That man didn’t move from in front of the door. That corridor was quiet. Sooo quiet until the sound of his own footsteps felt strange.

His hand was still touching that door. Warm.

"Olivia..."

That name slipped from his throat, almost inaudible. As if his tongue knew that name better than he knew himself. And for a moment, he looked at his hand that was already wrapped in white cloth. Clean.

That wrapped hand no longer felt painful, but instead left a warmth. His lips that had gone so long without being stretched formed a smile, a smile that felt like happiness.

Then, slowly he stepped backward but before he stepped away he stared at that door for a moment, as if not wanting to let go but his feet forced him to leave. His shadow disappeared on the floor of that dark corridor.

At the same time, Olivia who had already thrown herself onto the floor stared out the window. For some reason, her body felt calmer that day. As if something she had been waiting for had reassured her that it would return. Then, Olivia slowly closed her eyes.... until she drifted off in her sleep.

That night’s atmosphere passed very calmly, but that calm didn’t last long. In Olivia’s room, the wind from the slightly open window suddenly changed direction. The curtain beside it moved slowly, even though there was no strong wind outside at that time.

Olivia who was still sound asleep, breathing softly and slowly. But the thread on her wrist that had been calm before, started trembling faintly. Like a whisper trying to wake up without frightening the world.

Outside the Aethelgard estate, under the shadow of tall trees, a figure stood not moving. Darkness covered almost his entire body. Only a little moonlight fell on the tips of his still wrapped fingers.

He didn’t enter but didn’t move closer either.

Only standing as if watching and keeping a safe distance.

"....she’s already asleep.." that voice whispered quietly. But more like talking to himself. He lowered his head slightly.

The thread on Olivia’s wrist trembled once more. But this time stronger than before. Causing Olivia to shift slightly in her sleep. Her brow furrowed.

"Mmmm..." while gently scratching her cheek. As if something was trying to pull her from a deeper dream. But that trembling wasn’t strong enough to wake her up.

Then, he took a step,

"...I’ll come back..." he whispered. Then disappeared behind the tree branches around him.

And when his body had completely disappeared into the darkness of the night... the thread on Olivia’s wrist went calm again. But not because it was finished. But because... it was still waiting...

---

Day by day, Olivia’s condition improved. Her face that had always been stiff and emotionless slowly got better. Like her old self.

Then, 2 days before Ophlia’s coming of age ceremony,

Their routine changed from usual. Everyone was busy with preparations for Ophlia’s coming of age ceremony. More lively than usual.

Celine was busy helping Ophlia choose all the accessories and clothes that Ophlia was going to wear.

Then,

Click... 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

The sound of a door being opened. As soon as that door opened, Olivia was stunned seeing the state of Ophlia’s room that was messy and disorganised.

Worse than 5 days before that. She was confused then her eyes were busy looking for Ophla’s figure, but couldn’t see her at all. Only Celine who looked confused and uneasy watching the dresses that kept coming into Ophla’s room.

Olivia slowly stepped forward toward that piled up table. Then behind that pile of books, Ophla could be seen holding her forehead while stamping all the letters that would be sent to all the noble families in the kingdom.

"My Lady...," Olivia called calmly. Her eyes looked at Ophla’s hand that seemed to have no strength left to stamp anymore. Ophla furrowed her brow without looking toward her.

"I already said, just put it there I’ll look at it after this," Ophla answered with a slightly annoyed face. But before Olivia could react Ophla lifted her face. Immediately her gloomy face changed to bright.

"Ohh, turns out it’s Olivia!!" she said then stood wanting to step toward her but...

Krikk.

Ack.....

Ophla immediately sat back down, her face creasing while holding her back. Olivia went quiet for a moment.

Then...

Puff!

Her face was clearly red while covering her mouth. Her shoulders trembled slightly holding back laughter.

Ophla looked at her, not believing. Ophla went quiet. Then slowly lifted her head. She smiled. Olivia turned her head slightly. Then looked back at Ophla who felt slightly betrayed by her.

"Olivia, you want to laugh at me!!" she said while pouting as if sulking. Olivia shook her head slowly.

"No, that’s not what I meant" she said.

"How about My Lady stops for a moment, let’s look at the gown and accessories that were sent by the tailor" Olivia suggested to Ophla. Ophla went quiet for a moment while looking at the pile of letters. Then exhaled.

"Just for a moment.." said Olivia while making a sad face. Then without thinking long Ophla immediately stood up and walked toward Olivia then pulled her hand. Olivia smiled in relief. They walked toward Celine. Her face was scattered.

"Celineee!!" they both greeted. Celine turned slowly.

"You’re here too!!" Then without warning she ran grabbing Olivia’s hand toward the neatly arranged gowns.

