Cui Ciyou and Roxy left the room, gently closing the door behind them.
They shut a stifled sob away behind the door.
Standing outside, they listened to the faint, low sobs coming from within, seemingly deliberately suppressed yet still impossible to fully contain. Both fell silent for a moment.
"Let's go." In the end, Cui Ciyou spoke first, breaking the silence.
They returned to their guest room.
The dim glow of the oil lamp flickered softly in the quiet room, casting their shadows onto the wall and stretching them long, so very long.
Roxy stood in the middle of the room instead of immediately tidying her bed or studying her magic books as she usually did.
She simply stood there quietly, her aqua-blue eyes, clear as the sea, fixed unwaveringly on Cui Ciyou.
She seemed to have so much to say, yet did not know where to begin. Her conflict and worry all but spilled from her eyes.
"Ciyou..."
Roxy hesitated, then finally gathered her courage and spoke with a hint of uncertainty.
"Have you... have you really decided to... keep employing Lilia?"
"And... to raise Lilia's... and Paul's... child, too?"
Roxy had originally meant to say "illegitimate child," but the term was simply too hurtful.
With the words on the tip of her tongue, she replaced them with something a little gentler.
"I told you, I'll keep my promise."
Without turning around, Cui Ciyou walked over to his bedding by the window and slowly sat down.
With his back to Roxy, he answered calmly.
His tone made it sound as ordinary as saying, "The weather's nice today."
"But... Ciyou, you need to understand. This isn't just a matter of providing a place to live and some money."
Roxy went over to the small round table and sat down, resting