Chapter 4

Chapter 4: A Grown Girl

When Lilian slowly opened her eyes again, she found herself lying in a room she didn’t recognize. The space was modest but carried an old-world charm—an expansive wooden bed with a carved headboard, a sturdy desk cluttered with papers, and a few wooden chairs that had clearly seen better days. The walls, painted white long ago, now showed signs of age with patches of peeling paint and faint cracks. The air smelled faintly of wood polish mixed with the salty breeze drifting in from somewhere nearby.

Just then, the door creaked softly, and an elderly man stepped inside. His hair was a striking white, but his eyes sparkled with a youthful vitality that seemed to contradict his years. He approached her bedside with a gentle smile, his voice warm and tender as he asked, “Darling, you’re awake now. How are you feeling?”

Lilian sat up quickly, her limbs still weak but her spirit alert. “Thank you, I feel much better,” she answered, her voice soft but steady. “May I ask… were you the one who saved me?”

The old man nodded, his smile deepening. “I found you near the sea. It seemed like fate brought me to you,” he said kindly. He pulled up a chair and sat beside her, reaching out to feel her pulse with practiced care. “You’re stable now, but the cold has seeped into your body. You must be cautious; otherwise, it might leave lasting effects.”

“I will be careful. Thank you,” Lilian replied, feeling a comforting warmth spread through her chest at his genuine concern.

“May I know your name?” he inquired gently.