Lately… as the years passed, Elea began to notice it.
The changes in Celestine.
At first, it was simple things.
Her height, her posture… the way her features slowly grew sharper, more refined. What was once a small, fragile child had become someone undeniably beautiful.
But that wasn't what unsettled her.
It was everything else.
The quiet changes.
The ones you only notice when you've been watching from the very beginning.
Celestine had grown.
Not just in body—but in mind… and in heart.
They weren't bound by blood.
But that had long since stopped mattering.
Somewhere along the way, that line had disappeared.
What remained was simple.
Mother and daughter.
And to Elea… Celestine was—
"…too kind."
A faint whisper left her lips.
Because that was the problem.
Celestine accepted everything.
With a smile.
No matter what it was… no matter how heavy… she would take it, hold it, and smile like it didn't hurt.
That was the kind of daughter she had.
Precious.
Gentle.
