"You can come out and move around today."

The door that was tightly closed in the past opened again. The dazzling light made it difficult for Irene to open her eyes. Soon she heard a familiar voice, which was the words of her brother.

After getting used to it a little, Irene carried the doll and slowly walked out of the hut where she had stayed for a long time and came to the outside world.

The corridor was brightly lit, and the unique smell of burning whale oil mixed with spices filled the air, so familiar, yet faintly disgusting.

Walking step by step behind her brother, Irene listened to him talk about what had happened recently.

"The Tixiu family replied, saying they would consider holding a wedding in the near future. However, as for the scale, don't expect too much."

"I'm guessing only a handful of guests will be invited to this wedding. Your reputation has already been damaged, and Palos isn't a valued member of the Tishu family anymore."

"That's fine." Irene replied in a low voice. She didn't want too many people to watch the ceremony.

"Is Palos okay? His illness..." Irene became worried again.

"I visited Palos when I visited the Tishu family." The brother's voice was a little slow.

"He's in very poor condition, and according to family custom, he'll move out after getting married. I guess the Tixiu family wants to get rid of this burden."

"It's not 30 years ago now. Back then, the head of the Tishu family was still Lord Lloyd. He loved Palos very much and was Palos's uncle."

The patriarch has been replaced now, and Palos has become a marginal figure in the family because of his illness and stagnant strength.

"You'll probably have a hard time if you marry him." After saying that, Irene could still hear a faint sigh coming from the front.

"If it's Palos, I don't regret it." Irene said softly.

"Silly sister, the lifespan of elves is not like that of humans. The time you will face in the future will be much longer than it is now. Some things, even if you don't regret them now, will slowly change in the future."

Then the two of them gradually fell silent, and continued walking in the corridor, passing through one cold and quiet room after another, and gradually arrived at the hall in the middle.

Because it is the shadow season, many elves are sleeping or concentrating on personal affairs in their own residences, and few of them go out.

"Father."

After arriving at the hall, the brother and sister saw the figure standing quietly in the hall for a long time, stopped, lowered their heads and shouted.

"You are here." Count Shileni looked like a human in his 40s, with short hair like icy stones and a golden noble ring on his forehead. He stood quietly with his back to the two of them.

In front of him was a wide light blue wall with portrait frames of various sizes hanging on it. Among them were elves with ice-blue hair. Some of them were smiling, some were serious, and some were solemn, looking forward.

These were the ancestors of the Shilani family, some of whom had even experienced the protracted wars of the First Age.

"How many years has it been since Irene left the family?" After a long silence in the hall, the man suddenly spoke.

"Twenty-eight years, Father." Irene replied with her head lowered.

"Even if our lifespan is three times that of humans, it is still a very long number." He sighed with emotion.

"Do you still remember the faces of your family, such as your sisters Stacy and Connielu, and your brothers, Yalan, Lu Jiang..."

"Well, there are still some images." Irene lowered her head.

"But they are completely different from 20 years ago. Some of them have even gotten married and have their own families."

"Your family gradually leaves you, and those you know become strangers. You are left alone, thinking you have gained supreme freedom, but you also become incredibly lonely."

"Even if we meet again now, the lost time cannot be made up. Perhaps they will still respectfully call you sister, but their eyes will no longer have the warmth and passion they once had. It's as if they are looking at something far away and irrelevant."

"Perhaps, you would say that I have made many friends outside and have a trustworthy brother."

"But even best friends and brothers will gradually have their own lovers and children in the future. They will love each other even more, and you will always be just a temporary passerby."

"No matter how lively the conversations were during the day, when you return home at night, you still have to face the cold and lonely candlelight and the bedside. Every night when you are sick, fragile and weak, you stretch out your hands, but there is no arm to hold you up. You can only face the fatigue and powerlessness that overwhelm you like a tide."

"No one will ever hear your cries and wails, no one will ever wipe away your tears and sorrow. Finally, you will fall to the bottom of the dark and lightless abyss, ushering in a death that destroys everything."

“Flowers that leave the garden are more likely to die and wither. They think they have cut off everything, but they no longer have anything to support themselves and can only fall down weakly.”

"When I was very young, I went with my elders to visit an aunt who lived in seclusion. She wasn't that old, and you could vaguely see her former beauty in her face. But as she sat on the cold and lonely hospital bed, she looked so haggard and old, with no sign of life."

"Erin, I don't want you to become that kind of person. Do you understand me?"

"I understand, Father." Irene took a deep breath and nodded heavily.

"Okay, go back to your place first. The room has been cleaned these days and it's still the same as before you left."

"In the coming days, people will come over one after another. They will tailor your dress, teach you some etiquette, and tell you some things to pay attention to in preparation for the wedding."

"During this time, you can write letters to Palos. Of course, these letters may be inspected by outsiders, but that doesn't matter. You just need to convey the news that you have returned, so that Palos can feel at ease and be a little stronger to get through this difficult time."

"I don't know how to cure Wither Moon Disease, but Palos's illness is definitely related to your departure. After you left, he became even more lonely and desolate, and was much sadder."

"If your return can make him better, then try your best, not only for him but for yourself as well."

"I think even I can see that you never want to marry anyone else except him, and his passing will probably end many of your longings and hopes."

"This is the last chance, if there is still time."

After saying this, Earl Shileni sighed heavily and waved his hand.

"Let's stop here for today. I'm tired too."

"Yes, father."

The two walked out of the hall and the door slowly closed again. The familiar chandelier still emitted an orange-yellow glow, illuminating the world of eternal night.

But now, there is no longer the liveliness and laughter of childhood.