Regardless of whether it was sunny or how wet it was, her father always let her touch the soil every time she set foot on a new continent. She doesn't know why things that were meaningless and ritualistic at that time are now stuck in her heart.
"Young Lady, did you bring any goods?"
"Yes."
There was no one coming and going, but Philip was in a hurry as if he were being chased. As soon as he received the box she handed him, he put it down in the dirt pit. Just before he threw dirt on it, Evangeline removed his hand.
"Wait a minute."
"It will rain soon, so you have to hurry. It will be difficult to ask properly."
"It only takes a minute."
She knew it was going to rain from the moment she touched the soil. She hurriedly opened the black box and untied the mottled shoelaces.
"...Young Lady."
"I want to leave this much."
Leaving Phillip behind her as he looked gloomily, she wrapped the shoelaces around her wrist. It was a fine white wrist that she had never worn anything other than jewelry, but now the shoelaces looked good on her. She said she would send her father away, but it was the only trace of his father left to her. She forced herself to smile and nodded to Philip.
"Keep going. I think I'll be fine now."
"Hmm, stay away."
Before she could say anything, Philip shoveled the dirt. He was worried that Evangeline might change her mind, but she didn't. They both knew that if they hesitated at this moment, they wouldn't even get the next chance.
One, two, and dark red soil gradually thickened. Before she knew it, Philip had placed a small plaque on the dirt that covered all the boxes. The words she had asked for in advance flashed instead of his name.
1077-1128
To you, who was the best father in the world
With love and respect
She erased everything that could reveal his identity, so he was no different from an unrelated person. No, those who are not related to him would at least receive the courtesy of the bishop, but her father could not even do that. Instead, she stayed there for a long time, as much as she had time and devotion.
"...I would rather it rain. My father liked to travel by boat, so he might be able to travel very far tonight, right?"
"Young Lady."
Philip, who could not easily offer any comfort, was choked. However, he was not in a position to fully enjoy his grief. Phillip looked up at the sky that was already getting darker, and urged her.
"You have to go back now. The day is full. What if you catch a cold?"
"You go back first."
"What? Then what about Young Lady..."
"I'll stay a little longer."
She still bent her knees and shook her head helplessly. Even though he knows Evangeline's stubbornness, he can't leave her in a place like this. Philip pursed his lips and came out with his own strength.
"That's not possible. How could I leave the Lady in such a place? If he had seen it, I wouldn't even be able to survive."
"Wouldn't Father have to come back to life first?"
"Oh... That's not what I meant..."
"I know. You were worried about me."
Evangeline's cheek deepened the dimples. Still, when he saw her smiling first, he was relieved as if he was trying to gain a little strength. But leaving her alone in a place where there were homeless people was another matter.
"Then I'll be with you. I will not let the cow disturb you."
"You don't have to. Phillip has to go back and finish the rest of the top."
"But..."
"My father always said that we should finish well. I hope Philip will uphold his last wish."
She threw out something that Philip couldn't move, but he knew it wasn't enough. After hesitating a few times, Evangeline finally smiled meaningfully.
"Actually, someone decided to come."
"What? Who the hell is here... Alas! I see!"
Philip's eyes widened, and he suddenly let out a sigh of understanding. No sane nobleman would have come to a place like this, but only one person could. Maybe he was the one who had to come.
"Thank you, my lady."
"So don't worry, let's go."
Evangeline sent him back to hurry up. Philip's relieved face made her even sadder, but it was not yet time to show her emotions.
She should not cry or be sad.
"...Father."
Until she was completely alone.
"Why are you here?"
At a moment when no one could look into her heart, Evangeline's lips opened. As she brushed the monument with her fingertips, tears welled up in her eyes for the first time.
"Oh... Why..."
It dripped down her cheeks before it could be properly collected. Since the accident, she has never cried freely. She had to hide her rotten heart from those who didn't know when or how to point it at her.
"Ugh."
Fortunately or unluckily, falling raindrops covered her tears. Like her tears that she had endured, the raindrops that soaked the earth also swelled quickly.
"I'll protect you now."
Evangeline, who was bathed in the rain that cooled her head, wrapped the monument in place of her body, which had cooled down.
"And I'm fine. He'll be picking me up soon."
Hugging the cold monument, she recited the words she hadn't asked. He tried to reassure his father, but she may have actually wanted to reassure herself.
"He will definitely come. I asked for it. The Duke heard me clearly... That's why..."
She closed her eyes because of something that she didn't know if it was tears or raindrops. She doesn't even know how much time has passed. Before she knew it, even the afternoon sunset was completely buried in dark clouds.
Maybe she could just stay here with her dad.
The raindrops that penetrated into her dress took away her body heat. The corners of Evangeline's eyes contorted in her fading consciousness. She thought it wouldn't be a bad idea to close her eyes and be with her father forever, but she didn't want to let go of everything.
Instead, just when she thought she should let go of something else, she heard strange footsteps.
"Oh..."
She turned her head as he strode vigorously across the muddy dirt. Even in the cloudy raindrops, the man's figure was clear. Evangeline looked at him in disbelief and wiped away the tears that welled up again.
***
Thunberg was a small mining town located in the northernmost part of the country. The lord there, the Marquis de Vandell, had been having the busiest days of the last few days. It was not enough that the gem mine had suddenly burst, so he personally came to His Majesty the Emperor to inspect it. A city on the outskirts of the city unfolded one glory after another, and the Marquis's face was full of smiles.
"I really don't know if this is a dream or a reality. Your Majesty has come all the way here."
"I don't know. I think you welcome Duke Theses more than I do."
The Emperor sat at the table of the banquet at the Marquis's residence and rolled his glass in a hurry. It wasn't that he was really angry, but rather to make fun of the Marquis.
"Oh, no. How could I be so disloyal..."
"Well, what do you think? I just need one person to have fun."
With a meaningful word, the Emperor looked at the beautiful young lady sitting next to the Marquis Vandell. She sat somewhat shyly and said that she was the only daughter of the Marquis. When the Emperor's party arrived, she accompanied her father throughout the field and never left for a moment. If it was the reason why the lady, who had no special interest or knowledge in this field, was so enthusiastic, it was understandable.
"Don't do that, I'll give you a ball. Isn't it pitiful to be so pitiful?"
"... Your Majesty."
"Just kidding, kidding."
The Emperor spoke softly in Deccarno's ear and shook his hand. He was already half-drunk, and he laughed lightly at the end of every word.
"Why, but it's less annoying than our Bellona."
"It's not funny, Your Majesty."
"That's not what you would say."
"..."
"Anyway, it's a mess everywhere you go. I'm glad today is the last day."
The Emperor thought about his journey for the past week, and he was slightly disgusted. Their upper came to inspect the industry of the East, but the lords there were only busy showing off their daughters. He would not have been aiming for himself to see a successor soon because he had already married, and of course, he would have aimed at Duke Theses, who came back to the marriage market.
"I think my empire is smaller than I thought, and no one knows that your marriage is broken."
"It's so bad."
"Hmm... Isn't it? Are you really going to do it?"
"..."
"Yes. Well, that's up to you."
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