Lillian lowered her head and saw Ophelia’s smooth crown of hair, along with that unguarded profile resting on her lap.
Ophelia really did seem to be resting.
Her entire face had relaxed, replaced by an expression of ease.
Her long eyelashes fluttered slightly with her steady breathing.
Lillian began to think.
She thought about Ophelia’s purpose in doing this.
Was it her twisted sense of amusement?
Waiting for her to panic and push her away, then leisurely sit up with a wicked smile, enjoying her embarrassment.
Perhaps she had even sensed Lillian’s vigilance toward her.
Maybe right now, she was secretly chuckling in her heart?
However, Ophelia merely adjusted her posture, burying her cheek deeper in the folds of her skirt.
Like a cat that had found a cozy nest, she stretched lazily, her entire body relaxing, and then emitted a satisfied hum.
“Just like this… just a little while longer…” Ophelia’s voice carried a lazy nasal tone.
Lillian’s movement to get up froze.
She truly couldn’t tell if Ophelia was joking or genuinely wanted to rest.
The fatigue usually hidden beneath her graceful composure was now completely exposed before Lillian.
As a healer, it would be unreasonable to push away a ‘patient’ seeking a moment of peace.
Even if Ophelia was joking, Lillian wouldn’t doubt that her exhaustion was real.
When she had just observed Ophelia’s complexion, Lillian had confirmed the great pressure weighing on her.
Ah, how annoying.
She decided to just accept that Ophelia really wanted to rest.
Lillian hated this guessing game feeling.
She gave up resisting, her stiff body slowly relaxing.
The Study was eerily silent, broken only by their alternating steady breaths.
Occasionally, two bird calls sounded outside the window.
It felt as if time itself had slowed.
“Lia…” Ophelia mumbled indistinctly.
“Hm?” Lillian responded instinctively.
“You smell so nice…”
“……”
?
You.
Me.
Sigh.
A thousand thoughts condensed into a silent sigh.
Lillian’s hand wanted to move down but then hung suspended midair.
Where should she place it?
On her shoulder?
Would Ophelia feel uncomfortable?
After some thought, Lillian’s fingers finally settled on Ophelia’s soft, purple hair.
It felt silky—somewhat like that kind of chocolate that melts in your mouth.
Lillian could tell that the Ophelia resting on her lap had become even more relaxed.
“So tired…”
Ophelia murmured as if in a dream.
Her breathing then grew deeper and steadier.
Lillian inexplicably felt her heart soften.
She recalled the haughty princess she met at first sight, remembered the girl who choked up because she didn’t believe she would ever say, “This world is beautiful.”
She thought of the princess who had kissed her forcefully at the banquet, the proud and domineering aura, and the girl who, in front of Eleanora, had held back tears despite feeling so wronged.
Ah—
She was truly speechless.
How was it that one after another, they were all people who made her worry so much…
Sigh…
Lillian’s hand began to rhythmically and gently comb through Ophelia’s hair, just as she would do for Eleanora, from crown to tip.
Stroke after stroke.
Sunlight shifted across the floor, dust dancing in the beams.
Lillian kept the same position until her legs began to go numb.
The breathing on her lap had become incredibly even and deep.
Looking down.
Ophelia was sound asleep, her sleeping face peaceful and serene, the corners of her lips carrying a faint, elusive smile.
Lillian sighed and resignedly stopped all movement.
She closed her eyes and leaned back against the sofa.
The sun dipped low, the clouds outside tinged with a faint orange-red glow.
The Study’s light and shadow stretched accordingly, some dim daylight casting across Ophelia’s face.
Her eyelashes fluttered lightly as she slowly opened her eyes.
What met her gaze was not the Study’s ceiling, but a face peacefully sleeping close by.
Dark green hair draped down, lips slightly parted, breathing soft and steady.
Lillian had fallen asleep leaning against the sofa without her realizing.
The even breaths brushed Lillian’s blouse, touching Ophelia’s face.
She was asleep?
How long had she been sleeping?
Ophelia suddenly sat up, looking toward the window in a slight panic.
The day was late—had she really slept on Lillian’s lap all afternoon!?
Lillian was startled awake by her movement, rubbing her eyes as she sat upright, stretching her somewhat numb legs, mumbling, “Awake?”
Before she finished speaking, her own mind fully cleared, eyes snapping wide open—wait, I fell asleep?
Lillian, having nothing better to do, had practiced Spell Sigil Manipulation.
But by afternoon, she couldn’t resist the drowsiness and had fallen asleep as well.
Lillian looked at Ophelia.
Their eyes met, the air tinged with subtle awkwardness.
“Lia, how do you feel?” Lillian broke the silence first.
“Good, very good.” Ophelia answered about her feelings, though her heart said otherwise.
A few days ago, she had already regarded today’s private meeting as the start of her connection with Lillian.
She had planned to use this opportunity to gradually get closer, step by step, pressing forward, waiting for the right moment to make Lillian accustomed to her presence.
In the private meetings that followed, she would slowly and steadily get Lillian to yield.
Just like she had before.
But.
She…
Had in fact just slept on Lillian’s lap for almost a whole day!
No objective had been achieved!
She had even revealed her vulnerable side, and the image she had painstakingly built in Lillian’s eyes was on the verge of collapse!
Ophelia felt unwilling to accept this.
“That’s good. It’s getting late, Lia. I’ll be going first.” Lillian stood and walked toward the door.
Ophelia looked at Lillian, voice a bit dry: “Next week… will you come again?”
“Mm-hmm, of course. After all, it’s been agreed upon.” Lillian turned, her face wearing a gentle smile. “So, Lia, can you open the door now?”
Ophelia pursed her lips, walked to the desk, and took out a Silver Key.
She didn’t hand it to Lillian but went over and unlocked the door herself.
Passing by Lillian, she heard her softly say, “Rest well, Lia. I hope you have sweet dreams tonight.”
“Bang.”
The door closed gently from the outside.
Only Ophelia remained in the Study.
She walked behind the desk and slumped into the chair, powerless.
Her face showed a hint of reluctance—not having accomplished anything today.
And yet… a trace of lingering pleasure.
Lillian’s scent was truly comforting.
She wanted more.
Wanted to be closer.
Wanted to fall asleep holding Lillian.
…
After all, Lillian really was a gift bestowed by heaven…
But she was Eleanora’s maid.
Thinking of this, Ophelia felt inexplicably irritated.
She grabbed the thick Book on the desk—thick as a brick—and slammed it down on her head.
She couldn’t let Eleanora and Lillian keep going on like this!
Just imagining Lillian and Eleanora chatting happily where she couldn’t see—
Ophelia felt her heart scratched as if by a cat.