I Got Reincarnated as a Zombie Girl-Chapter 181 – Between Routine and Secrets

Night slowly blanketed the world, bringing a false sense of peace that wrapped around the walls of the old castle in this unfamiliar land. Moonlight poured gently through the arched window, softly reflecting off the stone floor and thin curtains that swayed lightly with the breeze. In the midst of that stillness, Sylvia’s room remained steeped in a silence that was both soothing and haunting.

Sylvia lay on her large bed, wearing a thin black camisole that hugged the curves of her new body. The fabric was so delicate it seemed to meld with her skin cool yet now feeling more alive. The blanket only covered part of her legs, allowing her pale shoulders to be kissed by the moonlight drifting in from the side window.

Her gaze was empty, staring through the ceiling, which was adorned with faint black branch-like patterns an enchanted decoration that sometimes shifted with dreams or the chaos of the inhabitant’s mind. But tonight, the ceiling was still. As if it were waiting. Just like her.

Her breath was slow, barely audible. Sylvia couldn’t sleep. In her mind, thousands of thoughts swirled and collided, looping endlessly like a storm of deathly mist refusing to dissipate.

And just when she thought her mind might quiet down, a faint light suddenly appeared in the middle of the room.

Just like the night before.

"...You," Sylvia whispered, still lying down. Her voice was cold, flat.

The light formed the silhouette of a woman with long, translucent green hair. Her sharp eyes looked at Sylvia with concern and exhaustion. She was no mere spirit or dream she was the World Avatar, the oldest presence in the world they now inhabited.

"I don’t have much time tonight," said the avatar, her voice echoing like ripples across a dead lake. "The gods... they’re preparing something. I can’t see exactly what yet. But it’s... big."

Sylvia sighed and pushed herself into a half-sitting position. Her long hair slid behind her, some falling onto her chest, faintly visible through the camisole’s low neckline.

"You came just to tell me that?" she said flatly. "I finally got to enjoy one peaceful day without a war. You could’ve let me sleep."

The avatar looked at her deeply, then gave a small nod. "Sorry. But you need to be ready. I just wanted to remind you. Don’t let your guard down."

Without waiting for a reply, her body began to fade. The dim green glow dissolved into the shadows, leaving behind a faint scent like slowly burning leaves.

Sylvia let out a long breath and sank back into the bed. "Damn... annoying," she muttered. "Shows up out of nowhere. Dumps a warning, then vanishes. Classic."

Her eyes drifted back to the ceiling. And now, instead of peace, her mind filled with worst-case scenarios. Defensive formations. Troop placements. Divine warfare tactics.

"If this keeps up, I’ll never sleep at night."

Still, she tried. She closed her eyes slowly, sinking her head deeper into the pillow. Though her thoughts still churned, her body tried to respond to the need for rest. She remained still, unmoving, her breath steady half-pretending, tricking herself into believing she could sleep tonight.

Then...

Click.

The quiet sound of the door opening broke the silence. It was barely audible, but to Sylvia, it was clear. Too familiar. Too frequent.

Soft footsteps moved across the carpet, soundless yet distinct, heading toward the bed.

Sylvia didn’t move. She kept pretending to sleep, slowing her breathing just a bit, syncing it to a natural rhythm.

Moonlight formed the silhouette of a slim young woman with long silver hair. Celes. Just like the previous nights, the girl had slipped in without permission but also without malice. She merely wanted to be close to Sylvia.

Celes stood for a moment at the bedside, watching Sylvia’s serene face. A face she admired and loved, silently. Then, with careful movements, she climbed onto the bed, gently lifting the blanket and slipping into the cold warmth beside Sylvia.

A small smile touched her lips. Her heart raced, even though she believed Sylvia wouldn’t wake. Or so she thought.

She rested her head gently against Sylvia’s arm, closing her eyes. Her breath was still slightly trembling with nervousness but also with hope.

If only... if only she knew, Celes thought. I want her to know that I love her not just as a follower. But as a woman. As someone who wants to stand beside her.

She didn’t have the courage to say it aloud. Even now, all she could do was sneak in quietly, hoping for a sliver of time beside her, even if just as a shadow in the night.

What she didn’t know... was that Sylvia was aware. Had been for some time.

Sylvia remained still, but her thoughts were carefully measuring emotions.

She... Celes...

