A sharp, throbbing pain pulsed through my head as I stirred awake. It felt as though my skull might split open. I winced, pressing my fingers against my temples, trying to steady the pounding.
The room was dim, bathed in the soft glow of midday light filtering through the curtains. As my vision cleared, I noticed Celestina seated beside Inaya, who lay asleep, her face pale and serene.
𝘓𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘭𝘭.
"You're late!" Celestina's voice cut through the silence, startling me. "Do you even know what time it is? It's already noon."
I blinked, confused. "Eh? I'm pretty sure I didn't say that out loud... Wasn't I just thinking it?"
"You were," she replied nonchalantly.
"Then how the heck did you know what I was thinking?"
She smirked. "I know because I can read minds."
"Since when?!"
"Since the day I was born," she said with a shrug.
I stared at her, processing the revelation. "So... you've been reading all our thoughts this whole time?"
"It's not like I want to, dummy," she retorted. "It just happens."
"Hey, that's not fair!"
"Not my problem," she said, crossing her arms. "Inaya knows about it. She didn't bark at me like you're doing now."
I glanced at Inaya, her breathing steady but shallow. "If it's already noon, why is she still sleeping?"
"She's sick," Celestina replied, her tone softening slightly.
I frowned, concern creeping in. "Where is everyone else? My head is killing me."
"They're all having lunch by now," she said.
"They woke up really early, I guess."
"Well, Inaya was the first to wake up," Celestina noted.
"Then why is she still sleeping?"
She sighed, exasperated. "Are you really that dense? I just told you—she felt sick after waking up, so she went back to sleep."
"Ah, got it..." I murmured, rubbing my temples. "I think I'll head to the kitchen now."
Celestina nodded, her gaze returning to Inaya.
"You should eat. You'll need the energy for what's coming," she finally said.
After I made my way to the kitchen, the room was almost silent. The only person there was Uncle Zeno, busy at the stove.
"You're late again, Shin," Uncle Zeno said, flashing his usual warm smile.
"Yeah… looks like I have to eat alone again," I replied, scratching my head as I took a seat.
Uncle Zeno started preparing lunch for me, the scent of warm spices filling the air. Just a few minutes later, footsteps echoed softly against the tiled floor. I turned and saw Sergio enter the kitchen, his presence calm but unmistakable. He sat beside me.
"You were good last night," he said with a faint grin.
"I don't think so," I muttered, lowering my gaze to the table. Then I looked up again, curious. "Anyway, why are you here? I don't think I've ever seen you in the kitchen before."
Sergio answered, his tone as composed "Must I have a rare motive simply to dine? Even a cleaner must heed the call of hunger when noon has long passed."
I blinked, slightly taken aback. But he was right—it was already quite late. Of course he was here for food. What was I even thinking?
After Sergio and I finished our lunch, I ordered some cold drinks. The sun was high, the air thick with the calm lull of a mansion that had finally found its breath after a storm of events. Just as I took my first sip, Celestina walked in.
"Enjoying yourselves without me?" she teased, hands on her hips.
"We're just having cold drinks," I replied casually, raising my glass slightly.
Sergio leaned back in his chair, eyes cool as ever. "And how is the condition of your beloved Inaya now ?" he asked, the corners of his mouth curved in amusement.
"No progress," Celestina replied, her tone shifting with concern as she took a seat beside me. "She's still sleeping… and sweating. I don't know what's going on with her."
I sat in the middle chair, now flanked by both Sergio and Celestina. The mood was light, but something tugged at the back of my mind.
"Well, Celestina... there's something I've been meaning to ask," I began. "You mentioned prince Lucien's brother once—what was his name again? Right—Tristan. Prince Tristan. Who really released him from Aurora Aether?"
Sergio's expression shifted in an instant. "Wait—you told them about me?!" His voice rose, sharpened with disapproval.
"I only told Shin and Inaya," Celestina said nonchalantly, waving her hand. "They have every right to know. Don't be childish."
"You—" Sergio began, but I cut in quickly.
"Alright, you two, stop it now," I said. "I brought this up because it's about all of you. So how about telling me the other half of the story? Celestina—say it."
Sergio smirked and turned to her, his voice ever composed, laced with that noble undertone. "Well then, Lady Celestina, do grant us the honor. Surely you are not losing interest simply because you, too, play a part in this tale?"
"Oh come on now, I'm not like you," she shot back with a scoff.
I grinned. "Hey, hey, Celestina—ugh, your name is way too long to call out every time. Can I just call you Cel?"
"Whatever," she said, folding her arms.
"Can I?"
"As I said—whatever. You can call me Cel." Her voice had risen in irritation, but by the end, it softened.
Sergio let out a low chuckle. "It appears you've earned yourself a new companion, Lady Celestina."
"Look who's talking," she retorted with a smirk.
"Okay, okay!" I waved my hands. "No more teasing. Now tell me the story, Cel!"
Celestina leaned back, the shadows of the afternoon catching the edge of her green hair . "Alright then. Let's go to the story."