Celia’s eyes fluttered open, her blurred vision slowly sharpening until the familiar ceiling came into focus.
A faint ache throbbed in her neck, prompting her to reach up and gently massage it. To her surprise, a silver-haired beauty sat by her bedside, eyes closed in a peaceful slumber.
‘Lena?’
A sharp gasp escaped her.
Just then, a deluge of memories flooded her mind. She recalled the beast tide, and Orl, who had sworn to protect them, suddenly striking her down, rendering her unconscious.
‘That despicable butler! How could he betray his word?’
“Then where am I…?”
She glanced around, realizing she was, in fact, in her own room.
‘What happened?’
Orl had knocked her unconscious, surely intending to take her away from Vidona. Why, then, was she back in her own bed?
And what about Lena?
Her gaze drifted to the silver-haired beauty, still slumbering by her bed. For some inexplicable reason, a trace of weariness etched itself upon Lena’s serene features.
Had Lena been by her side, tending to her throughout her unconsciousness?
‘Just like… a true mother.’
A profound warmth bloomed in Celia’s heart. She carefully pushed back the covers, her movements deliberate, fearful of disturbing Lena’s peaceful rest.
To her dismay, however, Lena stirred and awoke, roused by Celia’s subtle movements.
Lena elegantly tucked a strand of silver hair behind her ear. Seeing Celia sitting up in bed, a natural smile graced her lips.
“You’re awake?”
“Mm.”
Glancing down at the clean pajamas she wore, Celia knew instantly that Lena must have changed her clothes. It also seemed Lena had given her a thorough wash while she was unconscious.
Her skin felt pristine, carrying the delicate scent of jasmine. Yet, the thought of being utterly exposed during the cleansing brought a deep flush to her cheeks.
Never in her life had anyone seen her body, let alone meticulously bathed her.
Celia stole a quick glance at Lena. Seeing her expression remained perfectly normal, Celia’s blush deepened, spreading from her cheeks down to her slender neck, as if she were intoxicated.
‘Doesn’t Lena feel shy?’
‘I’m practically dying of embarrassment!’
Patting her cheeks, Celia forced herself to redirect her thoughts. She cleared her throat, feigning seriousness, then asked, “Wasn’t Orl taking me away? Why am I back here?”
“Silverbloom rescued you.”
“Ah, I see.”
It made sense. Only the Silverbloom Sword Princess could compel the faithless Orl to return her.
“What about the beast tide?”
“Silverbloom resolved that as well.”
‘The Silverbloom Sword Princess truly went through a lot,’ Celia thought, silently thanking her idol. Then, she turned her attention to Lena. “You weren’t hurt, were you?”
“Is Celia worried about me?”
“Huh? You’re our landlady, of course I’d be concerned about you!”
Unconsciously, Celia conjured an excuse to mask her genuine concern. She crossed her arms over her chest and averted her gaze.
“How could anything happen to me? The moment the beast tide erupted, I immediately took refuge in the shelter.”
“That’s good. But Lena, don’t assume that just because you know the Silverbloom Sword Princess, you’re safe from demonic beasts. She can’t always be there to rescue you at a moment’s notice.”
“I understand. Thank you for the reminder, esteemed Hero.”
“Huh? ‘Esteemed Hero’? I’m speaking the truth, Lena! You really need to take my words to heart!”
Lena’s playful teasing made Celia pout. In her eyes, the landlady’s words were nothing more than a casual dismissal.
Lena, however, merely chuckled, covering her mouth with a hand. “Of course you’re an esteemed Hero. After all, didn’t you pass the assessment? From now on, you’ll be true Heroes.”
Celia scratched her head. With Lena’s reminder, the memory of passing the Hero assessment resurfaced, and her lips curled into an uncontrollable, wide smile.
After half a year of relentless effort, achieving the desired outcome was cause for immense joy for anyone.
“Congratulations. I knew you would succeed.”
“Our success owes a great deal to you, Lena. If not for your meticulous care, we might not have been able to focus on our training.”
“Celia, your words are as sweet as honey.”
“It’s simply the truth.”
Celia swung her legs out of bed, adjusted her pajamas, and then moved towards the wardrobe. She began sifting through it, pulling out several pretty dresses.
Seeing this, Lena suddenly recalled something. “Oh, right,” she said. “Isha mentioned there’s a celebratory dinner tonight. Don’t forget.”
“Got it.”
Celia remembered that even before the assessment had begun, Isha had excitedly planned a celebratory dinner, intending to invite Lena, Sharlene, and the Silverbloom Sword Princess.
She hadn’t expected Isha to be so impatient, though. ‘That little glutton probably couldn’t resist the allure of food any longer,’ Celia mused.
Selecting a particularly beautiful off-shoulder dress, Celia fixed her gaze on Lena. She maintained her stare until Lena, understanding the unspoken request, gracefully exited the room. Only then did Celia lock the door, shed her pajamas, and slip into the dress.
Opening the door, she found Lena waiting patiently outside. Together, they descended the stairs to the first-floor living room.
There, seated on the living room sofa, was the last person Celia wished to see: Orl.
Celia strode purposefully in front of Lena, shielding her behind her own body. Her gaze, cold and unwavering, fixed on the man in the black suit, leaning on his cane. The memory of him striking her unconscious still played vividly in her mind.
Orl slowly rose from the sofa. He was acutely aware of Celia’s intense wariness towards him, so he offered an awkward smile, hoping to diffuse the palpable tension.
“Ahem, Young Miss.”
“So, you still acknowledge me as ‘Young Miss’?”
Orl fell silent.
The frigid, hostile words made Orl’s lips twitch; he found himself utterly speechless. Beside them, Lena blinked, experiencing for the first time the true authority of Celia, the noble young lady.
Seeing Orl’s silence, Celia crossed her arms and let out a cold scoff. “What is it?” she challenged. “Have you come here to lay hands on Lena, hoping to force me to leave with you?”
Despite her seemingly strong demeanor, which had indeed startled Orl, Celia’s heart pounded with extreme nervousness.
Over the past six months, Lena had become one of her greatest vulnerabilities. If Orl were to harm her, Celia would be utterly helpless.
She was no match for Orl, and Lena was merely an ordinary person, powerless to resist if he chose to manipulate her. Ultimately, Celia knew she would be forced to return with Orl, sacrificing herself for Lena’s safety.
Even if the Silverbloom Sword Princess learned of it and came to rescue them, it would likely be too late.
Celia was convinced that Orl would stop at nothing to prevent her from becoming a Hero.
Yet, just as Celia braced herself for Orl’s inevitable move, the white-haired butler unexpectedly bowed, his demeanor profoundly respectful.
“You misunderstand me, Young Miss,” he stated, his voice devoid of his usual arrogance. “I am here to inform you that from this day forward, I will no longer meddle in your affairs.”