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When the door closed, Marilla furrowed her brow.
“Lady? Rachel? What is this? Who are those people?”
“That…”
Despite Marilla’s question, Rachel couldn’t easily speak up.
She didn’t even know how to explain this to her.
“Well, those people…”
“Hmm? Rachel?”
That was when Thomas came down the stairs rubbing his eyes, found Rachel and his mouth opened wide in a grin.
“Rachel!”
Tap Tap Tap
Flop
Even though it had been a long time since she’d seen him, Thomas’ habit of throwing himself into Rachel’s arms remained. Rachel finally smiled a little bit at the unchanged appearance of the child.
“Thomas, you have to be careful.”
“Heuk, Rachel!!!”
He was about to cry.
“Where did you go? Without saying a word!”
Rachel comforted Thomas by holding the boy in her arms.
“I’m sorry, Thomas.”
“You’re not going to disappear again, right? It’s okay now, right?”
At a touch from his mother, he was forced to let go of Rachel and Thomas waited for an answer.
There was a moment of silence.
“I won’t disappear without saying anything.”
Rachel, who had been struggling to speak for a while, nodded to the desperate child and promised.
Thomas was somewhat puzzled, but he immediately took Rachel’s hand and grinned.
“Marilla, what about Dean?”
“Dean went to work, so he won’t be back until late at night. Have you eaten yet?”
“No.”
“Oh, then let’s eat first.”
It seemed like there was a lot to be said and asked, but Marilla hurried to the kitchen as she spoke about preparing a meal.
***
“Rachel, eat a lot.”
“Thank you.”
Hot rye bread, and stew with meat. Boiled potatoes too.
Thomas was greedy for the meat he hadn’t seen in a long time, so he stuffed his mouth full with stew. Rachel followed his example, and filled her mouth as well.
Rachel liked the cozy smell unique to Thomas’ house. It had been a while, but she liked the neat furniture as well.
It wasn’t fancy, but she liked this warm house.
In addition; she liked Marilla, who served her a table full of food; and Thomas, who handed her his bread after much consideration.
When Rachel’s bowl was half-empty, Marilla carefully opened her mouth.
“Rachel, can you tell me what happened?”
“Well, I think I’ll be living in the capital city from now on.”
Thomas, who’d been pushing meat into his mouth, frowned and muttered.
“What? Why? I don’t like it, Rachel. You should keep living here. Huh?”
Marilla glanced at Thomas, sighed and said.
“Thomas, I think you’re done with dinner. Go to your room.”
“No, I want to stay here, and I haven’t finished eating yet.”
“I have something I need to talk to Rachel about. Thomas, go upstairs.”
Marilla kicked the teary-eyed child out firmly, as she had no intention of giving in to Thomas’ tantrum.
“Hey, I’m coming back down a little later.”
Thomas mumbled that it was disgraceful, but at his mother’s adamant command, he had no choice but to go up the stairs.
“A person I knew from before came to Ravenna, so I think I will have to stay in the capital.”
“…I see.”
Marilla nodded without asking for clarification, despite Rachel’s poor explanation.
“So, you’ll have to go back to the capital again.”
“…Yes.”
“When are you leaving?”
“I’ll just say hello to Dean, then leave.”
“Okay, I got it.”
Marilla swallowed her sigh that she couldn’t spit out, and nodded. She had something she wanted to say, but she quickly stopped herself.
“I’m sorry I left without telling you. I came to say hello.”
“Thank you for your concern.”
“I’m sorry for worrying you.”
Marilla, whose head was bowed as if she was hiding her face from her, looked gloomy, so Rachel stopped talking.
“Rachel. I don’t know if you can, but will you come whenever you’re having a hard time?”
Before long, Marilla whispered as she covered Rachel’s slender hand with her own.
“Don’t suffer alone, and make sure to come here if you’re having a hard time. Okay?”
“…Yes.”
Rachel understood.
The reason she didn’t ask for more details was out of consideration for her.
“…Can I write to you if I can?”
“As much as you want! Thomas knows how to read. Write as much as you want!”
“Thomas still has a lot to learn, I’m sorry for going like this.”
“That’s fine. Don’t mind it.”
Marilla put all her strength into their cupped hands.
Both of them were looking away.
Rachel understood what she was trying to say.
Everything was fine, so don’t be sorry.
***
“Rachel, it’s late. Don’t you think it’s better to stay for the night?”
Dean frowned in disappointment as Rachel tried to leave out the door. Rachel looked apologetically at Dean, who’s eyes were downcast at the momentary encounter.
