68. It's the end of the world
She ended up neglecting her duty.
While organizing the remaining itinerary for her tour, Karen, the maid, suddenly realized something. It was something Mrs. Fitz had specifically requested. Incredulous, she checked the calendar again, only to find the fatal mistake of forgetting the Grand Duchess's birthday becoming even clearer.
Karen, in shock, stood at her desk for a while, clutching her head. She had no idea what to do, where to start, or how to proceed.
The Grand Duchess certainly didn't show any signs of it. Even this afternoon, when she served afternoon tea, she was no exception. All she did was wander around the bedroom balcony, making small snowmen, acting childishly.
Karen, who had been feeling anxious, got up and went to find the Grand Duchess's maid. Lisa was in the servants' lounge, caressing the other maids' hair peacefully.
“Lisa! You didn’t know either, did you?”
At the question posed with a sigh, the eyes of Lisa, who was braiding her hair, and the maids who were sitting in a line waiting for their turn all turned to Karen.
“Yes? What are you talking about?”
Karen read the desperate answer in Lisa's innocently questioning face.
No one knew. It was unbelievable.
“First of all... follow me right now.”
Karen sighed in frustration and gave the order.
“Everyone, hurry up!”
Hmm. It's the end of the world.
Erna concluded quietly, clicking her tongue.
The youth of Pelia were so debauched. Men and women clung to each other, exchanging frivolous laughter and even touching each other so shamelessly that it was difficult to find where to look.
Erna shook her head and sat up straight. As her posture straightened, her gaze, surveying the absurd state of affairs, became even more stern. It was then that the bells began to ring from the bell tower, signaling the hour. Climbing together to the cathedral dome, the lovers shared a kiss amidst the sound of the bells echoing across the snow-covered city.
"Oh my god..."
Erna's horrified sigh flowed out along with a puff of white breath. The debauchery of the city, devoid of morality, had reached its peak, and this bell's ringing could be considered a mournful harbinger of the end of the world.
Erna, unsure where to look, couldn't quite turn her head. She rolled her eyes, then glanced back at the lovers of the apocalypse, then averted her gaze with a serious expression. As she did so, the long, ringing bell ceased. But the laughter, mingling with its reverberations, lingered above the golden dome, unsettling Erna's heart.
It wasn't until she struggled to the last step that she realized she had made the wrong choice. The dome, which she expected to be empty due to the snowfall, was surprisingly bustling with couples enjoying the snowy scenery. Erna only intended to celebrate her birthday in a small, private way, but she inadvertently ended up feeling even more lonely.
Erna wanted to leave immediately, but she was already so exhausted that even that wasn't easy. If she continued down those stairs on trembling legs, she might end up dead on her twentieth birthday. Her heart was so miserable that she almost wanted to die, but that didn't mean she was truly okay with it.
Erna, after much thought, sat down on a bench in a corner. She had intended to wait until her legs regained strength, but she couldn't understand why she had stayed here, watching the agonizing sight for nearly an hour.
As the couples who had been wandering along the path leading to the edge of the dome, taking in the scenery, departed, new ones took their place. Erna, who had been thinking about approaching the railing, changed her mind and settled back down on the bench. Realizing that there were so many couples in this world who were so close, she couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness. "No need to be upset. Your birthday will come again next year." The more she tried to console herself, the deeper her melancholy became.
Bjorn had completely forgotten. No, she wasn't even sure if he'd ever remembered in the first place.
Even though she looked into his eyes, she saw nothing. He smiled so sweetly, but there was no sincerity. Erna had to admit, even if she hated it, that to him, she was nothing more than that.
A lover of that topic? That's ridiculous.
Erna let out a long sigh, as if mocking herself, and straightened her neck as if to steady her collapsing heart. She adjusted the shape of her hood and cloak, and even straightened the hem of her dress. But it was only temporary. A cold, humid wind blew in, and all her efforts were in vain.
Resigned, Erna tucked her numb hands into her muff. She'd agonized over the clothes she'd chosen for today, but she didn't want to bother with them anymore.
What do you think? I'm alone anyway.
Erna frowned and looked around. The lovers on the dome still cluttered her vision with their immoral behavior.
It's absurd to think love can be realized by simply climbing to the top of a cathedral together. To believe in such superstitions? How naive of us all.
Erna clicked her tongue again and sighed.
It really is the end of the world. It really is the end of the world.
“I think she went outside. What should I do about it?”
Lisa, her face flushed bright red, finally burst into tears. The other maids' expressions were equally serious. Even those who disapproved of the Grand Duchess were the same.
She went to the Grand Duchess's room, intending to apologize and prepare a belated birthday dinner, only to find it empty. A thorough search of the entire guest house yielded the same result.
