Valerie's POV
The wind was pleasantly cool as Cecilia and I stood outside, the others having already gone inside Sagewood Cottage.
I stretched my arms behind my head, rolling my shoulders. "Hey," I started, tilting my head toward her. "Wanna come with me to pick up the stuff for the outdoor dining area?"
Cecilia shifted her weight, crossing her arms over her chest. "Sure."
And just like that, we made our way to her car.
It was a quiet ride at first, the hum of the engine filling the space between us. Cecilia was focused on the road, as usual, her expression as blank as ever. I glanced out the window, watching the scenery blur past, before something popped into my head.
"Are you going to teach Leon how to use a bow?" I asked, breaking the silence.
Cecilia didn't react right away. She kept her eyes on the road, fingers tapping idly against the steering wheel. Then, after a short pause, she replied, "I asked him earlier."
I waited, sensing there was more.
"He said he doesn't like the bow." Her voice was still calm, but there was something—something almost imperceptible—beneath the surface. "He prefers the sword."
I turned my head, studying her profile. Her face was as unreadable as ever, but I knew Cecilia well enough by now. That statement had hurt.
A slow grin crept onto my face. "Oh, so that's what that feels like."
Cecilia blinked, finally glancing at me.
I chuckled. "That was exactly my reaction when Rodan said he preferred the bow over the sword."
She didn't respond, but I saw the way her fingers tightened around the wheel.
I propped my elbow against the window, smirking. "Did you tell Brianna?"
"I did," she said, voice neutral again.
I hummed in thought. "Are you two planning to hire a tutor?"
"Yes," Cecilia replied, her eyes still fixed on the road. "Brianna and I discussed it an hour ago."
I couldn't resist.
I leaned back in my seat, crossing my arms with a teasing smirk. "You two are like a couple."
Cecilia's head snapped toward me so fast I thought she might get whiplash. Then, without a word, she turned back to the road, gripping the steering wheel a little tighter.
Oh, this was too good.
I laughed. "What? I'm just saying what I see."
Cecilia remained silent, but the tips of her ears looked a little red.
I decided to move on—for now. "Anyway, if you want, I can teach Leon."
Cecilia's brows furrowed slightly. "No," she said immediately. "You're our employer."
I waved a hand dismissively. "Forget that. We're friends. I just want to do it."
Cecilia still looked hesitant, but I could tell she was considering it.
Not giving her time to argue, I continued, "Oh, right. I'm teaching Rodan etiquette, and Serena's teaching him body anatomy." Then, with a casual shrug, I added, "Leon should take those classes too."
Cecilia let out a quiet sigh. "I'll talk to Brianna when we get back."
And with that, the conversation settled into a comfortable lull as we pulled into the mall parking lot.
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We walked through the aisles, heading straight to the furniture section. It didn't take long to find what we needed—a long, sturdy wooden table and ten matching chairs. Nothing too fancy, but solid and practical, perfect for what we had in mind.
"Think this will fit everyone?" I asked, tapping the table.
Cecilia nodded. "It's a good size."
We arranged for same-day delivery, paying extra to make sure it arrived at the house before dinner. No way was I going to wait days for this.
With that done, we made our way to the grocery store.
It was a smooth trip at first—basic necessities, snacks for the kids, a few extra things Serena would probably appreciate. Then, as we were passing through the aisles, we walked by the baby section.
Cecilia stopped.
It was brief—just a second—but she stopped. Her gaze lingered on the tiny clothes, the soft blankets, the delicate baby bottles arranged neatly on the shelves.
I paused a step ahead of her, turning slightly. 'Aha'.
I tilted my head, watching her for a moment. Then, casually, I said, "Do you want to visit the hospital after this?"
Cecilia flinched slightly, as if I had just caught her doing something she wasn't supposed to. She turned her head toward me, eyes slightly wider than usual. "What?"
I smiled knowingly. "How did I know you were thinking about that baby?" I tilted my head. "I've been there before."
Her lips pressed into a thin line.
I gestured toward the baby section. "You had the same expression Serena and I had when we adopted the kids."
Cecilia's gaze flickered back to the shelves, lingering for another second before she exhaled.
I clapped my hands lightly. "Alright, let's hurry up and finish shopping. If the baby's still there, we'll visit."
Cecilia was silent for a moment longer, then she nodded.
And just like that, we continued down the aisle.
Something told me today was going to be more eventful than expected.
