Chapter 3

Five days had passed since Selene arrived at Gideon’s house.

The room that once smelled of sickness and bitter medicine was now filled with the faint scent of herbs and warm broth.

Gideon slowly opened his eyes.

For the first time in months, his breathing no longer sounded strained. The dark veins that had once crawled beneath his skin had faded, leaving only faint traces behind.

Milo stood beside the bed, staring at his uncle as though he were afraid to believe what he was seeing.

“You're awake.”

Gideon frowned weakly. “I've been awake before, boy.”

Milo almost laughed.

But his eyes quickly became wet. “You're actually better.”

Gideon looked down at his hands. He slowly moved his fingers, then pushed himself upright.

Across the room, Selene quietly gathered the empty bottles and dried herbs she had used during the treatment.

Gideon looked toward her. “That girl…”

Milo turned.

" Is your wife?"

Milo nearly choked. “What?!”

Selene paused in the middle of arranging the bottles.

Gideon chuckled weakly, clearly amused by his nephew's reaction.

“She’s the first woman you’ve ever brought here. I thought perhaps I had missed a wedding while lying in bed.”

“Uncle!” Milo's ears turned red.

Selene quietly lowered her head, though the faintest smile appeared at the corner of her lips.

She finished arranging the bottles before slowly walking toward Gideon. Her steps were careful, guided by the sound of his breathing and the creak of the bed.

She stopped about a meter away from him.

Gideon watched her curiously.

Selene tilted her head slightly, as if making sure she was facing him.

“My name is Selene,” she said calmly. “It's a pleasure to meet you, Sir.”

Gideon raised an eyebrow. “You know my name.”

“Milo mentioned it.”

There was a brief silence.

Then Gideon smiled.

“So you're Selene.”

“Yes.”

“So you're the apothecary who saved my life.”

Selene shook her head gently. “I only treated you.”

“And yet I'm alive.”

A quiet smile appeared on Gideon's face.

“I suppose I owe you my thanks.”

Selene inclined her head. “Then I'll accept it.”

From beside the bed, Milo couldn't help smiling.

For someone who couldn't see him, Selene somehow always seemed to know exactly where everyone was.

Two days after Gideon had fully recovered, the house had finally returned to something resembling normal.

Milo had gone to the festive market that morning to buy a few things. By the time he returned, the streets were beginning to glow beneath the warm light of evening.

He stepped through the door carrying a small bundle in his arms.

Selene was sitting near the window, sorting dried herbs by touch and scent.

She heard the door open.

“I'm back.”

He walked toward her, then stopped.

“I bought something.”

Selene tilted her head. “For what?”

“Just take it.”

He placed the bundle in her hands.

Her fingers moved over the fabric, carefully feeling its texture. “A dress?”

“Two, actually.”

Selene fell silent.

She gently unfolded the first one, running her fingertips along the sleeves and seams.

“You bought these for me?”

Milo shrugged, suddenly looking uncomfortable.

“You've been wearing the same clothes since you arrived.”

Selene's lips curved into a small smile. “I didn't ask you to buy me anything.”

“I know.”

He scratched the back of his neck.

“Just... consider it payment, for saving my uncle.”

Selene quietly folded the dress again.

“Your uncle already thanked me.”

“Then consider it my thanks.”

She smiled faintly.

Selene held the dress against herself, trying to imagine its shape through her hands.

“Thank you.”

Milo smiled. “You're welcome.”

That night, after her bath, Selene changed into the thin nightdress the house attendant had prepared for her.

Her damp hair fell loosely over her shoulders as she stepped onto the balcony. She sat quietly beneath the moonlight, slowly combing through her hair while the cool breeze passed over her skin.

For once, there was nothing she needed to hear.

No boiling pot.

No clinking bottles.

No footsteps of someone coming to ask for medicine.

Only the night.

Then she heard footsteps behind her.

She stopped combing.

“Selene.”

He came closer, but she could hear that he had stopped just behind her.

“You're awake.”

“I could say the same about you.”

He gave a quiet laugh. “I brought you something.”

Selene turned her head toward his voice.

“What is it?”

Instead of answering, Milo gently placed something into her hands.

A long piece of white lace.

Selene's fingertips slowly traced its delicate pattern.

“It feels soft.”

“It belonged to my mother.”

Her hands stopped. “Your mother?”

Milo nodded.

“She used to wear it in her hair.”

Selene carefully lifted the lace between her fingers.

“I don't think I should have this.”

“I want you to.”

She tilted her head.

“Why?”

Milo was silent for a moment.

Then he said quietly, “Because when I saw it, I thought of you.”

