TSHL 16

Chapter 16

He hated it so much it made his skin crawl.
The family he’d once been so proud of had, in an instant, become a source of shame.
He had grown disgusted with everything about his life, and from that day on, he had lived steeped in anger.

But what he hated most of all was her—that woman’s attitude.

She had taken his mother’s place and behaved as though she truly were his mother, without the slightest trace of guilt.

How unbearably arrogant.
Who did she think she was to claim she could embrace him?
The thought alone was laughable.

She believed—truly believed—that if she kept reaching out to him, he would one day accept her.

That unshakable smile of hers, the one that always carried that same quiet confidence, used to suffocate him as a child.

That arrogance—her certainty that she could somehow replace Diana—
That same arrogance that made her think she could embrace him simply because she’d been his mother’s dearest friend—

Yes, he had hated her.
He had never once liked her since the day his mother died.

When he turned hostile toward her, his father had forced him into the knights’ order, as though banishing him.

But Ken hadn’t simply been sent away—he had escaped.
He had used the chance to flee the family that refused to hear him no matter how much he tried to speak.

There had been no communication left between them, so he had simply let go first.
That much, even now, hadn’t changed.

Before long, a man cloaked in a mantle—presumably the Third Prince—left the gallery.

Cassia, who had seen him off, slowly began tidying up the place on her own.
The sun was already dipping low, and by the time she finally stepped outside, Ken was still standing there, lost in thought.

When Cassia turned back, sensing something behind her as she locked the door, Ken hid himself behind a tree.

She tilted her head slightly, then closed up the shop and began walking away, probably back toward her home.

“Really…”
Ken crossed his arms and leaned against the roadside tree, watching her retreating figure.

“…what a joke.”

Then he turned and started walking the other way.
He still didn’t like her. Not one bit.

The next day—the gallery’s day off—was especially bright and clear.
I was heading somewhere.

Bathed in the brilliant sunlight, I sat in the carriage, watching the scenery pass by.
Unlike the enclosed carriages used by nobles, this rural one was open, perfect for taking in the view.
The horses moved at a slow, leisurely pace, adding to the calm.

Clip-clop, clip-clop.
The rhythmic sound of hooves echoed pleasantly in the air.

The scenery along the road was as beautiful as ever—wildflowers swaying in the breeze, trees casting long shadows across open fields, and the gentle, warm country wind brushing softly against my face.

All of it led me gently into distant memories.

When the carriage stopped, I got out, and it rolled away without me.
The sound of hooves faded into the distance.
Lifting my head, I found myself before a grand mansion standing solitary against the sky.

…Nothing has changed here.

On the outskirts of Laurencia stood the Allison family’s seaside villa—
the very place Diana and I used to visit together as children.

I had always thought that, once seven years had passed, I would come visit her—at least once.
It would have been nice to go to her grave before leaving the ducal estate, but I suppose things had been too hectic then for me to think of it.

So, I decided this would have to do.

Maybe I had finally found the courage only after all this time.

I gently pushed the gate, and it creaked open.

As I stepped into the yard, the neatly trimmed grass formed a path leading me forward.
Though the villa must rarely be used now, its upkeep suggested the count’s household still maintained it.

Beyond the fence surrounding the yard, the vast sea spread out before me.

“…Haah.”
I let out a long breath.
The wind, fierce yet not cold, whipped my skirt into the air.

The sea in front of the villa was just as it had been years ago—grand and deep.
Sunlight spilled like jewels over the dark blue waves.

When I was young, the sea here had always seemed dazzling and beautiful.

“Cassia, shall we go to our family’s villa again this weekend?”
“But we went last week—can we go again?”
“Of course! If you want to. You love the view of the sea from there, don’t you?”

I could still picture Diana’s warm smile and hear her gentle voice.

The Allison estate wasn’t far from here.
As children, Diana and I had come here often—before she’d fallen in love, she’d spent nearly all her time with me.
Her parents, the late Count and Countess Allison, had always welcomed me kindly.

They had passed away not long after Diana did—
their grief over losing their beloved daughter must have swallowed their once-vigorous lives whole.

The last time I saw them was at Diana’s grave, where they had hugged and comforted me through tears.
Though I was a commoner by birth, they had treated me with nothing but warmth for being Diana’s friend.
They had been like another family to me.

This place was filled with those memories—and now, I was the only one left to remember them.

“Have you been well?”
The sky above the brilliant blue sea was clear and bright.
Looking up at the drifting clouds, I began to speak.

“Your children have all grown up now. They’re of age to hold titles of their own. I… I protected them for you, Diana.”

The sky, dotted with clouds, said nothing, and I went on.

“They’re all doing well, so you don’t have to worry.
Nick is still shy, but he’s grown into a fine young man.
Your husband hasn’t changed much either.
They all still miss you sometimes… but I think they’ve finally begun to move past their grief.”

A complicated wave of emotions welled up inside me, and I paused before speaking again.

“…Honestly, I’m not sure I ever lived up to the role of duchess the way you hoped I would.”

A faint, rueful laugh escaped me.

“I was never really close with the family.
My relationship with the duke was distant, and I even hurt Ken at times.
Nick… he couldn’t accept me easily either.
The duke, being an adult, managed fine, but the children… they were harder.
Still, I tried my best…”

Feeling awkward, I scratched my head, then lowered my gaze—before lifting it again.

Silence stretched between me and the sea.
At last, I spoke once more.

“And there’s something I wanted to ask you… about that diary you left behind.”

I looked up toward the brilliant sky.

“You really did think of me when you wrote it, didn’t you?”

Still, no answer came.
Smiling faintly, I went on.

“To be honest, sometimes I felt a little hurt.
During hard times—when being the duchess felt impossible—I couldn’t help but wonder.”

After all, Diana had left me that last request on purpose.
She’d left her diary in my room, with her final plea written within.

It had been my choice to fulfill it, but sometimes I couldn’t help wondering what she had truly felt in her final moments.

“…Still, I’ve tried to think of it kindly. Because… we’re friends, right?”

No matter what, I couldn’t believe our friendship had ever been false.
The Diana I’d grown up with—her laughter, her kindness—those could never have been lies.

The memories we built, our little world that was joyful no matter what others said—
The emotions we shared in that world were too real to deny.

I lifted my gaze toward the sky.

“How is it there? You’re living well now, aren’t you—free from pain?”

Diana—my dear, gentle friend who always smiled so warmly at me.
She had been the sunlight itself, a light that I thought would shine beside me forever.

“…I miss you. So very much.”

I smiled toward the sky.
The clouds gleamed brightly, and the sunlight shone even warmer that day.

It was weather that suited her perfectly.

I don’t know how much time had passed when I finally lowered my head again.
It felt like I’d said everything I needed to.

“…Strange. I can’t cry.”

Had my emotions dried up?
I let out a bitter laugh as I looked down.

Tears weren’t everything—but I’d thought that after seven years, after fulfilling every one of Diana’s wishes, I’d at least be able to cry honestly.

From the funeral until now, not a single tear had fallen.
How could I not cry over the death of such a precious friend?

Even I couldn’t understand myself.

I kicked at a few pebbles, then looked once more toward the vast, blue sea.
After taking in the sight one last time, I turned to leave—

—and then I heard a familiar voice.

“Cassia?”

It had been so long since I’d heard it, yet I recognized it instantly.
My head turned slowly toward the sound.

Standing before me was a man I knew well.

“…Michael?”

It was Diana’s brother—Count Allison.