“We agreed on it, Gaia,” she said, “No backing out.”
Resting against the bunk bed, the boy nodded his head. “No backing out.”
“When you give me the statue, then this matter will be considered finished.”
“Yes,” he replied.
He added again.
The girl jumped up with joy, clasping her hands together. “Oh, Gaia, I really, really like you.”
“So, when do we start?”
“Now?”
“Oh, no, no, no, not now,” she said excitedly. “We still need to buy a carving knife, stone, and pen…”
Gaia pulled her hand away. “Bella, it’s time for me to go.”
“So soon?”
The girl looked reluctant.
“See you tomorrow, Bella.”
Gaia took the first step.
His tall and slender figure quickly disappeared behind the door, and the girl chased after him. “See you tomorrow, Gaia.”
Shortly after Gaia left, someone sent by Prince Carlo arrived.
She brought several dresses that Princess Mary had bought, including two underdresses, a mirror, and an incense lamp.
“Prince Carlo said, you can use these for now. The things on the list are already being purchased, but they might not arrive until tomorrow. If you need anything else, you can let me know.”
“Thank Prince Carlo for me.”
Liuyu accepted the items and let the person leave.
[Oh, one moment it’s Lord Luis, another moment it’s Prince Carlo, and now this great Mr. Leslie. Oh, humans, you are truly complicated.]
Banan spread its wings and gave her a name without permission.
She added some water and buckwheat to its cage.
[Why did you only say “great” before Mr. Leslie’s name?]
[Whenever I’m near him, my heart goes “thump, thump,” you know, Beibei? I think I’m in love.]
Banan covered its face with its wings, and Liuyu seemed to see…shyness in its black eyes?
“Banan, don’t forget, you’re a male bird.”
Liuyu warned it seriously.
[What’s the matter with being a male bird? Male birds can’t have the right to love? Beibei, male birds are nothing like you humans, so cunning! You even let him carve a statue for you! Mr. Leslie probably never imagined that you’re impure, Beibei!]
Banan patted its wings.
[Next time Mr. Leslie comes, I will definitely tell him about your plot. You want him to touch you with those holy hands of his every day and carve out your image little by little, you cunning creature! You humans are really cunning!]
Liuyu smiled smugly and cunningly.
“This idea is great, isn’t it?”
Once the statue is carved, her image will be imprinted firmly in his mind.
[Yes, Beibei, you humans are the most shameless and cunning!]
Banan shouted indignantly.
“So now, it’s you who’s locked in a cage, not humans. Goodnight, Banan.”
Banan turned its head in anger. [I miss Natasha.]
Liuyu wanted to tell this incorrigible bird the story of three lives as a slave, but unfortunately, she was too tired.
She lit the incense lamp and, in the light scent of roses, turned over and fell into a deep sleep.
The sun-drenched quilt exuded the fragrance of sunshine.
She dreamed of turning into a rose.
The rose only had four thorns but was always happy.
The little boy in the black tailcoat carefully watered her. He weeded for her, caught bugs for her, and even brought a glass cover to shield her from the wind.
The rose grew and blossomed.
She became the unique rose in the little boy’s heart –
She was the only rose that the little boy watered, caught bugs for, and protected with a glass cover. She was different from the thousands of other roses in the world.
…
Liuyu woke up from her dream with a smile.
“Banan! Banan!”
[Good morning, lazybones.]
“Good morning, Banan.”
The sunlight poured in through the rainbow window. Liuyu got up and noticed that the corners of her mouth were still turned up.
She must have had a good dream, but unfortunately, she didn’t remember it.
She washed up, groomed herself, and changed her clothes.
Mary’s dress was a bit short, but it was the latest style in the Soloman City.
Her big golden curls were voluminous, and the pure white fluffy skirt with silver threads had a noble and lazy beauty when paired with white feather wrist accessories.
Unfortunately, she was missing a parasol, and she couldn’t wear gloves on her injured hand –
Liuyu felt a bit regretful when she left the house.
She liked to dress herself beautifully. It usually brought her a good mood for the day.
“Bella.”
A tall and slender boy stood at the entrance of the women’s dormitory.
He was now in a white celestial robe that only priests wore, with a broad robe and silvery long hair. When his light green eyes “looked” at her, she couldn’t help but be reminded of the divine being who crossed the stars and rivers in her memory sphere –
“Where did you get this robe?” she asked curiously.
“Lord Bruce sent it, including the ones from a few days ago,” Gaia walked towards her. “Bella…are you feeling better today?”
“About the medicine,” he paused, “did you apply it?”
Liuyu recalled the scene of applying medicine bit by bit last night while hiding under the blanket, and even with thick skin, she couldn’t help but blush.
She replied, “Yes…”
“You received the medicine from me when you were gone today.”
Gaia’s voice held a strange warmth.
“If you need anything else, let me know.”
✧˚·̩̩̥͙˚̩̥̩̥·̩̩̥͙✧·̩̩̥͙˚̩̥̩̥˚·̩̩̥͙✧ 𝑔𝓇𝒶𝓋𝒾𝓉𝓎𝓃𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁𝓈 ✧˚·̩̩̥͙˚̩̥̩̥·̩̩̥͙✧·̩̩̥͙˚̩̥̩̥˚·̩̩̥͙✧
