Yumi stood in front of the window, arms folded, staring at the curtains like they personally wronged her.
"That breeze better not start again," she warned the air.
Eliott sighed, amused. "My Lord, you can't threaten the wind."
"Yes, I can," Yumi said stubbornly. "It listened last night. Maybe it respects me."
Eliott gave her a look.
"…The wind respects you."
"Exactly."
He didn't even argue anymore; he just accepted it like it was normal.
But when the next breeze came, it didn't whisper.
It pushed.
A sudden gust burst into the room, rustling papers, lifting the curtains violently.
Yumi shrieked and grabbed Eliott's arm.
"SEE?! IT'S BACK! AND ANGRY!"
Eliott barely held onto the tray. "My Lord, it's just wind—"
The wind cut him off by slamming the window shut with a loud THUD.
Both of them froze.
Eliott gulped. "Okay… that… had some force."
Yumi's eyes widened. "Eliott."
"Yes?"
"Your castle wind has anger issues."
Eliott slowly nodded. "Yes. Yes, it does…"
Yumi took a deep breath and marched toward the window like a warrior facing a dragon.
"Listen!" she yelled at the glass.
"I don't know who you are! But stop giving me jump-scares! I already have enough problems—Prince Ren exists!"
The wind did not respond.
Eliott whispered, "You're going to make the spirits offended…"
Yumi gasped. "Wait—there ARE spirits?!"
"N-NO! I didn't say that!"
"You DID, Eliott! You ABSOLUTELY SAID THAT—"
But suddenly—
knock.
A soft sound tapped the window from outside.
Yumi and Eliott froze.
Another knock.
Soft. Rhythmic.
Like someone politely asking to be let in.
Yumi whispered, "Eliott… please tell me the castle has birds who knock on windows."
"No birds knock politely, My Lord…"
The knock came again.
tap. tap. tap.
Slow.
Patient.
As if waiting.
Yumi swallowed hard and spat out, "NOPE. No. Absolutely not. I am not opening that."
But the wind blew again—soft this time—almost brushing her hair.
Yumi stared at the glass.
Her playful bravado melted into nervous curiosity.
"…Eliott?"
"Yes?"
"What if it's not something scary?"
"Well… what else knocks on windows at the third floor?"
Yumi thought for a moment.
"…A handsome man?"
Eliott stared at her.
"My Lord, please."
"What?!" she defended. "All mystery stories have handsome men knocking on windows!"
"That's not—"
"Let me dream, Eliott!"
But before either could move—the knocking stopped.
Just ended.
Like someone gave up and walked away.
The wind settled.
The room fell silent.
Eliott exhaled. "It's gone… I think."
Yumi puffed her cheeks. "Hmph. Rude. If it was a handsome man, he should've waited longer."
"My Lord," Eliott groaned, "please don't flirt with supernatural forces."
Yumi lifted her chin confidently.
"I will flirt with whoever I want. Even ghosts."
Eliott facepalmed.
"I'm afraid of what will happen when the prince hears you say things like that."
Yumi smirked.
"Oh please. If Prince Ren had someone knocking on his window, he would probably fight them."
Eliott blinked. "Actually… he probably would."
Yumi shivered playfully.
"See? That's why the wind comes to me. I'm friendlier."
But deep inside her chest…
a strange flutter echoed.
Not fear.
Not excitement.
Something like…
Recognition.
As if a small part of her remembered that knocking sound.
As if she had heard it once before…
But no matter how hard she tried to remember—it slipped away.
Just a whisper from another life.