The old woman did not answer. She merely shook her head and cast a somewhat reproachful glance in Klar's direction.
Seeing that the other woman did not seem to need much support, Silei let go as well. She bent down to gather the items scattered across the floor—her handbag had flown open in the collision just now, scattering balm, reading glasses, a card holder, and an exquisite little fountain pen everywhere.
Silei put the items back into the bag one by one. When she turned around, she saw the old woman touching up her lipstick in front of the mirror.
"...Your things are all packed up. Please check them." Silei handed the exquisite handbag over to the old woman. The light near the sink was bright, and she recognized the bag's material as old-fashioned silk, woven with dense jacquard patterns. It was clearly very expensive.
The old woman did not spare Silei another glance. She simply took back her handbag and put away her lipstick.
"...People from District 14 again." As the old woman turned to leave, she muttered under her breath as if talking to herself, her tone carrying an undisguised disgust. "When did Emangria get so many people from District 14?"
Silei more or less knew the words were meant for her, but there seemed little point in arguing with such a frail old woman.
After the old woman had gone some distance away, Klar let out a sigh of relief from the inner stall.
"How was it?" Silei turned her gaze back toward Klar, her voice teasing. "Did you make it in time?"
"...Thanks to you." The restroom door was pushed open from within, and Klar adjusted her belt. "I shouldn't have eaten so much this afternoon... Where did that woman go? Did she leave?"
"She left."