Chapter 180 – Between Routine and Secrets
The morning sunlight returned to greet, gently filtering through the large window curtains of Sylvia’s room, bringing a trace of warmth that slowly chased away the lingering cold of the night. Outside, the soft chirping of birds seemed to add new spirit, enlivening the morning atmosphere with natural gentleness.
On the large, soft bed, Sylvia still slept soundly, her breathing light and steady, her beautiful face peaceful in slumber. Not far from her, a silver-haired woman carefully opened her eyes Celes, who had slipped into Sylvia’s room unnoticed the night before. She immediately realized morning had come and time was short.
Celes slowly rose from the bed, moving carefully so as not to wake the deeply sleeping Sylvia beside her. She glanced briefly at Sylvia, a small affectionate smile appearing on her delicate lips. Her heart still beat fast from their closeness during the night, but she knew she had to leave before Sylvia woke up.
With very quiet steps, Celes climbed down from the large bed, tidied the blanket to keep it as neat as before, then slipped out of the room as silently as a shadow. After making sure the door was securely closed, she exhaled in relief and hurried back to her own room.
An hour later, Sylvia finally opened her eyes slowly. She stretched her body and yawned softly while sitting on the edge of the bed. Her long black hair cascaded beautifully down her smooth back; her face looked fresh though she had no idea that someone had secretly accompanied her through the night.
Taking a deep breath, Sylvia walked to her private bathroom. She washed her face with fresh water, feeling the coldness awaken her fully. After refreshing herself, Sylvia headed to the large wardrobe in the corner of her room and chose a simple yet elegant black gown that still conveyed her charisma as a leader.
She put on the gown with calm and assured movements, tidying her hair until she looked perfect in her simple morning attire. Once ready, Sylvia stepped out of her room toward her study, where duties and reports had piled up since yesterday.
As she opened the door to her study, Sylvia was greeted by the scent of old wood and paper filling the room. Her large desk was already covered with documents and reports from several reconnaissance teams, marked with seals and ribbons indicating the urgency of each report.
Sylvia sat slowly in her chair, picking up the first report with a serious expression. Her sharp eyes began reading line by line carefully. The first document came from the northern scouting unit reporting suspicious activity at the forest border several small groups were moving stealthily, as if observing the castle from a distance.
Frowning, Sylvia jotted down key points on a blank sheet beside her. She then opened the next report, coming from the eastern unit, which stated the area around the castle was calm, though they remained alert to all possibilities.
While Sylvia was busy in the study, Alicia had been outside the castle since morning. The graceful silver-haired woman walked calmly around the grounds of the majestic old castle, inspecting every corner of the structure. Her keen eyes observed the stone walls, large pillars supporting balconies, and the small garden behind the castle.
Alicia carried a small notebook and pen, noting parts that needed repairs or cleaning. Occasionally, she shook her head when spotting small cracks or overgrown weeds. She immediately called some loyal zombie workers and gave gentle yet firm orders for all deficiencies to be fixed promptly.