"I need… some time alone…"
Amalia didn't explicitly ask Astrid to leave, but her words carried the same weight as a dismissal.
Hearing this, Astrid hesitated for a moment before finally turning around, her voice gentle.
"I understand. Miss Amalia should also rest early. Staying up too late harms the body."
After saying so much, it was time to give Amalia some space to process everything.
As the sharp click of high heels echoed, Amalia stood in place, not bothering to see Astrid out.
Only when the bedroom door closed and the footsteps faded did she finally close her eyes, her back sliding down the wall until she sat on the floor, one leg stretched out while the other bent slightly at the knee, resting beside her hip.
A persistent ringing filled her ears, and as her hand brushed against her skirt, the once-smooth fabric now felt rough, the faint friction against her skin almost grating.
