Su Ling’s pupils trembled slightly. Tii’s scorching confession was like a fire, burning the tip of her heart until it ached.
She could feel Tii’s fingers tightening around her waist, a force that carried an undeniable meaning. The red-haired girl’s eyes were inches away, churning with emotions she couldn’t read.
Tii was serious…
That realization made Su Ling’s breath quicken.
She remembered the night Tii had led her running through the castle, the drops of blood that splattered when the red-haired girl blocked a hidden arrow for her, and that sly smile every time a prank succeeded.
Her heart felt tangled in both honey and thorns, sweet enough to hurt.
“I…”
Su Ling’s fingertips dug into the grass, the coolness of the soil seeping through her skirt.
In the distance, festive music drifted over, along with the laughter of children playing through the treetops. Everything was so bright and vivid—just as dazzling as the girl pressing down on her right now.
Tii’s eyelashes lowered, casting a small shadow on her cheeks. She maintained this almost dangerous posture, waiting quietly for an answer.
Su Ling suddenly noticed that her shoulders were trembling slightly. Under that forceful tone hid a fragility that was hard to detect.
‘So Tii gets anxious too…’
That discovery softened Su Ling’s heart completely.
She raised her hand to touch Tii’s cheek, feeling the other girl’s instant stiffness.
“I’m sorry…”
Su Ling’s voice was as light as a sigh.
“I can’t go with you.”
She could clearly see the emerald-like eyes dim, but Tii’s lips still stubbornly curved upward.
“Why? Because of His Majesty? Or Phil?”
“It’s not just that.”
Su Ling shook her head, her silver hair spreading out among the blades of grass.
“Sista needs help rebuilding the Royal City, and Phil only just came back to me…”
She paused, her fingertips gently brushing over Tii’s damp eye corners.
“And besides, Tii can’t let go of everyone in the city either, can you? I saw you secretly delivering medicine to the slums last time.”
Tii turned her face away, her hair falling to hide her expression.
“That kind of thing…”
“Most importantly—”
Su Ling suddenly pushed herself up, and in Tii’s surprised gaze, kissed her lips.
“What I love is the current Tii—the one who plays pranks, gets sulky, but is kinder than anyone else. If we really eloped, you wouldn’t be the Tii I know anymore.”
Sunlight streamed through the gaps in the leaves, dancing between them.
Tii was silent for a long time, then suddenly buried her face in Su Ling’s shoulder.
“…Idiot.”
Her voice came out muffled.
“Saying something like that at a time like this is too sneaky.”
Su Ling felt a warm wetness at her neck.
She wrapped her arms around Tii’s trembling shoulders.
In the distance, Phil’s calling voice came—the cat-eared girl seemed to have finally mustered her courage to come back.
Tii jerked her head up, her eye corners still red, but she had already put on that familiar mischievous smile.
“Since you won’t elope with me—”
She quickly licked Su Ling’s earlobe.
“Next time we go on a date, you’re compensating me with three times the time, got it?”
Without waiting for Su Ling’s reply, the red-haired girl had already agilely rolled to her feet.
When she looked back, the sunlight gilded the tips of her hair with gold. That flashy grin seemed unchanged.
“Oh, and tell that grumpy little kitten for me—”
Her trailing voice dissipated in the wind.
Su Ling only caught a glimpse of her moving lips.
When Phil ran up, panting, she only saw the silver-haired girl sitting on the grass with a bright red face.
“She, she…”
Su Ling stammered, gesturing wildly.
“Tii!”
Phil’s ears stood up alertly.
“Is she—”
“She didn’t do anything.”
“What?! No way I’m believing that!”
The cat tail bristled with a swoosh.
Phil was about to jump up, but then she noticed Su Ling’s swollen earlobe.
Her ears instantly flattened, golden pupils shrinking to thin slits.
“Sure enough, you two just now…”
Su Ling scrambled to her feet, her skirt still covered with grass clippings.
Under Phil’s burning gaze, she reached out and took hold of the other girl’s stiff hand.
“Alright, alright. Let’s head back to the castle.”
‘This is fine.’
Watching Phil’s expression gradually soften, Su Ling quietly tightened her grip on the small basket containing the blueberry pie—it was a treat she had bought for Sista.