“I’m sorry. I have work in the capital city, so I have to leave now so that I won’t be late.”
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“Then it can’t be helped.”
“I’m sorry.”
“No, get home safely. We can see each other again. Right?”
Rachel nodded to Dean, who asked as if he wanted her to make a commitment.
“Rachel. By the way, I was wondering if I was mistaken about the person I saw. The one who visited you that day.”
Dean whispered to Rachel quietly as if to check something. Dean, who had lowered his voice and carefully spoke, quickly stopped talking when Rachel bit her lip in panic.
“No, it’s okay if it’s too hard to answer.”
“Get out of the way, Rachel!”
As Dean said that and took a step back, Thomas pushed him out of the way and approached.
“Rachel, you’ll come back, right?”
Thomas opened his eyes wide to avoid crying, as if he had been warned by his mother. However, tears had accumulated to the point that he regretted opening them so wide.
As if they were going to fall if they were touched a little bit.
“….”
However, Rachel couldn’t easily respond to Thomas’ request. She wasn’t sure if Ian would let her visit Ravenna again.
“Huh? You’re going to come, right?”
“…Yes.”
She was worried that she would give him hopeless expectations, but Rachel finally nodded at Thomas’ question.
“Now that Thomas can read, I’ll write to you from time to time. Okay?”
“Yes, get home safely.”
Rachel exited through the door after she said that.
Marilla left Dean and Thomas in the house, and followed Rachel alone after telling them it would be complicated.
She looked around the carriage that stopped in front of her house, then held Rachel in her arms as she did when they first met.
“Always be healthy. You have to be happy.”
As if she was really praying for Rachel’s happiness, she closed her eyes for a moment and remained silent.
When Marilla finally released Rachel from her arms, a knight spoke softly.
“My Lady.”
He held a large box in his arms.
“Oh, Marilla. This is a gift.”
“What? Why?”
Marilla bit her lip and asked, as if she wasn’t very happy about receiving a gift from Rachel.
“There’s something for Dean and Thomas too. I picked them myself, so I hope you’ll like them.”
Marilla reached out to receive the box from the knight, but the knight shook his head.
“It’s heavy. If you don’t mind, I’ll move it inside your house.”
When Marilla nodded awkwardly, the knight picked up the gift box and walked into Thomas’ house.
“I’ve always been thankful. Thanks to you, I was able to have fun here. Marilla, always be healthy and happy.”
Rachel bowed her head for the last time before getting on the carriage.
“Rachel.”
Marilla called her name quietly, and grabbed her arm before she could climb up.
“I don’t know what’s going on, but if you’re too tired or hurt, don’t hold back and come here. I’ll come get you if you need me to.”
She whispered so quietly that only Rachel could hear it.
Marilla’s eyes filled with tears. Her slightly turned hand slowly swept Rachel’s cheek.
Rachel smiled brightly on purpose for Marilla, who was about to cry. As if there was nothing to worry about.
“Thank you. I wanted to stay with you longer, but it’s already very late. I should get going now.”
Rachel let go of her hand, and boarded the carriage.
Crying
She started to cry as soon as the carriage departed.
Rachel smiled and waved at Marilla, who was still standing there.
Thud Thud
The sound of the horseshoes, and the lights of the carriage gradually grew farther away, but Marilla stood still until the lights had completely disappeared.
“….”
Marilla could tell.
When Rachel was having a hard time. That she was upset and wanted to cry, and that she would never come to her.
***
Knock Knock
“Your Majesty, Mike Oates is here.”
“Come in.”
With Ian’s permission, a large door opened and a tall man plodded into the room.
“Mike Oates. I present to you His Imperial Majesty, the Sun of the Empire.”
“Well, it’s been a while.”
Ian raised his hand as if telling him to stop and stand up as he greeted him with courtesy.
“It’s been a while, Your Majesty.”
A dark blond man with a bright smile.
He looked very excited about something.
“Feeling good?”
“Of course. I’m finally going to meet my sister after a successful war.”
His light blue eyes were beautifully folded.
“Your Majesty seems to be feeling a lot better, your face looks better than before.”
“It must be better than on the battlefield, where knives and arrows come and go.”
Ian soon turned to Mike, who smiled brightly.
Mike Oates.
He was definitely a man who was loved and raised differently from him.
He was friendly to everyone and always looked relaxed.
He was always polite to his servants, basically he was a good man who knew how to let go of other people’s small mistakes with a smile, and a strong man who could shake his head firmly when something didn’t meet his moral standards.
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He had a strong sense of responsibility and above all, he was able to protect himself and his people.
***