The knock came early.
Too early.
Three sharp taps against the door.
Neither of them moved immediately.
Because reality—
Had just arrived.
"…We should answer," Beatrice said quietly.
Seraphina was already awake.
She had been.
"…Then go ahead."
Beatrice hesitated.
Just for a second.
Then she stepped away.
That small distance—
Felt larger than it should have.
She opened the door.
Mother Superior stood there, composed as always.
Her gaze moved between them briefly.
Taking in everything.
Not asking.
"You've both had time to reflect."
Silence.
"Yes, Mother," Beatrice replied.
A pause.
"…Good."
Another glance.
This one longer.
Sharper.
"Then let this be the end of such… behavior."
Seraphina said nothing.
Beatrice nodded.
"It will be."
The door opened fully.
And just like that—
They were released.
Back to Routine
Everything returned to normal.
Or at least—
It looked that way.
The same halls.
The same routines.
The same quiet structure of the church.
But something had shifted.
Something no one else could see.
Beatrice no longer called on Seraphina unnecessarily.
No more harsh corrections.
No more subtle punishments.
Nothing.
And somehow—
That felt louder than before.
Because now—
There was distance.
Clean.
Deliberate.
Too deliberate.
Avoidance
They didn't speak.
Not once.
Not in the halls.
Not in the chapel.
Not even in passing.
If their eyes almost met—
One of them looked away first.
And it was always Beatrice.
Always.
Seraphina noticed.
Of course she did.
But she didn't push.
Not this time.
Because this—
Was different.
This wasn't tension.
This was aftermath.
"Have you noticed?"
The whisper came from one of the younger nuns as they arranged the chapel flowers.
Seraphina didn't look up.
"…What?"
"Sister Beatrice."
A pause.
"She's… different."
That made Seraphina's hands still slightly.
"…How?"
"She's quieter," the girl continued. "And she doesn't—"
A small hesitation.
"…watch Father Adrian anymore."
That—
Was new.
Seraphina's gaze lifted slightly.
Because before—
That attention had been obvious.
Subtle.
But there.
Now?
Gone.
Completely.
Across the Chapel
Adrian stood near the altar, speaking with another priest.
Calm.
Composed.
Untouched.
Beatrice passed by him.
Didn't stop.
Didn't linger.
Didn't look.
"…Sister Beatrice," he acknowledged lightly.
She inclined her head.
"Father."
And kept walking.
No pause.
No shift.
No trace of what had once been there.
Adrian's eyes followed her briefly.
Not suspicious.
Just… observant.
Because something—
Had changed.
********
Later That Evening
Seraphina stood alone near the courtyard, arms loosely folded, watching the fading light.
Footsteps approached.
Familiar.
She didn't turn.
"…You're avoiding me."
Silence.
Then—
"…Yes."
Beatrice's voice.
Honest.
Seraphina finally turned.
"…Why?"
A pause.
Beatrice held her gaze this time.
But it wasn't the same as before.
Less sharp.
More… guarded.
"Because I need to."
"That's not a reason."
"It is for me."
Silence stretched between them.
Then—
Beatrice exhaled softly.
"What happened… stays between us."
Seraphina studied her.
"It already does."
A small pause.
Beatrice nodded.
"…Good."
She turned to leave.
But Seraphina's voice stopped her.
"You don't look at him anymore."
Stillness.
Beatrice didn't turn back.
"…There's nothing to look at."
A beat.
"…Not anymore."
And that—
Said everything.
Because whatever she once felt—
Whatever curiosity…
Whatever pull…
It had been replaced.
Not erased.
Replaced.
By something far more dangerous.
Something she refused to face again.
So she walked away.
Leaving Seraphina standing there
Watching.
Thinking.
And for the first time—
Not entirely in control either.