Lighting the oil lamp on the desk, the room brightened slightly. Amalia stared at the parchment for a while, then shifted her gaze to the storage box on the floor.
After a moment's hesitation, Amalia bent down, undid the metal clasp, and opened the box. Inside were the tools they used for meals and three pairs of chopsticks.
Amalia took out the chopsticks, twirling them between her fingers. Suddenly, the memory of Livia teaching her how to use these long utensils surfaced.
The woman had patiently placed her hand over Amalia's, helping her adjust her grip...
In the next moment, Livia in her memory overlapped with Astrid. Amalia's hand gripping the chopsticks tightened, the wooden ends clinking softly.
Livia was just a phantom; the one who truly existed was always Astrid.
After a while, Amalia put the chopsticks back in the box, closed the metal clasp, and restored everything to its original state.
