Sunflower Sea

Using specially prepared noodle soup water to wash her hair, the fine black powder clinging to it gradually faded away, restoring its original, flawless snowy silver.

As Talia helped Sylutia wash and comb her hair, she said with envy, "Tia, your hair quality is truly wonderful; it's always so smooth and straight."

She touched her own curly chestnut hair, feeling a bit discouraged, though she was still overjoyed to see Sylutia in her silver-haired form again today.

The young girl and Talia spent over an hour thoroughly washing the hair, restoring it to its original snowy silver luster. Afterward, Sylutia took a hot bath to cleanse her entire body.

Changing into the simple white dress with exquisite details she had worn when she first arrived, Sylutia stood before the mirror to examine herself, occasionally turning around, causing her supple locks to drift slightly.

I still need to use a hairband to keep it in check, otherwise, it's too messy, she thought.

She picked up the blue and white hairband embroidered with cornflower patterns once more, gathered the hair from both sides of her temples to the back of her head, and secured it with the pristine band, tying it into a cute bow.

The cascading snowy silver hair and the hairband swayed and shimmered as she moved, creating a unique sense of beauty.

Come to think of it, this appearance from when she first woke up could not be called flashy, yet it possessed a light, elegant quality that one could never tire of seeing. It was as if, after searching through a thousand flowers, she had ultimately chosen that first, simple, and delicate bloom she had encountered—a beauty that was hard to surpass or forget.

After combing her hair, smoothing her dress, putting on her clean white stockings, and stepping into her well-fitting leather shoes to fasten the small white bow straps, Sylutia stood up and turned gently before the mirror to check her appearance.

"Wow, you look like a completely different person." Talia clasped her hands, unable to suppress her surprise and delight.

Although Sylutia had silver hair before, she had always kept it hidden; never had she bloomed with such complete charm as she did today.

"If someone said Tia was a princess from a foreign land, most people would believe it." Talia circled the girl several times, feeling more and more convinced.

"A princess... that would be troublesome if I couldn't explain it properly." The girl shook her head slightly, though she turned her toes, familiarizing herself with the long-lost comfort, feeling as if a great deal of time had passed.

It had only been two or three months, yet it felt as if she had lived through an eternity.

Still, she could truly relax today.

In the afternoon, the peaceful sun shone upon the streets of the West District. Under the lush shade of trees, a carriage moved slowly, its lacquered teak body reflecting specks of light in the dappled sun.

Sylutia sat inside the carriage with her hands folded, resting lightly on her knees. Her eyes were closed, and occasionally, a sliver of light filtered through the gaps in the curtains, falling upon her graceful, snowy-white neck and cheeks.

"We have arrived, Miss."

The wheels gradually stopped turning, and the coachman tried his best to use a respectful tone to alert the girl inside.

Although he did not know the girl's identity, from the moment he received the commission and saw her, he felt her status must be high. He had been extra careful, personally brushing the horses and driving with deliberate, gentle speed.

"Thank you, please wait a moment," she replied softly.

The carriage door opened, and she stepped down, lifting her hem slightly, while Talia followed behind, carrying the glass-covered potted plant wrapped in black cloth.

Looking up at the sprawling mansion, they could see the front garden and lawn through the iron fence, which were very quiet at this moment.

Arriving at the main gate, Sylutia gently shook the hanging bell, which emitted a crisp, tinkling sound.

Before long, a maid in a black and white uniform emerged from a side door and approached the gate.

"Do you have an invitation?" She kept her hands folded over her apron, her demeanor poised and more refined than some aristocrats.

"I do." Sylutia produced the invitation she had brought with her, which included a recommendation from Scholar Heide and the note Mailin had used when borrowing books.

Taking it, the maid opened the invitation, scanned it, nodded slightly, and then glanced at the potted plant Talia was holding behind Sylutia.

"I will open the gate; you may enter. As for the carriage, please have him wait outside the estate."

"Understood." Sylutia nodded and gave instructions to the coachman.

She then stepped into the quiet courtyard of the mansion, following the maid inside.

For some reason, looking at the maid ahead, she felt a strange sense of familiarity. It wasn't that she knew this person, but rather the maid's attire felt oddly familiar, as if there had been many such figures in her life before.

Regrettably, she could not recall any further memories. She and Talia arrived at the front parlor to wait, and the maid served Sylutia warm black tea.

"Wait here for a moment and do not wander off. I will go notify the Madam."

"Understood." She nodded again and watched the maid depart.

Sitting on the luxurious silk sofa embroidered with gold, Sylutia looked around. Every decoration was exquisite and elegant, exuding an air of opulence. Even the walls were covered in gold-threaded fabric, and the enamel porcelain on the table was exceptionally beautiful.

Just as Scholar Heide had said, this Lady Falan was a person of very special status. She wondered how Mailin had managed to meet her and borrow books in the first place.

Just as the two were observing their surroundings, the young maid returned and told Sylutia, "The Madam has agreed to see you. Please carry the flowerpot to the backyard yourself."

"As for your attendant, she may stay here and rest for a while," she signaled slightly to Talia.

"Oh, I'm not allowed to follow?" Talia was a bit surprised, but she handed the potted plant to Sylutia.

Clasping the glass-covered pot with both hands, Sylutia followed the maid toward the backyard.

Passing through the long corridors of the mansion and turning two corners, she exited the main building and was instantly submerged in a sea of bright yellow flowers.

Under the gentle breeze and the azure sky, countless tall sunflowers were in bloom. Their wide heads faced the sun, and their pale golden petals were arranged tightly, possessing a proud, burning beauty in the sunlight.

These sunflowers were no ordinary plants; they were all "First Order Blazing Sun" supernatural flora. In the most intense and radiant part of the flower sea, there was even a patch of "Second Order Blazing Sun" sunflowers.

Walking through the sea of yellow, Sylutia felt the heat of the Blazing Sun radiating from them, filling her body with vitality and washing away her fatigue.

The further she walked, the more intense the heat became, to the point where the air seemed to shimmer. When she reached the center and looked up, she found the sky above dyed a faint, brilliant gold.

It was then that she finally saw the figure standing in the sea of flowers, holding a white parasol.

The ornate parasol was draped in silk, adorned with delicate pale yellow bows, while the tips of its ribs were capped with pearls.

Beneath the parasol stood a figure with her back to Sylutia. She was slightly taller, dressed in a gown of pure white and gold. Over her voluminous crinoline, layers of skirt hemmed with pale yellow floral ornaments swayed in the breeze, tracing a graceful arc that complemented her posture.

As if sensing Sylutia's arrival, she gave the parasol a light twirl and turned around.

She had light blue eyes, with a few strands of golden hair falling beside her face, and an elegant bearing that was impossible to forget.

"You must be little Tia, the one Mailin and Heide were talking about, right?"

"You certainly look like a child one can't help but adore."

With a beaming smile, she lightly raised her finger, and a multitude of sunflower petals drifted into the sky on the breeze, filling the girl's field of vision.

So bright, and so pure.