Else looked up. It was Sybil, who had not left Else's side even once in the past week. It was not because she had nowhere else to go, but because she had caught him. That was why she knew. So there was no need to be anxious.
“I’ll be back before noon.”
It was a languid whisper. Else nodded. She let go of the collar she had been holding. Sybil gave her one last kiss and turned around. Sybil left the bedroom. Else looked out the window. She watched as Sybil received the bridle from the knight who came out of the manger. Two knights followed.
Where are you going? Else looked down. She tried to close her eyes to sleep a little more as he said, but she couldn't fall asleep. In the end, she had no choice but to wait for the sun to rise with her eyes wide open.
“Did you sleep well?”
Gelda, who had pulled back the curtain, asked briskly. Else shook her head. Gelda looked at the empty seat next to Else with a knowing expression. Else got up, washed her face with the wash water that Gelda had brought, and sat at the dressing table. Since Sibyl came to Idun, Else had been living a regular life of her own. She had not been as carefree as she used to be, day or night. When she woke up, she changed into everyday clothes and put on some makeup, even if it was just a little.
“Our Prince is very loud today as well.”
Mila, who had come carrying a baby who was whining while looking for his mother, laughed out loud and handed Abelard to Else. Else, who had been applying powder little by little, smiled brightly as she held Abelard. Else, accustomed to her open chest, let her son breastfeed.
As her appetite improved, there was no need for a milk supply. She breastfed her son until his belly was full and then burped him. Mila laughed, saying that our Prince was really tall. Normally, a baby who is breastfed would not be called tall, but when you think of Hermi, it is different.
Hermi, who was Abelard's other half, would wheeze because she couldn't swallow the milk her mother gave her on time. Did she know that? The maids also said they were glad that Abelard was drinking milk well.
“Give it here.”
Gelda, who had prepared breakfast, took Abelard away. Else returned to the dressing table, combed her hair, put it up low, and finished her makeup by rubbing rose oil behind her ears and on her collarbone.
“This morning I had a lamb and potato stew. Try it. It’s delicious.”
Else, who was sitting at the table without Sybil, glanced at Gelda. Perhaps sensing that she was not very interested, Gelda urged her. It was two hours until twelve o'clock in the afternoon. Although there was no mention of returning on time, Else was concerned about the table without Sybil.
“When His Majesty returns, I will prepare a delicious cod dish for lunch.”
Else, who had been hesitating, picked up the spoon. Yes. He will return. Since he will return, Else can do Else’s work. Suddenly, she remembered something she had forgotten. Else, who had scooped up a spoonful of stew, lifted her lips toward Gelda.
“Can you help me find something in my luggage?”
They rode past the wheat fields and into the fields of Lugdun. After riding for an hour and a half, they came into view of the castle of Roate, scorched by fire. Sibyl looked at the castle with a heavy face. The castle ridge and the majestic outer walls where Roate's flag once hung. The small castle that had served as a fortress and defended itself faithfully was completely scorched by the fire and became shabby. Even if it was repaired, it would not be able to return to its former appearance right away, but at least it would be able to boast the same grandeur as before. And...
“I heard that you are also carrying out expansion work while renovating the castle. Do you have a suitable candidate?”
The knight who was following asked Sibyl. He opened his narrowed eyebrows and chose his words. The owner of the castle of Roate was Roate. So no matter how the castle changed, the owner of the castle did not change.
“...This is the castle of Roate.”
“However...”
“If I had a second son, he might live here.”
Sibyl turned his gaze. If the castle were to be expanded and built on a scale as large as the castle ruled by the Marquis of Aperato, it would take a long time. If Else were to be appointed as the head of the restored Roate family and her title was raised to Countess, it would become her castle, but she would not be able to live there right away. However, if she was blessed by the gods and a second son was born, he could inherit his mother’s title and live there. It was all right. He wanted to give Else and her family the compensation and status they deserved.
"Let's go."
Sibyl groaned again. They rode their horses and arrived at a wide field stretching out across the river. It was the end of summer. But the flowers would still be in bloom. They bloomed even in September. Sibyl looked around the field where he had once walked.
Just as the flowing river remained unchanged, the shade where Else had waited for him remained the same. He lowered his head and looked for a blue flower. Then he bent down and carefully picked it. The small flowers blooming thoughtlessly in the tall grass that reached his shins were beautiful.
At noon, when the sun was high in the sky, Else opened the box that Gelda had brought her. It was said that it took a long time to find it because it was mixed in with the luggage. Else carefully took out the shoes from the box, thinking of Sibyl. The leather, scorched by the fire, had damaged the shape of the shoes.
