The camp had settled into silence for the night.
The only sounds that remained were the distant crackling of the campfires and the occasional rustling of the trees in the wind.
Fiona sat just outside their tent, leaning against a wooden post, staring up at the stars.
Lily was curled up beside her.
Back at the morning, Lily rushed to the Knight's tents to found her sister. Looks like she was worried about Fiona, especially when she got the news that the knights were just arrived from the battlefield.
Now her small form huddled under a blanket. She had refused to sleep inside, insisting she would stay with Fiona until she went to bed.
'This little girl is so stubborn..'
Fiona sighed.
"You should sleep," she muttered.
Lily shook her head. "You're not sleeping either."
Fiona huffed. "I don't need sleep as much as you do."
Lily pouted. "That's not fair."
A smirk tugged at Fiona's lips. "Life's not fair, little girl."
Lily huffed, crossing her arms. "Then I'll just stay up with you."
Fiona stared at her for a moment before exhaling in resignation.
"…Just do what you want."
Lily grinned.
Silence settled between them again.
Fiona glanced at Lily out of the corner of her eye.
She was still wide awake, watching the stars with an almost childlike fascination.
For a moment, Fiona said nothing.
Then—
"…Do you like the stars?"
Lily blinked, turning to her.
"Yeah," she said softly. "They make me feel… safe."
Fiona frowned. "Safe?"
Lily nodded.
"When I was little, I used to be scared of the dark," she admitted. "But when I looked up and saw the stars, I felt like… I wasn't alone."
Fiona felt something twinge in her chest.
Not alone.
She turned her gaze to the night sky, her golden eyes reflecting the distant lights.
And suddenly—
A memory surfaced.
The stars had always been there.
Even in her past life, when she had ruled as the Archdemon, they had always been the only things that kept her company.
Fiona Elizabeth—the Archdemon,a being that was feared by Humans
A being who Never loved, never cared for, and hated by everyone..
She had ruled for a thousand years, commanding legions,bringing havoc across the human realm.
But through it all, she had been alone.
Never had a family.
Never had anyone who would sit beside her and watch the stars just because they didn't want her to feel lonely.
She had never had a Lily.
Fiona closed her eyes.
'I didn't deserve thiskindness....'
This warmth, connection, and family.
She had spent her entire life as a monster. Why should she have the chance to feel human now?
It should not.....
"Jeannie?"
Lily's voice pulled her back.
Fiona opened her eyes.
Lily was staring at her, her face full of concern.
"Are you okay?" she asked softly.
Fiona hesitated.
For a moment, she considered lying.
Then, she exhaled.
"…Just thinking."
Lily tilted her head. "About what?"
Fiona was silent for a long time.
Then—
"…The past," she murmured.
Lily blinked. "Was it a bad past for you?"
Fiona let out a short laugh.
"You could say that."
Lily's expression softened.
"…You don't have to tell me if you don't want to," she said. "But if you ever do, I'll always here and listen."
Fiona stared at her.
She swallowed.
She was making Fiona feel things she had never allowed herself to feel before.
And that scared her more than anything else.
Lily, oblivious to Fiona's turmoil, scooted closer.
She rested her head against Fiona's shoulder.
"…You don't have to be alone anymore," she whispered.
Fiona stiffened.
'This is cruel...Don't say things like that, Don't make me want to believe you.'
But she didn't say anything.
Instead, she simply sat there, letting Lily lean on her, as the stars continued to shine above them.
The night air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of pine and damp earth. The campfires had burned low, casting flickering shadows across the tents. Most of the camp had settled into sleep, but Fiona and Lily remained outside, sitting beneath the vast night sky.
Lily's breathing was slow and even, her small body nestled against Fiona's side. At some point, she had fallen asleep, her warmth pressing gently against Fiona's arm.
Fiona remained still, watching the quiet rise and fall of Lily's chest.
She hadn't moved for hours.
She told herself it was because she didn't want to wake Lily, but the truth was…
She didn't want to let her go.
A thousand years of loneliness had hardened her heart into a level of cold-hearted, could not be break by anyone. But now, a young girl had managed to make a crack in it.
It was terrifying.
But—
She didn't hate it at all.
Fiona sighed. She carefully shifted Lily's weight, lifting the girl into her arms.
"Come on, Lily," she murmured. "Let's get you to bed."
Lily stirred, blinking sleepily.
"Mm… Jeannie?"
Fiona hesitated.
Whenever Lily said it, Fiona couldn't bring herself to correct her.
"Yeah?" she muttered.
Lily yawned, rubbing her eyes. "You're warm."
Fiona froze.
'Warm? Me?'
She was supposed to be cold and untouchable.
But a human really called her warm.
Fiona swallowed down the unfamiliar lump in her throat.
"…Go to sleep, Lily," she muttered, carrying her into the tent.
Lily hummed, already half-asleep.
"Okay… Good night, Jeannie."
Fiona paused.
Then—
"…Good night, Lily."
She laid the girl down gently, pulling a blanket over her.
Then she sat beside her, staring at the canvas ceiling of the tent.
She was starting to forget.
The memories of her past life—the cold seat, the endless war, the weight of absolute power—they were all still there.
But they were… distant.
Like an echo of something long gone.
And instead, there was this:
A small, stubborn, kind-hearted girl who thought Fiona was worth staying up for.
Who thought she was warm.
Fiona let out a breath.
She wasn't sure what scared her more—
That she was starting to care…
Or that she didn't want to stop.
Morning Came Softly
Fiona woke to the feeling of something small pressing against her side.
She cracked open one eye.
Lily was clinging to her in her sleep, her tiny hands gripping Fiona's sleeve like a lifeline.
Fiona exhaled through her nose.
"…You're clingy, you know that?" she muttered.
Lily didn't respond. She just curled up closer.
Fiona sighed. Carefully, she pried Lily's fingers off her sleeve and sat up.
The camp was already stirring, voices murmuring outside. The smell of breakfast—probably some kind of stew—drifted in the air.
Fiona stretched, rolling her shoulders. She didn't actually need sleep, but letting herself rest had become a habit ever since she took over this body.
Maybe to the point where she just didn't mind it anymore.
Lily yawned behind her.
"…Jeannie?"
Fiona turned. "What?"
Lily rubbed her eyes. "Did you sleep well?"
Fiona snorted. "I don't sleep."
Lily blinked at her.
Then—
"…Liar."
Fiona froze.
Lily grinned.
"You were snoring a little."
Fiona stared. "I do not snore."
Lily giggled. "You kinda do."
Fiona narrowed her eyes.
She would never admit it, but for some reason…
Hearing Lily's laughter made her chest feel a little warm.
Fiona clicked her tongue. "You little girl...."
Lily smiled.
Outside, the morning continued as usual. But inside their tent, something had changed.
Fiona didn't know what to call it yet.
But maybe it was enough to just let it be.