"My Lady, you just need to sit here and watch... we’ll choose for you" Celine said softly while pointing toward the chair in front of them. Olivia was stunned. Her brow also furrowed.

"I’m not very skilled at things like this" Olivia said while looking toward the gowns in front of her. Celine shook her head.

"No!! you know more than us!" she said while smiling thinly looking toward Olivia. Her face moved closer almost pressing against Olivia’s cheek.

Celine didn’t give Olivia room to think long.

"This one! Try looking at this one first," she said while pulling out a softly coloured gown from the neatly arranged rack. Its fabric fell lightly, shimmering finely under the light.

"Beautiful..." Ophla whispered, her eyes immediately lighting up.

She sat on the chair as instructed, but her body leaned slightly forward, clearly impatient.

"If this one... it’s too simple," Celine continued while looking through another gown.

"My Lady needs something that makes everyone unable to look away." Olivia only watched at first. But slowly, she stepped forward. Her hands touched the fabrics one by one, silk, lace, fine embroidery.

"...what about this one?"

Her voice was calm. Celine and Ophla turned at the same time. Olivia lifted slightly a silver white gown. Not too heavy, but its cut was elegant, with fine embroidery on the sleeves.

"This looks light... but when it catches the light... it will shine." Ophla went quiet.

Her eyes stayed on that gown longer than the others.

"Hmmmm.....I like it."

A small smile appeared on her lips. Celine immediately smiled in satisfaction.

"See? I said so... you really do have taste."

Olivia only shook her head slightly. But without realising, the corner of her lips lifted slightly too.

In my original world, fashion dresses were so varied...

Olivia whispered quietly in her heart. Suddenly, in the middle of that lively atmosphere, something on her hand pulsed. Black coloured.

Her hand stopped in the air. Slowly. As if something was drawing her attention from inside. Slowly, weakly.... but clear enough to be seen.

Olivia furrowed her brow. Her hand dropped, wanting to touch her wrist but before she could hold it Ophla spoke.

"Olivia..?" Her voice called. Olivia startled slightly then looked at Ophla.

"Ah!!....yes..sorry"

Olivia said as if covering the unease inside her heart.

"Why? You look a little pale?" Celine asked, now looking at her more carefully. Olivia quickly shook her head.

"It’s nothing. Maybe just tired." But her eyes managed to glance toward the window. That curtain... moved slightly. Even though outside, there was no wind at all.

Click.

A faint sound was heard from the direction of the door. All three of them went quiet while looking at each other.

"Celine....you closed the door earlier right?" Ophla asked half whispering. Celine nodded slowly.

"Yes, I’m sure I closed it" but that door knob moved slightly. As if there was someone outside... trying to come into the room.

Quiet.... nobody among them dared to move. Olivia slowly stepped forward. Every step she took felt heavy as if afraid. Her hand was lifted toward that door knob.... and that door was opened...

But empty. That corridor was empty. Nobody was outside. Only cold air passing through slowly. Olivia stood there for a few seconds. Her eyes glanced left and right.

"Maybe the wind.." she said quietly, even though she herself wasn’t certain.

"Scary.." Ophla whispered while hugging her own arms.

Celine quickly closed the door again.

"Don’t overthink it. There’s still a lot of work left,"

she said, trying to calm the atmosphere.

But her expression was clearly not as calm as her words. A few seconds later, the atmosphere went back to normal. The gowns were looked through again. Discussions continued.

But...

Olivia was no longer really paying attention.

Her wrist trembled faintly again, but this time not that thread, but another thread that was slightly strange. Black and thick.

Trembling and trembling.

"Oh right" suddenly Ophla spoke. She turned toward Olivia and Celine.

"You two, do you know, yesterday I felt the atmosphere of this estate was strange" she said quietly. While looking toward them with a serious face.

"Why? My Lady..." Celine asked while crossing her legs.

"I’m not sure but..." she said but stopped for a moment.

"Lately... I feel like my father is acting rather strange," Ophla said quietly.

But before Celine could ask, she immediately smiled a little.

"But it doesn’t matter. Let’s just look at this gown."

For a moment they went quiet, Celine only nodded understanding then followed Ophla looking at that gown. But different from Olivia. Olivia only stared at Ophla’s face that seemed to be hiding something or more like suppressing something.

Olivia didn’t ask. But her gaze stayed on Ophla a little longer than usual, longer than normal as if she understood something that wasn’t being said. Because a few days before that, she had also seen. Then she pretended not to care and approached them.

Before Olivia’s steps fully reached them. Olivia froze looking toward them.

Not because of a sound, not because of the door...

but because her vision suddenly "shattered".

All the threads that were in that room...

changed colour right before Olivia’s eyes.

She realizes something