Summer came along.

Lily was most appreciative that Cedric sent her Q's other works. He explained that the bookkeeper was more than happy to lend them for an extended period of time so Lily didn't have to worry about the deadline. After sending him her gratitude for the considerate action, exchanges of letters dissecting the theme began; they bounced off each other's ideas and interpretations, welcoming the different experiences. They were pleased to find that they agreed on many things, including on life after marriage. The two definitely approached it differently in comparison with the rest.

But there was one more thing capturing her in the letters….

Lily stared at the expensive paper. His handwriting was perfect. She doubted anybody else owned such gallantly cursive yet crystal clear words. Even elderly with a difficult sight or kids learning to read would be able to tell apart the letters joined so seamlessly. It was pure calligraphy art. Lily had read many letters from dwellers of all kinds and yet she had never seen anything like this before. She doubted her family had either.

"Lily," called out Clara, voice echoing down the hall. Halting her stare at the horizon past the window where she was tracing the alphabet in inspiration, she went to continue the preparation for the slumber party Lady Francesca was hosting.

The quarters were exceptionally cozy with its blush pink and soft purple palette alight by the bright flames as the moon cast quiet serenity outside. Buntings in the shape of stars hang throughout the ceiling, the chandelier polished to its crystal mesmerization. Lily basked in the friendly atmosphere until Clara bumped their shoulders, causing them to put down the prized board games from abroad. The cherry on top for Lily had to be the cushions sprawled on the floor for the girls to lounge on.

"This is really cute," sincerely apprased Lily.

Clara sighed. "It really is."

"Maybe we should have a sleepover like this." She (very gently) knocked their elbows with a smile.

"Hah, and be caught by the head maid?"

"We can camp out in the galley. I have a favor to pull from Edgar."

That lured a giggle out of Clara. After an hour, the room was teeming with young noble ladies, the atmosphere significantly sweeter and flowery. In their glamorous nightgowns, the perfumes mingled into one another to settle the quarters in a frilly, dainty scent.

Balancing a tray of drinks the kitchen staff expertly decorated with bows and faux butterflies (she tried not to think about the festival fiasco), Lily entered without knocking as the laughter of the girls on the plush floor was drowning out any noise. All of their lady maids were sent to the next room and judging by the pinched expression on Clara before, it wasn't as giggly there.

"Last week, Sir Lorcan valiantly saved me from a runaway horse," recollected one.

"Him being a knight is a deterrence but we can't deny it ladies—He is symmetrically calibrated."

A few gasped, flicking their hands at her as the rest broke into laughter.

The royal chancellor's daughter—Sophezette—smirked, slim long fingers coming to rest under her inverted teardrop head, long midnight blue tresses cascading around her. Every body part was cleanly lined and joined, plated in coin silver. Even Lily heard of her beauty spoken in hushed whispers. "We all know of a certain magnetized Duke who is very well platinum-coded."

"Ooooh," the girls chorused.

"Ah~ He is young but so compiled!"

"And so strong, I saw him lift up a wagon to help a commoner."

"He rewired my taste in suitors!"

"Hehe, Duke Cedric is so handsome." Lady Araminta's hair truly matched the description 'golden' as hers glowed as if the real precious metal had been flowing down her back.

The ladies burst into loud, bashful giggles.

Lily was astonished. She had forgotten that while (even as a human) she found Cedric very charming, everybody else found him the true epitome of an ideal partner. He was also, in fact, very much eligible and their age. The appeal and the grace couldn't escape their dreamy expressions.

"He keeps visiting our mansion," shared Francesca with a smirk. "He even brought a foreign torch, despite never caring for artifacts. Isn't that interesting?"

Sophezette's sapphire eyes, clear and captivating, glinted lidded. "My, my, that must mean he's interested in something here."

"Or someone," a shorter lady embodying soft spring whispered with wide doe eyes.

