“My letter says…”
Just then, Cook Amane knocked on the table.
“Alright, girls and boys, it’s getting late. That’s enough chatter for today.”
As she spoke, she began clearing the dishes off the table.
With that, the laughter and chatter in the room gradually died down. Everyone began to leave, returning to their respective duties or bedrooms.
Tii placed her letter back into the envelope and let out a soft sigh, as if releasing a burden from her heart. She looked up at Su Ling, and the two shared a knowing smile.
Su Ling stood and stretched. “Tii, what did your family say in their letter?”
“Haha, nothing much,” Tii said with a soft smile. “Just some trivial things.”
“Well then, I’ll say goodnight for now. Sleep well, Tii.”
“Mm, goodnight.”
Leaving the kitchen, a wave of fatigue hit her—it was time to get some rest.
The hallway was quiet, her footsteps the only sound echoing in the empty corridor. The dim lights flickered as if being consumed by the night, casting blurry shadows. Walking through them, Su Ling felt like she was drifting in a dreamlike haze.
Her mind replayed the amusing stories shared earlier by the other maids, and she found herself smiling unconsciously. In this eerie castle, nights like this were rare and relaxing.
At the end of the corridor, her room waited quietly. Su Ling reached her door, grasped the key with her slender fingers, and tried to unlock it.
Click—
But the door didn’t budge like it usually did. She frowned and tried again, but the lock didn’t move an inch.
Confused, she pressed against the door, trying to force it open with her body, but it felt like an invisible force was holding it shut.
She twisted the key again—still nothing. A bit of anxiety crept in. Was she really locked out?
What’s going on? Is the door broken?
But it was fine this morning…
She lowered the key and leaned against the door, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath. She told herself to stay calm—it wasn’t a big deal.
Now then… what should she do?
“Cough cough cough…”
Still recovering from a cold, she definitely didn’t want to sleep on the floor tonight. She had to find another solution.
The first person that popped into her mind was Tii.
“I guess I’ll have to bother her… I hope I’m not intruding…”
She glanced in the direction of Tii’s room.
Would she… be willing to help me?
Thinking that, she had already arrived at Tii’s door.
Su Ling gently knocked. After a few crisp knocks, Tii’s voice came from inside. “Who is it?”
“It’s me, Su Ling,” she replied weakly.
The door creaked open. Tii stood there, her rose-red hair loose and flowing, dressed in a soft pink nightgown. She didn’t seem very tired. Her emerald green eyes shimmered warmly under the dim hallway lights, as if they could chase away the chill of the night.
“Su Ling? What’s wrong? It’s so late—did something happen?” Tii asked with concern.
Su Ling gave a slightly awkward smile. “My room won’t open. I tried a few times and it won’t budge. I think the lock might be broken.”
Tii frowned slightly in concern. She lowered her head, thinking for a moment, then looked up and said, “If we’re going to unlock it, we’ll need tools from the storage room—but Karssana already went to bed, and she has the key to the tools.”
“Oh…”
Hearing that, Su Ling’s heart sank. Disappointment showed on her face as she lowered her head and let out a small sigh.
Tii saw her expression and quickly comforted her. “Don’t worry, Su Ling. Why don’t you just stay in my room tonight? Tomorrow, we’ll ask Karssana for the key and fix it then.”
“Eh? S-Stay here for the night?” Su Ling looked up, clearly surprised. “But—but—but Tii, you only have one bed!”
“We can share,” Tii said with a gentle smile. “You’re so petite, it won’t be a problem. It’s fine—we’re friends. Come on in, don’t just stand there. If you hesitate any longer, your cold might get worse.”
Wait, what?! Is this really happening? I’ve never slept in the same bed as another girl before!
Before Su Ling could fully process what was happening, her feet had already stepped into Tii’s room.
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