Outside the clamor of Chapel Square, inside a simple, tidy riverside room, Phil was hunched over her desk, exhausted from writing, her feet restlessly shifting beneath her.
Scattered across the desk were all sorts of dangling documents, densely covered in tangled notes about the series of affairs and reports following the Rebels’ occupation of the Baron’s Territory. Since Phil was the only one in the squad with decent handwriting, this task naturally fell to her.
“This is just too much…”
Phil muttered under her breath, her brow tightly furrowed, as if each stroke of the pen bore a weight of a thousand pounds.
She had once been nothing more than a palace maid, her concerns limited to her master’s daily life. Now, having to take on such vital work left her feeling overwhelmed.
At that moment, the Old Doctor, Blitz, pushed the door open and entered, carrying a cup of Hot Herbal Tea, which he placed by Phil’s hand.
“Phil, take a break. You’ve been working for several hours already.”
Phil looked up and managed to squeeze out a faint, tired smile.
“Oh, you really don’t have to fuss over me like this. There’s still so much work to do, I can’t afford to stop now.”
“Relax a little, you’re already doing a great job.” The Old Doctor gently patted Phil on the shoulder, speaking sincerely, “Phil, everyone in the squad appreciates your work. You don’t have to strain yourself so much.”
A glimmer of light flashed through Phil’s weary eyes, as if she’d been encouraged. “Really? But…”
“I know you’re still troubled by your past, but from now on, this is your true life,” Blitz looked at Phil with loving kindness, almost like a Grandfather.
“The cause we fight for won’t be accomplished overnight. The road ahead is still long. If one day the Captain and I fall, then the future of the Ship will be entrusted to the younger generation—to all of you.”
“I don’t have that kind of ability,” Phil said, shaking her head in self-mockery.
“There you go again, being modest, Phil.” Blitz chuckled, reaching up to tousle her hair.
“Don’t you want to save your good friend in the Capital? If you don’t have enough courage, you’ll never make it to that day.”
The image of Su Ling’s smile flickered through Phil’s mind. She felt a little moved, but didn’t show it, only silently continued writing on the paper before her.
“I’ll do my best…”
That night under the moon, she had already sworn to go to the Capital and rescue Su Ling from Moonlit Fortress through the Sea Route. Those precious memories with the Silver-haired Youth still often surfaced in her mind.
Phil no longer dared let Karin down, nor could she bear to disappoint herself. She had to become stronger—strong enough to fight the Blood Clan, strong enough to repay Su Ling for all she had taught her back then.
She pressed on, working on the papers in front of her.
“We’ll succeed.”
After the Rebels took over the territory, the Captain and the Commander held a short meeting to roughly finalize the plan for governing the land and their next steps for advancing the campaign.
Because the local people had suffered repression for so long, and because the border areas of the Kingdom of Ansels were already influenced by new ideas, public opinion issues were resolved smoothly.
With victory in the war, the Rebels quickly established a provisional political structure, restoring social order within the territory.
They abolished the Baron’s era’s various unfair and burdensome laws, and began to implement land reform policies—redistributing portions of land seized from the Blood Clan to the landless or poor farmers, hoping to ease social conflicts and lay a solid foundation for the territory’s long-term development.
In addition, they released those who had long been imprisoned and oppressed. The Blood Slaves and Blood Livestock who had been locked up in the dungeons were granted equal status and could once again see the light of day.
Although the Zeng Tribe, not wanting a violent conflict with Ansels, remained cautious in military cooperation, the Rebels, with broad popular support, managed to recruit some new members from among them. The force of resistance was growing stronger day by day, and the future seemed full of hope.
“It’s time to attack the next place.”
Setting aside the completed documents, Phil stood up and gazed at the night sky outside.
Tonight was another moonlit night.
In this quiet and deep night, silver-white moonlight fell on the walls of Moonlit Fortress, casting a faint silvery glow. When mealtime was over, the day’s heat in the castle gradually dissipated.
In a dimly lit room, drifting between dream and wakefulness, Su Ling vaguely sensed someone beside her.
Though she couldn’t make out the other’s face, the faint fragrance was unusually comforting. After a moment, she drifted back into sleep.
Tii sat on the edge of the bed, her gentle gaze resting on Su Ling’s neck, those dark, restless eyes hiding a suppressed longing.
Her hand softly brushed the strands of Su Ling’s hair that had fallen onto the pillow, and the touch beneath her fingertips sent a subtle ripple through her heart.
Ever since Su Ling resolutely insisted on keeping her distance, every time Tii saw her, a sour ache welled up inside. But she didn’t want to trouble Karin with her feelings, so she kept trying to restrain the joy in her heart.
She had planned to distance herself, but today, when tasked by the castle tower to deliver food to Su Ling, the usual servant suddenly took ill, so the responsibility fell to Tii.
Her heart was in turmoil, but along with her excitement came anxiety.
If Su Ling truly wished to keep her distance, would visiting her like this only bring her more pain?
Seeing the Silver-haired Youth still frowning in sleep, Tii felt her unease ease a little.
The Silver-haired Youth lay quietly on the bed, her breathing slow and even. The thin bedding clung softly to her skin, her collar slightly open, revealing a delicate collarbone and a patch of fair skin—making her appear even more enchanting in the dim light.
How she longed to touch her again.
A flush crept onto Tii’s cheeks. She took a deep breath, trying to calm the turbulent waters within her.
Kisses, embraces, or even more intimate things… how wonderful it would be to hear Su Ling call her name with that sweet, soft voice once more.
Though she told herself she must respect Su Ling’s choice, whenever she saw her, that deep affection, long hidden, would surge like a swelling tide, impossible to resist.
Tii’s hand hovered in the air for a moment, then, in the end, slowly fell. She couldn’t bear to disturb Su Ling’s peaceful sleep, nor did she want her love to become a burden to Su Ling.
So, she sat quietly to the side, afraid to wake the sleeping girl.
Tii’s gaze never once left Karin’s figure. How she wished this moment could last forever, allowing her to stay by Su Ling’s side for all time.
“Su Ling, can we really never go back to how things were?”
She whispered softly, though she knew there would be no answer.
“Sorry, I’ve made things difficult for you again…”
Seeing the girl remain motionless as before, Tii summoned up her courage and, recalling all those words she’d wanted to say, let out a few more, her voice as light as if it drifted from another world.
“In truth, I’ve always had a wish. I want to leave this place with Su Ling, to travel far, far away together…”
“They say that to the west of Ansels, there’s a vast Flower Sea. When the flowers are in full bloom, the blossoms and the evening mist on the horizon blend together like a fairyland.”
“When that day comes, let’s walk hand-in-hand among the flowers, far from the strife of this world, and build a house there, living together side by side.”
“I’ll earn lots of money, buy you beautiful clothes, keep the hearth warm, and make sure little Su Ling is happy… and everything…”
Saying this, Tii smiled at herself, her eyes tinged with red.
“How foolish… it’s all just my own wishful thinking.”
Her heart felt heavy. After tucking Su Ling in, she stood up softly and looked back at the sleeping Su Ling, reluctant to leave.
Just as she was about to go, a small hand suddenly tugged at the corner of her sleeve.
“Tii…”