The next morning, a gentle ray of sunlight passed through the window curtains, shining directly into the room and forming a faint trace of light on the floor.
As time flowed, this trace of light also moved slowly.
When it landed on a medium-sized bed and fell upon the eyelashes of the Damselette sleeping soundly above, the originally quiet room finally began to show signs of movement.
“Mmm…”
Seemingly sensing the sunlight, Columbina’s eyelashes fluttered, and her consciousness gradually awakened from the darkness; she propped her body up with her right hand, rested her left hand on her forehead, and shook her head.
Mmm…
My head is a mess.
When did I fall asleep last night?
I only remember watching the stars with Sandrone at the end…
Right, where is Sandrone?
Thinking of this, Columbina raised her head, her “gaze” sweeping through the small room for a moment, and then she lowered it again with some disappointment.
As expected, she has already left.
However, after I fell asleep last night, was it she who carried me to the bed to rest?
After realizing what happened last night, a strange emotion stirred in Columbina’s heart, causing her cheeks to start burning slightly.
Although this emotion felt strange to Columbina, she was unwilling to resist it, nor could she, and could only let it take root and sprout in her heart.
Is this what “liking” someone feels like…
Columbina pursed her lips, lifted the quilt, and stepped barefoot onto the floor; the chill spread from the soles of her feet, making her feel a bit refreshed, and her heart calmed down a little.
she walked to the window and pushed it open; the cold, fresh air surged in, quickly sweeping away the chaos of Columbina’s initial awakening.
Although a night had passed, the traces of the two playing last night in the yard, and the deep and shallow footprints in the snow, had been covered by new snow.
But “looking” at it, Columbina could imagine how they played last night, and the corners of her mouth curled up involuntarily.
Perhaps, I have really started to “like” Sandrone…
After deep thought for a long time, Columbina finally came back to her senses and shook her head with a light chuckle.
As for this matter, let’s just let nature take its course…
After all, I have to leave eventually…
Hmm, but I slept for a long time.
Columbina tapped her lip with her index finger; usually, her schedule was quite regular, and for hundreds of years, this was probably the first time she had woken up so late.
It seems I have already missed the brunch time agreed upon with Sandrone; I hope she won’t blame me.
Columbina lowered her head in thought, suddenly remembering that there seemed to be a major event today.
It is Sandrone’s tea party.
Columbina looked up, estimating the time in her heart, and breathed a sigh of relief after a moment.
It is still early; she is not late.
Tea drunk when late is always very bitter.
Therefore, one cannot be late.
Thinking of this, Columbina took out the tea party invitation, smiled slightly, and turned around, preparing to go out to Sandrone’s house to attend the tea party.
However, when she walked to the door and opened it, her brows furrowed.
That’s right, at this moment, The Doctor was leaning against a wall opposite Columbina’s house, holding a blue reagent of unknown origin in her left hand, gently shaking it in the air, with a dangerous smile curled on her cold face.
“Lady Moon Goddess, what a coincidence, to think we could meet here.”
Columbina:…
“Don’t be in such a hurry to leave, Lady Moon Goddess.”
Seeing that Columbina was about to leave without a word, The Doctor called out to her, “Liyue has a saying: one has very few opportunities to make choices in life.
Now, my Lady Moon Goddess, you have the opportunity to make a choice, so be sure to grasp it well.”
The Doctor did not continue speaking, but instead waited for Columbina to “make a choice.”
Columbina’s brows were tightly locked; she could not guess what The Doctor wanted to do, but she knew The Doctor meant to have her continue helping it research the Lunar Rectangular Force and the “frost moon,” otherwise something particularly bad would happen.
But how could Columbina possibly agree to The Doctor?
This is the Winter Palace, with the Tsaritsa in charge; she did not believe The Doctor could cause any major disturbance.
Moreover, the slice in front of her was not The Doctor’s strongest slice, and it was no match for her.
Columbina even hoped that The Doctor would make the first move, so that she would have a reason for self-defense.
Of course, she knew The Doctor was not that stupid, but she did not want to say a word to The Doctor either, so she paused for a moment and then walked away quickly without a word.
In the original place.
The Doctor watched Columbina’s retreating back, shook her head as if very regretful, and then turned to leave as well.
“Lady Moon Goddess, it is a pity, your choice is wrong.”
