Dylria's POV
"Celia! Celia!" I shouted, knocking on her door for the third time. She had bumped into me and several others in the corridor earlier—without even saying sorry. That wasn't like her at all.
Behind the door, I could hear her sobbing, her cries muffled but painfully clear. My heart tightened. I already considered Celia like my little sister, and hearing her cry like that made something in me ache.
I leaned my head gently against the door and knocked again, softer this time.
"Celia, open the door. It's me."
No response. Just more tears.
I tried to keep my voice light.
"Dylria. Your friend. Girl, will you open the door or not?"
Still nothing. Her silence was eating me alive.
I didn't want to leave her alone like this. If she wouldn't open the door, then I had only one choice left.
The guards stationed behind her room were oddly not at their post—strange, but I didn't dwell on it. I started climbing up to her window, using the wall stones for support. It wasn't easy, but I had to reach her.
Halfway up—
"Aaaah!" I lost my grip and fell. My body hit the ground hard.
The sound drew the attention of nearby guards, and they rushed over, helping me sit up and tending to the wound on my leg. It hurt, but not as much as Celia hurting inside.
Then, from the corner of my eye, I saw her. Celia stood by the window, eyes wide.
I waved weakly and stretched out my arms.
"Poof," she jumped.
I caught her—barely. My leg screamed in pain, but I didn't let her go. If I hadn't caught her, she might have hit her head on the stone pathway.
I looked up at her face. Her eyes were full of tears, but also something else: trust.
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Celia's POV
Why was I sitting on the floor and crying? Because I didn't know what else to do.
I had heard Dylria knocking again and again. Her voice had come through the door—soft, kind, familiar.
"Celia, open the door. It's me."
But I kept crying.
"I won't open the door until Father is well again," I whispered to myself.
Then I heard her say,
"Dylria. Your friend…"
That made me stop. She called me her friend. For a moment, I stood up and placed my hand on the doorknob. I almost turned it. I wanted to. But I stopped myself.
"No exceptions," I said softly, sitting back on the floor.
After a while, I heard nothing. Had she given up and left?
But then—
"Aoooh!"
It came from near my window.
Was that Dylria?
I stood up in a panic and rushed to the window. What I saw made my heart stop.
Dylria was sitting on the ground, surrounded by guards, her leg bleeding. She had actually tried to climb up to me—and fallen.
I didn't think. I didn't even breathe. I jumped.
"Poof!" I landed straight into her arms. Even wounded, she caught me.
If she hadn't… I don't even want to imagine.