The thought wasn’t angry. Nor disgusted. Sylvia didn’t hate the girl’s presence beside her. If anything, a quiet warmth crept into the loneliness that often weighed down her nights. Celes, though mischievous and sometimes hard to read, was always loyal. Always there.

But... her heart still belonged to someone else.

Sofia...

That name bound her heart like an invisible chain.

And yet, now, with Celes leaning against her arm, her warmth slowly filling the empty space beside her, Sylvia felt... a little calmer. A little comforted.

Maybe, she could allow this just once more.

If this is what makes her happy... maybe it’s okay to let her stay tonight.

She kept pretending to sleep. But her breathing was calmer now.

Night fell silent again. Outside the window, the starlit sky watched them without a word.

And in that room, under the same moonlight, two women with different fates and different loves lay beside each other wrapped in a quiet, unspoken stillness.

Time kept flowing. The clock on the wall chimed softly just once marking the passing of time between the world of wakefulness and dreams.

Sylvia still lay in silence, letting Celes cling to her arm. The girl’s body was small and light, her warmth a stark contrast to Sylvia’s cooler temperature. But perhaps because of that, there was a strange balance forming between them like two opposing poles that somehow completed each other.

Moonlight slowly crept across the stone floor, signaling that the night had passed well beyond its midpoint. Yet Sylvia hadn’t truly fallen asleep. Her eyes remained shut, but her mind was wide awake. She could feel Celes’ soft breath near her shoulder, could feel the girl’s tiny fingers gripping her camisole with hesitation as if afraid she would disappear if she held on too tightly.

You’re always like this, Sylvia mused silently, letting herself sink into thought. Sneaking in quietly, saying nothing, and just sleeping beside me...

She couldn’t decide whether this was bothersome or comforting. But tonight, she chose not to push her away.

A gentle night breeze slipped through the slightly open window. The thin curtain swayed slowly, casting soft, dancing shadows across the stone walls. Outside, the sounds of night birds and rustling leaves created a natural symphony a nocturne only appreciated by those who remained awake while the rest of the world slept.

Sylvia took a deep breath and opened her eyes slightly. She stared at the ceiling, then glanced to the side of the bed. Celes’ peaceful face rested still, her breathing soft and even. Despite her youth, the girl’s sleeping expression was so calm almost like a child dreaming of a world full of flowers.

A faint smile tugged at Sylvia’s lips. Not long after, she closed her eyes again. Not because she wanted to sleep, but because she didn’t want to disturb the warmth of that moment.

A few minutes later...

Celes stirred slightly, nestling her face deeper into Sylvia’s arm. A gentle whisper slipped from her lips.

"...Sylvia..."

Sylvia remained still, pretending not to hear.

But her heart skipped just a little.

Celes continued in a soft mumble, barely audible like a dream.

"If... if I could stay by your side... even just for tonight... I’d be happy..."

Sylvia bit her lower lip gently, trying to suppress the sudden swell in her chest. That simple sentence cut deeper than any magic or enemy attack ever could.

She turned her head slightly, looking at the silver hair sprawled across the pillow beside her.

You fool, Celes, she thought. Why did you have to fall for someone like me someone who can’t promise you anything? My heart... it’s already been bound to Sofia for so long.

But... she didn’t say any of that tonight.

Tonight, she simply closed her eyes again and let Celes remain beside her.

Hours passed, and just before dawn...

The sky outside began to shift, from deep black to a faint shade of blue. The chill of morning air crept in through the window cracks, carrying the scent of damp earth and dew.

Celes woke first, as always. Her eyes fluttered open, then widened slightly as she realized she was still clinging to Sylvia.

Her face turned bright red.

"Ah... I..." she whispered, hurriedly sitting up with utmost care so as not to wake Sylvia.

With great delicacy, she stepped down from the bed, tidied Sylvia’s blanket so it looked as it had before, then gently tucked a strand of Sylvia’s dark hair behind her ear. Her fingers trembled.

"Good morning... my Queen," she whispered softly before walking out, closing the door behind her without a sound.

A few seconds after the door shut, Sylvia opened her eyes.

She stared blankly at the door that had just closed, then glanced at the pillow beside her, which still held a trace of warmth.

She inhaled slowly, then exhaled.

"If this keeps up... I might get used to it."

And so the night truly ended.

A new day was about to begin filled with unspoken secrets, and love left unanswered... for now.