**Tatiana's perspective**
Under the moon's watchful eye, Lady Sakuya and I found ourselves on the rooftop, escaping the confines of the room through the window. Her agility amazed me as she effortlessly climbed to the top, pulling me up with her. I wanted to talk to her, but not at the risk of bothering Blanc or Lily, so we sought a quiet corner for ourselves.
The thrill of being on the rooftop overwhelmed me, causing my knees to tremble like leaves in the wind. It reminded me of Catherine, who often indulged in such daring escapades. However, her adventurous spirit had earned her scoldings from her mother, a sight that had left a lasting impression on me.
"I must admit, this is quite the exhilarating experience," I confessed to Lady Sakuya, my voice quivering with nervous excitement. "But I must beg you to hold my hand, just in case."
She smiled warmly, her hand enveloping mine in a comforting grasp. Despite her towering height, she had an extraordinary balance, making me feel secure as we settled in side by side.
The moon bathed the rooftop in its luminous glow, casting a spell of enchantment upon the night. It was a breathtaking view, and I couldn't help but shiver from the cold wind.
"Thank you," I murmured as Lady Sakuya draped her robe over my shoulders, still warm from her own body. Her scent enveloped me, and I found myself instinctively inhaling the fragrance, an unintended but pleasant action.
Lady Sakuya observed me curiously, her eyes gentle and alluring. Embarrassed by my own behavior, I quickly withdrew my hand from the robe and fumbled to find the right words. "I'm sorry if that was strange. I didn't mean to..."
She dismissed my worries with a casual wave of her hand. "Not at all. Feel free to do as you please."
But even as we shared this moment, a nagging worry tugged at the corners of my mind. I found myself riddled with uncertainty, fretting over the thought that Lady Sakuya might be harbouring resentment towards me. The possibility that she was bearing this burden silently, just to spare me the heartache, pained me greatly. This concern had been brewing within me for some time, and I decided it was best to lay my fears bare.
"Are you... upset with me, Lady Sakuya?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper, carrying the weight of my insecurities. My eyes, brimming with worry, were puffy and red.
She seemed taken aback by my question, and her gaze momentarily shifted away from mine. "What do you mean?" she asked, her voice as gentle as the moonlight.
I gathered my courage and voiced my deepest fear. "It just seems that no matter what I do, no matter how unreasonable my requests may be, you never object. You never stop me. And I can't help but wonder... do you resent me for it?"
Her silence enveloped us like a blanket, leaving me anxiously awaiting her response. After a moment, I decided to continue, my voice shaky but determined. "Regardless, I'm grateful to you. For always being there, for always looking after me."
Overcome with emotion, my voice cracked as the tears began to fall. "Being with you, Lily, and Blanc, I've found a sense of home. I cherish our meetings, our moments together. I dread the thought of us ever parting. Perhaps it's childish, but it's the truth."
Her eyes softened as she looked at me, and she whispered my name in a way that seemed to calm the storm in my heart. "Tatiana."
Driven by my emotions, I pleaded with her, "If there's anything I do that you don't like, please, I beg you, tell me. I don't want my actions to cause any discomfort."
She remained silent for a moment before replying with a gentle smile, "Tatiana, there's no way I could hate you." She reached out, delicately wiping away my tears with her handkerchief.
Her reassuring smile melted my worries, and under the radiant moonlight, her beauty took my breath away. I was left speechless, completely captivated by her.
"But what if I did something that you despise?" I persisted, trying to make her understand my worries. "What then?"
Her eyebrows rose in surprise, and she asked, "And what might that be?"
"Hehe, well, what if I barged into your room and woke you up early in the morning?" I proposed, trying to bring some levity to the situation.
Her eyes twinkled with amusement, and she asked, "Do you hate being woken up early in the morning?"
"Well, yes, I do, so I assume you do as well," I responded, remembering my past troubles with waking up early. Back then, Catherine used to drag me from the dormitory to classes because of my habitual late nights. It was a recurring cycle until Lily managed to fix my sleeping schedule, and I became more disciplined to avoid her lectures.
She responded with a soft chuckle, "Well, Tatiana, if it's you, I wouldn't mind waking up early. Seeing you at the start of my day would be a delight."
Her response caught me off guard, and I felt a flutter of butterflies in my stomach. My cheeks turned a rosy hue, and I wondered if she really meant what she said.
"But in the end, is there nothing I can do that would make you hate me?" I sighed, feeling both relieved and somewhat disheartened. It was a strange contradiction, but her patience and understanding with me only deepened my admiration for her.
"Sakuya..." she said suddenly, her own name echoing in the quiet night.
