“It’s just as I expected,” Flora thought calmly as Kaan asked for their names and began wondering how to thank them.
“I am Flora Flan,” she said. “This is my mother, Lady Alison.”
Flora closed her eyes and paused for a moment. Eileen followed her gaze to see that Lady Alison had stood up from her chair at some point and was now standing beside them. Ilya merely gave a slight nod in greeting.
Eileen repeated the name silently in her mind. ‘Flora Flan.’ She then asked carefully, “Miss Flora, are you and the Lady in Qinglan Town on business?”
“Just passing through,” Flora said. “I heard the border trade here is quite interesting, so we decided to rest for a few days.”
“Then… where are you staying?” Eileen blurted out, her face flushing slightly as she realized the question was a bit abrupt. “I mean… you helped us so much today, but we haven’t even been able to host you or repay you—”
“The Twilight Heart Inn,” Flora replied briefly.
Eileen was stunned for a moment and exchanged a look with Kaan. She knew that inn; it was not cheap.
Cole rubbed his hands together nearby, speaking awkwardly.
“Miss Flora, if it weren’t for you tonight, we really wouldn’t know what would have happened… We don’t have much to repay you with, it’s just…” He trailed off, seemingly feeling that he had nothing worthy to offer.
Eileen suddenly looked up, her expression nervous as she watched Flora.
Her face was slightly red, appearing uncertain if the other woman would accept her invitation. “Miss Flora, will you still be in town tomorrow?”
Flora looked at her.
“I—I grow some flowers. Although they aren’t any rare breed, they bloom quite well,” Eileen said, gathering her courage.
“Could you and the Lady come sit at my home tomorrow? If you aren’t interested in the flowers, you could just visit. I can let you taste my cooking… Would that be convenient? It’s all we can really do, I’m sorry…” She took a breath, as if it took all her strength to say those words.
“I’ll be here,” Flora said flatly.
Eileen’s eyes were filled with hope, yet she still seemed afraid of being rejected. Flora lowered her eyes and looked at Ilya after about 1 second.
“That is fine,” Ilya said. Her tone remained unchanged, yet she gave a clear affirmation.
Eileen’s eyes lit up.
Flora’s gaze toward Ilya became somewhat complex.
“Thank you! Then… tomorrow morning, I will go to the inn to pick you up!”
“No need for that,” Flora said. “Just give me the address.”
Eileen quickly gave the name of the alley and the house number, repeating it twice for fear that Flora might remember it incorrectly.
Flora listened without saying a word. Only she knew that she was more familiar with that alley and that house number than anyone else.
Kaan pulled a few silver coins from his robe and placed them on the table with a bit of embarrassment. “Miss Flora, I’m truly grateful for today. I have a little money here; please see if this is enough…”
Flora glanced at the silver coins, then at his rough fingers and frayed sleeves.
“No need,” she said, doing her best to keep her voice level.
Although Flora’s expression remained steady, her heart was in turmoil. Suppressing her emotions, her worries, and those unspeakable secrets had already drained her strength, and now there were signs of them leaking out.
Although she had anticipated this before coming, she realized how difficult suppression truly was now that she was in the situation.
She desperately wanted to tell them the truth, to tell them who she was, and to show them that she still cared for them… but she couldn’t do it now.
“There is no need for such gratitude,” Flora continued. “Knowing your intentions is enough.”
This gave them a way to back down. Kaan nodded gratefully and took back the silver coins.
Some favors were best kept in the heart; saying too much would only make things awkward. Eileen could tell that Miss Flora was a woman of few words and did not like being thanked repeatedly.
Cole wanted to say something else, but Eileen gently tugged on his sleeve.
Flora turned and looked back at Ilya. Ilya was adjusting her sleeves and didn’t ask anything. She didn’t look toward Kaan’s side, simply confirming with Flora, “Back to the inn?”
“Yes.”
Flora and Ilya walked toward the door side by side. Eileen stood where she was, watching Flora’s retreating figure.
Her skirt swayed gently in the candlelight, her pace neither hurried nor slow. As she pushed the door open, she turned her head, revealing a portion of her fair neck.
The door opened and closed, and the light blue figure disappeared into the night. Eileen looked down at her fingers gripping the tablecloth and slowly let them go. Kaan and Cole said nothing, but they both stared at the door.
“…She’s truly a good person,” Eileen whispered.
Kaan still felt that faint sense of familiarity, but he couldn’t remember where he had seen Miss Flora before. From certain subtle details, she seemed like someone… but that was impossible.
***
Flora and Ilya returned to the inn.
The air outside was cold, but the room was very warm. When Flora entered, it felt like stepping from an ice cellar into a furnace room. The drastic change made her feel slightly uncomfortable.
She didn’t lie down to rest immediately or do anything else “meaningful.” Instead, she went straight to the window, pulled back the curtains just enough to leave a small gap, and looked outside. Then she pulled over a chair and sat down.
However, Ilya did not sit. She seemed to be thinking about something.
Flora didn’t notice at first. Due to the consumption of her mana and the exhaustion of the day, she closed her eyes and leaned against the back of the chair to rest.
After about 2 or 3 minutes, she relaxed slightly. Her consciousness “rebooted,” and when she opened her eyes, she didn’t see Ilya.
Looking around, she saw Ilya standing by the window.
“Mother, what… are you thinking about?” Flora asked, puzzled.
Ilya didn’t answer. She continued to look outside silently. Because her back was turned, Flora couldn’t see her current expression.
“Mother?” Flora asked again.
Ilya still didn’t respond.
Flora didn’t know if she was so focused that she hadn’t heard, or if she had heard but didn’t want to answer.
Having no way to judge, she began to guess what Ilya was thinking and what had just happened. Furthermore, Ilya had never been like this before.
This made Flora a bit nervous, as she was unsure of her mother’s current emotions and thoughts. What if there was some kind of problem?
They had just shared dinner, met Eileen and the others, and then run into Glen and his group. She had taught them a lesson, and then they had returned.
‘So… what could it be?’ Flora wondered.
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