When I opened my eyes, the first thing I noticed was the silence—and the neatly made bed beside mine.
My heart skipped a beat.
"Riella?"
No response.
I shot up, wobbling slightly as the sleep left my limbs. Cold panic crept up my spine. I rushed to the door and yanked it open—
Only to find Riella standing right in front of it, hand midair as if about to knock.
She flinched in surprise.
"I… I just came back from the washroom," she whispered, fingers fidgeting as she lowered her head, eyes avoiding mine.
Relief hit me like a crashing wave. I reached out and gently rubbed her shoulder.
"It's okay. I was just worried," I said softly. "Your body's still recovering—I thought you might've fainted somewhere."
She gave a small nod.
"Are you feeling better now?"
Another nod. This one a bit firmer.
"Great. So… do you want to have breakfast in the cafeteria or just stay here in the room?"
"In the cafeteria," she replied after a pause, voice barely above a whisper.
I smiled. "Good choice. But give me a few minutes to shower first, okay? Just wait here."
She nodded again and stepped aside to let me pass.
The cafeteria was quiet that morning. The scent of warm bread and savory potato soup filled the air as we sat across from each other, steam rising from our trays. Riella's hands trembled slightly as she held her spoon, but she was eating. That was a good sign.
After breakfast, I suggested something a little bolder.
"Riel… Do you mind if I call you casually?"
She nodded lightly
"Alright, and you can call Ann."I said as we stepped out into the sunlight, "how about we do a little shopping?"
Her eyes widened with hesitation.
"I mean, we need a change of clothes, don't we? Besides, you've been stuck indoors yesterday."
"I don't…" she began, but her voice trailed off.
"Come on," I nudged gently, "we don't have to buy anything fancy. Just something comfortable."
She remained silent.
But then, as we passed by the lobby mirror, she caught a glimpse of herself—still in the worn tunic I'd lent her. Her eyes lingered. Slowly, she nodded.
I grinned. "Attagirl. Don't worry, I won't go over budget. You're not allowed to complain about my fashion sense either."
She gave me the faintest of smiles. Victory.
"Do you know any good places to shop around here?" I asked casually as we walked down the street, eyes scanning the bustling market square.
Riella shook her head. Her expression dimmed, as if the question made her feel inadequate.
Ugh. Stupid. Why did I ask her that?
I pinched my cheek lightly, mentally scolding myself. "No problem," I added quickly. "We'll just wander around and see what catches our eye. It's been a while since I had a proper day off. I'm going to enjoy this little adventure before going back to… well, endless work and reporting."
I fake-groaned for dramatic effect. Riella didn't laugh, but her lips twitched. Progress.
We ended up visiting three shops before we found one that seemed to suit our taste and budget.
Inside, rows of fabric in soft pastels and rich hues lined the walls, delicate dresses and tunics hanging in neatly pressed rows. Riella stood frozen in front of them, not even daring to reach out.
The shopkeeper, an older woman with brown hair and a kind smile, kept glancing at us but didn't interrupt.
"How about this one?" I asked, holding up a maroon dress with subtle embroidery. "Elegant and bold. It suits you. I think"
Riella glanced at it and immediately dropped her gaze. She shrugged, unsure.
I noticed the shopkeeper frown slightly. Something about the atmosphere felt… off. I couldn't tell if it was the dress or me.
Honestly, what did I know about shopping? The last time I wore a dress was at my university graduation, and that was a long years ago, only after Aunt Samantha nagged me into it.
The shopkeeper stepped forward, sensing our struggle. "Would you like some help?" she offered kindly. "Your sister has such a gentle aura—I think I know just the colors that would suit her."
"Oh, yes, please!" I replied eagerly. "We're a little … lost here."
The woman's face lit up. She started pulling dresses from the racks with practiced ease, explaining the fabric types, stitching patterns, and the origin of the dyes. Her voice was warm, and somehow, it soothed the tension in the room.
Riella slowly started relaxing. Her fingers brushed the fabric shyly. She even made eye contact with the shopkeeper once or twice.
It was a miracle.
Eventually, we settled on a soft beige long dress for Riella. Modest, comfortable, and it brought out the warmth in her eyes. I chose a tunic and pants set in a matching tone for myself—practical but stylish enough for once.
As we were finalizing our purchase, I spotted a similar long dress in Sain's size.
"Could you wrap this one separately?" I asked the shopkeeper.
Riel looked at me curiously
"Ah,.. It's for my friend—she's been putting up with me living in her house for months. Consider this a peace offering for my sudden trip."
Riella tilted her head slightly in curiosity. "You've lived with her?"
"Yeah," I smiled. "Sain's been amazing. Strong, kind, fiercely loyal—though she nags me like an older sister—She's actually two years younger than me. She even taught me how to boil herbs without poisoning anyone."
Riella nodded, absorbing the information quietly.
As the shopkeeper started wrapping our things, I turned back to Riella. "By the way… I don't suppose you remember seeing me at the Mollota residence? I used to run errands there."
Her expression froze. Her brows furrowed as she tried to recall, then relaxed with a sigh.
Right. She probably doesn't want to remember anything from that place.
"Never mind," I said quickly. "I probably wouldn't recognize myself either. Let's focus on the important things—like food. I'm starving. What do you feel like eating? Anything local you think I should try before I leave?"
She blinked at the change in topic, but I could tell she was relieved.
By evening, we returned to the inn—our arms full of wrapped bundles and our stomachs pleasantly full.
After we showered and back to our room, I finally broached the subject I'd been thinking about all day.
"Riella… I'm heading home tomorrow morning," I said as we sat together in the room. "I was wondering … if you don't have anywhere else to go, would you… like to come with me?"
She stiffened.
"I… I don't mean to be rude," she murmured, "but I don't think I can accept your offer. I've already caused you enough trouble."
My eyes widened. "Hey. You haven't troubled me at all. And technically, I was your servant, remember? So it's only fair for me to look after you."
She still looked unconvinced.
I tried again. "Sain will love having another person around. She's a great cook—you'll be a great help to finish all of her dishes. And she's got this garden that's actually peaceful when you're not being chased by chickens."
Still nothing.
I leaned forward. "Look, I just want to make sure you're okay. I'd worry if I left you alone here without support. I know we barely know each other, but I've read… I mean—" I caught myself just in time. "I just feel like I'd regret it if I didn't offer you a safe place."
Riella hesitated.
"You don't have to decide now," I said gently. "You have all night to think about it. But I'd be really happy if you said yes."
She didn't respond, but her lips parted slightly. That was enough for now.
I reached over and brushed a stray strand of hair from her forehead. "Alright. Time to sleep. We've had a big day."