Coloring (8)
The next day at noon, Seraphina ca.
Her face looked sowhat weary.
Like soone who hadn't slept a wink all night.
A clumsy bandage was wrapped around her finger.
The very finger she had crushed in the door crack last night.
We boarded the carriage without a word.
I took a seat by the window.
Seraphina sat opposite .
Clatter.
The carriage began to move.
Familiar scenery flashed past the window.
I silently took in those sights.
It felt like watching a very old black and white film.
A faded, silent reel.
Only silence flowed within the carriage.
Only the rhythmic sounds of hooves and rolling wheels could be heard.
It was an awkward silence.
But no one tried to break it first.
I looked out the window, and she was looking at .
Even without turning my head, I could feel her gaze.
How much ti had passed?
It was when the carriage had completely left the academy grounds and was on the road leading to the mansion.
"Uhm..."
Seraphina opened her mouth first.
Her voice trembled very slightly.
"I wonder if that bakery is still there."
Her gaze was fixed on a certain spot outside the window.
A small, old shop on the street corner.
In Lavin's mories, that shop existed.
As children, we sotis used to stop there.
The savory sll of freshly baked bread, sweet pastries dusted with sugar.
Seraphina always chose bread generously filled with cream, and Lavin liked cookies with chocolate chips.
"I wonder. If it's still there."
I replied indifferently.
As if talking about soone else's story.
"...Do you rember when you got mad because I ate all your chocolate cookies back then?"
She said with a faint smile.
"When did I ever?"
"You did. At first, I thought they were mine and ate them, but then you made a fuss and even took my cream bun."
"I don't rember."
That day vividly ca to mind.
Perhaps it was a happy mory for Lavin.
A warm, sunny afternoon, young Seraphina and Lavin sitting side by side on a bench in front of the shop.
"...Right."
A hint of disappointnt was in Seraphina's voice.
Instead of answering, I turned my gaze back to the window.
Familiar streets flashed past.
Everything was exactly as I rembered.
But we were no longer in that scenery.
And never would be again.
"That's the way to the reservoir,"
I murmured quietly.
A narrow side path leading to the forest was visible.
"Yeah. After it rained, there used to be so many frogs."
Seraphina chid in.
Her voice was more lively than a mont ago.
It was probably a good mory.
"Once, you caught a frog and threw it at .
I really thought I was going to faint then."
"...I did that?"
She was smiling.
But her laughter sounded sowhat hollow.
Like an echo in an empty room.
As I listened to her words, I imagined it.
The image of young Lavin throwing a frog and smiling annoyingly.
It didn't co to mind easily.
Because there were no photos, nor any mories of young Lavin looking into a mirror.
The carriage slowed down.
It seed we had reached the entrance of the village.
The boisterous sounds of people could be heard.
Fruit vendors, the laughter of clown children doing tricks in the street.
Everything was vibrant.
"Over there, that general store."
Seraphina pointed out the window with her finger.
Her finger was still bandaged.
It was awkwardly wrapped and had co a little loose.
As I stared blankly at her finger, my eyes t Seraphina's.
She then stopped what she was saying and quickly lowered her head.
As if to hide it, she covered her bandaged hand with her other hand.
Not long after, the carriage passed through a massive iron gate.
A well-maintained garden ca into view.
We alighted from the carriage without a word.
The butler was waiting for us.
"Miss Levina is waiting in the drawing-room."
The butler said concisely.
He led us down the corridor.
Footsteps echoed rhythmically on the marble floor.
At the end of the corridor, the butler stopped before a large door.
"Miss Seraphina, please wait in the guest room for a mont.
The Count will also arrive shortly."
"...Am I going alone?"
"The Young Head wishes to speak with Sir Lavin first."
The butler said to , then opened the drawing-room door.
Seraphina nodded silently.
She followed a maid, whom the butler had assigned, and disappeared down another corridor.
Her retreating figure sohow looked small.
Levina stood by the window.
With her back turned, she was looking out the window.
It seed she was looking at the roses in the garden.
"You're here?"
Levina said without turning around.
"Sit."
I sat on the sofa she indicated.
The plush leather sofa enveloped my body.
"Why did you specifically want to see first?"