On the other side, Columbina was walking on the road to Sandrone’s house; her mood should have been one of anticipation and joy for the upcoming tea party, but it was cast with a thick haze due to The Doctor’s sudden appearance.
Columbina rubbed her brow wearily; all the way, she was thinking about The Doctor’s matter, but she really could not think of what The Doctor would do next.
How troublesome…
How about I talk to Sandrone about this later?
she should be smarter than me.
But she is so busy now, how could I go and disturb her…
After thinking it over repeatedly, Columbina finally decided to see the situation for himself first.
As long as the Tsaritsa is still in the Winter Palace, and she still has utility value to the Tsaritsa, she does not believe The Doctor can turn the world upside down.
Having made the decision, Columbina’s heart suddenly relaxed a lot.
her current idea is simple: once the Moon Prayer Night arrives, she will return to the moon through the method from her past life.
This time, as long as she prepares in advance, not to mention that The Doctor does not know about this matter now, even if she did, Columbina is confident that she would not let The Doctor succeed in a sneak attack like last time.
As long as she returns to the moon, returns “home,” everything will be over, right…
Thinking of this, Columbina felt an inexplicable emotion rising in the bottom of her heart.
It is not the relief of ending everything.
It is…
Reluctance?
Suddenly, Columbina stopped, frowned, and touched her heart with one hand.
In this instant, many things came to her mind: Arlecchino, Rosalyne, the friends in Nod Krai, and…
Perhaps it is reluctance.
But there is no way; she must leave, there is no other choice.
Sandrone…
Perhaps this is the last time I will attend your tea party; I will miss you on the moon.
“What are you thinking about?”
A familiar voice sounded in Columbina’s ear; she looked to the side, and it was indeed Sandrone and Pulonia.
Sandrone was sitting on Pulonia, yawning; she had just returned from the Laboratory, and had been tossing and turning in the Laboratory all night.
But now Sandrone was in a very good mood, because that experiment that had troubled her for a long time had finally ascended.
It was just right to host a tea party while in a good mood.
Sandrone was thinking happily in her heart like this, when her gaze inadvertently met with Columbina’s.
In an instant, everything that happened between them last night replayed in Sandrone’s mind like a movie.
Of course, it was the same for Columbina.
The atmosphere in the space around the two was also slowly shifting in an indescribable direction.
For a long time, Columbina softly broke this strange atmosphere, her voice still gentle, almost no different from usual.
“Nothing, I just remembered that I haven’t attended Sandrone’s tea party for a long time and felt a bit nostalgic.
Did Sandrone just get back?”
“Hmm…” Sandrone did not look as calm as Columbina; she lowered her head, her expression awkward, “I have been doing experiments ever since I left you.”
“I see,” Columbina nodded gently, and at the same time smiled at Sandrone, “Sandrone has worked hard.”
“Tch…” Sandrone tried hard to control himself from thinking about last night, wanting to regain her usual indifferent demeanor, “Columbina, I am not tired to the point of needing others’ comfort.”
“That…
oh, right, I just asked my subordinates to buy some things; you can go and see what you need later and take them back.”
“Things?” Columbina tilted her head, expressing confusion.
“Tch…
it’s just that your house is too empty.
If others see that the place where a Fatui Harbinger lives is so simple, it would lose me face…
anyway, I have arranged for people to buy them; do you want them or not?
If you don’t, I will throw them away.”
Columbina was stunned for a moment, then the corners of her lips curved into an obvious arc, “I want them.
These are things Sandrone gave me, and I will keep them well.”
“Tch…” Sandrone’s expression seemed a bit impatient, “Things are meant to be used!
What are you keeping them for.”
“Oh…” Columbina walked to Sandrone’s side and stood there, nodding thoughtfully, “Understood, as Sandrone says.”
Seeing Columbina’s innocent, almost foolish appearance, Sandrone really couldn’t bear to watch it anymore; she snorted and waved her hand forward.
“Pulonia, let’s go back; I still need to prepare things for the tea party.”
Hearing this, Pulonia took steady steps, and Columbina also followed quietly beside Sandrone; on the blank snow-covered ground, next to the huge mechanical footprints, a string of delicate barefoot traces was dotted.
They pointed in the same direction, which would be the direction where they were holding the tea party.