Personally, Lily thought the Duke enjoyed the unusual experiences and knowledge he gained exclusively here. Especially after the letters, she was positive of it. But nobody else thought of that judging by the subtle jealousy that came with the shift of the air. Lily sweated while offering everyone the drinks.

Araminta sat up, a smirk curling her soft lips beneath a perfectly sculpted nose. "Please. Maybe he's here for a walk through a misplaced market."

Francesca pursed her lips, hand clutching the cushion beneath but thankfully none noticed as they laughed. It was always those whispers and giggles about some dusty knickknacks painting every floor and ceiling of her home like some joke of a museum.

Lily's eyes flicked to her, awaiting her infamous attitude to break through. But silence. So she inwardly sent her support against the childish bait.

"Anyway, have you girls read 'Rise of the Roses'?" moved Araminta. Lily skipped her in offering the refreshments. Be impolite, no juice.

The spring girl clapped her hands, her curly hair like springs bouncing. "It was marvelous! So heroic and heart-fluttering!"

"I would argue it was more about the court intrigue," said Sophezette.

"Oh, Sophezette, you always denote it's about court intrigue," sighed Araminta.

The girls fell into a chatter. Lily was about to leave when she caught Francesca nervously shifting. Now, she really wished she could converse telepathically. Instead, she circled around and when leaning down with the tray, whispered to her back. "The Roses family are the newly appointed nobles. The daughter deals with the Queen's hatred towards her and multiple two-faced suitors."

Francesca relaxed, taking her favorite drink—pomegranate with zests of lemon—and followed along the girls' discussions.

After the initial visit to the legendary library, the Lady had expressed no interest in the popular novel Lily had found. So Clara had read it and borrowed it to Lily in an act of good fellowship (now when Lily thought about it, this seemed to be a rather popular way).

The hurdle didn't stop there.

"What did you think of chapter five, Francessca?" asked Araminta. The girls all turned to her.

'Uh-oh.' Lily slowed her exit to the door.

"Ah, it was rather…uneventful."

Everyone's eyebrows or the top of the faceplates rose.

"Really?!"

"That's…a unique reaction," observed Sophezette, genuinely surprised.

Lily dropped the tray, spilling and breaking the precious glass. The ringing clatter startled everyone, breaking them out of the shocked staring. "Ah! I apologize for my mistake. I will quickly clean this up."

Francesca accepted the opportunity and shot up, ordering, "Go bring Clara to take your place. You can retire for the night, Lily!"

"Humans are so clumsy," muttered Araminta with a roll of her eyes.

"...And strange," added Sophezette, eyes locking onto her. Lily ignored it in favor of running out and barging her head into the antechamber next door. Without any words exchanged, Clara ran to assist her Lady at once.

Lily swept the floor swiftly and nosily as the girls gathered their wits again. Francesca leaned back. "I stand by my opinion. The twist was seen from afar—after all, why would the grand Queen spend her precious time and attention on the heroine? I knew it had to be because of that suitor being her son."

"Hm, that can be predicted," Sophezette approved.

"I'm in awe, Lady Francesca!" exclaimed one of the guests.

If one thing Lily did respect about the youngest Lady of the Marquis household was that she had the ability to pull herself into unblinking confidence when required.

Hours of laughter and discussions about odd things elapsed before the noble ladies finally decided to rest. Clara was excused by Francesca once again. The hallways were dimming, fire illuminants blowing out one by one.

Lily grinned when Clara exited and dropped her head against the wall with hand over her chest.

"You can stop screaming in your head now."

"Lily! Thank-you-thank-you-thank-you. We prevented a social humiliation!"

She giggled before quietening it. "We should be mindful of your guests over there. Come on, you can return to your own little sleepover."

Clara mumbled, " The only one where you just charge in judgemental silence," and bid her a grateful goodnight.

Lily was going to go tuck into her wonderful bed and honor the night's purpose before remembering the fallen pin she needed to retrieve.

