Episode 5
Just as she was about to leave through the main gate, the knights poured out all at once. Unwilling to follow after them, she went around to the back gate instead, and that was when she heard it.
The conclusion of the conversation she had inevitably overheard was that there could be no woman other than Violet for Carlisle Everett. She knew this better than anyone, yet it was hard to accept.
To think she was in such a position that she had to resent and hate herself for loving him.
Helen, leaning against the wall, looked down at the handkerchief in her hand.
“As expected, I suppose it won't work for me.”
If it was a futile attachment, she ought to fold it away immediately, but her heart had already swelled to its fullest. She didn't know what to do or how to let go of her attachment to Carlisle. If only she hadn't gone to see the moon that night; if she hadn't, this attachment wouldn't have grown so large.
“Should I not return it?”
To return the handkerchief, she had to meet Carlisle. But he was away from his seat right now, and she was worried that asking the knights would make her the subject of their gossip. She didn't want to hold Carlisle back. Though a year had passed since Violet's vain departure, the mere fact that she was a half-noble would invite ill talk.
“I don't mind, but I hope Carlisle doesn't have a hard time because of me.”
Who am I, after all? To him, I'm probably someone less than a fleeting encounter. He must have forgotten my name by now.
If only my name were Violet instead of Helen. Just by sharing her name, I would remain in your memory. How wonderful would it be if you uttered Violet's name and recalled me, remembered our meeting under the moonlight, and wondered after my well-being.
“How shabby and wretched, Helen Platini. You're not Violet anymore.”
To think she had harbored vain hope from yesterday's brief encounter. She was speechless at her own foolishness. She should have forgotten it along with the moon that set at dawn. To him, there was only Violet.
Unable to move from her sorrowful heart, she was only gazing down at the handkerchief when a servant passed by in front of her. Helen called out urgently.
“Excuse me, could you deliver this to the Duke for me?”
Meanwhile, when Helen was nowhere to be seen, Carlisle began to grow a little impatient. It was the only handkerchief Violet had gifted him. He was supposed to get it back today, but the lady of the villa was nowhere to be found. He searched inside the villa several times, but he couldn't find the red-haired young lady.
But he could hardly delay his departure any longer. A blizzard looked ready to strike again. The sun that had risen high in the sky was trapped behind clouds, and the wind was beginning to pick up strength.
Carlisle decided to fulfill his responsibility as Knight Commander. His steps leaving the villa were heavy, but he put strength into both feet and stepped forward.
When he opened the door and went outside, the knights who had been scattered about resting gathered in one place. One of them approached Carlisle.
“Your Grace, a servant from the villa asked me to deliver this. They said they left it for you.”
What the knight handed over was the handkerchief he had so desperately wanted to find. Only upon seeing the white rose embroidery did his clogged heart clear.
But a servant?
“A servant? Not Lady Platini? She should have red hair.”
“No. It was a brown-haired servant.”
If she had gone so far as to have a servant deliver the handkerchief, it seemed some unavoidable circumstances had arisen. Whatever her circumstances, they were of no concern to him whatsoever. Since he had received the handkerchief, there was no reason to remain here any longer.
Carlisle raised his hand to his chest to put the handkerchief into his coat's inner pocket. Though he had merely tucked the handkerchief into his breast, the scent of violets brushed the tip of his nose. It was faint, but it was unmistakably the fragrance of violets, not any other flower.
Violet always filled her bedroom with flowers sharing her name. Because of that, whenever he embraced her, a subtle, luxurious fragrance wafted from her white nape.
Carlisle turned his head and surveyed his surroundings, but he couldn't see any purple flowers anywhere. Yet what he smelled from the handkerchief tucked against his chest was unmistakably violet.
“……?”
The imperial princess who had been loved by all had died, and Carlisle no longer kept by his side the flower he had always been with her. Therefore, he felt puzzlement at the handkerchief, which should not carry any scent.
