Luna followed behind Hua Mu, and the moment she saw Bai Zhen, she rushed over and licked her enthusiastically.

“Luna…” The unicorn had grown into a huge creature, and Bai Zhen could hardly handle its affection. Laughing, she pushed its head away. “Don’t do that, it tickles.”

Luna didn’t seem to understand and continued to nuzzle against her. Hua Mu took a hands-off approach, even secretly praying that Luna would summon Hati soon.

Bai Zhen had not only laid the floor but had also swept it clean. The small wooden cabin didn’t have a door yet, the walls were a bit drafty, and the roof hadn’t been properly waterproofed.

The inside was empty, save for the simple lounge chair they had made earlier and a pile of miscellaneous items and tools in the corner.

As Bai Zhen carried in the canvas wrapped with hay, she asked, “Miss, would you like to take a bath first?”

“So early?” Hua Mu, preoccupied with her plan, answered distractedly. For some reason, the Sentinel suddenly blushed and stammered, “Th-the sun is still out now, so the water will be warmer.”

“Hmm, that’s true,” Hua Mu said, looking at the somewhat flustered Bai Zhen. She boldly extended an invitation, “Then why don’t we… go together? I see you’re covered in sweat.”

Bai Zhen quickly took two steps back and lowered her head to sniff her own shoulder. Although Sentinels had keen senses, they were somewhat dull to their own scent. She was afraid the smell of her sweat would bother Hua Mu.

Hua Mu couldn’t help but roll her eyes. “No, I don’t smell anything.”

And even if there was a smell, she wouldn’t mind. It was proof of Bai Zhen’s hard work!

“You should wash first. I’ll get the fire started so you don’t get smoke in your eyes while you cook later. When you’re cooking, I-I’ll wash then.”

Because Hua Mu’s talent for cooking far surpassed Bai Zhen’s by leagues, the latter no longer tried to take on the task.

Hua Mu was used to Bai Zhen’s lack of romantic sense, so aside from a huff, she didn’t show much disappointment.

“Hmph, do as you please.”

Anyway, tonight she was going to… hehehe.

Bai Zhen escorted Hua Mu to the stream to bathe. After moving the table and chairs into the cabin, she started the fire and began preparing the ingredients. She had made a special trip to the seaside that morning, not only catching fish and shellfish but also finding a few sea urchins. Kept in a bucket, they would stay fresh as long as they were eaten within the day.

Hua Mu was very interested in cooking, but she disliked the preparation and cleanup. Bai Zhen, naturally, shouldered these responsibilities without hesitation.

By the time she was done, Hua Mu had also finished her bath and returned.

“Are you ready?” Hua Mu asked, drying her hair as she looked down at Bai Zhen, who was squatting and tidying up.

“It’s ready, you can just…” Bai Zhen looked up at her, and the words died in her throat.

The Young Lady’s dress had long since been repurposed into various useful small items, and she was now used to wearing just a small tank top and a grass skirt. Her platinum-blonde hair had grown a little longer and, still damp, lay obediently against the nape of her neck.

The young woman’s delicate body was a little fuller than when she first arrived on the island, with a hint of softness to her thighs and arms. Her fair skin had taken on a slight tan from the prolonged sun exposure, but it was still a stark contrast to the Sentinel’s.

Such a beautiful person. Even after being touched by the mortal world, the little princess, once like a fairy, was still so lovely it made one dizzy.

Seeing her standing motionless as if petrified, Hua Mu waved a hand in front of her face, confused.

“What’s wrong with you?”

Bai Zhen hastily averted her gaze, flustered. “N-nothing. I’m going to take a bath…”

She spoke urgently, then felt it wasn’t right and added, as if afraid Hua Mu would misunderstand.

“It’s just that my b-body is too dirty.”

“Then just go.”

Although Hua Mu found Bai Zhen’s behavior a bit strange, her mind was completely occupied by her own plan, so she didn’t probe into the other’s oddness.

Bai Zhen scrambled to her feet, almost knocking over the prepared ingredients.

“Are you tired today? Why are you suddenly so clumsy?” Hua Mu steadied the basin, secretly praying that the Sentinel wasn’t running out of stamina.

“N-no, I just got a little dizzy from standing up so suddenly. I’ll just, just go…”

“Go on, go on. Don’t forget your clothes.”

Bai Zhen practically fled. She only calmed down after submerging herself in the water. As long as she restrained herself, it was bearable, but once the thought took root, she found herself thinking about it constantly.