The night made her reflexively walk silently. She reminded herself it was safer to be audible so for anyone up not to get startled, especially the guards standing watch. She nodded at one before creaking open the sunroom.

'Or the moonroom, heh.' The white moon in its third quarter shone through the clear ceiling, spilling over the swirl carved couches invitingly. She could catch more guards walking outside in their routes from the silvery reflections of their armor. Taking a moment, Lily looked up and spun with the ethereally bright astronomical body.

All until, she felt alert about a presence manifesting behind.

"I've seen you somewhere before."

Lily turned at the smooth voice to see Sophezette stepping in. Moonlight complementarily draped over her, causing her to look out of this world. Untouchable.

"Or perhaps I'm mistaken?"

Lily slowly exhaled. "Is there something you need, Lady Sophezette? I can bring it up to you."

"Lily." Her hand rose to bask under the beam of light as if able to hold it in her palm. "That is a beautiful name. You don't look like you belong here at all."

"My name doesn't compare to yours—Sophezette means wise and sophisticated, correct?"

"Oh, so you're also knowledgeable. Lily, what can you do?"

This felt like a test.

"If you're feeling restless, I could show you the historical artifacts."

"No need, I have already seen them." On the way or in general, Lily wasn't sure. "I wish for something I hadn't witnessed. Something unique." She seated herself with wry anticipation. Her workers always fretted at this challenge—one only a rare few had passed.

Lily took a second. "I can do shadow puppets."

"...Very well." This was something she read in human stories only. "Enlighten me."

Lightning up a lamp, she positioned it with a clunk. Lily recreated the mystery novel Cedric told her about, doing impressive animals in the place of the characters. Her voice was steady, producing an immersive bubble within the stillness of the mansion as shadows curled and burst into figures on the wall.

After the spectacle, Sophezette looked pensive. "You're a strange one."

"Strange are remembered dearly. Thank you for your kind words, Lady Sophezette."

The noble presence tilted her head, studying her. She finally looked less intimidating. "I can read others well, Miss Lily. It's a honed skill my father ironed in. You're not a mere citizen. Why won't you claim a status suitable for yourself?"

Lily was left blinking at the progression of the conversation. "I—Everyone chooses the path they need."

"And what do you need here?" Sophezette leaned in, curious by each reply.

"Peace." 'Safety.'

"You can go settle in a cottage in some quiet town."

"And privacy." Lily made sure she didn't miss the pointed look.

Sophezette did not, enjoying the new puzzle in front of her. 'How interesting.'

"Nothing is constant. The future is unpredictable. I can't tell you what it holds for me."

"Can't or won't?" She sounded, daresay, smug.

"It is getting late, Lady Sophezette. May I suggest that you go rest for tomorrow's day?"

She smiled, the sharp ends suiting her wits, before raising herself up. "Very well. I won't meddle in your mundane choices. But when you wish to utilize your skills and do something honorable, you know what to ink to me."

Lily stood up. They were the same height. "Waking up and living every day is an honor bigger than all."

A chuckle. "Very uplifting."

Lily blew out the lamp and picked up the pin when walking her out. Before Sophezette left, she looked over her shoulder. "Your puppets were very adequate."

Lily perked up at the compliment, exiting just as quietly.

The moonroom was empty as if none had been present in it at all.

It was a bustling morning. Despite not being in the scene, the staff could hear the group throughout the mansion. Calling each of their lady maids in, the girls got ready for the breakfast chatter before going out to the city. Having girl friends was definitely a pleasure, Lily thought wistfully. In her personal case, friends drifted apart, especially when responsibilities and duties lay onto the successors' shoulders.

Later, just when everyone was pooling out of the main entrance, Lily passed by, not making it obvious she was catching a glance of the wonderfully dressed, electric and eclectic company shrouded in good atmosphere.

It was also nice to share a look with Sophezette about something only they were privy to before the entrance doors closed with a sturdy weight.