In this moment, the entire world seemed to fall silent.
A gentle breeze stirred, lifting the window veil.
A stifling tension instantly filled the air as the two women faced each other in silence, their expressions unreadable.
This was a reunion after more than six centuries apart.
If they had any choice, perhaps neither would wish to meet again for a lifetime. Yet, two lines that were meant to run parallel were forced to intertwine by the existence of one man, and now, no matter what, they could not break free.
They stood there, dazed, for a long while. At last, Anna Yang lowered her head and, like a gracious matron, smiled softly: "It’s rare for you to visit, Junior Sister. As your sister-in-law, I should have ordered the servants to bring tea, but I forgot—how discourteous of me."
With that, she raised her voice slightly and called out, "Attend me!"
"That won’t be necessary," Clara Heart interjected quickly.
The door opened. A maid entered, bowed deeply to Anna Yang, then to Clara Heart. "Her Holiness the Holy Mother..." she intoned respectfully.
Clara Heart hurriedly said, "Truly, there’s no need. I’ve only come to see you, just to talk."
"That will be all," Anna Yang said, letting her forced smile fade as she composed herself, her voice now calm and dignified. "You may go."
"Yes, ma'am."
The maid bowed and withdrew, closing the door behind her.
Once again, only the two women remained in the room, standing quietly, their gazes equally hollow.
After a long silence, Clara Heart blinked and said, "I am Belle reborn."
"I know," Anna Yang replied softly.
"I came to see you because I wanted to clarify things—and to ask you some questions."
"Go ahead and ask."
Clara Heart pressed her lips together for a long moment, then said softly, "Let me speak first. I’m afraid if I ask my question first, you might misunderstand."
"Then speak."
"I have already let go. Completely let go." Clara Heart took a deep breath. "Between him and me, there was never a blossom on the Moon Tree. Everything was just a misunderstanding. He… never truly belonged to me. In fact, I gave up more than six hundred years ago, but my efforts backfired, and in the end…"
At this, Clara Heart bowed deeply to Anna Yang. "I’m sorry," she said.
Anna Yang continued to stand quietly, tears shimmering at the corners of her eyes. Her breath grew slightly uneven, and she unconsciously clenched her hands.
A gentle breeze drifted by, lifting the window veil. For some reason, Anna Yang suddenly felt a chill.
"I’ve said all I needed to say. Now, may I ask my question?"
"Go ahead."
"I want to ask you: why didn’t you go back with him? Why did you choose to stay in Lionback Kingdom? If you truly only wanted to help him, this isn’t the way. Staying here only shackles him further."
......
At that very moment, in the grand hall of Lionback Kingdom, Violet Web knelt on the floor, holding a crystal aloft above her head.
Within the crystal, the scene unfolding in Anna Yang’s chamber was being played out.