The Grand Duchess had disappeared. At this point, the most likely scenario was that she would run away.
“Think carefully about where Her Highness might go.”
Karen faced Lisa with a thoughtful expression. The short winter sun had long since set. What if something happened to the Grand Duchess? The mere thought of it was enough to suffocate her.
“I, I don’t know. I just can’t figure it out, maid.”
Lisa began to tremble and sob.
How could she follow the Grand Duchess so closely and not even know her birthday?
Karen was overcome with anger, but ultimately couldn't reprimand Lisa. She felt like she was fundamentally at fault for neglecting her important responsibilities, so blaming the young maid was ridiculous.
"Let's split up into groups and search the outside. Group 1 will take charge of the garden and the forest behind it, and Group 2 will head into the city..."
“Maid! Maid!”
The attendant, who had rushed in, interrupted them, interrupting them. Those who had been looking at him with a glimmer of hope soon found themselves filled with even greater despair.
“Wow, the Prince has returned! He is looking for Her Highness.”
The situation she feared the most has finally come to pass.
Karen, who had been hastily finishing the orders she was giving to the servants, began to walk, barely able to support her trembling legs. Lisa was with her.
Arriving in front of the Grand Duchess's room, where Bjorn was waiting, Karen took several deep breaths and swallowed dryly. Lisa was still crying, but there was no time to waste.
"Come in," came the cool reply as she knocked with trembling hands. Karen wiped the cold sweat from her palms several times before finally turning the doorknob. Bjorn stood in front of the door leading to the bedroom balcony, arms crossed loosely. His gaze was fixed on the railing, on the five small snowmen the Grand Duchess had left behind.
“I apologize, Your Highness. This is all our fault.”
Karen bowed deeply first. Only then did Bjorn turn around to face them.
"Her Highness has disappeared. We're mobilizing all personnel to search for her, so she'll probably be found soon..."
"disappeared?"
Bjorn frowned and asked in a low voice.
“Erna, why?”
He, too, had a face that seemed to know nothing.
First of all, reality was denied.
This was Erna's first reaction upon seeing the locked dome door.
It seemed like her hands, stiff from the cold, weren't able to properly apply strength. That's why she couldn't turn the doorknob properly.
Having reassured herself, Erna once again gripped the handle, this time with full force. But the result was the same. No matter how hard she tried, the door wouldn't open, and the clanking of the lock from the outside grew louder.
“There are still people here! Open the door!”
Erna, now terrified and forced to acknowledge the fact that the door was locked, began pounding and screaming. This couldn't be happening. How could such an unlucky day exist in this world?
“Is anyone there? Please open the door! Yes?”
Erna's exhausted scream echoed through the darkness. But all that returned was the same cold silence. Erna looked around with dazed eyes.
The tightly locked door, the cloud-covered night sky, and the empty cathedral dome. A tearful laugh escaped her lips as she realized that she was trapped atop a foreign cathedral, not to mention being hit by the wind. It seemed as if her wish for a birthday she would never forget had come true. Though her path had been terribly wrong.
How could I have done such a stupid thing?
Erna looked up at the sky in a daze. She should have gone down long ago. Just a little more. Just a little more. She clung to her foolish desire to win, and as a result, she ended up in this state.
Erna, giving up on the door she couldn't open, approached the dome's railing. The dizzying heights before her eyes made her feel dizzy, but she couldn't give up.
“There are still people here! Open the door! Please!”
She shouted at the top of her lungs, hoping that it might reach the people passing by below, but it was no use.
Erna, growing impatient, pulled out a handkerchief and leaned over the railing. But before she could properly call for help, the handkerchief was blown away by the wind. Trying to grab it, she nearly fell over the railing, screaming as she collapsed to the ground. Black snow, imprinted with countless footsteps, stained her dress, but she had no energy left to pay attention.
Erna, who had been trembling in a daze, finally managed to get up after a long time. Only when she returned to the bench where she had been sitting the entire time did she finally find the strength to breathe.
Erna crouched on the edge of the bench, gazing at the distant sky. White dots danced slowly across her tear-blurred vision. Only when the cold, soft touch touched her flushed cheek did Erna realize her unhappiness was not yet over.
It was snowing again. It was a lovely sleet.
“It turned out well, anyway.”
Erna tried to console herself with a tearful voice.
“I didn’t even want to look at it. I guess I won’t have to see it until tomorrow morning!”
If I can survive until tomorrow morning.
As a thought she didn't want to recall flashed through her mind, the hypocrisy that had not been so strong crumbled in an instant.
Erna, who had been looking around with eyes like a lost child, raised her dirty hands and covered her face. A heartbreaking sob, bursting through the white snow, began to permeate the air.