"Huh?" I blinked, taken aback by her sudden proclamation.
"You can call me just by my name from now on. Without honorifics," she said, looking me straight in the eye. It was as if she was daring me to go against her will.
"I...I can't possibly do that," I stuttered, taken aback by her bold request. It felt unnatural, addressing someone older than me without an honorific. "It's...it's just not right."
"But you call Lily by her name, don't you?" she countered, a faintly teasing tone in her voice.
I felt a flash of annoyance. Was she sulking now? But she was right. I had been calling Lily by her name since the day we met. I sighed, realizing I had lost this battle.
"Fine...if that's what you want... Sa...ku...ya," I said, forcing out the name. It felt strange and unfamiliar on my tongue, and yet... there was a certain warmth to it that I hadn't expected.
"Yes? What is it, Tatiana?" she replied, a smile playing on her lips.
"It just feels so wrong!" I protested, cringing inwardly. But if I went back to calling her Lady Sakuya, she might sulk again, and I didn't want that.
She chuckled, a soft, gentle sound that was somehow comforting. "You'll get used to it," she assured me, her eyes twinkling with mirth.
I crossed my arms, pouting. She was teasing me now. But even though I felt slightly embarrassed, there was a part of me that was happy, too. She wanted me to be closer to her, and that thought warmed my heart.
"I'm glad we had this talk," I admitted, a small smile gracing my lips as I looked at Sakuya, or rather, just Sakuya now, without any honorifics. The weight of my worries seemed to have lifted, knowing that she didn't hate me after all.
As I gazed out at the moon, its soft glow casting a mesmerizing light, I couldn't help but reflect on my role as a villainess. I had come to a realization that I might not be able to save everyone, considering my own limitations, but being with Lily, Blanc, and especially Sakuya, made me want to grow stronger, to protect those I cherished.
"I want to be a different kind of villainess," I confessed, my voice tinged with determination. "A good villainess, one who is willing to sacrifice herself for others. And, above all, it's because of being a villainess that all of us came together—Lily, Blanc, you, Sakuya—are what I treasure the most in my life."
Sakuya looked at me, almost in a daze, as if my words had taken her by surprise. I couldn't help but wonder if what I said sounded strange or if it made any sense at all.
But she simply shrugged and offered a reassuring smile. "No, it sounds much like you, exactly who you are," she said, her words filling me with a sense of acceptance and warmth.
I chuckled nervously, "Well, once again, Sakuya, it's been nice meeting you. I'm Tatiana Tremaine, the villainess." It felt both strange and liberating to declare my identity like that.
As I stood up, ready to take on whatever challenges lay ahead, a sudden gust of wind caught me off guard. I lost my balance, and before I knew it, I was teetering dangerously close to the edge of the rooftop.
"AH!!" I screamed, my heart racing in fear of falling.
"Tatiana!" Sakuya was quick to react, her arms wrapping around me in a protective hug.
I clung to her, feeling the safety and security of her presence, and the faint scent of her lingering on the robe she had lent me. It was a moment of both relief and vulnerability, knowing that I had someone to rely on in times of need.
Silence enveloped us for what felt like an eternity, the only sound being the soft rustling of the wind. Eventually, Sakuya released me from her hold, and we stood there, looking at each other, the unspoken connection between us stronger than ever.
"...Lady Sakuya?" I finally broke the silence, feeling a mixture of emotions swirling inside me.
"Let's head back now," Sakuya proposed, standing upright and gently guiding me back to the room. As we moved, I noticed a dampness beneath my feet, a chilling reminder of the weather outside. Was it starting to rain?
"Goodnight, Sakuya," I said, my voice brimming with newfound happiness.
She simply nodded in response, and I moved towards the bed. It was as pristine and welcoming as when I'd left it, a tempting haven of comfort.
"Guess Lily didn't catch us. She must be tired and already in bed," I mused out loud, proud of our little adventure. But as I pulled back the bed covers, there she was—Lily, curled up in her maid's attire and sporting a wide, knowing smile.
"It seems someone's in a good mood?" she remarked, a clear edge of disapproval lining her voice, even as her smile remained intact.
"Ah! Lily?" I stuttered, taken aback.
"I did promise a stern lecture, didn't I?" she said, pulling off her gloves and giving me a slightly intimidating look.
I let out a despairing scream, "NOOO!!!"
Not tonight, I pleaded silently. But it was of no use. Her lecture ran for two full hours, and I fell asleep dreading the nightmares to come. She chained me to the bed for the next two days, feeding me herself, making sure I was grounded. I couldn't help but regret my impulsive decision.
-Chapter 23 End-