Her gaze couldn’t leave the Young Lady’s body, her delicate and smooth skin, her brilliant and soft golden hair, her rosy and supple lips.

It wasn’t just the closeness of the past few days; her body was stirring, yearning for more intimate contact.

If the Young Lady knew she was such a lewd person, would she hate her?

Bai Zhen’s mind raced with wild thoughts as she carefully washed her body.

Her master had said that most girls couldn’t refuse flowers and gems, because the love of beauty was human nature. Should she pick some flowers to bring back? The Young Lady seemed to like flowers.

Bai Zhen’s mind was filled with how to win Hua Mu’s favor, while Hua Mu was pondering how to make the dense Sentinel submit. She had wine, candles, a delicious meal, a ring…

She glanced at the unicorn not far away, chasing spots of light and prancing about: she had an accomplice.

To seduce her, should she wear even less?

Hua Mu touched her grass skirt, hesitating.

But anything less would be too embarrassing. She wasn’t Bai Zhen, after all!

Besides, it didn’t seem to work anyway. She’d nearly stripped naked before and still failed to entice that stupid dog. How did the main characters in those little romance booklets get started? Why couldn’t she remember?

Hua Mu sighed. Recalling her countless failed attempts, she couldn’t help but feel a little desperate. If her wish didn’t come true tonight, she might really have to resort to dirty talk to seduce her.

Please, don’t let it come to that!

The main courses for dinner were fish stewed with coconut milk and herbs, lemon-smoked oysters, honey wine-marinated mussels, and a ham and mushroom soup, with sea urchin sashimi as an appetizer. The breadfruit was steamed until soft, sweet, and tangy, then brushed with coconut oil and lightly grilled until both sides were golden and crisp, served with taro paste as the staple.

Although they could only drink the mead from bamboo cups, Hua Mu had thoughtfully garnished them with lime.

With everything ready, Hua Mu realized Bai Zhen was being slow today. The efficiency-minded Sentinel usually took no more than ten minutes to bathe, but today, nearly an hour had passed, and she still hadn’t returned.

The stream was close to the cabin, separated only by a row of bushes. Just as Hua Mu was thinking about going to look for her, Bai Zhen finally appeared in her line of sight.

She had never seen the other woman walk so slowly, her hands behind her back, each step seemingly taken with great care.

Hua Mu leaned against the railing and waved to her.

“Bai Zhen, dinner’s ready! Hurry up!”

And please let her start her own feast soon!

Bai Zhen glanced up at her, then quickened her pace.

Hua Mu hurried back inside to light the candles. A very faint scent of mint soon filled the room. These were simple candles she had made from palm wax and mint. The fragrance was light and natural, something even a Sentinel would like—Sentinels liked natural scents.

“Miss…”

Hua Mu had just finished when she heard Bai Zhen’s voice. She turned to see her standing at the entrance, her posture somewhat awkward.

“Ahem, why don’t you come in?”

Hua Mu felt a little guilty, so she didn’t notice that the other woman also looked guilty.

Bai Zhen hesitated for a moment before slowly approaching.

“Miss…”

“Wh-why are you just standing there? It’s time to eat.”

Hua Mu felt a flush of embarrassment. The dinner was so lavish, it made her seem overly eager. Although the dense Bai Zhen might not notice, she still felt quite self-conscious.

The Sentinel brought a bouquet of simple, elegant white flowers from behind her back and offered it to her, stammering, “I saw some f-flowers growing by the stream, and I thought they… they suited you… They’re… for you.”

Hua Mu froze for a moment, in disbelief.

Most flowers in the rainforest were vibrant and dazzling; finding a bouquet of small white flowers like this was no easy feat. She had bathed at the stream before Bai Zhen and hadn’t seen any small white flowers at all… Bai Zhen had actually given her flowers!!!

Looking at the other’s flushed face, Hua Mu wanted nothing more than to jump up and kiss her right then and there.

“Uh, th-thank you.”

But for some reason, she heard herself give a completely nonsensical, polite, and distant thanks, her voice sounding stiff and nervous.

Her hands were trembling a little, too. She took the bouquet with shaky hands, even flinching when her fingers brushed against Bai Zhen’s.

She felt that something was different about the Sentinel today.

“You sit down and eat. I’ll go get a bottle to put the flowers in.”

