Tonight, Robin is wearing a long white dress, looking elegant and intellectual.
"Sister Robin."
Kuina subconsciously pursed her lips.
"Oh my, are you waiting for the captain?"
Robin's gaze seemed to penetrate the human heart, she blinked and said, "He was just here, chatting with Red Hair, and now it seems he's gone to the terrace alone."
Alone?
On the terrace?
This is simply the best timing.
Kuina's heart skipped a beat.
"I..."
She opened her mouth, hesitating to speak.
"Go ahead."
Robin gently pushed her back and smiled, "What are you waiting for? The moonlight is perfect, and with such a good opportunity, not saying certain things face to face will be a lifelong regret, you know."
"What about you?"
Kuina asked instinctively, and then felt a bit out of line, both knew each other's feelings well, what was there to ask?
Could she invite Sister Robin to go to the terrace together, to confess alongside her?
Uh, that scene would be too... Probably, they'd end up just like last time, returning in embarrassment without achieving anything.
"Everything must be done with consideration of order, right? You boarded the ship before me, developed feelings for that man before me, so naturally, it should be your turn first, shouldn't it?"
Robin took a sip of her wine, looked at the distant horizon, and smiled, "For the union of the Four Seas' allied nations, Lord Shano will be going on tour soon, and the West Sea will definitely be on the list as well. I think, perhaps there... would be a more suitable place for me to express my feelings formally in person. As for tonight, it should belong to you."
Good luck, young lady.
I'm still waiting for you to first charge up that high mountain, boosting my confidence.
Speaking of which, she always thought that not daring to express one's feelings face to face was something girls at Kuina's age would do.
Never thought she would also have moments of being so hesitant and troubled.
Really.
One can only say, it's all because of that man, simply too dazzling, too outstanding.
"Thank you."
Kuina glanced gratefully at Robin, took a deep breath, and headed toward the second floor of the castle.
The terrace faces the sea and is relatively quiet.
From here, one can overlook most of the Isle of Dawn at night. The distant port lights twinkle, and the sea appears as ink, with the starry sky hanging low.
Sure enough, Shano was there.
He leaned against the railing, holding a glass of light sparkling wine, seemingly gazing at the distant sea.
With the war having ended, at this grand occasion tonight, he was rarely dressed in a black suit, well-tailored, with less aggressiveness than usual, more of a laid-back and casual air.
The moonlight outlined his tall silhouette, accentuating his handsome and delicate features, almost otherworldly.
Kuina's footsteps subconsciously halted, her hands gripping the hem of her skirt, her breathing becoming heavy.
It was just at this moment.
The girl's words from her dream rang in her ears again: "Hesitation leads to defeat."
She closed her eyes; when she opened them again, her gaze had regained its usual determination.
She walked over in long strides.
The sound of her footsteps startled Shano, who turned his head to see Kuina, raising an eyebrow in slight surprise, but then smiling and turning back around.
Both stood shoulder to shoulder, leaning against the railing in silence.
Only the faint music coming from the square on the other side of the castle, and the gentle sound of waves lapping against the shore.
"We've finally reached this day."
Shano suddenly spoke with a smile, tilting his head to look at the starry sky, "Come to think of it, don't laugh, we've held many banquets before, and although we drank and played happily, there was always something weighing on my mind, worrying about enemies knocking at our door the next moment, fearing waking up to find ourselves in a crisis... This time, I can finally throw all those things aside. Thinking back, it feels like a lifetime ago."
Kuina also lifted her head.
Yes, she used to be like that too, but now, there are no more battles, no burdens to bear.
A tranquil night sky, dotted only with stars, and the Milky Way stretching across.
"My lord." She called softly.
"Hmm?"
"I... have something I want to say to you."
Shano turned his head, looking at her with curiosity.
"I..."
Faced with the face so close to hers, Kuina instinctively turned away, struggling to find the words, those phrases she had rehearsed countless times in her mind seemed to be stuck in her throat.
"I..."
She bit down hard, finally managing to turn back:
"I am very grateful to you, from East Sea Shimotsuki Village onwards, you gave me new possibilities, new life, enabled me to continue pursuing the further Sword Dao, to see this expansive world, to engage in this great endeavor."
"Eh?"
Shano was even more puzzled then: "Why say this all of a sudden? Aren't we partners? Supporting each other is our duty."
"No! Not just partners!"
Kuina couldn't help but interrupt him, her voice not loud, but extraordinarily clear.
Shano was taken aback.
Kuina immediately wanted to turn her face away again, her cheeks tinged with a faint blush under the moonlight, but ultimately, her gaze did not evade; she looked straight into Shano's eyes.
"My lord, to me, you are not just a captain, an benefactor, a partner."
She earnestly said, "Haven't you noticed, from a long time ago, I haven't been able to take my eyes off you, your figure in battle, your profile while you think, your smile when you joke with everyone... All these have deeply imprinted on my heart."
She paused, seeing Shano's eyes widen, but it was only due to surprise, without a trace of disapproval.