Sapphire's POV
Days after…
"I, uh… Big Brother... no, Dayesh," I corrected myself, feeling my tongue betray my nerves, "I wanted to ask for permission to go on a vacation."
Silence.
He did not respond right away, and that brief pause stretched longer than it should have. My chest tightened as if each second carried weight. I stood there, hands clasped in front of me, trying to appear composed, though my thoughts were already spiraling.
Then finally...
"All right," he said, his voice calm but thoughtful. "Maybe you're getting tired of the same routine anyway. How many days?"
Relief washed over me, but only halfway. I swallowed.
"Two weeks."
"Two weeks?" he repeated, this time with a sharper edge. "That's quite long. Who will you be with for those two weeks?"
The question lingered between us. There was something in the way he asked it, something not quite accusatory, but not entirely casual either.
"I'll be alone," I replied, trying to sound as natural as possible. "Who else would I bring with me?"
Again, silence.
He had this habit of pausing before responding, as though weighing every word carefully. But this time, it made me uneasy.
Finally...
"Fine. Rosarie can handle things here while you're away."
I let out a breath I did not realize I had been holding. "Thank you. I appreciate you letting me go."
"When are you leaving?" he asked. Then, after a short pause, "Do you need extra money?"
"I'm leaving tomorrow," I answered. "And no, I'll be fine. I have enough saved."
"Is that so?" he murmured. "Still, bring extra."
I almost smiled at that. He could be persistent in the quietest ways.
"Fine," I said, giving in to avoid a longer discussion. "I'll bring extra."
There was no point arguing. Not with him.
"I'll go pack my things."
Night fell quietly, wrapping the estate in a blanket of stillness.
The air was cool, the kind that made every sound sharper. Crickets filled the silence, and somewhere in the distance, leaves rustled under the faint wind.
From my window, I caught sight of a familiar figure.
Ghoth.
He stood partially hidden in the shadows of the yard, blending so well into the darkness that anyone else might have missed him completely. Only someone who knew where to look would notice.
I slipped outside, careful with my steps, and approached him.
"You're early," I whispered.
"I prefer not to be seen," he replied simply.
I nodded. That was very much like him.
"I got permission," I said, keeping my voice low. "Start preparing what you need. Meet me tomorrow afternoon at the diner stall we saw in the town market. There's only one, so you won't miss it."
He studied me for a moment, his gaze unreadable even in the dim light.
"All right," he said. "I'll leave now. Someone might notice if I stay longer."
"Okay. See you tomorrow."
There was no farewell beyond that. No unnecessary words.
He disappeared as quietly as he had appeared, swallowed by the night.
I stood there for a moment longer, staring into the darkness where he had been, before turning back inside.
Tomorrow, everything would begin.
Morning came with a different kind of energy.
There was movement, preparation, a quiet sense of transition.
"I'll leave things to you," I told Rosarie as I approached her. "From taking care of the two children to handling everything that needs to be done before the day ends."
"I'll take care of it," she replied without hesitation. "I hope you enjoy your vacation."
Her tone was steady, sincere. I believed her.
But then, a thought crossed my mind.
Something playful. Something unexpected.
"By the way…" I said, lightly tapping her shoulder.
"You should try your luck," I teased gently. "Who knows? Maybe one day, he'll fall for you. He doesn't have a wife, after all."
"S-sure…" she stammered, her voice barely holding together.
I could not help but smile.
It was rare to see her like this.
"Well then," I said, stepping back, "I'll leave you to it. I still need to finish packing."
She nodded quickly, still flustered, and I walked away before she could recover completely.
After finishing my preparations, I went to find Dayesh.
I wanted to leave properly.
I found him in Lzith's room.
The atmosphere there was softer, quieter. Lzith sat nearby, her presence gentle as always.
"I'm leaving," I said.
"Auntie Mama, where are you going?" Lzith asked, her small voice filled with curiosity.
I crouched slightly to meet her eyes.
"Just somewhere nearby," I replied gently. "I need to buy something."
It was a simple answer, enough to keep things from becoming complicated.
"Wait," Dayesh said suddenly. "I'll get something. Stay here."
He left the room without another word.
Lzith watched him go, then looked back at me, her expression thoughtful but calm.
Moments later, he returned.
In his hand was a small bag.
He extended it toward me.
"Take this."
I hesitated, then accepted it, curiosity getting the better of me. I opened the bag—and froze.
Gold coins, and alot of them.
The weight alone was enough to tell me how much was inside.
"Hey I can't accept this," I said quickly, looking up at him.
"It's fine," he replied. "Use it so you can enjoy yourself without worrying about expenses."
For a moment, I did not know what to say.
There was no trace of hesitation in his voice. No expectation. Just quiet certainty.
And that somehow made it harder to refuse.
A flicker of guilt stirred in my chest.
"All right," I said finally, my voice softer now. "Thank you. I feel a bit embarrassed accepting this, but… I will."
He nodded once.
"I'll be waiting for your return," he said. "Take care of yourself."
There was something in the way he said it. Not commanding. Not distant.
Just… sincere.
"Thank you," I replied.
I held the small bag a little tighter.
Then, without another word, I turned and walked away.