She ended up neglecting her duty.
While organizing the remaining itinerary for her tour, Karen, the maid, suddenly realized something. It was something Mrs. Fitz had specifically requested. Incredulous, she checked the calendar again, only to find the fatal mistake of forgetting the Grand Duchess's birthday becoming even clearer.
Karen, in shock, stood at her desk for a while, clutching her head. She had no idea what to do, where to start, or how to proceed.
The Grand Duchess certainly didn't show any signs of it. Even this afternoon, when she served afternoon tea, she was no exception. All she did was wander around the bedroom balcony, making small snowmen, acting childishly.
Karen, who had been feeling anxious, got up and went to find the Grand Duchess's maid. Lisa was in the servants' lounge, caressing the other maids' hair peacefully.
“Lisa! You didn’t know either, did you?”
At the question posed with a sigh, the eyes of Lisa, who was braiding her hair, and the maids who were sitting in a line waiting for their turn all turned to Karen.
“Yes? What are you talking about?”
Karen read the desperate answer in Lisa's innocently questioning face.
No one knew. It was unbelievable.
“First of all... follow me right now.”
Karen sighed in frustration and gave the order.
“Everyone, hurry up!”
***
Hmm. It's the end of the world.
Erna concluded quietly, clicking her tongue.
The youth of Pelia were so debauched. Men and women clung to each other, exchanging frivolous laughter and even touching each other so shamelessly that it was difficult to find where to look.
Erna shook her head and sat up straight. As her posture straightened, her gaze, surveying the absurd state of affairs, became even more stern. It was then that the bells began to ring from the bell tower, signaling the hour. Climbing together to the cathedral dome, the lovers shared a kiss amidst the sound of the bells echoing across the snow-covered city.
"Oh my god..."
Erna's horrified sigh flowed out along with a puff of white breath. The debauchery of the city, devoid of morality, had reached its peak, and this bell's ringing could be considered a mournful harbinger of the end of the world.
Erna, unsure where to look, couldn't quite turn her head. She rolled her eyes, then glanced back at the lovers of the apocalypse, then averted her gaze with a serious expression. As she did so, the long, ringing bell ceased. But the laughter, mingling with its reverberations, lingered above the golden dome, unsettling Erna's heart.
It wasn't until she struggled to the last step that she realized she had made the wrong choice. The dome, which she expected to be empty due to the snowfall, was surprisingly bustling with couples enjoying the snowy scenery. Erna only intended to celebrate her birthday in a small, private way, but she inadvertently ended up feeling even more lonely.
Erna wanted to leave immediately, but she was already so exhausted that even that wasn't easy. If she continued down those stairs on trembling legs, she might end up dead on her twentieth birthday. Her heart was so miserable that she almost wanted to die, but that didn't mean she was truly okay with it.
Erna, after much thought, sat down on a bench in a corner. She had intended to wait until her legs regained strength, but she couldn't understand why she had stayed here, watching the agonizing sight for nearly an hour.
As the couples who had been wandering along the path leading to the edge of the dome, taking in the scenery, departed, new ones took their place. Erna, who had been thinking about approaching the railing, changed her mind and settled back down on the bench. Realizing that there were so many couples in this world who were so close, she couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness. "No need to be upset. Your birthday will come again next year." The more she tried to console herself, the deeper her melancholy became.
Bjorn had completely forgotten. No, she wasn't even sure if he'd ever remembered in the first place.
Even though she looked into his eyes, she saw nothing. He smiled so sweetly, but there was no sincerity. Erna had to admit, even if she hated it, that to him, she was nothing more than that.
A lover of that topic? That's ridiculous.
Erna let out a long sigh, as if mocking herself, and straightened her neck as if to steady her collapsing heart. She adjusted the shape of her hood and cloak, and even straightened the hem of her dress. But it was only temporary. A cold, humid wind blew in, and all her efforts were in vain.
Resigned, Erna tucked her numb hands into her muff. She'd agonized over the clothes she'd chosen for today, but she didn't want to bother with them anymore.
What do you think? I'm alone anyway.
Erna frowned and looked around. The lovers on the dome still cluttered her vision with their immoral behavior.
It's absurd to think love can be realized by simply climbing to the top of a cathedral together. To believe in such superstitions? How naive of us all.
Erna clicked her tongue again and sighed.
It really is the end of the world. It really is the end of the world.
***
“I think she went outside. What should I do about it?”
Lisa, her face flushed bright red, finally burst into tears. The other maids' expressions were equally serious. Even those who disapproved of the Grand Duchess were the same.
She went to the Grand Duchess's room, intending to apologize and prepare a belated birthday dinner, only to find it empty. A thorough search of the entire guest house yielded the same result.
