CAMELLIA'S POV
I counted down the days until I had to leave, quietly marking each one in my mind as my body slowly healed.
Once I was home again, I slipped back into the familiar rhythm of my life.
In the mornings, I helped Mother prepare herbs, grinding roots and sorting leaves with careful hands.
In the afternoons, I sat with Father in his study, reading beside him as we talked not only about herbs, but also politics, trade, history, and even the vast mysteries of the universe.
I experimented with new recipes, preparing for the day I would have to live on my own and rely only on myself.
The only time I stepped outside was to tend our small garden. I never ventured beyond the fence.
With less than a week left before my departure, I decided it was finally time to start packing.
Som