Carlisle raised his head high and looked up at the third-floor terrace where he had met Lady Platini last night. It felt as though she would still be standing there, her red hair fluttering and sparkling in the moonlight. But neither the moonlight nor she was there any longer.
* Sibello
A week later.
An article announcing the safe return of the expedition that had left to subjugate magical beasts decorated the front page of the weekly newspaper. It was from the Empire's most famous newspaper, sponsored by the Imperial Family, so it was trustworthy.
The newspaper focused solely on describing the success of the subjugation expedition. As if it had no interest whatsoever in Carlisle Everett's safety. Though it said there were no injured, she wished they had written at least one line saying he was safe, having led the expedition.
“If only even his name were written.”
It was a shame, but she thought it fortunate that there were no injuries. Just as she was about to fold the newspaper neatly in half and place it on the table, the newspaper disappeared from sight. In an instant, it floated into the air and landed in Liandor's hand.
Helen, who had been sitting in the chair, turned around and called out to Liandor.
“Liandor!”
A voice filled with joy was directed at the white mage who had left a month ago and just returned.
“It's been a while.”
“Indeed. Who knew you would take the full month to return?”
“So you're saying it's my fault?”
“Do you really need to be told to know that?”
Helen pouted her lips and stood up from the chair. Before approaching Liandor, the window that came into her sight showed snow falling no differently from yesterday. Quite some time had passed since winter began, yet seeing that it was still snowing, this winter seemed unusually long.
Liandor read the front page of the newspaper, its corner crumpled.
“All returned safely without injuries. They'll never know. They have no idea that the reason they could return home safely is thanks to this great mage.”
“You have to say it to know. If you don't say it, they don't know.”
“So there are things even a great mage doesn't know.”
Liandor looked at Helen standing before him. A beautiful woman with red hair wrapped around her waist like the sun shining brilliantly even in winter. Green pupils reminiscent of spring leaves. Cheeks that had grown quite plump and lush.
She finally looked like a noble young lady. Except for the somehow sad expression she wore even when acting playful.
Liandor stretched out his index finger and tapped Helen's forehead. At that, she cupped her forehead with both hands and flared up in anger.
“Good heavens! Did you just hit my forehead?”
“Hit? Unfortunately, I'm not as violent a person as you think. I merely smoothed out the wrinkle that had formed on your forehead.”
Besides, a great mage doesn't get blood on his hands. He might make an exception for knights swinging their swords senselessly while wearing crude armor, but anyway, he didn't like sword-wielding brutes.
Liandor folded the newspaper in half and then in half again. He looked for scissors, but there were none in Helen's room. As a regrettable alternative, he flicked his finger and created fire. At that, Helen's eyes widened and she snatched the newspaper from Liandor.
“Y-you just created fire?”
“Yeah.”
“Why are you trying to burn down someone else's villa!”
“It's true I made fire in someone else's villa, but I wasn't trying to set it ablaze.”
Who did she take him for, some vulgar person? An ordinary mage might be one thing, but a great mage would never commit such a senseless act. She ought to know that by now.
“I've set up a barrier at the entrance to the northern forest. Starting next winter, magical beasts won't be able to leave the forest.”
“That's a relief. The residents of Hexilov, as well as the people of the surrounding territories, will surely be pleased. They won't spare their praise for mages, I'm sure.”
Liandor let out a sigh. Reflected in his eyes was the red-haired Helen, checking to see if the newspaper was safe.
“Is that all?”
“What more do you need? Ah! I've prepared a private vegetable patch just for Liandor! I've slightly renovated the front yard of the villa; I hope you like it.”
“What I want is……!”
Just then, someone knocked on the door from outside. The two turned their heads toward the door simultaneously. At Helen's word to enter, the person who opened the door was the villa's butler.
“Young Lady, a letter has arrived.”
“A letter?”
Helen tilted her head and received the letter from the butler. She discovered a familiar seal on the black envelope. It was a seal made from the coat of arms of her family, Count Platini's house.
“……!”