The early summer wind brushed over the wall where the three of them had once sat side by side, carrying the sweet fragrance of apple wine.
Maybe someday, they would find a way to get along without hurting anyone.
Until then, this clumsy drawing closer would have to do.
On the way back to the city, Phil walked ahead with an angry puff, her tail held high, occasionally glancing back to glare at Su Ling as if silently accusing her of betrayal.
Su Ling could only follow, clutching the small basket of blueberry pie, occasionally muttering weak defenses:
“I really didn’t forget about you…”
“Hmph!”
Phil’s ears twitched, clearly not convinced.
The three of them returned to the castle together.
In the courtyard, Sista was sitting under the white carved pavilion, holding a heavy ancient book in her hands.
Sunlight streamed through the gaps in the vines, casting a soft halo over her silver-white long hair.
At the sound of footsteps, she looked up, her amethyst-like eyes curving slightly.
“Back?”
“Your Majesty!”
Su Ling’s eyes lit up as she trotted over, proudly holding up the basket.
“I brought blueberry pie!”
Sista’s gaze lingered for a moment on her slightly reddened lips, then swept over Phil following behind and Tii, who had somehow circled back again.
The smile at the corner of her mouth faded a fraction, but she still gently took the basket.
“Thank you, Su Ling.”
Tii lazily leaned against a pillar of the pavilion, twirling a silver fork she had somehow filched between her fingers.
“Your Majesty wouldn’t mind if we joined you for afternoon tea, would you?”
Sista looked up, her tone calm:
“Of course not.”
Phil sat directly next to Su Ling, her tail quietly wrapping around the other girl’s wrist as if silently asserting ownership.
The atmosphere stiffened for a moment.
Su Ling carefully cut into the blueberry pie, trying to ease the tension.
“Uh, um… the pie today turned out pretty well…”
Sista took an elegant bite and gave a slight nod.
“Yes, very sweet.”
Tii propped her chin on her hand, her green eyes glinting with mischief.
“Little Su Ling’s cooking is naturally good, after all—”
She deliberately drew out her words.
“I was the one who taught her, bit by bit.”
“Pfft—!”
Phil sprayed out her tea.
Su Ling nearly dropped her fork, her face instantly turning beet red.
“T-Tii!”
Sista paused in her movements, slowly setting down her teacup.
The bottom of the cup met the saucer with a crisp ding.
“It seems a lot happened while I was away.”
Her voice was still gentle, but it carried an unmistakable chill.
Su Ling shrunk her neck, like a hamster caught stealing food, her gaze darting away.
Sista stood up, looking down at her, and extended a hand.
“Su Ling, come back with me.”
Su Ling instinctively started to rise, but Tii pressed her shoulder down firmly.
“Your Majesty.”
Tii spoke with a smile, but her eyes were sharp as blades.
“There’s something you still owe me.”
Sista narrowed her eyes.
“What?”
“Back in the castle, I was the one who confessed to Little Su Ling first.”
Tii enunciated each word, her fingers lightly caressing Su Ling’s shoulder.
“And besides, Little Su Ling didn’t reject my feelings either.”
The air dropped to freezing point.
Sista’s gaze slowly shifted to Su Ling’s face, her voice cold enough to freeze.
“So you mean, before me, you were already that intimate with another woman?”
Su Ling’s whole body stiffened. Her lips trembled, but she couldn’t refute it.
“I…”
She hung her head low, her fingers twisting in her skirt.
“I just…”
Sista’s fingertips gently lifted her chin, forcing her to meet her eyes.
“Answer me, Su Ling.”
Su Ling’s eye rims reddened, her soft voice carrying a hint of grievance.
“I… I just… didn’t want to make Tii sad…”
Sista was silent for a moment, then suddenly let out a soft laugh.
But the smile didn’t reach her eyes.
“I see.”
She released her hand and turned to leave.
But Su Ling instinctively grabbed her sleeve.
“Sista…”
Sista didn’t look back, only said flatly:
“Come to my bedroom tonight.”
“We’ll talk properly.”
With that, she walked straight away, her back elegant yet distant.
Phil and Tii exchanged a glance, the atmosphere tense and strained.