Chapter 20: Awakening
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"Hmm…"
Inside the room, Furina slowly woke up. At this moment, she felt an incredible lightness in her body, as if a person who had been burdened for many years had finally shed heavy armor, her entire being much freer.
Her eyelashes trembled faintly before she slowly opened her eyes.
The curtains had been drawn shut, leaving the room in pitch-black darkness. No light seeped through, the atmosphere perfect for sleeping.
Is it still early?
Furina couldn't help but wonder.
Normally, she might have turned over and gone back to sleep again — at this hour, waking up always made her feel groggy. But now, Furina felt unusually energetic.
Perhaps it was because the crushing weight in her heart had been completely released. Now, all she felt was relief, as if the entire world had suddenly become beautiful.
And besides that, she still needed to confirm one thing — an extremely important matter.
Furina quickly sat up and opened her mouth, wanting to call out a certain name.
But before she could even speak, with a soft click, the lights in the room flicked on. Warm light spilled across the walls, illuminating every corner — and allowing Furina to clearly see the figure of the person standing before her.
Just as she was about to say something, Liu Yuan's voice rushed in first..
"How are you feeling? Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere? Otherwise, I'll go find a doctor right now! Get you checked up!"
The stream of anxious words made Furina pause. Then she blinked — before suddenly laughing.
"Pfft…"
The sudden sound left Liu Yuan frozen. "…What did I do wrong?"
She instinctively asked herself that, while Furina kept staring straight at her, smiling, her gaze softened by an emotion Liu Yuan couldn't quite grasp.
Pink?
Such a strange color… another emotion she couldn't decipher. What's wrong with Furina? She feels… different today.
Meanwhile, Furina only thought Liu Yuan was amusing beyond belief.
What was Liu Yuan usually like?
Always calm and composed, no matter the situation. Neither convoluted trials nor stunning operas ever seemed to shake her expression.
The only rare exception was when she'd ask if she could buy more books — then, and only then, would Furina see an emotion called hesitation flicker across her face.
This girl… she's a pure bookworm!
After half a year of living together, Furina's daily routine, once filled only with trials, operas, unboxing gifts, and fan meetings, had gained a new and secret pastime— observing Liu Yuan.
And Furina's conclusion?
Expressionless. Bookworm.
I, Furina, probably don't even rank as high in her heart as a few books, right?
That had always been Furina's little complaint.
But now… now, she only felt joy bubbling inside.
That strange script had been too magical. When Furina opened it, her consciousness seemed to slip into another world.
She watched a girl named Namiya grow up step by step, following her life from its earliest moments. For some reason, Furina had felt so envious.
Because that simple, comfortable life was exactly what she yearned for. She wanted to be carefree too, like Namiya — to be ordinary.
But as the story went on, Furina noticed something unsettling.
Whether it was Namiya's dream before becoming queen, or her forced role as ruler — it all felt too familiar.
Furina saw her own reflection in Namiya.
Yet unlike her, Namiya, after her initial panic, grew steadier with time.
She had Ghost.
A companion that only Namiya could see, who appeared in her most desperate moments.
At that time, Furina was deeply envious. How wonderful it would have been… if I had a Ghost five hundred years ago.
But when she thought about Liu Yuan, Furina's envy faded.
Hmph! It's not like you're the only one! I have Liu Yuan too!
Toward Namiya, who resembled her so much, Furina couldn't help but feel competitive. Yet she admitted that Namiya and Ghost together… were incredibly shippable.
But then — at the grand ball, everything shattered. Ghost suddenly broke apart, disappearing completely, leaving Namiya alone.
Furina was stunned.
It had all happened so fast. She had been so immersed in their dance that when Ghost vanished, she was left breathless.
The story ended abruptly. And the last thing Furina's consciousness saw was a line of text left by the author:
> "The price of having a human body is to bear sin, and when the time comes, what is possessed should naturally accept judgment."
A simple sentence that explained Ghost's fate.
Having a human body… was it truly sinful? Was Ghost judged and destroyed for that reason?
It almost seemed reasonable.
But when the story closed, Furina collapsed.
Her emotions resonated with Ghost's disappearance, tearing open wounds she had buried for five centuries.
The loneliness and suffering she had forced down for so long erupted, overwhelming her completely.
She had even thought — Maybe it would be easier to just die.
But then, she had heard Liu Yuan's voice.
That voice had become her rope out of the abyss, tied tightly with the memories of their half year together.
When she returned to reality and saw Liu Yuan again, Furina's heart had eased instantly. She could finally surrender to the exhaustion of her body, and fainted without worry.
And in that last moment, she had only one thought—
Liu Yuan is still here… that's enough.
So now, waking up with this unprecedented lightness, Furina's first instinct had been to seek out Liu Yuan.
And when she saw the worry in her eyes just now, and her expression changing the moment Furina laughed, she felt something warm overflow inside.
Hmph… This girl really does care about me!
"Furina?"
Liu Yuan cautiously asked. In her eyes, the color behind Furina shifted — from pink to a bright, radiant gold.
Happy again? Just like that?
No wonder books warned not to overanalyze a girl's thoughts. Better to rely on instinct.
"Um… ah… What is it?"
Furina blinked suddenly, realizing she had been staring at Liu Yuan for far too long.
Oh no— just straight-up staring like that!! Furina, what is wrong with you?!
"Are you… okay now?"
Liu Yuan asked hesitantly.
"Yes, yes, yes, I've never been better! Also, Liu Yuan, I…"
Furina stopped mid-sentence, biting her lip, her eyes flickering with hesitation as they landed on Liu Yuan.
"What is it?"
"No… no, n-nothing."
In the end, the little Archon couldn't muster the courage.
After all… some words were just too embarrassing to say aloud.
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