RBAR 11

Chapter 11

Several days passed.

Whether Killian had been visiting the house quite often, the sales increased, word of mouth spread, and the number of visitors grew.

But I wasn’t in the office—I was in a carriage.
Today was Stella’s death anniversary.

‘I should thank Stella… for the necklace too.’

Since I had been practically confined within the ducal estate, the funeral had been the first and last time I visited Stella’s grave.

After riding for a while, the carriage arrived at a quiet lakeside.

‘Stella’s grave… I’m sure they said it was near Lake Nepheli.’

I wandered around the lake, recalling the funeral. The lake was so vast that it was hard to find the grave.

Then, I noticed a carriage from the Edmond family parked nearby and instinctively hid myself.

‘No way…’

As expected, I saw Reinhardt stepping out of the carriage. It seemed he hadn’t forgotten Stella’s anniversary either.

But he wasn’t alone.

Elisa was with him.

For a moment, I felt something strange, and though I almost stayed hidden, I changed my mind.

‘It’s better to just follow them.’

They must have come here for the same reason as me.

If I followed them, I’d easily find Stella’s grave.

Not a bad situation.

I quietly trailed behind them, making sure not to make a sound.

The area around Lake Nepheli in winter was cloudy and silent, just as its name suggested. Few people visited—it felt desolate.

‘Why would Stella want to be buried in a place like this?’

I couldn’t understand why someone who loved people would choose such a lonely place.

Because of that quiet, I could hear Elisa and Reinhardt’s conversation even from a distance.

“Reinhardt, is something wrong?”

Walking beside him, Elisa tilted her head.

“…No.”

His flat tone sounded almost cold.

He wasn’t this blunt when he was younger… I recalled his past.

Then Elisa spoke again.

“It’s quite cold, isn’t it?”

Haa…

She breathed warm air into her hands. The white breath rose like clouds before dissipating.

Watching her, Reinhardt took off his coat and held it out.

“Wear this.”

“Ah… then I’d feel too bad. You’ll be cold too…”

“It’s fine.”

He shook his head and placed it over her shoulders. Elisa watched him, her face slightly flushed.

‘What a sight.’

I scoffed inwardly.

Seeing them suddenly reminded me of something from long ago at Lake Nepheli.

‘Sorry… I ruined it.’

A young boy’s voice echoed vividly.

In his hands was a clumsily made flower bracelet.

‘You should at least give your fiancée a pretty gift!’

At Stella’s urging, Reinhardt had reluctantly made it.

I clearly remembered how he handed me the shabby bracelet, blushing in embarrassment.

I burst out laughing at the sight.

Stella teased him, saying he looked like a ripe tomato.

‘I’ll make you a proper one next time.’

His shy voice, meant only for me, faded into nothing like an illusion.

‘Back then… we were at least good friends.’

Reinhardt and I had been bound by engagement since childhood, but there hadn’t been much affection.

‘Neither of us were particularly warm personalities.’

Still, it wasn’t a cold or empty relationship either.

That was only possible because Stella stood between us as a buffer.

A relationship held together by Stella.

Without her, it collapsed this easily.

‘…Truly, your existence is detestable.’

Now, only his icy expression and sharp tone remained in my memory.

A bitter taste lingered in my mouth.

Soon, something that looked like a grave came into view.

Beyond a black fence stood a blue headstone—the color of the Adelheit family crest.

‘That must be Stella’s grave.’

“Stop hiding and come out now.”

At Reinhardt’s voice, I flinched and stopped.

‘He’s not talking to me, is he…?’

He was.

His gaze was fixed exactly on the tree I was hiding behind.

‘Well, he is a skilled knight.’

He wasn’t someone who would fail to notice a civilian like me.

‘I didn’t expect him to pretend otherwise anyway.’

Elisa, now noticing me, widened her eyes.

“Edith!”

She quickly approached me. I could feel Reinhardt’s stiff gaze on me.

From that expression, I understood why he hadn’t exposed me earlier.

He didn’t want to be seen arguing with me in front of Elisa.

“Have you been well? You suddenly left—I was so worried…”

Tears welled up in Elisa’s eyes.

Her performance looked so sincere that I was momentarily speechless.

Then she asked, raising her voice slightly:

“Did you… come to apologize to Stella?”

Reinhardt’s gaze turned to me.

That look stirred a strange defiance in me.

I wanted to crush their assumption—that I came here for that reason.

“No. Why would I?”

I tilted my head casually.

I was Stella’s real older sister—why would I need to apologize?

Elisa’s eyes widened.

“Edith…”

Her voice trembled as if shocked.

She was probably celebrating inside.

As expected, a cold voice cut in.

“Lady, there’s no need to continue this conversation.”

Reinhardt, now close, grabbed Elisa’s arm, though his gaze stayed on me.

If that look were fire, it would have burned me to ashes.

‘What is that look?’

It felt like he was looking at something shameless.

I didn’t care much when the Adelheit family looked at me that way—

but for some reason, it bothered me when it was Reinhardt.

Maybe because he was the only one who stayed by my side after Stella died.

Being looked at like that—as if I betrayed him—made it hard to stay indifferent.

‘You’re the one who left me the moment Elisa returned.’

I wanted to say it.

But I held back.

‘Humans change easily, after all.’

I buried those feelings and smiled calmly.

“Good thing we agree. I don’t feel the need to talk to you either.”

At my reply, he glared at me, lips pressed tight.

Then suddenly he spoke:

“Lady, would you wait by the grave first?”

“Y-Yes… please don’t take long.”

Elisa hesitated but walked away.

“Does someone so important have something to say to me privately?”

I shrugged at Reinhardt.

“Why did you come here? To mock the dead?”

We were nothing now.

Once bound on paper, now not even that.

His distant tone revealed everything.

“I’m not idle enough to mock someone.”

‘You’re not the only one with feelings. I have them too.’

How long did I have to endure others’ hostility?

Tilting my head, I spoke again:

“So you wanted to talk to me alone just to say that? Or do you still have feelings for me?”

“…Ha. Don’t be ridiculous.”

He looked down at me in disbelief.

His clear blue eyes contrasted with my darker ones.

‘I’m almost jealous.’

Maintaining such a gaze required a supportive environment—I had learned that much.

Being judged without knowing my situation—

I was used to it. But now, I was tired of it.

So, unlike myself, I continued:

“Right. Of course. You have Elisa now. You make a good pair—better than with me. I’m sure there’s already talk of engagement—”

Considering the political ties between the dukedoms, it wasn’t surprising.

I suddenly grabbed his hand.

He flinched.

Meeting his shaken eyes, I smiled brightly.

“Congratulations in advance—on your engagement.”

* * *

Standing alone before Stella’s grave, Elisa showed no trace of sadness.

“…Stella.”

A girl who shone like a star in the night sky.

…That was how she was known.

Strangely, Stella—who was kind to everyone—had subtly shown hostility toward her.

That had always bothered her.

Squatting before the grave, she whispered inwardly:

‘Thank you. Because you died… I got my chance.’

A deep, satisfied smile spread across her lips.

Hearing footsteps behind her, Elisa let tears fall.

She wiped them away and stood, forcing a smile.

“You’re back?”

“…Sorry for being late.”

“But… is something wrong?”

Seeing Reinhardt’s unusually flushed face, Elisa was startled.

She had never seen him this angry before.

His blue eyes, fixed on the grave, flickered coldly.

“I know this isn’t the right place to say this, but please understand.”

At his next words, Elisa’s eyes widened uncontrollably.

“Will you marry me, Elisa?”