Celitia had completely fled from the dock.

Having no mind to return to the workshop to continue discussing topics with Florence, Celitia went straight home.

The morning flower shop already had customers, and Luna was busy at the counter, carefully wrapping bouquets.

Seeing Celitia return, Luna couldn't help but look up in confusion: "You're back so soon?"

"Mm." Celitia responded casually.

"Oh, by the way," Luna continued, "Princess Sophia came looking for you earlier. I told her you were at Miss Florence's workshop. Did you see Her Highness?"

Hearing Luna mention Sophia, Celitia's expression became complicated again.

"Yes, I already saw her. Sophia and I took a walk for a while, and now I plan to come back and rest a bit."

Celitia explained haphazardly, "I didn't sleep well last night and want to take a nap, so I came back."

"I see, then go sleep for a while. I'll wake you when it's time for lunch."

Luna smiled gently at her.

"When it's time to indulge, you can indulge freely, okay? Don't always force yourself to operate like a machine, Lily."

Hearing Luna's description, Celitia was stunned for a moment, nodding with an unpleasant feeling.

Just as she was about to walk into the corridor at the back of the flower shop, Celitia stopped again.

"By the way, Luna, if Sophia comes looking for me..."

Her expression struggled for a moment before she slowly said, "Please tell Sophia that I'm resting, and I'll go see her myself when the time comes."

"Eh...?"

Luna was somewhat bewildered but still nodded, "Alright, I'll pass the message to Her Highness."

Walking into her bedroom and closing the door tightly, Celitia leaned her back against the wall and slowly slid down to sit.

The floor beneath her was ice-cold and bone-chilling, the cold climbing up her spine, forcing her chaotic brain to function.

She reached out and pressed her chest, slowly applying pressure, feeling the heartbeat under her palm—one beat after another, slightly more rapid than usual.

Was it because she had heard that unexpected confession?

Like collecting parts from broken ruins and hastily cobbling together a machine-like version of herself.

It turned out that in her hollow chest cavity, that heart hadn't completely shattered and was still working hard to beat.

But how could such a self—a self who was already too afraid to move forward—respond to such pure and flawless feelings?

She had clearly thought that just standing beside her, neither far nor near, watching her back like this would be enough.

She had clearly told herself that protecting them was her own wish, not for others but for herself, and that this was sufficient.

However, everything had still spiraled out of control.

Fragmented memories from the past became mottled scenes, passing before her eyes one by one.

The warmth of holding hands, those instinctive moments of stepping forward to protect, those tight embraces during the most vulnerable times.

She should have realized it long ago, but she never thought deeply about it—was it because she didn't dare?

Because once she broke through that hazy veil on the surface, she would have to respond to the sincerity beneath it, respond to that innocent and pure heart that had never been touched by any shadow.

What she wanted—could she really give it?

Hugging her body tightly, Celitia buried her head deep in her knees, her eyes slightly warm but unable to shed a single tear.

"I'm sorry, Sophia."

○

Perhaps wanting to give Celitia space to calm down, Sophia didn't come looking for her again until the rest day ended.

Luna always felt that Celitia's emotions were somewhat strange and probed both openly and secretly many times, but couldn't get any answers.

In the evening, Celitia returned to the academy.

Stepping into this small villa where she had lived for nearly two months, recalling all the things that had happened during this time, a trace of nostalgia floated in Celitia's eyes.

She picked up the nameplate hanging in front of the bedroom door, tracing along the strokes of "Sophia" inch by inch, from beginning to end, leaving slightly rough memories on her fingertips.

Carefully straightening the nameplate again, Celitia walked to her own bedroom door.

Staring at the wooden plate with her own name written on it, Celitia sighed deeply, reached out and flipped the nameplate over, facing the blank side toward the door.

"It's been almost two months," she murmured to herself. "The door and wall on the dormitory side should be repaired by now, right?"

Having lived in Sophia's villa for so long, perhaps it was time to return to her own life.

A commotion came from below as the villa's front door opened again, and Sophia walked in from outside.

Looking up to see Celitia standing on the second floor, a trace of surprise appeared in Sophia's expression:

"Lily, you're back?"

Celitia pulled her hand back as if electrocuted, turned around, and instinctively used her body to block the nameplate behind her.

This action had no meaning at all—if she planned to move out, she would definitely have to tell Sophia about it. What was the point of hiding it?

Realizing her contradiction once again, Celitia couldn't help but lower her eyelids.

"What's wrong?"

Feeling something strange, Sophia couldn't help but walk a few steps to the side, squinting to look behind Celitia.

Celitia didn't continue hiding, standing quietly in place, allowing Sophia's gaze to fall on the wooden plate behind her.

"Sophia, I..."

She deliberated, thinking about how to tactfully express her intention to move out.

When Sophia saw that flipped nameplate, she was only confused for an instant before understanding.

"Do you want to move out?" Sophia finished the words she hadn't completed.

"This villa was yours to begin with. I've been a guest here long enough."

Seeing that Sophia had already guessed her thoughts, Celitia steeled herself. "The dormitory should be repaired by now. I should probably go back to where I'm supposed to live..."

Watching Sophia come upstairs and hurry toward her, Celitia couldn't help but look away, nervously staring at the floor beneath her feet.

"Thank you for taking care of me all these days, I—"

Before she could finish speaking, the girl in front of her suddenly opened her arms and hugged her tightly.

Those arms used tremendous force, as if wanting to crush her bones and melt her into her embrace.

The unfinished words became broken syllables, stuck in her throat.

"The words I said yesterday troubled you, didn't they?"

Sophia never imagined that her impulsive confession would lead things to this point.

She just wanted to tell her about her feelings, just wanted her to stay by her side, just wanted to hold her hand forever and ever.

It was clearly just such simple emotions.

But for Celitia, it seemed it wasn't like that.

Things like having to respond to feelings, things like bringing her torment—Sophia didn't care about any of that at all.