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Cecilia and I had just finished shopping, our bags stacked in the backseat as we drove through the city. But my mind wasn't on the clothes or the groceries—we had somewhere important to be.
As Cecilia navigated through traffic, I kept my gaze on the road ahead, but my thoughts wandered. Finally, I broke the silence.
"If the baby's still there… will you adopt them?"
Cecilia's hands tightened slightly around the steering wheel, her knuckles turning white for just a second before she relaxed.
"I don't know," she admitted. "I still have my duties as a tutor. I can't just drop that."
I scoffed, shaking my head. "Come on, Cecilia. Even if you miss two lessons, Serena and I wouldn't care. In fact, Serena would probably throw a celebration. Cristina would have a playmate."
Cecilia didn't respond right away. Instead, she gave me a small, thoughtful smile before turning her attention back to the road.
I smirked. 'She's thinking about it'.
The hospital came into view, and without wasting any time, we parked and headed straight inside. The air was cool, the faint scent of disinfectant lingering. We made our way to the reception desk, where a middle-aged woman with glasses sat, typing away at her computer.
"We're looking for a baby," I said, resting my arms on the counter. "There was a demon attack recently. A baby was sent here afterward. Is she still here?"
The receptionist barely glanced up as she continued typing. After a moment, she clicked her mouse and read something on the screen. Then, she shook her head.
"No, the baby isn't here anymore."
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Cecilia's poker face slip—just a little. It was the smallest sign, but I caught it.
I straightened. "Did someone pick her up?"
The receptionist shook her head again. "No, the baby was sent to an orphanage. The police identified the mother's body, but when they checked her records, there was no mention of the father or any relatives. So the child was placed at the Harmonia Orphanage."
'Harmonia Orphanage?'. My eyebrows shot up. 'Well, that's a hell of a coincidence'.
I reached out, placing a hand on Cecilia's shoulder. "Thank you," I said to the receptionist before turning to Cecilia.
She was staring at me with a puzzled expression, clearly trying to figure out why I reacted that way.
I grinned. "I know where that orphanage is."
Her eyes widened slightly before she nodded. Without another word, she turned on her heel and walked out, heading straight for the car. I followed.
We made it to Harmonia Orphanage in record time, pulling up in front of the large, brick building. The place looked as it always did—modest but well-kept, with a small playground in the front yard.
A nearby matron was watching a few children play. I approached her first.
"Mind if we look around for a bit?" I asked.
She studied me for a moment, then nodded. "Feel free."
We thanked her before heading inside. The orphanage was quiet, the faint sounds of children's laughter echoing from down the hall. We made our way to the baby ward, where a kind-looking matron greeted us.
"Are you here to adopt?" she asked.
I turned to Cecilia, waiting for her response.
She hesitated, her lips pressing together for a moment before she took a slow breath. "I think so," she admitted. "But I need to decide first."
The matron nodded in understanding. "I'll give you some space."
She left us alone, and together, we walked through the rows of cribs. The room was filled with the soft sounds of babies breathing, the occasional whimper or quiet cooing. Some were asleep, others stirred slightly as we passed.
Then, we saw her.
She was awake, lying in her crib with her tiny hands curled into fists. The sunlight from the window hit her just right, making her curly brown hair shine. But it was her eyes that caught me—deep, striking purple, wide with curiosity as she stared up at us.
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then, without a word, I turned and walked out, leaving Cecilia alone with the baby. This was her moment.
I leaned against the wall outside, waiting. Minutes passed, but I didn't rush her.
Finally, Cecilia stepped out of the ward. Her expression was unreadable, but I saw something new in her eyes—something softer, but stronger.
She looked at me and, to my surprise, asked, "Can I adopt her?"
I blinked, then burst out laughing. "You don't need my permission."
Cecilia chuckled, but there was still that lingering uncertainty on her face. I knew she was overthinking it—probably questioning if she was ready, if she could balance her responsibilities, if she was making the right choice.
But I also knew she'd already made up her mind.
Together, we headed back to the front desk to start the process. The staff gave Cecilia all the necessary information—forms, requirements, everything she needed to make it official.
Once that was settled, we walked back to the car, ready to head home.
"So," I said as we pulled onto the main road, "are you telling the others tonight?"
"Yeah," Cecilia said. "At dinner."
I smirked. "Serena's gonna freak out—in a good way."
Cecilia let out a small laugh. "I can't wait to tell them."
I, on the other hand, was already mentally planning which room we were going to renovate. This was going to be fun.