The place where Diana was headed was the post office.
The postal service employee checked the destination that was written on the envelope and said,
“That would be 980 Sorna.”
Diana took a copper coin out of her leather bag and handed it to the person. The employee gave the rest of the money back with a lazy look on his face.
“Here. The 20 Sorna change.”
She received the money in lighter and smaller than Sol, copper coins. Diana tucked the money away, paused, and then asked the employee.
“How many days will it take for the letter to arrive?”
“It takes about 20 days to get to the academy. It’s 10 days for regular special delivery, and for one Dellim you can get advanced special delivery that will deliver it in a day.”
“One Dellim?”
Dellim was 20,000 Sorna in the form of silver coins. It was nearly twenty times the price of regular mail. For only one letter, one Dellim was a bit expensive…
The employee took a look over Diana’s clothes.
“Can you afford to send it by express? Don’t waste your money and go if you’re done with your business. Next person!”
The person behind immediately took over Diana’s place and came forward. She didn’t even have any time to argue. Diana’s letter was stamped and sent into the back basket.
Diana ploddingly went out of the post office.
“Do I look that shabby?”
Since she washed the clothes that Hermann gave, today she went out wearing the clothes that she usually wore.
‘It looks like the treatment is definitely different…’
Diana sighed and headed to the flower shop. This time, she chose flowers without thinking about money.
Diana left the store and got on a carriage. She hugged Sky, putting the puppy on the coachman’s perch and climbed after it. The foggy scenery seen from the carriage running on the dirt road was unique. However, Diana only had a short time to appreciate the scenery.
‘Am I bored because I’m alone?’
She felt even more so because her last visit was with Hermann.
“I’ll be right back.” Diana said while paying the coachman.
The coachman nodded dryly, his gaze not at her but in a different direction. Diana was puzzled and followed the coachman’s gaze.
“… A carriage?”
“What kind of person’s carriage would be that big?”
There was no decoration on the outside. But it was a carriage that looked twice as big as Diana’s.
‘Who is it?’
The Aachen Cemetery was a place that Diana frequently visited. However, it was the first time she had encountered a visitor other than herself.
The foggy cemetery felt eerie. In between the weeds and bushes that grew at different heights, Diana walked along a path that only one person could pass. As she went up the hill, the fog faded.
On top of the hill, there was a person. His figure stood there, shining.
The urban-looking young man was dressed in a sophisticated suit that did not match the ruins of the cemetery at all. However, as she grew closer, she noticed something was different. He was like the living dead standing in front of a tomb. She didn’t know why, but it felt like that.
The beautiful golden eyes, which seemed to melt like gold, were as cold as ice. The man’s delicate face was colder than anyone that Diana had ever seen. A creepy air surrounded him, not showing even a single sign of life.
At that moment, her eyes met with the young man.
Diana tucked her elbows in at the cold feeling. After the young man made eye contact with her, his eyes opened, slightly wide.
The young man blinked a couple of times and his lips rose gently. It was a smile only for formality’s sake, but with just that, the cold air surrounding the young man disappeared in an instant and only the calm smile remained in her memory.
‘It’s like snow melting under the spring sun….’
It was a fascinating feeling. Perhaps the young man was just passing by, as he slightly bowed to her and moved away.
‘What is it? Have I seen him somewhere before?’
His face was strangely familiar.
‘But, there’s no way that I would forget such a handsome person.’
Arriving at her destination, Diana wiped away the layer of dust on top of the tombstone.
“Mom, I’ve come. How have you been doing?”
When she put down the bouquet of flowers in front of the tombstone, she could smell the fragrant scent of flowers spreading. Such pretty flowers didn’t match the shabby tombstone. Come to think of it, she didn’t need to support her mother at the cemetery anymore.
‘Should I move it to a more well-managed place?’
A bleak landscape with no one in it. Diana nodded to herself.
‘Let’s talk about it when Hermann comes back.’
Suddenly, Sky that was at her feet began to whine.
“Sky?”
Sky pulled at her skirt as if begging for a hug. Sky licked Diana’s face when she held the puppy in her arms.
“What’s this? Are you comforting me?”
Thanks to Sky, the sinking feeling somewhat eased.
She put Sky down again, and cleaned up the tombstone. As usual, she then spoke about what she had been happening around her.
“I saw someone interesting when I was coming up. It’s the first time I’ve seen someone else here—”
At that moment, she realized why she felt a sense of deja vu when she saw the young man.
‘He looks similar to the person who was in the newspaper last time!’
His name… what was his name again?
Diana shook her head. It just occurred to her that he was the heir of Ohrid.
‘Well, even if it’s not him, they really look alike.’
A butterfly landed on the bouquet of flowers, drawn by the scent.
