"What happened" asked Celine who was holding her head that felt heavy. Celine managed to furrow her brow, trying to catch back what had just happened.

As if something had just left her body before she looked forward.

Her eyes went up looking at someone who was standing calmly in front of her. As if she wasn’t sure whether that was reality or a shadow.

"Olivia??..." she whispered in her heart. As if shocked but at the same time confused.

Her eyes blinked looking at Olivia who was already standing in front of her. Her messy dishevelled hair and sweaty face smiled toward Celine.

Without thinking about what had happened before, she slowly held Olivia’s cold hand.

"...You’re awake?" Her voice was quiet, as if afraid that answer would disappear if she spoke too loudly. She went quiet for a moment, as if not believing what she was seeing. Slowly, she stepped closer.

Her hand gripped Olivia’s cold hand.

"...you’re really awake..."

She whispered, almost inaudible. And after that...

Celine pulled Olivia into a hug.

Beside them, Ophla just stood stiff. Her eyes moved slowly between the two of them, still trying to understand what had just happened.

What actually happened?

Ophla said in her heart. Confused. Olivia who was aware of Ophla’s behaviour quickly reached out her hand.

Ophla startled. Because she was thinking about that she hadn’t realised that Olivia who she had been waiting for to wake up was already standing in front of her. She immediately hugged both of them tightly.

"Hey, don’t faint again", said Ophla with a weak tone. Olivia grinned and only nodded slowly. Then,

"Olivia..." before Ophla could finish her words Olivia cut in.

"Let’s sit first... I’ll explain in a bit" she said while walking toward the seats. They nodded then took their respective spots.

Olivia opened her mouth.

"I just felt there was something strange about that gown..." She stopped for a moment, as if choosing the safest words to say.

Olivia looked at her own hand. As if something in a corner of her heart felt heavy.

"I felt like... something ’snapped’ just now." She gripped slowly.

"And when I woke up... I knew that thing was still there."

She lifted her eyes.

"But I couldn’t see anything. I just... felt it."

She said quietly and calmly. She knew for now she didn’t want the two of them to know everything about her secret. But what was certain... she wanted to tell them every now and then, about the things that were bothering her.

Olivia went quiet for a moment.

"...the thing you saw just now... it wasn’t the first time I’ve seen it."

She looked at Celine, then Ophla.

"...in my world before, something like that shouldn’t exist." That sentence fell slowly, making the atmosphere of the room feel slightly heavier than before.

She stopped.

"...but I can’t tell everything right now."

Then she clapped her hands slowly. As if wanting to divert their attention. But Ophla and Celine were still blinking. Not understanding what Olivia was saying.

In her world before??? What does she mean?

That question kept ringing in both their minds. They only nodded understanding but actually didn’t understand at all. Then,

"It’s okay Olivia, we’re just grateful you’re awake..." said Celine.

"You too!!" Ophla continued elbowing Celine’s crossed arm. Celine rubbed her arm that had been made a target by Ophla.

Owww!!!

Celine struck back hitting Ophla’s hand. For a moment that room was filled with laughter. Olivia only watched them while laughing a little. But that laughter didn’t last too long, just enough to melt a little of the tension in the air.

A few minutes after that, Ophla startled. As if just realising there was something more important waiting to be settled. Then hit her head slowly.

"Arghhh!!... I haven’t stamped all those letters yet."

Without waiting for an answer, she immediately stood up from her seat and walked quickly toward her table.

Celine let out a small sigh.

"Eh, My Lady...."

But Ophla was no longer listening. Olivia just watched, still sitting calmly, a small smile on her lips as if understanding that chaos.

On the table, several envelopes were neatly arranged. The paper was thick, framed with a family crest.

Invitations to the Coming-of-Age Ceremony.

Ophla drew in a short breath.

"...if it’s late, they’ll think this isn’t official."

She whispered to herself. She sat back down, but this time more focused. Her hand reached for the red candle that had been prepared.

The small flame at the tip of the wick flickered slowly, melting that candle bit by bit until it fell onto the fold of the envelope.

First drop.

Then second.

That deep red colour flowed slowly, like calm blood. Ophla waited for a moment, making sure the amount was enough.

Then she lifted the signet ring on her finger.

Silence for a moment. Not because that ritual was complicated.

But because every time that ring was used... it felt like a declaration.

She pressed that ring onto the hot wax.

Pressed. The family crest was clearly engraved. Unwavering. Cannot be erased. Ophla slowly pulled her hand back. She didn’t immediately stand up.