'Can it be restored to its original state?'
“Do you want to go back?”
A bouquet of flowers suddenly appeared in her field of vision. Else raised her head. Pale blue. Purple. The petals romantically dyed in the twilight... It was strange. It was an even more strange moment because she was holding a needle to sew shoes.
“Do you want to start over with me?”
Else’s gaze fell on him. Sibyl was looking at the white hand holding the needle. The table was filled with needles and threads, as if she were planning to sew up the burn mark. Sibyl held back his trembling eyes and held out the bouquet. A pale blue like glass containing the sky. The small, wispy flowers were mysterious and beautiful. Else stared at the bouquet and then at Sibyl.
“I will make you happy.”
He knelt down on one knee. Else put down the needle she had been sewing on her shoe. Sybil looked longingly into the woman’s turquoise eyes. Else’s hand cradled the bouquet. Then she buried her nose in it for a moment and smiled brightly. It was a smile as white and delicate as winter snowflakes. The one that Sybil had loved for a long time, but had ruined with his own hands and could never be rebuilt...
So he was afraid. Because he thought he would never get it back. Because he thought he would lose it forever and never be able to get it back. But he saw the corners of her lips rising carefully, and he knew. Little by little, what had been twisted was coming back... He realized that he could put it back together piece by piece.
"I love you."
Sibyl, who had been kneeling, stood up and kissed Else. In the season when the hot sun had receded, a cool breeze blew through the open window. The blue, star-like flowers swayed gently in the wind like droplets.
“I’ll be back before noon.”
It was a languid whisper. Else nodded. She let go of the collar she had been holding. Sybil gave her one last kiss and turned around. Sybil left the bedroom. Else looked out the window. She watched as Sybil received the bridle from the knight who came out of the manger. Two knights followed.
Where are you going? Else looked down. She tried to close her eyes to sleep a little more as he said, but she couldn't fall asleep. In the end, she had no choice but to wait for the sun to rise with her eyes wide open.
“Did you sleep well?”
Gelda, who had pulled back the curtain, asked briskly. Else shook her head. Gelda looked at the empty seat next to Else with a knowing expression. Else got up, washed her face with the wash water that Gelda had brought, and sat at the dressing table. Since Sibyl came to Idun, Else had been living a regular life of her own. She had not been as carefree as she used to be, day or night. When she woke up, she changed into everyday clothes and put on some makeup, even if it was just a little.
“Our Prince is very loud today as well.”
Mila, who had come carrying a baby who was whining while looking for his mother, laughed out loud and handed Abelard to Else. Else, who had been applying powder little by little, smiled brightly as she held Abelard. Else, accustomed to her open chest, let her son breastfeed.
As her appetite improved, there was no need for a milk supply. She breastfed her son until his belly was full and then burped him. Mila laughed, saying that our Prince was really tall. Normally, a baby who is breastfed would not be called tall, but when you think of Hermi, it is different.
Hermi, who was Abelard's other half, would wheeze because she couldn't swallow the milk her mother gave her on time. Did she know that? The maids also said they were glad that Abelard was drinking milk well.
“Give it here.”
Gelda, who had prepared breakfast, took Abelard away. Else returned to the dressing table, combed her hair, put it up low, and finished her makeup by rubbing rose oil behind her ears and on her collarbone.
“This morning I had a lamb and potato stew. Try it. It’s delicious.”
Else, who was sitting at the table without Sybil, glanced at Gelda. Perhaps sensing that she was not very interested, Gelda urged her. It was two hours until twelve o'clock in the afternoon. Although there was no mention of returning on time, Else was concerned about the table without Sybil.
“When His Majesty returns, I will prepare a delicious cod dish for lunch.”
Else, who had been hesitating, picked up the spoon. Yes. He will return. Since he will return, Else can do Else’s work. Suddenly, she remembered something she had forgotten. Else, who had scooped up a spoonful of stew, lifted her lips toward Gelda.
“Can you help me find something in my luggage?”
***
They rode past the wheat fields and into the fields of Lugdun. After riding for an hour and a half, they came into view of the castle of Roate, scorched by fire. Sibyl looked at the castle with a heavy face. The castle ridge and the majestic outer walls where Roate's flag once hung. The small castle that had served as a fortress and defended itself faithfully was completely scorched by the fire and became shabby. Even if it was repaired, it would not be able to return to its former appearance right away, but at least it would be able to boast the same grandeur as before. And...
“I heard that you are also carrying out expansion work while renovating the castle. Do you have a suitable candidate?”
