0122 A Shared Promise

That night, she lay awake, unable to find rest.

Countless thoughts swirled through her mind, yet none could perfectly resolve everything. To save Liang Yin and Lance, she would have to leave Acasia behind; but to stay and help Huan Luo, she would have to abandon them both. These two starkly opposing choices wrestled incessantly in her mind throughout the night, exchanging blows and jabs like an endless, fierce battle.

Forced to use her own head as the battlefield, she finally struggled out of bed the next morning, her eyes marked by two exaggerated, dark circles. Her mind buzzed relentlessly from the storm of thoughts, making her steps even more unsteady than the day before. The only small comfort was that her wounds had mostly healed—enough now to change her dressings and clean the injuries without waking the maid.

Faced with this mysterious recovery, she silently praised the world’s advanced medical knowledge and her own remarkable resilience. Splashing cold water on her face to clear the fog in her thoughts, clarity slowly began to return. With a clear mind, her choices became more defined.

She took up the quill from her desk and opened the ink bottle, which had never before been used. Taking a deep breath, she wrote a few bold words: “To Andy…”

As the first rays of spring sunlight streamed into her room, she was already leaving with another letter addressed “To Huan Luo.” The morning had stirred the household into motion; maids and servants bustled about, hurrying past her without their usual greetings and nods, as if preparing for some great event.

But she had no time to notice their unusual haste. Returning their hurried nods with a simple one in kind, she pressed onward toward Huan Luo’s room.

Whether by coincidence or fate, the door to Huan Luo’s room stood wide open, yet no one was nearby—it was as if the world itself had cleared a safe path for her. Swallowing hard, she scanned the surroundings cautiously. Convinced there was no ambush, she abandoned her plan to climb through the window and walked briskly toward the room.

Inside, Huan Luo lay quietly on the bed as she had the day before. The room was heavy with the scent of medicine, and her face remained pale. Severe wounds were not easily healed. She longed to draw closer to check on her condition but feared waking her, so she restrained herself and quietly laid the letter on the desk. Just then, Huan Luo’s voice came softly from behind.

“Have you decided?” Her voice was hoarse from illness, yet her mind was clear.

Startled, she stood stiffly by the desk, nodding without turning. “I thought you’d pretend to sleep until I left.”

“I thought so too,” Huan Luo replied, still lying in bed without any unnecessary movement. If not for the clarity in her voice, one might have thought she was dreaming aloud. “But when I heard your footsteps, I decided to wake and see.”

“Footsteps?” She kept her head lowered, forcing a light tone. “I haven’t trained in stealth or light-footedness like you. Of course I can’t control my footsteps—I can only walk like an ordinary person.”

“Really? Can ordinary footsteps be cautious, light, yet at the same time hesitant and messy, like yours?” Huan Luo’s words struck home. She bowed her head like a scolded student and listened quietly. “Do you think I left the door open and sent the servants away just for nothing?”

“To create a space where we can be alone…?” She had intended to lighten the mood, but sensing a sudden drop in atmosphere behind her, she quickly corrected herself. “I know, Huan Luo. You want me to set aside all the chaos around and make a clear decision. But I truly don’t know if my choice is right or wrong.”

“Prepare for the worst. Decision and responsibility are one and the same.” Huan Luo’s voice faltered before speaking again, as if summoning all her strength. Her breathing became heavier and more labored.

Those words hit her like a revelation. Folding the letter neatly, she turned and ran to Huan Luo’s side, bending down to hold her close. Her voice trembled but rang with fierce determination. “I just don’t want to lose anyone else. I will never let the people I care about slip away. I will find a way to clear Lance’s name, rescue Liang Yin, return to Acasia—I will come back, I swear I will!”

Huan Luo’s body stiffened briefly before relaxing. She patted her back gently. “I know. I don’t want to lose anyone either—and I simply cannot afford to.”

The sound of Huan Luo’s voice lingered in her ears as she gathered her courage and hurried to Lance’s room.

Lance, who never slept late, was up early as usual. His wounds, like hers, had mostly healed. Though not fully recovered to move freely, he could now run or change his own dressings.

Pushing open the door, she found him freshly washed and fed, leisurely seated by the window reading a thick book. Sunlight poured through the glass, warmly illuminating the silver-haired youth. His lips curved in their familiar gentle smile, and the kindness in his eyes and expression was just as she remembered from their first meeting.

At that moment, Lance closed his book slowly. His expression remained calm—no surprise in his eyes—as if they had arranged this meeting beforehand. His crimson gaze was filled with the image of her panting arrival, his ears still echoing the clear sound of her voice. The habitual smile now seemed even more sincere.

“Come with me.”