Soon, the sound of footsteps reached Millie's ears. From them, she sensed there were three people. Millie stepped forward lightly and opened the white door.
Seeing her, the woman wrapped in white immediately lowered her eyes. Millie's gaze moved to the side, where two beautiful young women stood. Their eyes were fixed on her, velvety cheeks warm with curiosity, a hint of nervousness lingering in their gaze.
Millie's lips parted into a faint smile on their own. The orange‑haired, curly girl smiled back at her. Millie glanced at the nervous woman and gestured for her to leave. As soon as the woman departed, Millie noticed the tension in the young girls' eyes ease slightly.
Just then, Millie felt a warm touch on her skin. The orange‑haired girl hugged her tightly. Playfulness radiated from her as she held on without restraint.
"Your home is the pride of marble," the curly‑haired girl said brightly. "Utterly regal!"
Millie was used to such words. She knew anyone who saw her home would be stunned. Everyone's reaction was the same as Tessa's.
A slightly deeper, husky voice followed. "You exaggerate too much, Tessa. It's not even that special."
Millie felt herself relax completely. Tessa turned toward the girl with black hair, whose thick, long locks framed brows knit in irritation.
"You say that like you've seen bigger places than this?" Tessa shot back.
Hearing this, Millie felt a mix of surprise and awkwardness. That's rude… she thought.
The black‑haired girl stared at both of them with cold, piercing eyes. Millie knew that if she didn't intervene, a fight was almost certain.
In a calm, measured voice, she said, "We should go inside. We don't stand in the hallway here."
"Really? Your rules are quite strange," Neon replied, her gaze fixed solely on Millie.
Millie glanced at Tessa, who looked ready to argue, and smiled lightly. "Yes—but rules are rules. Besides, you didn't come all this way just to stand in my hallway."
Without another word, the two walked inside.
An unusual calm settled over the room as soon as they entered. Millie was still adjusting to it when Tessa's voice rang out.
"Why is your house white everywhere?"
Millie was about to answer when a heavy voice interrupted. "You don't even know this much—that the symbol Miss Maryland wields carries energy in white and golden hues."
Millie turned slowly toward Tessa, whose irritation was obvious. "When no one asks you a question," she snapped, "don't give unnecessary answers."
Sensing the tension rising, Millie changed the subject. "So… how did you end up here?"
The liveliness on Tessa's face dimmed slightly. Then she smiled again. "Neon and I didn't really want to come, but there's an event in the city today."
"So you came to invite me?" Millie asked.
Tessa's eyes widened. "Will you come?"
Millie knew the event well. Every year, students from the state's major institutions gathered to showcase their skills and strength. She nodded.