Sumi slowly loosened her arms and stepped back from him. A faint pink had spread across her cheeks. She turned away quickly, walking over to the silver glass on the floor and picking it up.
"I'm thirsty…"
Tilting her head back, she drained the mango juice in one long gulp. The glass lowered with a soft exhale. Azrean watched her, that quiet smile still resting on his face.
He leaned back against the bed, letting his body relax for a moment. Then something clicked in his mind. His expression shifted, eyes sharpening slightly.
"Sumi," he said, turning toward her. "Didn't you think it was strange? That paper the elders gave us… the blood type A wasn't there."
Sumi nodded right away.
"Yeah. I noticed it too. Why was there a number instead?"
Azrean frowned, confusion settling in.
"A number? What are you talking about?"
She looked back at him, equally puzzled.
"Instead of blood type A, it showed the number 255."
Azrean's eyes widened.
"What? No… it wasn't a number. It was the letter C."
"Huh?" Sumi blinked, her brows pulling together. "What are you saying? I clearly saw a number."
Azrean straightened up, sitting fully upright now.
"What is going on…? You saw a number, and I saw a letter?"
Sumi went quiet, thinking it through.
"Are you sure you saw C?"
He nodded without hesitation. "Yeah. I'm sure."
She looked down at the empty glass in her hand, mind racing.
"Something's not right… Why would blood type A be replaced? And why would we see different things…?"
Azrean closed his eyes and pressed his fingers to his forehead, rubbing slowly.
"I can't think anymore. Too much happened today… my head's a mess."
Sumi let out a small sigh. "Same here."
She set the glass aside and gave him a faint smile.
"Come on. We should go. Everyone's probably waiting for us."
Azrean nodded and pushed himself up to his feet. They stepped out into the hallway together, walking side by side in silence. The soft light of the mansion stretched across the floor beneath their steps.
Then—footsteps rushed toward them. A maid came running down the corridor, clutching a water bottle tightly in both hands. The moment she spotted them, she stopped abruptly and bowed with uneven breath.
Sumi tilted her head slightly.
"Why are you in such a hurry?"
The maid lifted her head, still catching her breath.
"Miss Invanne… she's fainted."
In another part of the mansion, a small crowd had already gathered. Servants stood in a loose circle, voices hushed and tense. At the center, Azrea and Memei knelt on the floor beside Invanne, who lay motionless.
Azrean and Sumi came rushing in, breaths uneven from running. The maid hurried in right behind them, still panting.
They pushed through the crowd and dropped to their knees.
"What happened?" Azrean asked, his voice quick and tight.
One of the servants answered immediately. "We found her like this… near the entrance."
The maid brought water and sprinkled it lightly across Invanne's face. Droplets clung to her pale skin. Sumi leaned closer and called. "Invanne!"
Azrean gently shook her shoulder.
"Hey, wake up."
For a few long seconds, nothing happened. Then her eyelids trembled. Slowly, Invanne's eyes opened. They helped her sit up, one hand coming up to her head as she winced slightly, still disoriented.
"What happened?" Sumi asked softly.
Invanne stayed silent for a moment, breathing uneven. Then her voice came out low and faint.
"I… don't know. I remember feeling something… and then… I was here."
Her fingers pressed lightly against her temple.
"I can't remember anything else."
Worry spread across every face around her. Azrea reached out and rested a gentle hand on her shoulder.
"You've been pushing yourself too hard. You need to rest."
Memei nodded in agreement.
"Yes. Please take the day off. We'll handle everything else."
Invanne didn't respond right away. She just sat there, still holding her head, eyes unfocused. Then suddenly, a voice cut through the room from behind the crowd.
"Lord Dean and Lord Kumi have arrived!"
The atmosphere shifted instantly. Servants straightened and began moving toward the entrance.
"Ms. Invanne, please take care," one maid said softly before leaving.
"Get some rest. We'll check on you later," a butler added as he followed the others out.
Azrea and Memei stood and went after them. Azrean and Sumi lingered for a moment. Sumi looked down at Invanne, worry clear in her eyes.
"Big sis… please take care of yourself."
Invanne gave a slow, small nod.
"I'll be careful from now on."
From the hallway, Azrea's voice called out.
"Sumi! Azrean!"
They both stood. Azrean glanced back once more.
"Take some rest, okay?"
Invanne nodded again. They turned and hurried out to join the others. The room fell quiet.
Invanne lowered her gaze, then slowly closed her eyes. Her lips moved faintly, voice barely a whisper.
"It's strange... what was that feeling..."
Her brows tightened slightly.
"It's weird... what happened? Why did I come here? I was searching for someone...? Who..."
"I cannot remember at all…"