“Oh…”

Bai Zhen obediently sat down, waiting for Hua Mu to return so they could start eating. With both of them lost in their own thoughts, the atmosphere became somewhat awkward. They ate in silence. Realizing this wouldn’t do, Hua Mu tried to make small talk. “Ahem, is it good?”

The Sentinel ate with a certain sense of ceremony in the evening, slow and unhurried.

“Mhm, it’s delicious.”

“I used the coconut oil I’ve been saving up, and that was the last of the ham. This is quite a luxurious meal.”

So please, let my wish come true.

Bai Zhen licked her lips and asked nervously, “Miss, are you happy?”

Hua Mu nodded. “I’m very happy.”

Although some things weren’t perfect, her happiness was genuine.

The Sentinel broke into a joyful smile. Reaching into her pocket, she said to Hua Mu, “Miss, that thing you mentioned last time… I-I’ve made it.”

“You made wha—”

Before Hua Mu was a ring. A round, white pearl was set in a simple, rustic wooden band. It looked like a small heirloom passed down by some minor noble from a great-great-grandmother in the Middle Ages.

It wasn’t exquisite, but it had a unique charm. And to be able to craft the wooden band so smoothly and delicately under these conditions was truly remarkable.

Bai Zhen watched her anxiously. “I-it’s not very pretty, but the band is made of agarwood. I remember you… you like its scent.”

Agarwood was extremely rare these days. Hua Mu had no idea where Bai Zhen had found it, let alone quietly crafted it into a ring.

Hua Mu’s eyes grew a little warm. It took her a moment to find her voice. “No, I think it’s beautiful.”

So it wasn’t just her who had been thinking about this. Bai Zhen had never forgotten, either.

She held out her left hand to Bai Zhen and said softly, “Put it on for me.”

She naturally raised her ring finger, and Bai Zhen, with extreme care and reverence, slipped the ring onto it.

Hua Mu felt Bai Zhen’s usually steady hand tremble, and her heart filled with a bittersweet feeling.

She loved Bai Zhen because the other woman had never looked down on her.

Her position in life dictated that she had to present herself to others, to accept their gazes and judgments. With a certain status and certain treatment came the corresponding duties and responsibilities one had to be prepared for.

Hua Mu knew she was already treated with great privilege, so she had never complained.

But that didn’t mean it didn’t hurt.

From her appearance to her inner self, she was scrutinized, judged, and consumed by others. She had gradually come to accept this part of herself, even able to calmly face the fact that dolls modeled after her were used for all sorts of amusement.

She had learned not to care about the gazes and words of others.

But Bai Zhen’s cherish for her still carried a profound weight. She knew the other woman was always watching her, always behind her, always supporting and protecting her.

Her reticence was a virtue, and her loyalty and steadfastness were her most precious, noble qualities.

“I have something for you, too. Hold out your hand.”

Hua Mu took out the one she had made from a small pouch—she had taken the gem from her necklace and woven a ring from pandan leaf fibers.

Bai Zhen was overwhelmed by the favor, extending her hand with a mix of anticipation and nervousness.

Compared to the delicate hands of a noble girl, the Sentinel’s were clearly more weathered. Her skin wasn’t soft, nor were her fingers slender, but her strong palms and well-defined knuckles possessed a different kind of beauty.

Hua Mu solemnly placed the ring on her finger.

Afterward, as if unsure how to express themselves, neither spoke. They tacitly picked up their utensils again and quietly finished the rest of the meal. Washing the dishes, brushing their teeth—everything proceeded in an orderly fashion, just like any other day.

Only the untouched glass of mead on the table made tonight seem different. The clear, golden liquid looked delicious and tempting in the candlelight.

Hua Mu went into the cabin first and, mustering her courage, took a few sips of the mead. Lime juice had been added, and the taste was very different from what she had imagined. The alcohol content seemed high; the characteristic bitterness of alcohol mixed with the sourness of the lime was not exactly pleasant, but it left her feeling light-headed afterward.

The warmth rising from her stomach made Hua Mu feel as if she could do anything.

The moment Bai Zhen entered, she saw Hua Mu standing there dazedly, her gaze somewhat unfocused.

“Miss?”

At her call, Hua Mu’s scattered gaze slowly focused on her face.

And then, Bai Zhen saw a heart-stoppingly beautiful smile.

“Bai Zhen…”

And a wonderfully pleasant voice.

She knew tonight would be a different kind of night.