Her eyes only looked at that stamp for a long time.

"...finally."

She said slightly loudly, almost heard across that whole room. Fully relieved. But she knew something had just been opened, and she could no longer turn back.

Behind her, Celine leaned against the door.

"If everything’s done, we can rest a little right, My Lady?"

Ophla didn’t answer right away. She only looked at those letters once more, then slowly nodded.

"...yes. But not too long."

She said almost inaudibly. Olivia drew in a slow breath, as if trying to calm herself before moving. Then Olivia stepped toward Ophla. She read one by one the envelopes that had already been stamped with red wax. But Ophla spoke.

"Olivia... do you think I should use that gown" she said while pointing toward the gown given by the emperor.

Olivia went quiet. She touched that gown, her fingers stopping for a moment on the surface of the fabric, as if making sure of something only she could feel.

Ophla who watched Olivia’s action wanted to stop her but Olivia stopped her. Olivia went quiet for a moment, her eyes focused as if searching for something only she could see.

"It’s okay, My Lady... I can see now there’s nothing left" she said while nodding seriously.

"Nothing left?" Olivia nodded.

Her eyes checked from the top all the way to the bottom of that gown. Wanting only to look from inside but now she was relieved... that strange thread was no longer in that gown. Celine let out a relieved breath.

The atmosphere that had been tense loosened slightly, like a burden that had just been lifted.

"Olivia... I think you’re like a ghost repeller now" she said while laughing a little. Olivia almost startled.

"um... you’re right Celine" said Olivia relieved. Then laughed out loud until Ophla who was between them followed along. Their laughter slowly faded, still leaving small smiles on each of their lips.

Ophla stopped for a moment, looking at the two of them who were still smiling before sighing quietly.

"Ladies, quiet please" she said while arranging the last of her envelopes. Immediately they went quiet. Covering their mouths.

"So random"

Olivia whispered... Ophla lifted her face. Her smile could be seen lifting holding back her annoyance.

"Sorry, My Lady" said Olivia whose shoulders were still trembling slightly. Ophla looked at her for a few seconds before finally letting out a long sigh.

"...enough for today."

She slowly pushed the pile of letters that were already sealed to the side of the table.

"Tomorrow everything will be sent. We don’t have time to make mistakes."

Her voice went back to calm, but this time heavier.

Celine leaned against the side of the table, her eyes glancing toward the neatly arranged envelopes.

"All the big noble houses will be coming, right?"

Ophla nodded slowly.

"Hopefully they accept this invitation..."

She stopped for a moment. Olivia who was standing not far from there just stayed quiet. Her eyes fell toward one envelope at the end of the pile. Without realising, she stepped slightly closer.

"...My Lady," she called quietly. Ophla lifted her face.

"What?"

Olivia didn’t answer right away. She only looked at that envelope for a few seconds before speaking again.

"...all these letters... who exactly are they being sent to?"

Celine shrugged her shoulders.

"All the important noble families. That’s normal for an event like this."

But Olivia still didn’t shift her gaze. There was something that felt... not right. Not about the letter. But about who would be receiving it.

"...what if someone who shouldn’t be there comes?"

She asked quietly. Celine laughed a little.

"Eh, this isn’t a night market event la, Olivia."

But Ophla didn’t laugh. She only looked at Olivia. Longer than usual.

"...you feel like something’s off?"

She asked, her tone more serious. Olivia went quiet for a moment. Then she slowly shook her head.

"...I’m not sure." She drew in a slow breath.

"...just a feeling."

Silence for a moment. Ophla looked at those letters again. Then slowly she rearranged their position, neater than before.

"...in that case, let’s just make sure everything goes as usual."

But her eyes were no longer as calm as before.

Olivia only nodded understanding. Then slowly did her work as usual. For some reason, Olivia could feel something was going to happen during Ophla’s coming of age ceremony.

She clenched her hand tightly.

"No matter what happens!! I will protect them..."

Olivia said quietly while her hand looked through the accessories that would be used by Ophla. In a flash, something crossed her mind.

Were there guests invited by Duke Herold?

I never saw an event like that when I read this novel...

She wanted to ask Ophla but when she turned toward her, her face looked stressed. So Olivia let go of that intention.

When will that man come....

Argh!! The whole story timeline is already messed up!...

Olivia whispered while scratching her head that wasn’t even itchy.

Outside the room, the night wind slipped in through the slightly open window gap. The candle on the table flickered slowly.

Shadows moved for a moment, then went still again.

And without them realising, something out there... had already started moving.