Chapter 67: You Want to Touch Me That Much?

After the afternoon had passed, the sky was already turning a dim yellow, and Flora and the others finally returned to the castle.

“Wow, we’re finally back.” Lena followed behind Flora as she stepped off the carriage.

“Yes, sitting in the carriage was indeed quite boring.” Flora did not look at Lena, walking straight into the interior of the castle.

“What do you plan to do, Your Highness?”

“What else? I’m definitely going back to my room to change first.”

Flora returned to her room on the second floor. The layout of the room remained exactly as it was when she left, feeling very familiar.

To be honest, Flora felt as though these short three days had lasted a very long time, making it feel like she hadn’t seen this room in forever.

Flora completely shed her disguise and changed into a dress she usually wore in the castle. A sense of familiarity washed over her.

Then… Flora collapsed onto the soft, large bed.

“Mmm, the bed at home is still the most comfortable.” Flora’s voice carried a hint of a small tantrum, sounding quite cute.

Flora kicked off her shoes and crawled under the covers.

‘The feeling of being wrapped in a blanket is definitely the best.’

She did not lie down, of course. Flora leaned against the headboard, staring at the opposite wall as if she were thinking about something.

After a short while, the large door was gently pushed open.

“I heard our lovely Flora has returned.”

Flora was somewhat surprised to see Ilya enter. “Oh, Mother, why are you here? And so early, too.”

“My dear daughter has returned; as a mother, why wouldn’t I come to see her as soon as possible?”

“Well, that’s true.”

Ilya walked over to Flora’s bedside and sat on the bed, leaning next to her.

“Did you have fun these past few days?” Ilya asked.

“It was okay… I was quite happy,” Flora said, pausing halfway through as if she had thought about it briefly, speaking with a bit of hesitation.

“Flora, I feel like you have something on your mind. Do you need to talk to your mother about it?” Ilya looked at Flora’s profile and then reached out to stroke the top of her head.

“Ugh… don’t keep stroking my head!” Flora said, but her body did not move, and the top of her head remained under that warm hand.

“Mmm, alright. So, can you tell me what it is?”

Flora was silent for a moment.

“It’s nothing, never mind.”

“It’s okay. It doesn’t matter if you don’t want to say.” Ilya patted Flora’s leg through the covers.

“Yeah, thanks.”

The two of them said nothing more, both leaning against the bed, neither too close nor too far from each other.

The room was very quiet, with only the sound of their steady breathing. Occasionally, Flora would steal a glance at Ilya beside her.

Flora’s left hand quietly reached out to the left.

“Flora,” Ilya’s tone was calm.

“Do you want to touch me that much?” Ilya’s voice carried a hint of a smile.

“Ah, no!” Flora tried to quickly pull her left hand back.

But it was too late. Ilya’s right hand instantly gripped Flora’s left wrist—swiftly, firmly, yet with a certain gentleness.

“Urgh.” Flora still tried to pull her left hand back, but Ilya’s grip was steady, and she couldn’t pull it away at all.

“It hurts…” Flora tried to pull back with force again, but failed once more.

“Come here.” Ilya tugged on Flora’s right arm.

Because of the pain from being pulled, Flora moved a little closer.

“A little closer.” Ilya told Flora to move closer again, but she didn’t pull on Flora’s left arm anymore.

Flora turned her head to look at Ilya, who was still looking forward. Then she looked at her captured left arm.

She moved even closer.

“Good, stay right here. Don’t move, and close your eyes to rest for a while.” Ilya released her grip on Flora’s left hand.

Flora felt the pressure vanish. She obediently closed her eyes and leaned against the wall.

After closing her eyes, Kaan’s figure appeared in Flora’s mind. There was the surprise and anxious longing she had seen in the forest last night, as well as the confused and weary profile she had seen this morning.

‘Has Kaan gone back? Did he say anything?’

‘How is Eileen now? What is she doing?’

‘Sigh, I’m starting to think about these things again.’

‘But they really do care; they care about that Owen.’

‘I’m the same; in the end, I can’t let go of them.’

Flora took a deep breath with her eyes closed.

‘Should I go back and see? At least to see how their lives are now and what they’re doing.’

Flora opened her eyes and looked at Ilya to her left, who still had her eyes closed.

Flora turned her head back and closed her eyes again.

She would say it.

“Mother, actually… there is indeed one thing I want to tell you.” Flora still didn’t open her eyes, her voice very soft.

“Oh? What is it?” Flora could feel that Ilya had opened her eyes and was looking at her.

“I’m thinking… when I could go back to the human world for a trip…” Flora spoke very slowly, with long pauses in between.

“Hmm, are you saying you want to return to the human world?”

“Mmm…”

“Do you want to go back to see those places? Or do you want to see the people you know?”

“To see the people I care about.”

Ilya fell silent for a moment. During this time, Flora’s heart was very tense. What would she do if Ilya didn’t agree?

About half a minute later, Ilya spoke.

“Wait a bit longer; let me think about it.”

Wait a bit longer…

This answer was neither an agreement nor a refusal; it remained on a middle ground.

But that was fine, wasn’t it? At least she didn’t say no.

“Okay, then I’ll wait.”

Ilya got off the bed and stood up, preparing to walk out the door.

“Flora, I’m leaving now.”

“Wait a moment!” Flora suddenly spoke out loud.

“What is it?” Ilya seemed surprised and turned back around.

Flora shuffled further toward the edge of the bed and grabbed Ilya’s right wrist.

“?” Ilya was startled.

Flora “pulled” Ilya’s palm in front of her.

“Touch my face!” Flora spoke firmly, pulling Ilya’s palm toward her face as she said it.

Ilya smiled. Although the corners of her mouth didn’t curve much, her entire face looked like it was smiling.

She leaned her body forward slightly, following Flora’s strength, and brought her right hand to Flora’s face, gently caressing her cheek.

“Alright, I’ll touch your face.”

Ilya’s fingers slid across Flora’s face, making her feel ticklish.

However, as the two pieces of warm skin touched, Flora felt very comfortable and at peace.

“How about this? At times like this, I’ll call you Lola, okay?” Ilya said suddenly.

“Eh, call me Lola?” Flora was a bit surprised by the sudden nickname.

“Hmm, do you think it’s not good?”

“It’s… it’s not that…” Flora seemed a bit shy.

“Then, that’s what I’ll call you from now on.”

Ilya withdrew her hand from Flora’s face and walked toward the door.

“Alright, no more playing around. It’s almost time for dinner. See you at dinner, Lola.”