Chapter 54: Isn’t This Also Quite Good?

Lin Shu had insomnia, tossing and turning in bed for a long while without falling asleep.

She sat up and knelt on the mattress.

The bed happened to be facing the window. Lin Shu leaned against the headboard and looked through the glass at the garden scenery below.

A speck of blue in the center of the garden stood out among the other colored roses.

It was the Moon-Night Rose she and Seraphina had planted together. The seedling emitted a faint glow in the night.

Countless times, Lin Shu wanted to ask Seraphina: What was the deal with the old room and the old maids, and why exactly was she avoiding her?

But as the words reached the tip of her tongue, she feared the answer.

‘If I reveal the truth, will Seraphina be sad?’

She did not want to see Seraphina looking miserable.

Lin Shu stared at that small point of light for a while, remembering Seraphina’s smile. The grievance blocking her heart eased slightly.

Compared to the neglect and indifference she received while by Leah’s side, at least here with Seraphina, she was someone who mattered.

Even though Seraphina no longer let her participate in family affairs, she would comfort her and purposefully bring gifts back for her.

‘I don’t have her love all to myself, but at least I get a part of it.’

“Isn’t this also quite good?”

Lin Shu talked to herself, trying to offer some comfort.

She looked up into the mirror; the smile on her lips was a bit forced.

***

The next day, when Lin Shu went to find Seraphina as usual, she discovered she wasn’t in her room.

“The Family Head seems to have gone to see Miss Eve,” a passing maid said to Lin Shu.

‘Huh?’

‘Does Seraphina have business with Eve?’

Lin Shu walked to the fourth floor. Through the open door, she saw Seraphina’s back.

She was talking to Eve.

Two puppets Lin Shu had never seen before stood beside Eve. They looked similar but were expressionless. They were slender and dressed in one black and one white ballet tutu.

“Excuse me…” Lin Shu spoke softly. “May I come in?”

The two puppets suddenly jumped and bumped into each other, making a loud clatter.

They spun around in a frantic scramble before finally rushing behind Eve’s wheelchair and crouching down.

But because the puppets’ bodies were too large, half of them stuck out from behind the wheelchair. The flared edges of their tutus made them look like hiding ostriches.

Lin Shu looked at them, dumbfounded. “Did I scare them?”

‘Aren’t they… ballet dancers?’

Eve’s gaze darted around, and she raised a hand to scratch her cheek. “No, they—”

She instinctively looked toward Seraphina as if asking for help.

“They’re just a bit shy.” Seraphina turned around and naturally picked up the conversation for her. “These are the new puppets Eve made. Do you want to take a look, Little Cutie?”

“Is it okay?” Lin Shu hesitated as she walked toward them.

The two ballet puppets stood up. They suddenly stepped forward generously and struck a starting ballet pose.

At the mention of her work, Eve instantly became energized, her eyes shining. “Arms, feet, have weapons.”

The ballet puppets elegantly raised their arms and kicked their legs. Sharp blades extended from their wrists and the soles of their feet.

“Joints, flexible, three-fold.”

Eve introduced them incessantly. “To fight the Sa—”

“Sage? Great Sage is a good name, isn’t it?” Seraphina interrupted Eve with a smile, snatching the conversation away.

“Gr… Great Sage?” Lin Shu blinked in confusion. “Eve, are you sure?”

‘No matter how I hear it, that ruins the puppets’ aesthetic, doesn’t it?’

Eve looked like she had a breath stuck in her chest, her face turning red from the effort. She quickly lowered her head and turned her wheelchair around. “Mmm, whatever works. I’m done talking.”

Lin Shu looked at her back as she began to fiddle with other accessories.

‘I feel like Eve had something she didn’t finish saying. And what did she say they were going to fight?’

“Master, did you come to find Eve for some new arrangement?” Lin Shu looked at Seraphina, deciding to return to the main topic.

Seraphina nodded. “Eve and I are preparing to head out shortly.”

Lin Shu’s heart tightened. ‘She’s taking Eve? Surely this won’t be simple.’

She hurriedly followed up, “Is it something dangerous?”

“Don’t be nervous, Little Cutie.” Seraphina laughed easily. “We’re just going to find an old friend of Eve’s.”

“Alright.”

Lin Shu had already accepted that Seraphina would not take her along on outings.

She turned around. “Then I will go help Master prepare the things for the trip.”

Ending the conversation, Lin Shu walked out of the room. Her peripheral vision caught the room at the end of the hallway. Her heart leaped, and she quickly looked away.

‘It’s okay, Lin Shu. Regardless, Seraphina’s kindness is directed at you.’

‘Even if it’s not all of it, that tenderness is meant for you.’

She comforted herself.

***

Soon, the carriage for Seraphina’s departure was parked at the manor’s main gate.

Lin Shu loaded the luggage onto the carriage. Everything was ready.

“Lin Shu, Lin Shu.” Eve sat in her wheelchair, pushed by the Aila puppet until she stopped in front of Lin Shu.

She tugged on Lin Shu’s sleeve. “At home, protect, yourself.”

Lin Shu smiled. “I know. You’ve reminded me so many times already. What could happen to me at home?”

As she spoke, she pulled the key from around her neck, gesturing with it. “See? I’ve even put this protective charm back on. Don’t worry.”

Seraphina suddenly leaned in.

“Something meant to protect you shouldn’t be easily shown to others, Little Cutie.”

She held the key and carefully tucked it back inside Lin Shu’s collar.

“This trip might take a few days. But once it’s over, I can come back and stay with you for good.” Seraphina cupped Lin Shu’s face with both hands.

Lin Shu looked directly at her. “Master, don’t worry. I will stay home and be good.”

Despite her reluctance to let Seraphina leave, she said nothing.

If this was Seraphina’s wish, then she could endure a bit of grievance for a while.

Worst case scenario, helping Seraphina handle the internal affairs at home could also be a way to assist her.

Seraphina leaned over and, in front of Eve and all the maids seeing them off, kissed Lin Shu’s lips.

!

Lin Shu’s body went rigid.

Eve consciously raised her hand to cover her eyes.

The maids lined up on both sides of the gate also looked away one after another.

Seraphina quickly pulled her lips away, her red eyes reflecting Lin Shu’s image. Her voice was low and tender. “I like you.”

Lin Shu’s heart rate accelerated, and she gave a small smile.

“Goodbye, Little Cutie.” Seraphina and Eve sat in the carriage. Seraphina took one last look at Lin Shu before dropping the curtain.

Lin Shu waved her hand, watching as the carriage took flight and vanished.

She looked down at the glue in her hand. This was something Eve had suddenly realized she had overpacked before leaving, so she asked Lin Shu to take it back to the fourth floor.

Lin Shu climbed the stairs and returned to Eve’s spacious puppet workshop.

“I should just leave it here, right?” Lin Shu placed the glue on the table, talking to herself.

She looked around the room and suddenly realized something seemed to be missing.

The uniform line of puppets stood neatly against the wall, with only a few scattered puppet parts on the floor.

‘Huh?’

‘Those two puppets in the ballet tutus aren’t here? Did Eve take them with her?’