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❟❛❟ CHAPTER TWENTY THREE ❟❛❟
AKAME SAT IN THE QUIET EMBRACE of the Sheng Family's library, nestled deep within the snow-dusted mountains. It was the beginning of the year, and the crisp winter air wrapped the ancient estate in a serene, frosted stillness. She had chosen a secluded spot within the sprawling grounds, a wooden gazebo perched on the edge of a pond, where the water was partially frozen, reflecting the bare branches of the towering trees. The gazebo, crafted from rich, dark wood and adorned with intricate carvings, stood as a testament to the timeless elegance of her family's ancestral home.
The soft crunch of snow underfoot and the faint rustle of pine needles filled the air as Akame leaned her back against a weathered wooden pillar. Her eyes, distant and unfocused, wandered over the delicate snowflakes that clung to the leaves, the world around her blurring into a peaceful, wintry haze.
"Is something weighing on your mind, my dear A-Yue?"
Akame slowly turned her gaze to the source of the voice. Standing before her was her waipo, her maternal grandmother, a woman whose elegance and grace had only deepened with age.
"Waipo," Akame greeted, her tone respectful as she rose to her feet.
Her waipo offered a warm smile, though a hint of playfulness danced in her eyes. "I thought I would spend this afternoon with my Yue, whom I only see once a year. But it seems she has vanished, leaving this old woman to wonder if perhaps she has been forgotten in favor of some other pressing matters." Her tone was light, almost teasing, as she brought a delicate fan to her lips, feigning a soft sob.
"Waipo..." Akame sighed softly, a small smile tugging at her lips. "This Yue offers her deepest apologies for causing waipo distress."
The elderly woman let out a soft chuckle, her fan snapping shut with a graceful flick of her wrist. "There is no need for apologies, A-Yue. However, it is rare to see you like this, lost in thought," her gaze fell on the books and scrolls scattered across the table. "Tell me, what could have drawn your interest so deeply? Trouble in paradise, perhaps?"
"No, waipo," Akame replied, gently organizing the scrolls into a neat pile. "There are simply a few things that have piqued my curiosity."
"And have these curiosities of yours found answers?"
Akame's eyes drifted toward the sky, watching as a flock of birds soared gracefully above the trees. After a pause, she spoke. "Waipo, what do you think a soulmate is?"