It was the first letter she had received since being driven out to the villa, so she ought to have been excited, but she wasn't excited at all. Instead, she felt as though her heart had plummeted with a thud. She staggered upon seeing the seal of Count Platini's family. Fortunately, it was only to the extent of her legs trembling. Suppressing the ominous feeling, she put on an expression no different from usual and looked at the butler.
“Thank you for delivering it.”
As soon as the butler left the bedroom, the strength in her legs gave out as if she had been waiting for this, and she sank to the floor. Contrary to her will, her body wouldn't listen. Even so, she did not let go of the black envelope in her hand.
What was this letter, after all? What was a letter from the family that had abandoned her? What was a letter looking for her now, of all times?
No, was it even a letter looking for her? Couldn't it be a letter sent to check whether she was dead or alive?
Someone who couldn't even remember her face.
When anxiety and fear covered Helen's entire body, a warm hand was placed on her shoulder.
“Helen.”
“……Do I look foolish?”
She had collapsed without even opening the envelope, so she must look ridiculous. Who wouldn't see her that way?
“Of all the people I've seen so far, you look the most foolish.”
“How mean. You couldn't even say it wasn't true as a white lie.”
“Read it first. You have to read it to know who sent it and what it says.”
She agreed with his words. Helen examined the black envelope in her hand carefully. Did the Platini family use black envelopes? She wouldn't know, having never received a letter from the family before. But so what? As Liandor said, what mattered was who sent it and why.
Helen's hands trembled violently as she opened the envelope and took out the white letter inside. On the letter, neat handwriting formed lines that didn't tilt to any one side.
「Helen Platini. It's been a while.
I wonder if you've been well all this time. Now that you've come of age, I wish you would come down to the capital, so I am sending this letter; I hope you will heed my wishes. Then I shall await the day I see your face.」
In short, it was a message telling her to return to the mansion in the capital as soon as possible. Helen read the letter from her father over and over, chewing on its meaning.
“He says he wants to see me. Now, of all times.”
She had believed she had emptied her heart after being abandoned by the man called father very long ago. At first, she had thought he wouldn't have abandoned her, his own daughter, but as time passed, it became clear. She had been completely abandoned, and the man called father did not think of Helen Platini as his daughter.
He's curious if I'm well? Telling me to come down to the capital because I'm an adult now? Saying he wants to see me now? And that too, a daughter he had cast out as surely as if he had abandoned her with his own hands.
Helen did not think that Count Platini had sent the letter with a pure heart, simply wishing for his daughter's return.
If that had been his intention, he wouldn't have sent a mere letter. A father who truly missed his daughter should have come to find her himself.
“You know, is it okay if I cry a little?”
“Fool? How can you cry just a little? You have to cry as much as you want.”
Liandor looked down at Helen, who had bowed her head deeply, and used magic. A brilliant light flashed for an instant, and a very large cloth appeared. The white cloth looked like a beautiful handkerchief that a noble young lady might use, if only its size were reduced.
The large white fabric billowed in the air and gradually descended. Soon it completely filled Helen's vision.
Helen laughed shortly at the cloth, wider than her outstretched arms.
“Huh. What is this?”
“It's a giant handkerchief that only a great mage can create.”
“Did you make this to make me laugh?”
“That's right, so cry quickly and smile again. That way your eyes won't swell as much.”
“Tell me honestly. It's because I look ugly when my eyes swell, right?”
“…….”
“So it is, so it is.”
So completely mean. A really bad person.
Why are you turning your head away again! Why are you looking at distant mountains you can't even see!
Helen wiped the dampness moistening her eyes with the giant handkerchief. She felt as though a fragrant floral scent emanated from the large handkerchief. Wondering if it was her imagination, she sniffed at it with her nose, but she could definitely smell a flower scent. Only then did she put on a comfortable smile, as if in a good mood.
A few days later, Helen left the villa where she had stayed for a long time. The butler kept watch in front of the villa until the carriage carrying the young lady disappeared into a dot.
The carriage carrying Helen and the mage arrived at the capital a week later.