Episode 50
By the time the parade ended, the sun had completely set. In the square, men and women began to gather, pairing off one by one.
It was the part Isaac loathed most.
Sasha noticed that about him early on and pulled him out of the crowd.
“Is there somewhere we can rest for a moment?”
Sasha asked, and Isaac nodded as if he had been waiting for it, gesturing with his chin.
“There is a quiet place nearby.”
The place Isaac took Sasha to was like a hidden gem tucked between the outskirts of Lancefield and the vast forest. The late-afternoon sunlight poured through the leaves of an oak tree standing alone at the center, casting mottled shadows over the lush grass.
The oak stood silently like a watchman, its gnarled branches stretching out as though to protect the entire space beneath its leaves.
A gentle breeze whispered through the foliage, carrying with it the smell of earth warmed by the sun and the sweet fragrance of wildflowers scattered along the edge of the field.
Flowers of every color swayed in the wind, their delicate petals forming a vivid contrast with the rough bark of the oak.
The sounds from the distant festival had become a faint murmur, and in their place came the chirping of birds and the rustle of small animals moving through the bushes.
Despite the stillness around him, Isaac stood rigidly at attention.
To the north, the ground sloped gently toward the village; to the south, it dipped into a shallow valley before rising again to meet the edge of the forest.
The forest itself was a dense green wall, a mingling of tall pines and broadleaf trees brimming with summer verdure.
The boundary between that space and the forest was not a sharp line but a gradual transition, where young trees and shrubs formed a natural, protective barrier.
Overhead, a hawk circled lazily, no doubt searching for unsuspecting prey.
The surrounding calm stood in stark contrast to the turmoil inside Isaac’s mind.
He was acutely aware of Sasha’s presence, her perfume mingling with the natural scents of the place.
As the wind grew stronger, faint laughter drifted over from the distant festival.
As if only this place had been set apart from them. As if it belonged to an entirely different world.
The golden light of late afternoon seeped through the oak leaves, casting mottled shadows on the grass at Isaac and Sasha’s feet.
Without a word, Isaac looked down at the ground. Now and then, he stole glances at her profile as she quietly enjoyed the nearby scenery, at the fluttering hem of her airy dress swaying in the wind.
He turned over in his mind the conversations he had had with Caroline just yesterday.
And only now did Isaac realize that Sasha’s face, when she had spoken about him and Caroline then, had looked terribly lonely.
That was right. She had seemed...
Lonely.
“...Miss Grayson.”
The discomfort he had felt amid the crowded festival seemed to melt slowly into the tranquil scenery.
Her tense, hunched shoulders gradually relaxed as she breathed in the clear air. She drew in deeply the sweet scent of wildflowers and sun-warmed earth.
A faint smile brushed across her lips, and at the sight, Isaac felt an unfamiliar warmth bloom in his chest.
His hands, clasped behind his back, were restless with the urge to reach out and offer comfort.
He cleared his throat quietly, breaking the silence.
“Miss Grayson.”
When she did not hear him, Isaac called her once more and stepped closer.
“Do you like this place?”
“I do. The lake from last time as well... Captain, you know many beautiful places.”
Sasha spoke calmly, gazing into the distance.
“Thank you for bringing me here.”
She took one step closer to him, and Isaac felt his resolve begin to crumble.
Slowly, as though moving through sticky molasses, Isaac loosened his posture.
His hands fell to his sides, and he turned slightly toward Sasha.
“I am glad you like it.”
His voice had grown softer than before.
“I often come here when I need to clear my head.”
He paused for a moment, then added.
When he came to his senses, Isaac realized that he was standing far closer to her than he had thought.
Belatedly, he tried to pull back his leaning body, but only blinked stupidly and stopped.
The moment Isaac looked into Sasha’s eyes, the world seemed to narrow until only the two of them existed.
The golden light of the setting sun dyed her face in warm hues, making her look far more breathtakingly beautiful than usual.
His heart pounded rapidly. If he could take it out and show it to someone, anyone would say it looked ready to burst at any moment.
Something had been wrong with him for a while now. He was not in his right mind.
The Lancefield Midsummer Festival was, in essence, a festival for lovers.
No matter how splendid a parade the regiment presented, or how delicious the food the local merchants offered, everyone’s attention ultimately turned to the couples’ dance in the evening.
After every festival, weddings would often be held only a few months later.
He had found that utterly repulsive.
When Major Wells had explained it to him, Isaac had thought that even hearing about it was enough to make him shudder with disgust.
And yet, now that the atmosphere had become like this, somehow, simply, it did not seem so repulsive after all.
Isaac recalled the line she had drawn before.
Just as he had drawn a line with her, she too had drawn hers firmly.
For the first time, Isaac dared to entertain the absurd thought of what might happen if he crossed that line.
Sasha before him looked peaceful, softer than usual, and beautiful.
Even though there was no smile on her face.
He knew now that this was Sasha’s true face.
Isaac dared to imagine reaching out and cupping her cheek with his large hand.
Only imagined it.
And yet his hand had already risen and was on the verge of touching her cheek.
“Captain.”
Before his hand could reach her, Isaac quickly lifted it upward.
“Shall we head back now?”
Isaac remained frozen, his hand stupidly raised in the air.
And as he looked down at her, at her gazing up at him more calmly than before, he realized.
She had noticed what had wavered within him for that brief moment.
It was mortifyingly embarrassing.
“Yes.”
Without another word, Isaac rose from his place.