It was in the dark of the night.
The soft flicker of lanterns in the courtyard moved with the currents of breezes, raking long shadows over cobblestones. Grand House had a silence as two guards made an appearance from the very furthermost hallway, escorting someone with firm unrelenting steps.
All heads were turned towards the place the footsteps made. Whispers swelled like the tide in the background.
It was she.
The maid of Sir Sebastian.
Pale face, unsteady steps. The other maids, Li Wei and Miss Mei in the courtyard, stood staring wide-eyed. None expected her there.
Even Li Wei, who stood right beside Miss Mei, could feel the breath catch in his throat.
The guards stopped right in the center of the courtyard.
Miss Mei advanced, her silk robes whispering around her as if coiled wind. She paused, eyes narrowing slightly, then gave a nod.
Without hesitation one guard reached into the folds of the robe accused of the maid.
Silence fell thick like fog.
Then- he pulled it out.
A tiny velvet pouch.
Slowly he opened it. Within, a blue sapphire pendant sparkled like a frozen flame, its gleam like starlight, pure and absolute. The same pendant that had gone missing from the room of Sebastian.
Gasps rippled across the courtyard.
And then were presented-his bills-distorted, a little torn, but unmistakable real now; currency that did not belong in any of the treasury chambers of the Grand House. Illicit evidence. Undeniable proof.
The maid collapsed fully to her knees, forehead pressed to the cold stone. No words. No plea. No tears.
Just silent surrender.
Only now everything is clear.
The thief had been caught.
Li Wei's innocence was intact.
No rejoicings though. No good words. Miss Mei snapped her fingers and the guards carried the guilty maid away without further ado. Didn't let her speak. She was not even allowed a backward glance.
And sent straight to the closed chambers-there is a hidden prison inside the Grand House, in which the disgraced are never to be seen again. The silence hung like a storm about to break.
Miss Mei turned to the others. "You may go."
Most of the onlookers bowed and dispersed, murmuring like the wind trailing them.
There was, however, one remaining- Xiao Ling, the maid whose strand of hair had not first been found. Her eyes were round with confusion, mayhap guilt, but Miss Mei merely gave her a silent wave.
Then only three remained in the courtyard.
Sir Sebastian.
Miss Mei.
And Li Wei.
A moment, and the heavens trembled above with clouds rolling over the moon.
And Sir Sebastian, who was always calm by nature, seemed to have a different visage before him- that which befits one harsh and cold. Something unreadable seemed to have crept on into his expression.
Li Wei noticed it.
But he said nothing.
He bowed very low once again, "Thank you .Miss., may I take my leave now?"
Miss Mei didn't reply immediately.
He bent forward and murmured something into her ear- something too soft for Li Wei to catch-and turned to stalk down the corridor, robes flowing darkly behind him.
Now only the two remained in the courtyard.
The courtyard was hushed, and around them, trees rustled in gentle night wind. The air was thick, though not by cold-thick nonetheless with questions.
Li Wei didn't move.
Miss Mei had not dismissed him.
So he stood there, head up this time, his gaze drawn around for just a moment.
He felt... strange.
Not relief.
Not triumph.
Just hollow echo, as though having survived, but having quite lost.
And then her voice came.
"I'm sorry."
Soft almost a whisper, but thundered against Li Wei's chest.
He turned to her slowly.
In her world-this world of silk halls and lacquered fans-those words were rare. Heard of, of course. But royals and nobles, as a rule, never apologized.
But here she was.
Saying it to him.
"You don't have to be, Miss," he said, voice steady yet gentle. "I knew you believed me."
She stood, every movement graceful as a dance under the moonlight, her eyes lingering on his just one second longer than normal.
"You may go now," she said, her voice cool but not cold.
He gave a light nod, already shifting his weight-when her voice caught him again.
"Tomorrow... you will take me somewhere."
The words landed like a blow.
Li Wei froze mid-step.
Somewhere? Why?
Hope stirred-but with it, fear.
Would she now allow what happened the other day to happen again-and just to disgrace him once again?
His fingers curled lightly by his side. But he said nothing.
Not now.
Only tomorrow would know.
But the question never stopped ringing in his mind
"Why has Sebastian's mood changed even after he was proved Innocent"