Diana looked up, saw the sun, then got up. It seems like she had to go slowly because of all the thick fog.
“Sky—”
Sky came running from far away. Sky led the way, and they began to go down the hill together.
Diana, who was heading for the carriage, stopped.
‘It hasn’t gone away yet?’
The huge carriage was still there, and the closer she got, somehow the more noisy it was.
“…Are you saying that you don’t know how long it’ll take? Do you mean to say that I have to helplessly stay here until you fix it?”
The brown-haired man, who was wearing a gray vest and glasses, looked like an employee of a noble. The man was angry at someone.
“Is that what you’re telling me now?”
“Um… I apologize. I had no idea that this kind of matter would suddenly—”
The other man apologized, sweats falling down in beads. The coachman of the carriage that Diana came with was looking at them then discovered Diana.
“When did you arrive?”
“Just now.”
Diana nodded slightly in the direction of the commotion.
“What is the matter?”
“I think the wheel shaft is broken. No matter how hard they try, they can’t do anything about it until the parts come, so it’s just needlessly tormenting the coachman.”
“Ah….”
“Get on. We’re going back to downtown Aachen, right?”
“Yes.”
Diana put her foot on the foothold and looked back.
The coachman kept apologizing to the man in the gray vest. Diana couldn’t take her eyes off the coachman. Diana, bit her lips and put Sky inside first.
“Sir, please wait for a moment.”
After she shouted like that, she ran in the direction of the huge carriage.
“Excuse me.”
Diana called for the man in the gray vest. The man didn’t look back as if he didn’t realize that he was the one being called. Diana called in a louder voice.
“Excuse me!”
“…Is it me you’re calling?”
The man looked back at her.
“Yes. That’s right.”
“What is this about?”
“Um….”
Diana wet her dry lips and continued.
“I’m about to go back now.”
“Yes?”
“This is a remote place, so carriages don’t pass by.”
Diana also came by renting a carriage. That’s why when she worked as a maid, it was a burden every time she came.
“The nearest village takes about an hour and a half, and Aachen takes about two and a half hours. That’s why….”
Diana hesitated, before finally saying, “Would you like to ride together?”
“Yes?”
“Because it looks like it would be better than waiting for the wagon to be fixed here.”
The man’s gaze scanned over the public carriage behind Diana. It was a shabby carriage that couldn’t compare with the one that they came in.
Diana added.
“If you are uncomfortable, then there is nothing I can do about it.”
“No, that’s not it.”
The man in the gray vest waved his hand frantically.
“Thank you for Lady’s consideration. I’ll ask the Little Young Master first. Would you mind waiting for a while?”
Lady? Diana blinked and nodded belatedly.
When he knocked on the huge carriage, the curtains were pulled away and the windows were lowered. Diana looked with interest at the window coming down. She glanced at the white thread-like hair that was inside.
In the end, they got on the carriage together.
So the Little Young Master of the person who introduced himself as an aide was the beautiful young man she met earlier. The young man was much more beautiful up close.
The thread-like hair that was made of platinum looked like it was going to scatter at any moment. His face with dark golden eyes was just like that of a doll’s, and his long eyelashes fluttered like the wings of the butterfly flying between the bouquet of flowers.
She kept turning her eyes towards his face.
‘Why did I uselessly ask for us to ride together?’
She didn’t expect for them to ride alone, just the two of them. The aide with the grey vest had to stay behind and confirm that the wagon was being fixed.
“….”
“….”
There was only the sound of an occasional rattle in the silent carriage. The cushion was thorny for some reason. In order to avert her attention from the man opposite her, Diana focused on petting Sky. However, as soon as she casually raised her head, their eyes met.
The young man smiled gorgeously.
“Thank you for your consideration.”
“Yes? No, i-it’s nothing.”
It seems like she now knew what it meant to be captivated by a smile.
“My name is Senir.”
The young man, who said his name was Senir, laid his hand on his chest and greeted softly.
“May I know the Lady’s name?”
At the soft accent from the central region, Diana felt as if her ears were being tickled by the man’s voice.
“…It’s Diana.”
Diana, whose cheeks were burning, replied whispering.
When Senir nodded slightly, his thin hair scattered on his neat forehead.
Diana rubbed her itchy earlobe for some reason. Senir continued the conversation with an elegant smile.
“Do you come to Aachen Cemetery often?”
“Not that often. About once a month?”
“Is there a person that you know?”
Diana smiled bitterly.
“My mom’s here.”
“Oh my. I pray for the repose of the deceased.”
Senir bowed slightly. Even though it was a simple bow, elegance seeped through his every action. Diana returned the bow.
The atmosphere relaxed a bit. Diana asked while petting Sky.
“What brings Senir here?”
“I was looking for someone, and I heard that the person occasionally visits the Aachen Cemetery.”