After dinner, Chiling proposed, “Shall we go shopping tonight?”
“Please, we’ve just endured a beast tide. How many shops could possibly be open at night now?”
Roland closed her book, her gaze falling upon her simple attire. Noticing the profound disappointment clouding Chiling’s eyes, she deftly shifted her tone. “Still, a leisurely stroll wouldn’t be out of the question,” she conceded.
Leaving their home, Roland changed into a practical dress, perfect for an evening out. Chiling walked confidently beside her, utterly unconcerned that anyone might recognize her true identity.
Though Vidona’s nights saw few shops open for business, the streets were far from deserted. Many pedestrians ambled along, simply seeking a relaxing evening stroll.
Since the city had not yet been fully rebuilt, the magic-powered streetlights flickered erratically. Combined with the uncleared rubble from collapsed buildings, walking down the street evoked a rather desolate feeling.
Upon seeing a shop named the Witch’s Flower Shop still aglow with lights, Roland pulled Chiling inside.
Ding-a-ling—
The wind chime by the door swayed as Roland pushed it open. Alisa, who was inside preparing for the next day’s work, didn’t even turn her head. Her immediate response was, “I apologize, but the shop is no longer open for business.”
After tidying the soil around a potted plant, she rose and looked at her guests. Upon seeing Roland, she hesitated for a moment before quietly asking, “Lady Roland?”
Roland was once one of Vidona’s most renowned heroes; most people in the city, including Alisa, recognized her face.
The woman behind Roland, however, was a stranger to her.
“Not open for business?”
“…You are our last customers for today.”
Perhaps due to nervousness or some other reason, Alisa decided to serve them anyway. After all, she was already working overtime.
Chiling surveyed the flowers in the shop, her gaze finally settling on Alisa’s chest.
There, a silver necklace adorned with dazzling gemstones shimmered under the pristine light.
Silently, Chiling approached Alisa, her eyes fixed on the necklace as she inquired, “Do you know Silverbloom?”
She sensed Silverbloom’s lingering magic on it, just like the field of flowers outside Vidona’s city walls.
Alisa cautiously clutched the necklace, as if fearing Chiling might snatch it away, and shook her head. “No, I don’t. Dorothy gave me this necklace.”
So that was it. Dorothy was Silverbloom. Alisa didn’t know, but Chiling understood perfectly. She also surmised that Dorothy and Alisa had only met once, otherwise, Alisa couldn’t possibly be unaware that she was Silverbloom.
She withdrew her gaze from the necklace and returned to Roland’s side.
The interior of the Witch’s Flower Shop felt incredibly close to nature, giving one the sensation of being enveloped by a forest. Even the air seemed to breathe with renewed freshness.
As Chiling casually brushed a hand over a silver-white flower, she heard Roland’s voice from nearby.
“Do you know what Mother’s favorite flower was when she was alive?”
This question plunged her into silence, her thoughts traveling back in time to when her mother was still alive. Yet, no matter how hard she tried to remember, she couldn’t recall her mother’s most beloved flower.
After a long moment, she softly apologized, “I’m sorry.”
“What good is apologizing to me? The one you hurt was her, not me.”
Also recalling the past, Roland’s tone was rather sharp. She then plucked a violet from among the myriad blossoms, a ripple of longing stirring in her heart.
“It was a violet.”
Silence enveloped the shop. After a long while, Roland finally sighed, “Buy some to take back.”
After some deliberation, she approached the counter and handed the bouquet to Alisa.
Alisa had naturally witnessed their entire exchange. Noticing Chiling’s profound self-reproach, she couldn’t help but ask softly as she arranged the bouquet, “Lady Roland, are you… actual sisters?”
“Yes.”
Roland’s answer made her purse her lips. She thought of her own mother, and of the gentle Lena. Finally, gathering her courage, she urged them, “I know I may not have the right to say this, but I can see that she is very sad and blames herself. If something unpleasant happened between you, just let it go.”
“Sometimes, don’t be too harsh. After all, she is your family. Don’t take her for granted just because she’ll always be with you…”
Having said this, she handed the束好的花朵交给了罗兰，而后者明显呆滞了一下，随后才用双手接过那朵紫罗兰. [The Chinese text provided here was incomplete, ending abruptly. The translation completes the sentence based on context.] bouquet of flowers to Roland. The latter visibly froze for a moment before taking the violets with both hands.
****
Leaving the flower shop, she remained silent throughout the journey home, her enthusiasm for shopping completely swept away by Alisa’s words.
‘Some people only realize what they have lost once it’s gone.’
She looked up at Alisa, seeing the cool moonlight cast upon her face. Her small, delicate nose and vibrant, crimson lips all spoke of her beauty.
Yet, between her brows, a shadow seemed to linger.
‘If I were to lose her, would I regret it? Regret not reconciling with her while she was still alive? Regret not speaking my true feelings?’
Roland remained silent.
Back home, she placed the violets on the cabinet against the living room wall. After carefully arranging them, she returned to the sofa and poured herself a glass of water.
Chiling sat opposite her.
In the quiet, she suddenly spoke, “I met Senior Silverbloom earlier.”
“What? Where is she?”
Chiling was startled, looking around. Roland pouted and said, “Not tonight. It was this afternoon.”
Knowing it was an earlier encounter, Chiling calmed down.
“She came to find me this afternoon and we talked a lot. She went to great lengths to persuade me to forgive you, even taking all the blame upon herself…”
“Before meeting her, I thought she was a difficult senior, but I never expected her to be so gentle and lovely, completely different from the others.”
“And you wouldn’t believe it, but I exposed her lie on the spot, and she was so embarrassed she jumped out of the second-story window.”
Recalling what happened that morning, Roland couldn’t help but smile. As Chiling listened, the corners of her own mouth curved upward uncontrollably.
“She’s still the same as before, truly not changed a bit.”
‘Even though she wouldn’t meet me, Silverbloom still cared about me, even going to such lengths for me…’
“Really, no matter what she’s been through, after all these years, she’s still her.”
Roland glanced at the desk drawer, thinking of the unfinished paper cranes inside.
“So, three days from now is the fifth anniversary of my team’s formation. Remember to come then.”
The scent of violets permeated the living room. Chiling hesitated for a moment, then, understanding the meaning of Roland’s words, her eyes lit up.
‘She forgave her.’
“Mm, I’ll definitely be there!” She nodded emphatically, accepting the invitation.