of the day was relatively peaceful for her.

Kana walked home with her bag slung over one shoulder, the weight of a long day making her steps a little slower than usual.

The streets were quiet—just the occasional flutter of leaves and the distant sound of children laughing somewhere far off. It should have been peaceful. It normally was.

But today, something felt off.

A prickling sensation crawled up the back of her neck, subtle at first—easy to ignore. But it didn’t fade. She stopped at a corner and glanced behind her.

Nothing.

The street behind was empty, save for a pair of elderly women chatting across a garden fence.

She frowned.

’Probably just tired. Or maybe Lysera’s following me again. I think she’s a little too overprotective, but isn’t this too much even for her?’

She told herself.

Still, the feeling didn’t go away.

Kana quickened her pace, cutting through a narrow alley that curved around a row of flower shops.

She didn’t usually take this route, but it would give her a clearer view of anyone following.

As she exited the alley and glanced back again, she finally caught it—just a flicker of movement behind a corner. A tall figure, dressed in dark, inconspicuous clothes. Not Lysera.

Her stomach sank.

Whoever it was, they were good at keeping their distance.

She turned into a crowded street, weaving quickly between the evening pedestrians, but no matter how many corners she rounded or how many detours she took, the presence behind her never vanished completely.

It stayed just far enough to avoid being caught, yet close enough to keep the pressure steady on her nerves.

Kana ducked into a bookstore, pretending to browse near the window. A few minutes passed.

Then she saw it—someone pausing across the street, their head turning toward the shop, then away.

They were definitely following her.

Her heart pounded. She didn’t know who they were or what they wanted, but they weren’t trying to catch her. Not yet. Just track her.

She gripped the edge of a bookshelf, steadying herself.

’Don’t panic. Just get home.’

She told herself

She slipped out the back of the bookstore and continued down a less-traveled path. Her eyes flicked over every reflection, every sound behind her.

But no matter what she did, the follower remained.