It's nearly sunset when Seraphine and Clement began treading their way out of the forest and back to the orphanage.
Since she started putting her distance from most people, she would often spend time exploring the woods near the house and roaming around. She does this whenever playtime comes – for the obvious reason that she is too old to play with the other children, that is. It's a good thing that they don't find her efforts to isolate herself as something strange enough to earn the adults' concern.
Clement decided to accompany Seraphine most of the time, and with that, they have grown closer than ever before.
'Well, I did try to shove him away by giving him the cold shoulders and all. But apart from the fact that he was a tough nut, I also started to feel awful for doing that to such a kind-hearted person…' she mused quietly as she stole a glance at him.