Selene's fingers tightened around the lace. The breeze moved through her hair.

Milo reached toward her, then hesitated.

“May I?”

Selene didn't answer immediately.

Then she slowly nodded.

Milo stepped closer, his footsteps were almost silent against the wooden floor, he stopped directly in front of  her, close enough for Selene to feel the warmth of his presence against the cool night air.

His hand rose carefully toward the knot at the back of her head.

Milo's fingers finally touched the knot, he loosened it slowly, careful not to pull at her hair, and the fabric slipped free.

Selene remained perfectly still, she slowly opened her eyes.

Milo forgot how to breathe. Golden.

Her eyes were golden.

Not the dull gold of old coins, but something warmer—like sunlight caught inside amber, glowing softly beneath the pale moonlight.

They were unlike anything he had ever seen.

The moon reflected faintly in them, turning their golden color almost silver at the edges. Long lashes framed them, making the brightness of her irises even more striking.

Milo simply stared.

He had spent days wondering what she looked like beneath the blindfold.

He had imagined ordinary eyes.

A small smile appeared on her lips.

“Did I frighten you?”

“No.”

“Then why aren't you saying anything?”

Milo finally exhaled.

“Your eyes…”

Selene's smile faded slightly.

“What about them?”

He stepped closer without realizing it. “They're beautiful.”

The words escaped him before he could think better of them.

Yet he didn't look away.

There was something almost unfair about seeing her like this.

The answer came so quickly that Selene smiled. Milo looked down at the blindfold in his hand.

“May I?”

Selene understood. She closed her eyes again.

Milo slowly gathered her hair away from her face.

His fingers brushed lightly against a few loose strands.

Selene felt his touch and remained still.

Milo tied it behind her head.

His fingers lingered for a second before retreating.

“There.”

Selene reached up and touched the lace.

“It feels different.”

“It's softer than your old blindfold.”

She smiled.

“My old one has survived more than you know.”

“Then perhaps it deserves to retire.”

She laughed softly.

Milo smiled.

For a moment, they stood beneath the moonlight without saying anything.

Then Selene touched the lace once more.

“Your mother gave this to you?”

“No.”

Milo looked at the white fabric.

“She didn't give it to me.”

He paused.

“It was one of the few things she left behind.”

Selene's smile disappeared slightly.

“Then shouldn't you keep it?”

Milo looked at her.

“I thought about that.”

“And?”

“And I think she'd rather have it somewhere it could be appreciated.”

Selene lowered her head.

“You're giving away something precious.”

“I know.” Milo's gaze remained on her.

The breeze passed between them again, lifting a few strands of Selene's hair.

She raised her face toward the night sky.

Even though the lace covered her eyes once more, her expression was peaceful.

“Milo.”

“Hmm?”

“Thank you.”

A minute passed.

The night breeze moved gently through the balcony, carrying the scent of the trees beyond the estate. Milo remained beside Selene, his gaze occasionally settling on the white lace covering her eyes.

Something had been troubling him.

He hesitated before finally speaking.

“Ahm- ?”

“Yes?”

“If you can heal people…” He paused.

“Why can't you heal your own eyes?”

The question lingered. Selene's fingers slowly rose to the lace. For a moment, she said nothing.

Then she smiled. It wasn't her usual smile.

There was something almost distant about it.

“ I've tried.”

She tilted her face toward the moon, though she could no longer see it through the lace.

“That doesn't mean I failed.”

Milo stared at her.

“What do you mean?”

Selene's fingertips traced the delicate threads covering her eyes.

“Some things aren't meant to be healed simply because they are broken.”

Her voice was soft.

Almost a whisper. “And some things…”

She paused. “…were never broken to begin with.”

Milo's expression tightened. “Then what happened to your eyes?”

Selene turned toward him.

For a brief moment, her golden eyes seemed to glow faintly beneath the white lace.

“I don't remember.”

“You don't remember?”

She shook her head.

“Not everything that happened to me belongs to the memories I still have.”

Milo studied her carefully.

“Then you don't know whether you were born blind?”

Selene's lips curved into the faintest smile.

“Perhaps I was.”

A pause. “Perhaps I wasn't.”

The answer sent an uneasy chill through him.

“Selene…”

She gently placed a finger against the lace.

“Don't worry about my eyes, Milo.”

Her voice softened. “They have seen enough.”

Milo stared at her. “But you can't see.”

Selene smiled. “No.”

She turned toward the darkness beyond the balcony.

“But sometimes…”

Her voice became almost inaudible. “I think they remember things that I don't.”