The knight who was following asked Sibyl. He opened his narrowed eyebrows and chose his words. The owner of the castle of Roate was Roate. So no matter how the castle changed, the owner of the castle did not change.
“...This is the castle of Roate.”
“However...”
“If I had a second son, he might live here.”
Sibyl turned his gaze. If the castle were to be expanded and built on a scale as large as the castle ruled by the Marquis of Aperato, it would take a long time. If Else were to be appointed as the head of the restored Roate family and her title was raised to Countess, it would become her castle, but she would not be able to live there right away. However, if she was blessed by the gods and a second son was born, he could inherit his mother’s title and live there. It was all right. He wanted to give Else and her family the compensation and status they deserved.
"Let's go."
Sibyl groaned again. They rode their horses and arrived at a wide field stretching out across the river. It was the end of summer. But the flowers would still be in bloom. They bloomed even in September. Sibyl looked around the field where he had once walked.
Just as the flowing river remained unchanged, the shade where Else had waited for him remained the same. He lowered his head and looked for a blue flower. Then he bent down and carefully picked it. The small flowers blooming thoughtlessly in the tall grass that reached his shins were beautiful.
***
At noon, when the sun was high in the sky, Else opened the box that Gelda had brought her. It was said that it took a long time to find it because it was mixed in with the luggage. Else carefully took out the shoes from the box, thinking of Sibyl. The leather, scorched by the fire, had damaged the shape of the shoes.
'Can it be restored to its original state?'
Else don't know. She heard that only the craftsman who made the shoes can return them to their original state. However, the person who made these shoes passed away several years ago. So, even if you give them to someone, it will be difficult to return them to their original state.
Even if they are not expensive shoes, the leather used by the craftsman is leather that was only used in Lotan at the time, and the stitching is also sewn using a technique unique to the craftsman who made the shoes. So... She would rather sew them herself. If the seams are torn and falling apart...
It was when she picked up the needle that the sound of horse hooves could be heard from afar. Else heard Sybil walking down the hallway and returning to the bedroom. Long feet, striding. Thump, thump... The bedroom door opened, and the uneven breathing from horseback riding filled the bedroom. Else waited until his breathing calmed down. Her still gaze fell on his handsome face and then on his shoes. One rainy day. Her love that she had thrown into the flames... The hands that had sifted through the flames to take it out. It was when she remembered the scars that had healed with difficulty.
Even if they are not expensive shoes, the leather used by the craftsman is leather that was only used in Lotan at the time, and the stitching is also sewn using a technique unique to the craftsman who made the shoes. So... She would rather sew them herself. If the seams are torn and falling apart...
It was when she picked up the needle that the sound of horse hooves could be heard from afar. Else heard Sybil walking down the hallway and returning to the bedroom. Long feet, striding. Thump, thump... The bedroom door opened, and the uneven breathing from horseback riding filled the bedroom. Else waited until his breathing calmed down. Her still gaze fell on his handsome face and then on his shoes. One rainy day. Her love that she had thrown into the flames... The hands that had sifted through the flames to take it out. It was when she remembered the scars that had healed with difficulty.
“Do you want to go back?”
A bouquet of flowers suddenly appeared in her field of vision. Else raised her head. Pale blue. Purple. The petals romantically dyed in the twilight... It was strange. It was an even more strange moment because she was holding a needle to sew shoes.
“Do you want to start over with me?”
Else’s gaze fell on him. Sibyl was looking at the white hand holding the needle. The table was filled with needles and threads, as if she were planning to sew up the burn mark. Sibyl held back his trembling eyes and held out the bouquet. A pale blue like glass containing the sky. The small, wispy flowers were mysterious and beautiful. Else stared at the bouquet and then at Sibyl.
“I will make you happy.”
He knelt down on one knee. Else put down the needle she had been sewing on her shoe. Sybil looked longingly into the woman’s turquoise eyes. Else’s hand cradled the bouquet. Then she buried her nose in it for a moment and smiled brightly. It was a smile as white and delicate as winter snowflakes. The one that Sybil had loved for a long time, but had ruined with his own hands and could never be rebuilt...
So he was afraid. Because he thought he would never get it back. Because he thought he would lose it forever and never be able to get it back. But he saw the corners of her lips rising carefully, and he knew. Little by little, what had been twisted was coming back... He realized that he could put it back together piece by piece.
"I love you."
Sibyl, who had been kneeling, stood up and kissed Else. In the season when the hot sun had receded, a cool breeze blew through the open window. The blue, star-like flowers swayed gently in the wind like droplets.
Savage Castle < END >
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