At this moment, the confused, hazy tone in Finihiya’s voice had faded considerably, indicating she had fully come to her senses.
“It’s time to get up.”
“Mm.”
Watching Finihiya respond but still remain seated, Darlian shrugged with a hint of helplessness, then leaned forward slightly and reached out her right hand to grasp Finihiya’s calf.
“Don’t just mumble ‘mm’—you’re not going to move on your own.”
Gently tugging at Finihiya’s ankle, she pulled her to the edge of the bed. “Today, I’ll help you put on your shoes.”
Picking up the exquisitely crafted slippers made from a mix of leather and fabric, she supported Finihiya’s small foot with one hand.
Finihiya’s feet were slender and delicate, her snow-white, fine skin tinged faintly with pink, like a pair of finely sculpted artworks.
Staring at those long, well-proportioned toes, Darlian slipped the slippers onto her feet, lifting her face slightly as she revealed a calm, somewhat teasing, and strange smile.
“Such beautiful feet—looking at them makes me want to eat them up.”
The small foot in her hand visibly trembled and retracted.
At that moment, Finihiya’s expression showed a hint of timidity, and her somewhat youthful, clear voice took on a shy tone.
“Sis… Darlian, do you want to eat me?”
Uh…
That unexpectedly literal reaction brought a subtle expression to Darlian’s eyes, followed by a resigned sigh.
“I don’t even know how your brain works. That was a joke. And obviously, I was complimenting your feet.”
“Besides, does the ‘eat’ in your mind only mean eating food?”
“Could it mean something else?”
“Uh… well…”
Looking at Finihiya’s purely puzzled gaze, a small wave of embarrassment suddenly welled up inside her.
How was she supposed to explain that?
“All right, you can stand up now.”
To dispel the awkwardness, Darlian abruptly changed the subject and stood up.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” She responded cheerfully, then turned her head to look at the wardrobe and dressing table. “So, do you want to get dressed first or do your hair?”
Finihiya shook her head slightly and answered evenly, without any change in tone.
“Brush teeth and wash face.”
After saying that, Finihiya slipped on the White Rose Slippers and clicked her way out the door.
Watching Finihiya’s figure disappear behind the door, Darlian glanced around the room with mild disinterest.
***
Compared to the last time she slept here, the room now carried more of Finihiya’s presence.
On the soft princess bed, several teddy bear dolls had somehow appeared.
Sitting on the edge of the bed waiting for what felt like ages, Darlian’s mind was nearly overwhelmed by drowsiness when Finihiya finally sauntered back.
“Does brushing your teeth and washing your face take that long?”
“Cleanliness is important.”
Hmm…
Though she wanted to say that Finihiya was taking an absurdly long time, she remembered that Finihiya seemed a little obsessive about cleanliness.
But obsessiveness and washing up don’t really correlate…
Forget it.
A small feeling of helplessness surfaced in her heart, and she didn’t bother thinking too much about it.
“So now, hair or…”
“Hair.”
Watching Finihiya sit at the dressing table and reach for the Wooden Comb to brush her hair, Darlian swiftly took it first.
“I’ll help you.”
Finihiya silently watched her through the mirror for a moment, then politely whispered, “Thank you.”
“Good girl.”
With a teasing tone, she praised Finihiya, then lifted her golden hair.
The sensation under her fingertips was astonishingly soft, smooth and delicate like the finest silk.
Although this wasn’t the first time she had touched Finihiya’s hair, at this moment her thoughts were still filled with wonder.
After carefully brushing for a while, she only came back to reality after Finihiya softly reminded her twice.
“Darlian, that’s enough. You don’t have to brush so long.”
“Oh… so now you want to get dressed?”
“Mm.”
Upon hearing Finihiya’s affirmative answer, Darlian put the Wooden Comb back on the table, then turned and headed toward the wardrobe in the corner of the room.
Opening it, she surveyed the dazzling array of clothing inside and said, “Which one do you want to wear today?”
“I think this one suits you.”
Her face slightly cold and serious, she waited a long time without hearing a response from Finihiya and looked back with a puzzled tilt of her head.
The wooden chair at the dressing table was already empty.
At that moment, Finihiya opened the room’s door and stood quietly nearby, watching her.
The breeze from the window lightly swayed Finihiya’s nightgown adorned with several layers of white lace.
Hmm?
Maybe it was just an illusion.
Why did it feel like Finihiya was signaling for her to leave?
“What’s wrong?” Darlian asked with a confused tone. “Don’t just stand there—come here and change.”
“Darlian…”
Though Finihiya only softly called her name, the way her gaze shifted back and forth near the door clearly indicated she wanted her to leave.
In that instant, a subtle emotion spread through Darlian’s heart.
“You want me to go out?”
“…Mm.” Finihiya nodded her small head in agreement. “I want to change by myself.”
“So let me help you change.”
“Thank you, but I want to do it myself.”
“With such complicated clothes, can you put them on properly by yourself?”
“I’ve always done it alone.”
Seeing that Finihiya was quite resistant to others dressing her, a slight helplessness surfaced in Darlian’s heart, and she could only step outside.
Click!
Hearing the door lock, Darlian stood in the corridor with her back against the wall.
The longer they spent time together, the more she realized how odd Finihiya was in certain ways.
“Lady Darlian.”
A passing servant saluted her.
She nodded in return.
Sunlight filtered through the clouds, sparkling vividly.
The trees were lush and flourishing, and the various flower bouquets in the courtyard gently swayed in the breeze.
Tap!
After waiting briefly, the locked door’s metal sound of unlocking rang out, followed by it quietly opening.
“Darlian, why don’t you wait downstairs for me?”
“It’s fine.”
Watching Finihiya in her new clothes, Darlian subtly raised one brow. “I’m not busy anyway.”
The black velvet dress was trimmed with dark red lace at the edges, the chest adorned with dusky pleats that swayed like nighttime waves, and the hem bloomed with luxurious red roses.
She walked slowly down the corridor, its surface shimmering like flowing cold water, toward the stairwell.
“You came early today. Did you have breakfast?”
“Not yet.”
Darlian smiled faintly and said, “I plan to eat with you later.”
There really is no heterosexual explanation for Darlian’s behaviour.