Hannah started cleaning the house again like a diligent little bee.

First, she placed the mirror she had changed back onto the table by the window, then she poured water for Archer with her favorite set of teacups.

There was no fire lit in the room, but it was still very warm once the doors and windows were closed.

Candles were lit in the corners, casting a warm yellow light that made the whole room seem dreamlike.

Archer sat on the side, not looking around anymore, just sitting obediently.

Hannah lit another candle and placed it on the table.

She also poured herself a glass of water.

The water was warm and felt cozy in her hands.

Under the warm yellow light, she looked up at the young man sitting across from her.

Her gaze was straightforward.

Perhaps it was because of the candlelight, but her gaze seemed much more intense than before.

Like a child who had received a beloved toy.

She couldn’t let go.

"Are you... looking at my eyes again?" Archer initiated the conversation, breaking the silence of the room.

He lowered his gaze, his lips slightly pursed, like a delicate, beautiful little prince.

"Yes," Hannah admitted directly, then leaned forward and called him, "Beautiful Eyes."

Although he had a new name, Archer responded quickly to the nickname the young girl had first given him.

"What’s the matter?"

He looked over, his eyelashes casting a faint shadow beneath his eyes.

Hannah shook her head without speaking, just staring at his eyes.

Then she couldn’t help but laugh softly, lowering her head to drink the water in her tea cup.

She liked his eyes.

The space in the room wasn’t very big, and it was only when Hannah moved some items that Archer discovered there was a hidden door in the room.

The color of the hidden door matched the wall, and one needed to look very carefully to spot a slight crack of the door.

The door was locked, and Hannah held the key.

Behind the hidden door was a very small space, barely enough to fit a bed and a bedside table.

This was to be Archer’s room in the future.

As it was already late today, there was no time to tidy up, and Archer could only sleep on the floor.

The bedding was all new, traded with the shopkeeper today.

"Is it okay for you to sleep on the floor?"

Hannah, now in her pajamas, sat on the bed with a pillow in her arms, watching Archer arrange his things.

Archer replied, "It’s okay."

He was already very happy to have a place to rest.

Hannah swung her legs.

She was wearing a pink nightgown.

Her face was clean, and when she propped her chin on her hands, her cheeks puffed out.

Like a rabbit that had eaten carrots.

After Archer finished arranging his things, he turned back to look at her.

"Aren’t you going to sleep?" 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Hannah shook her head, "I’ll sleep after you’re asleep."

She had already started to yawn, with tears forming at the corners of her eyes.

Archer sat on the bed, not moving any closer, like a courteous young gentleman, "I won’t run away."

Hannah rubbed her face, trying to force her sleepy eyes open to look at him, "If you run away, you’ll be eaten by those people outside."

She wasn’t trying to scare a child.

It was true.

Archer thought about the man they had encountered earlier.

The man’s gaze was that of looking at food.

Unconcealed.

"Have you been in Blythe for a long time?"

He remembered, the man’s expression had changed when he saw Hannah.

Turned into... fear?

"Not long," Hannah leaned on the pillow in her arms, counting on her fingers, "About... nine months, or maybe ten months."

She couldn’t quite remember.

Ten months’ time, a seven-year-old girl staying in a place where people prey on each other.