Chapter 15: The Return of My Sister

Another year passed at Highmoor.

By then, I had almost completely stopped following news from the capital.

My days were filled with archive work, mediation sessions, and training the younger volunteers who joined the peace program.

Then one afternoon, a royal messenger arrived with unexpected news.

Evelyn had returned to the northern territories.

Her charity organization had been invited to participate in a large relief project, and she would be staying near Highmoor for several weeks.

When I read the notice, I felt nothing.

The girl who had once been terrified of Evelyn returning to the capital no longer existed.

That evening, Princess Helena asked whether I wanted to avoid the project.

I shook my head.

“Why would I?”

She smiled.

“Because she used to be important to you.”

I looked toward the mountains.

“She was important to the person I used to be.”

The next morning, Evelyn arrived at the Sanctuary.

I saw her standing in the courtyard beside several charity workers.

She looked healthier than she had in years.

Her hair was neatly styled, and her clothes were elegant despite the simplicity of the Sanctuary.

When she noticed me, she froze.

“Celia?”

I walked toward her.

“Evelyn.”

She stared at me for several seconds.

“You really stayed here?”

“Yes.”

Her eyes moved over my royal service uniform and the silver badge pinned to my chest.

“You look different.”

I smiled politely.

“So do you.”

She lowered her eyes.

“I heard about your position.”

“Congratulations.”

“Thank you.”

An awkward silence followed.

Finally, Evelyn whispered, “Gavin told me you never intended to return to him.”

I didn't answer.

She looked up.

“Is that true?”

“Yes.”

Her eyes immediately reddened.

“I never wanted to ruin your relationship.”

I looked at her quietly.

“Maybe you didn't.”

“But I was always the reason he chose to postpone things.”

“No,” I said. “You weren't.”

She looked confused.

“Gavin made those choices himself.”

That sentence seemed to hit her harder than an accusation would have.

She lowered her head.

“You're right.”

For the first time, Evelyn didn't ask me to forgive her.

She didn't cry.

She didn't ask me to understand her.

She simply stood there and accepted what I had said.

Before she left, she turned back.

“Celia, I hope you're happy.”

I looked at the mountains beyond the courtyard.

“I am.”

She smiled sadly.

“Then I'm glad.”

After she left, I returned to my work.

I thought I would feel something—anger, resentment, perhaps even satisfaction.

But there was nothing.

And that was when I realized I had truly moved on.

Evelyn was no longer the woman standing between me and Gavin.

Gavin was no longer the man standing between me and happiness.

They were simply two people from a life I had already left behind.