“How about sitting down?” Lias extended an invitation.
“Hmm…? Sit here for a while together?”
Flora was a bit shocked, and she felt a sudden surge of wariness. She didn’t know what Lias intended to do.
However, Lias saw Flora’s tension and worry. She sat down first and then said, “It’s fine, no need to be nervous. Just a casual chat.”
“Um… okay.” Flora hesitated for a moment, then sat on the other side.
Once Flora was settled, Lias spoke first. “Flora, I have something I want to say to you regarding what happened just now at the banquet.”
“Hmm? What does Your Majesty wish to say?”
“Your speech contained ideas that struck straight at the core, and you had the straightforward courage to express your heart. It was commendable.”
“However, I must also remind you that your direct way of expression and its underlying nature are precisely what might become a sharp blade that hurts you in such settings—and potentially others at the same time.”
Flora remained silent. What Lias said wasn’t without merit.
“But I understand now that this is simply your personality, so it’s not entirely blameworthy. Just find a balance and protect yourself.”
“Also,” Lias continued, “your request to have Xueli open the gift box in private was a bold choice. Because of it, you might face rumors, doubts, and accusations. This kind of thinking doesn’t seem like something Ilya taught you.”
“And because of this incident, I’ve finally come to understand your character.”
Flora gave a bitter smile in her heart. ‘I really don’t want Lias to know that I didn’t actually know the gifts had to be revealed publicly at first.’
‘By the time the bat doll was finished and it was too late to change anything, only then did I find out the gifts needed to be shown.’
“I hope you can do better in this regard in the future, but don’t lose ‘yourself’ because of it.”
“Yes, thank you for the reminder, Your Majesty.”
The two of them sat quietly on the soft couch. After finishing their conversation, they fell silent. Flora sat with her eyes closed for a while.
Feeling that enough time had passed, she decided it was time to head to the room they had prepared for her.
“Majesty Lias, where is the room prepared for me?”
“It’s to the north. I’ll have a maid lead you there in a moment.”
“I see, thank you.” Flora stood up.
“Wait,” Lias suddenly said to Flora.
“Is something the matter, Your Majesty?”
“Xueli… she is used to locking all her emotions inside a ‘box of propriety.’ Although I don’t know what gift you gave her, it is certainly an attempt to pry open that lock.”
Lias spoke with a hint of caution, which wasn’t her usual style. Her tone carried a rare, complex emotion belonging to a mother.
“The one prying the lock must have patience, and also… be prepared for whatever might escape from the box.” Lias’s voice deepened as she reached the end.
“…I understand. Thank you.”
Flora paused. She saw the expectation and nervousness in Lias’s heart and understood her warning.
Soon, a maid arrived and led Flora to the room prepared for her.
Flora opened the door and looked inside.
It was a very ordinary room with a large, soft-looking bed and a small fireplace that made the whole room warm and cozy. It was simple, but enough for Flora, who was only staying for one night.
“Is Your Highness satisfied?” the maid behind her asked.
“Yes, it’s fine. You may leave; I want to rest for a bit.”
Flora waved her hand and walked into the room.
She gently closed the door with both hands, walked to the fireplace, and knelt down.
She reached out toward the tail of the flames. As the red light drew closer to her palm, a warm sensation spread through it. Her muscles slowly relaxed and stretched with the heat.
Moving a bit closer, the warmth continued to increase and gather, the heat in her palm gradually turning into a slight intensity. But for Flora, this temperature still felt very comfortable.
This tangible and real warmth was something Flora hadn’t touched in a long time, nor had she ever paid it this much attention or care.
Between this warmth and the cold of the outside world, there was a distinct boundary, naturally forming a contrast.
‘I wonder if Xueli has seen the gift I gave her yet…’
Flora lightly touched her finger to her face, feeling the temperature called warmth on her cold cheek.
***
Meanwhile, in Xueli’s room.
Xueli dragged her exhausted body into the room, yet she still walked upright.
She had previously asked a maid to place the gift on the table in her room. Now that she was finally finished with her duties, she had returned.
Flora had told her to open it only when she was alone. So, what exactly could the gift be?
Xueli sat in a chair, her hands folded on the table. She leaned slightly to the side, her eyes occasionally opening and closing, but her gaze was always fixed on the blue box.
‘I’m so tired. I’ll open it in a moment.’
Xueli’s face lacked its usual calmness and aloofness; there was only an indescribable exhaustion.
Her palm rested quietly on the table, but her fingers were still subconsciously tapping against the surface.
Xueli closed her eyes. Her heartbeat gradually stabilized, but her brow remained furrowed. It was always like this.
After about two minutes, Xueli sat up and looked at the blue box with weary eyes.
When she opened her eyes again, the exhaustion in them had vanished.
‘The gift probably isn’t a book.’
‘A book wouldn’t need such a large box.’
‘Then what exactly is it…?’
Xueli didn’t overthink it further and simply opened the lid of the box.
She looked inside—
*Thump!*
Her heartbeat, which could almost never be disturbed by the outside world, skipped a whole beat at this moment.
‘This is a… bat doll?’
Xueli’s hand reached for the gray surface of its own accord.
‘It’s fuzzy.’
Her hand remained out of her control; the tip of her index finger pressed lightly against the gray fleece, as if unable to pull away.
Her eyes were fixed on the doll lying quietly in the box.
‘This feeling of being out of control… what exactly is it…?’
She took out the gray doll and gave it a gentle squeeze with her fingers.
It felt somewhat warm, furry, and very comfortable to the touch. Furthermore, it was soft when squeezed.
How long had it been since she had felt this?
That kind of warmth that touched the heart…
Xueli gently pulled it into her embrace, feeling the temperature radiating from it.
Warmth. A rare warmth.
The temperature remaining in her body slowly concentrated in her chest. Xueli’s eyes gradually closed, and her consciousness slowly relaxed.
‘It really… feels good.’
She almost fell into a deep sleep just like that.
‘No…’
‘Wait!’
Xueli suddenly opened her eyes, seemingly startled by her own thoughts.
‘Why… why would Flora give me a bat doll?’
Xueli’s pair of crimson eyes stared intently at the bat doll in her hands, her slit pupils contracting sharply.
‘This doll…’
Xueli suddenly noticed the face of the bat doll.
A smiling expression.
So familiar, so real.
‘Could it be…?’
For some reason, Xueli looked back into the box and discovered a small note lying inside.
Her hand paused over the slip of paper.
Xueli carefully picked up the tiny note.
“May it accompany you in every moment you need warmth.”
Xueli subconsciously read it aloud as her eyes followed the words.
‘Flora, she’s…’
‘Is it possible…?’
Xueli’s thoughts came to a halt.
An absurd thought slowly surfaced from the depths of her heart.
“No, it’s impossible…”
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