"Because I have sothing to say to you separately."
Levina replied briefly.
Only then did she turn her body.
Her expression was not clearly visible due to the backlight.
"The annulnt of the engagent is a matter between families.
There's no place for you to interfere.
Just sit and wait for everything to conclude.
The sa goes for Seraphina. Don't open your mouth, just sit there."
She spoke in her usual commanding tone.
"All you have to do is follow orders."
I didn't answer.
Levina tossed a few docunts onto the table.
"These are the topics to be discussed today.
There will be no disadvantages for Seraphina's side.
Since this is an annulnt by mutual agreent.
You will be thrown out penniless, and you will no longer be a mber of this family.
As I said before, this will be your last day bearing the Edelgard surna."
There was no tremor in her voice.
As if she were summarizing soone else's life.
Knock, knock.
At that mont, there was a knock on the door.
It was the butler.
"The Count has arrived."
Levina nodded.
"Ah, yes. I'll be right there.
Did you hear? Lavin, follow ."
Levina then led down the corridor, saying as if incidentally.
"Oh, right. Even after Seraphina and the Count leave, please stay for a bit. I have sothing to tell you."
When the door opened, a middle-aged man rising from his seat ca into view.
It was Seraphina's father, Count Belluz.
He didn't resemble his daughter at all.
Sharp eyes, greedy-looking lips.
Greasy hair and shiny skin.
He didn't make a particularly favorable impression.
He scanned the room once, then gave a slight bow to Levina.
"It's been a long ti, Edelgard Young Head"
"Yes, it has been a long ti."
The two exchanged formal greetings.
Levina took the head seat, and Seraphina sat opposite , beside her father.
His gaze rested on for a mont, then quickly shifted to Levina.
The discussion about the annulnt proceeded more simply than expected.
Based on the docunts prepared by Levina, the two individuals reached an agreent without any particular disagreents.
All while the actual parties involved couldn't open their mouths even once.
"Then, please sign these docunts.
Everything we've just discussed has been written down."
Levina said.
She picked up a pen and wrote her na at the very bottom of the docunt.
It was a graceful and strong handwriting.
Next was the Count.
He received the pen Levina offered him with a satisfied smile.
And signed without hesitation.
Finally, the docunt was handed to Seraphina.
She grasped the pen with a trembling hand.
She hesitated for a long ti.
"Seraphina."
The Count called his daughter's na in a low voice.
A gentle pressure was in that voice.
"...Father, I..."
Seraphina tried to say sothing.
Her eyes were wavering.
"Perhaps, could we postpone this annulnt for a mont...?"
"Miss Seraphina."
This ti, Levina cut her off.
Her voice was cold.
"This matter has already been agreed upon."
"It must be a mont of confusion. Young Head.
This child has struggled for a long ti because of her relationship with Lavin."
The Count said with a smile.
He put his arm around Seraphina's shoulder.
At least on the surface, he looked like a loving father.
"Seraphina, you, your mother, and I have all struggled imnsely, haven't we?
This is the path for you.
This might be your last chance, and our daughter won't disappoint her family, will she?"
At those words, Seraphina's shoulders subtly flinched.
She lowered her head.
She said nothing more.
She rely picked up the pen and wrote her na.
Her handwriting was severely shaky.
The mont she put down the pen, my relationship with her vanished along with that single sheet of paper.
Simple to the point of being hollow.
She stared blankly at .
I turned my gaze away, as I didn't particularly want to et her eyes.
Next was my turn.
I picked up the pen without any hesitation.
Next to Levina's na, I wrote my own.
"I will send them to you directly through a ssenger later."
She said to the Count.
Then she stood up and saw them off.
The Count and Seraphina left the drawing-room.
I didn't get up.
I was looking at the empty table.
Not long after, Levina returned.
She sat on the sofa opposite .
"You've lost everything."
"Thanks to you."
"You'll have dinner with Father, just the two of you.
There's no right of refusal, so be aware of that. Rest.
If you need anything, tell the servants."
How very kind.
I wanted to utter the words, but my mouth wouldn't open.
Feeling tired, I fumbled through my pocket for a cigarette, then rembered I had left them in my room, and just sighed.
User Comments
0 comments from readers