Ilya raised her eyes and glanced at her. That rare trace of emotion had already vanished, replaced by her usual calm. She didn’t speak, only offering a soft “Mhm” in response.
Then, she picked up a piece of bread again, dipping it steadily into the sauce this time. Her posture returned to its unhurried grace, as if that fleeting moment had never happened.
But Flora knew that she had indeed seen it. Moreover, Mother was not displeased by being seen or by her reminder.
The herb roasted chicken that followed was tender and juicy, the black pepper venison steak was rich with gamey flavor, and the new dish, wild mushroom risotto, brought the umami of the mushrooms to its absolute peak.
Even Ilya couldn’t help but give a brief affirmation: “It has a rather natural flavor.”
Flora ate with unprecedented satisfaction. Every bite was a memory, and every bite was also a new experience, because she was no longer alone. Now, Ilya was willing to accompany her in tasting the past and sharing the present.
Right then, Flora felt a group approaching from behind. They sat down at a table very close to them. She heard their conversation, and in an instant, she froze as if turned to ice.
A hurricane seemed to howl through her mind, blowing away all her thoughts and leaving behind nothing but a blank void.
“Eileen, let’s sit here.”
The moment Flora heard that voice, something surged within her.
The voice rushed up with memories from the depths of her soul that had grown slightly blurred — that familiar voice, that familiar tone, and those words… ‘It’s Cole!’
Following that brief void came a sudden clarity. She lifted her head almost instantly, looking toward the direction of the voice.
There were three people. Each was incredibly familiar, yet also slightly different.
It was them — Eileen, Cole, and Kaan. They all looked well, and Kaan had returned to normal. However, they were still somewhat different from how Flora remembered them.
Flora watched them sit down. Eileen sat on one side while Cole and Kaan sat on the other; they seemed to have just come for a meal.
Eileen picked up the menu first, her movements incredibly practiced, a sight that was equally familiar to Flora.
Flora quickly pulled her gaze back and stopped looking at them. If she looked for too long, it would be easy for them to notice her vigilance. She could not continue to stare.
She turned her gaze toward Ilya, but her auditory attention remained fixed on their side.
There was no change on Ilya’s end. She maintained her normal sitting posture and normal gaze, savoring the food on the table at her usual pace as if nothing had happened.
However, at that moment, Ilya’s gaze met Flora’s.
She seemed to already know what had happened, appearing to see through every thought in Flora’s mind as she gave a slight nod. Then, her right index finger lightly tapped the tabletop.
The sound was so small it was almost drowned out by the clamor of the restaurant, but Flora saw the rhythm and order clearly — it was a secret signal Ilya had once taught her, meaning: Mind your boundaries.
Flora pursed her lips and then slowly relaxed them.
She understood Ilya’s meaning — ‘You can do what you want, but don’t overdo it. I am always watching, and I will help you.’
She took a deep breath, concentrated her attention, and continued to listen in the direction of Eileen and the others.
“Eileen, this is the first time we’ve brought you out for a big meal since your recovery. Don’t worry about how much it costs; just be happy and order whatever you want to eat,” Kaan spoke first, his tone gentle and encouraging.
Flora felt a slight tremor in her heart upon hearing this.
“Mhm, okay. I can’t eat much anyway, so you two should eat more,” Eileen said softly. Although she sounded relaxed, there was still an undetectable tremble in her voice.
“If there’s anything you want to eat, just say it. We can help you,” Cole added.
But when he saw Eileen’s lips trembling slightly, he realized what he had said and froze for a moment, not knowing how to continue.
“You and your Crow’s Mouth — didn’t I tell you already?” Kaan whispered to Cole. His voice was very faint, but Flora’s focused perception still captured the hushed words.
After about ten seconds, Cole spoke again. “Eileen, don’t think too much right now. Just focus on tasting the delicious food. Cheer up; didn’t we come out to eat just to be happy?”
Flora lowered her head, her fingertips tightening slightly.
“Mhm…” Eileen responded softly, as if in agreement.
The corners of her eyes twitched slightly as if something were about to pour out, but she forced it back, leaving only a faint trace of moisture in the corner of her left eye.
Ilya looked at Flora, who had her head lowered, and stood up soundlessly to sit beside her without making a single noise.
She extended her left arm, pulling Flora into a gentle yet firm embrace. That warmth traveled through the soft fabric to Flora’s skin and deep into her body.
That motherly warmth caused Flora’s body to gradually relax, followed by an instinctive urge to lean on her.
Flora closed her eyes and leaned gently to the right, nestling into Ilya’s embrace.
Ilya said nothing, simply maintaining the posture. Flora did the same, leaning against her quietly.
Eileen gazed aimlessly at her surroundings: hunters clinking glasses and laughing, friends enjoying fine food — everything was perfectly ordinary.
Suddenly, her gaze landed on two people not far away.
It seemed to be a… mother and daughter?
They were out of place in this environment. The daughter was nestled in the mother’s embrace with her eyes closed and her breathing steady, looking peaceful and secure.
The mother held her gently, her head leaning slightly against her, her expression tender and serene.
They were out of place, yet so heart-warming.
Eileen watched for a moment, an indescribable sourness rising in her heart and gently twisting in her chest.
The two sat there quietly, like a pure and beautiful painting — quiet, soft, making one want to get closer yet not dare to disturb them.
Eileen forced herself to look away. That scene was too beautiful; it was beautiful like a dream she didn’t dare to touch.
She crossed her hands on the table and bent her back slightly, burying her face between her arms.
‘What was this sourness?’
‘Was it envy that the girl could rely on someone so safely? Was it a longing for that unspoken intimacy? Or… in that moment, did I see another possibility — ‘
‘If Big Brother were still here, if Father were still here, or even that mother I never met…’
‘Would they also sit quietly in a bustling restaurant like this one day? Could I… also just depend on someone? Could I just be wrapped tenderly in this wordless warmth?’
“What’s wrong, Eileen?” Kaan asked with concern, noticing her leaning over the table.
“It’s nothing. I’m just a little tired and want to rest for a bit,” Eileen’s voice came from her sleeves, devoid of extra emotion, just a perfectly normal explanation.
“That’s good. No rush. The food will be out in a moment, and you can eat slowly then.”