Gratitude

Twenty minutes later, Shade and Dorothy had returned once more to 6 Saint Derain Square. The sky was even gloomier than when Shade had gotten up that morning. Despite it being morning, the gas lamp was still on in the house, and the interior remained dim and dreary.

Shade sat alone on the sofa with Mia in his arms. Dorothy, who had just been soaked by the rain, had gone to the washroom for a bath.

Turning the half of the Red Butterfly Pendant over in his hand, Shade had never expected that an impulsive attempt would actually succeed.

Of course, it could not be considered a complete success. Dorothy and Leisha could only look at one another from a distance for a short period of time. They still could not maintain eye contact for long, much less approach each other.

But being able to look at each other from afar was already a great improvement over their previous inability to make any contact at all. It proved that Shade's method worked.

Was I really this lucky? I just casually asked Professor Dunn in Middlesburg, found Professor Manning, and Old Dad John happened to find the right approach... Come to think of it, I should thank Grandma Cassandra for all of this.

The sound of carriages rolling through puddles was especially distinct on this rainy day. Though Saint Derain Square was not as lively as usual, there was no shortage of pedestrians.

Dorothy had experienced great emotional turmoil just now. That had probably been the first time she and Leisha—two girls who could exchange souls and knew each other's secrets—had looked directly at one another. Going to the bathroom for a bath was not only because she had been soaked by the rain, but also because she did not want