The Grand Duchess had disappeared. At this point, the most likely scenario was that she would run away.
“Think carefully about where Her Highness might go.”
Karen faced Lisa with a thoughtful expression. The short winter sun had long since set. What if something happened to the Grand Duchess? The mere thought of it was enough to suffocate her.
“I, I don’t know. I just can’t figure it out, maid.”
Lisa began to tremble and sob.
How could she follow the Grand Duchess so closely and not even know her birthday?
Karen was overcome with anger, but ultimately couldn't reprimand Lisa. She felt like she was fundamentally at fault for neglecting her important responsibilities, so blaming the young maid was ridiculous.
"Let's split up into groups and search the outside. Group 1 will take charge of the garden and the forest behind it, and Group 2 will head into the city..."
“Maid! Maid!”
The attendant, who had rushed in, interrupted them, interrupting them. Those who had been looking at him with a glimmer of hope soon found themselves filled with even greater despair.
“Wow, the Prince has returned! He is looking for Her Highness.”
The situation she feared the most has finally come to pass.
Karen, who had been hastily finishing the orders she was giving to the servants, began to walk, barely able to support her trembling legs. Lisa was with her.
Arriving in front of the Grand Duchess's room, where Bjorn was waiting, Karen took several deep breaths and swallowed dryly. Lisa was still crying, but there was no time to waste.
"Come in," came the cool reply as she knocked with trembling hands. Karen wiped the cold sweat from her palms several times before finally turning the doorknob. Bjorn stood in front of the door leading to the bedroom balcony, arms crossed loosely. His gaze was fixed on the railing, on the five small snowmen the Grand Duchess had left behind.
“I apologize, Your Highness. This is all our fault.”
Karen bowed deeply first. Only then did Bjorn turn around to face them.
"Her Highness has disappeared. We're mobilizing all personnel to search for her, so she'll probably be found soon..."
"disappeared?"
Bjorn frowned and asked in a low voice.
“Erna, why?”
He, too, had a face that seemed to know nothing.
***
First of all, reality was denied.
This was Erna's first reaction upon seeing the locked dome door.
It seemed like her hands, stiff from the cold, weren't able to properly apply strength. That's why she couldn't turn the doorknob properly.
Having reassured herself, Erna once again gripped the handle, this time with full force. But the result was the same. No matter how hard she tried, the door wouldn't open, and the clanking of the lock from the outside grew louder.
“There are still people here! Open the door!”
Erna, now terrified and forced to acknowledge the fact that the door was locked, began pounding and screaming. This couldn't be happening. How could such an unlucky day exist in this world?
“Is anyone there? Please open the door! Yes?”
Erna's exhausted scream echoed through the darkness. But all that returned was the same cold silence. Erna looked around with dazed eyes.
The tightly locked door, the cloud-covered night sky, and the empty cathedral dome. A tearful laugh escaped her lips as she realized that she was trapped atop a foreign cathedral, not to mention being hit by the wind. It seemed as if her wish for a birthday she would never forget had come true. Though her path had been terribly wrong.
How could I have done such a stupid thing?
Erna looked up at the sky in a daze. She should have gone down long ago. Just a little more. Just a little more. She clung to her foolish desire to win, and as a result, she ended up in this state.
Erna, giving up on the door she couldn't open, approached the dome's railing. The dizzying heights before her eyes made her feel dizzy, but she couldn't give up.
“There are still people here! Open the door! Please!”
She shouted at the top of her lungs, hoping that it might reach the people passing by below, but it was no use.
Erna, growing impatient, pulled out a handkerchief and leaned over the railing. But before she could properly call for help, the handkerchief was blown away by the wind. Trying to grab it, she nearly fell over the railing, screaming as she collapsed to the ground. Black snow, imprinted with countless footsteps, stained her dress, but she had no energy left to pay attention.
Erna, who had been trembling in a daze, finally managed to get up after a long time. Only when she returned to the bench where she had been sitting the entire time did she finally find the strength to breathe.
Erna crouched on the edge of the bench, gazing at the distant sky. White dots danced slowly across her tear-blurred vision. Only when the cold, soft touch touched her flushed cheek did Erna realize her unhappiness was not yet over.
It was snowing again. It was a lovely sleet.
“It turned out well, anyway.”
Erna tried to console herself with a tearful voice.
“I didn’t even want to look at it. I guess I won’t have to see it until tomorrow morning!”
If I can survive until tomorrow morning.
As a thought she didn't want to recall flashed through her mind, the hypocrisy that had not been so strong crumbled in an instant.
Erna, who had been looking around with eyes like a lost child, raised her dirty hands and covered her face. A heartbreaking sob, bursting through the white snow, began to permeate the air.
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