It's hard to believe in people too much at this point.
Ercilia is already fortunate enough to be able to keep on living. Even more so when Drystan turns out to be the cause.
She used to wish that she could find and meet him again. But that was after she was forced to work herself to death, marry a manipulative psychopath, live in an abusive household, and become the family's puppet in the shadows. She long stopped dreaming big ever since.
'He can't possibly hold any feelings towards me, can he? For all I know, he only wants to earn my favor and use me for something.'
Ercilia continues to pore over Drystan's expression.
He peers back at her in silence, lost in his own set of thoughts. There's the unreadable look plastered on her face again – like she's wearing a mask, always cautious and on guard. He figures that a lot of things are weighing down on her, which he really can't blame her for.
