Side Story 10
Then Dad definitely would have been the only one getting scolded and kicked out of the bedroom. They say my dad is a really, really great soldier, but honestly, it feels like a lie. Dad just laughs like a fool in front of Mom and me. He’s never scary. Dad exists so that Mom and I can do whatever we want and not have to do what we don’t want to do.
If anything, Mom is the one who’s scary sometimes at our house. Last time, I got scolded for picking out and eating the nasty eggplant. Dad secretly ate it for me but got caught, so we got scolded together.
While Mom was scolding Dad and me side by side, Mrs. Anna winked and said she’d make sure to remove the eggplant first next time. Since Grandma and Grandpa bravely ate the eggplant I didn’t like, they said we’d make sweet candy together for the afternoon dessert.
I like it here because I don’t have to force myself to study, I can run around and play to my heart’s content with the neighborhood kids, Mrs. Anna makes lots of tasty snacks, and people don’t follow me around everywhere either. If half the year... no, if it were winter all year round, how happy would that be?
Ah, but that doesn’t mean I hate the Grandfather back at the Clarisse house.
The grandmother and grandfather at the Clarisse house don’t come here... because Grandfather is a very important person who represents our family, so he can’t leave his place recklessly.
The people at Clarisse are very afraid of Grandfather. They call him “Your Grace” and can’t even raise their heads.
Well, but I don’t think our Grandfather is as scary a person as others think. Because, because... you know. This is something I secretly saw last time. When Dad leaves for work, it takes him a whole hour just to get out of the house.
Mom rushes out to see him off, and Dad says he simply can’t take a step away. Dad said he’d rather Mom just slept in when he goes to work. Every day, he hugs Mom tight, saying he’ll take her back inside, and spins round and round the garden three times.
Grandfather let out deep sighs, saying Dad doesn’t know how to maintain his dignity in front of his subordinates. But I know. Grandfather watches Mom and Dad seeing each other off from the window of his office every day.
Once, I overheard him muttering. Grandfather was copying the greetings that Mom and Dad do. The ones they always say: “I’ll miss you,” “I’ll be right back,” “I love you,” things like that. Dad says those things to Mom and to me, too. Every single day.
And then, when Grandmother returned from a long trip—saying that she supposed she ought to see her granddaughter’s face after such a while—there was a day when the three of us had lunch together: Grandmother, Grandfather, and me. We were eating quietly, and just as they were clearing the last dishes, Grandfather suddenly, really suddenly spoke.
“Ameline. Stay a little longer this time. Don’t disappear so quickly.”
His face turned bright red like a boiled carrot.
Grandmother was utterly bewildered. She asked what he was talking about out of nowhere in the middle of a meal.
Later, when I told Mom, she said,
“It’s because he is someone who is clumsy with expressing himself.”
People who have a habit of holding back what they want to say need more courage than others to convey their true feelings, and if they get too nervous, practiced words can pop out without them realizing it.
Mom also said she knew that Grandfather was watching her and Dad from his office. She said there was no way she couldn’t know.
“Dad tells us he loves us all the time, doesn’t he? I think that was a very unfamiliar and awkward scene for him.”
But because he was always watching Mom and Dad, who see each other off and welcome each other home every morning and evening, Mom came to think that perhaps Grandfather is always waiting for Grandmother, too.
“But if you don’t express it, the other person can’t know what’s in your heart, can they? Maybe he’s regretting the days when he couldn’t muster his courage.”
Of course, Grandmother still goes on trips sometimes. But not as much as before. Dad is sometimes surprised to see Grandmother staying at the mansion because it’s so rare. Though they don’t run into each other often since the house is so big.
Right. I have to show Dad the Winter Rose, too!
I wanted to show Mom, too, but a guest came to see her in the meantime. I guess there’s something to discuss about school matters. Mom is the headmistress, after all. Sometimes Mom is busier than Dad. Her office is always piled high with letters, too.
Especially when new students come, she goes directly to the school, and Dad always goes with her, along with the soldiers. The men under Dad put on tearful faces and get dragged along. Mom is at the school, and Dad and the men do Ho... Hokan Training? Or something like that.
I haven’t been there yet. They said it’s always cold and far away, so they won’t take me until I’m a little older.
I showed Dad the Winter Rose. Dad likes roses. He says roses are the prettiest among flowers. Though I think tulips are prettier.
“A rose that comes in winter must be cherished.”
Dad was so happy to see the flower. I wonder why? Honestly, the Winter Rose isn’t as showy as a summer rose.
Dad put the Winter Rose in a vase and took it to the bedroom. He said he’d give it to Mom.
“Since Mom is busy with a guest, shall Dad and I go for a walk?”
And we decided to go for a walk until Mom finished her work. Dad carried me in his arms and walked all the way to the lake.
“Dad! The sun is falling into the lake.”
I was shocked as soon as we arrived. The lake water was burning red.
“Amazing, isn’t it? The sunsets in this area are very beautiful.”
“Where is the sun going now?”
“It’s going to sleep under that lake.”
Liar. I couldn’t believe it. Adults teach us not to lie to children, but sometimes they trick us without a second thought. Just like how Santa Claus, who comes to give presents every Christmas, turned out to be Mom. On Christmas Day last year, Mom was putting a present in the stocking by my bedside and dropped it on my face. When I found out Santa Claus was Mom, I burst into tears. Dad flusteredly said, “See, I told you so.”
“It’s true. If you look closely at the bottom of that lake, you’ll see a red, sparkling treasure.”
But Dad wasn’t laughing; he was serious.
“It’s the secret the lake is hiding.”
“If there’s a treasure in the lake, why doesn’t anyone go get it?”
“Because they don’t know there’s treasure hidden down there.”
“Really?”
Dad even hooked his finger to promise it was true. He said he’d tell me about the treasure that fell into the lake when I get older.
When we got back home, Mom had seen the guest off and was waiting for us. She said she was going to come get us if we were any later. I asked Mom if she knew about the treasure sleeping at the bottom of the lake, and she said she did.
“Of course. It’s a very, very precious treasure.”
Mom smiled as she looked at Dad.
Mom looked so happy that I felt happy, too.
Oh right, I wonder if Mom knows about the Winter Rose, too?
When I asked, Mom said of course she knew. She said when she was little, she would play making flower crowns and picking fruit. The Winter Rose is a flower that bloomed a lot near the school she went to, too.
“That flower is also called Hellebore by another name. Helen.”
Wow, that’s really similar to my name! My name is Helen. And I was born in winter.
No way... Did my name come from the Winter Rose? Am I a rose?
My eyes went wide as I looked at Dad, and he nodded.
“All the women Dad loves hold a rose each.”
So that’s probably why Dad likes roses. I think I’ll come to like roses more than tulips from now on. The rose that came in winter, the Winter Rose, Hellebore—it’s my flower, after all.
But my name is a rose, but why is Mom a rose? Mom’s name is Lizanne. It’s strange.
I want to know, but Mom just smiles. I guess it’s a secret between Mom and Dad. Mom and Dad don’t tell me a lot of things because I’m young. It’s not fair.
Do you happen to know what secret Mom and Dad are hiding? Can’t you tell me just a little?
Once again, I sincerely thank everyone who has been with <The Time of the Blind Beast>.
𝑺𝒊𝒅𝒆 𝑺𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒚 𝑭𝒊𝒏.🫧