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Chapter 05
The man I thought had gone missing was suddenly right in front of me. Yet no one seemed to realize that he was the missing person.
If no one knows him, how could they think he’s missing? And if no one else knows him, how do you know him?
It was the kind of situation that would require a long explanation. To someone unaware, countless questions would be fired, their brows furrowed in confusion.
I was no different. I was amazed that I alone recognized him while everyone else did not, and I stared at him for quite a while.
“Soon, the date for the joint funeral will be announced.”
I had received various help from him at the naval headquarters, and that had been the last thing he said before we parted.
“Is it really okay for you to be walking around like this?”
I asked him a rather foolish question. The young duke’s forehead creased slightly.
“I don’t see a reason why I shouldn’t.”
“No, but the navy officers would recognize you, Colonel.”
He didn’t answer. For some reason, he seemed a little embarrassed and lowered his head, then started speaking again, perhaps unnecessarily.
“Ah… I came to look for a job. Luckily, there’s still an opening, so I’m scheduled for an interview next week. At the Russell Marquess’s—”
Before he could continue, he suddenly tugged on my shoulder, making me lose my words.
Startled, I looked up at him, only to hear a middle-aged man grumbling behind us.
“Why are you blocking the entrance?”
His voice was full of irritation. He lowered his raised hand and clicked his tongue.
“Looks like that’s your lover—keep an eye on them! Don’t expect leniency next time!”
Then he scowled at me and strode into the post office.
I nearly got pushed over. I swallowed nervously as I stared at a sharp corner nearby.
It was treatment I had never experienced before.
Musén—a prosperous and peaceful city. A city where most people were kind and composed.
I was witnessing with my own eyes as that reputation slowly began to crumble.
I composed myself and said,
“…Thank you.”
Once at the harbor, once at the naval headquarters, and now at the post office.
For some reason, I kept ending up indebted to him. I forced a smile and continued,
“I probably said far too much unnecessary stuff. You must be busy, so you should—”
“This isn’t an appropriate place for a conversation.”
He interrupted me quietly.
“…Excuse me?”
I furrowed my brows and looked up at the young duke. Was he saying he wanted to talk with me here?
“Don’t you have business at the post office?”
“It’s not important. So… where did you say you were applying for a job? I don’t think I heard correctly.”
The young duke smiled gently and extended his hand. I stared at his large hand in surprise, then awkwardly held it. He led me along with just the right amount of strength.
What on earth… Why was he curious about my job?
Even after walking for a while, I couldn’t figure it out. Then I suddenly remembered his question and answered quickly.
“I haven’t gotten the job yet. I’m going for an interview in a week. At the Russell Marquess’s.”
I felt his arm stiffen slightly where my hand rested. He stopped walking.
“The Russell Marquess’s… you mean in Böln?”
“Yes. The pay is good.”
“Well. I wouldn’t recommend it.”
“If it’s because the Marquess’s lady is strict—”
Just as I was about to continue, someone shouted,
“Official document!”
The voice came urgently from the square. Both our gazes immediately turned toward the sound.
“The army has issued an official document. Please check it!”
His expression darkened instantly.
If it was an official document from the military, it would be the date of the joint funeral for the fallen soldiers.
Snowflakes swirled on that bleak Wednesday.
The joint funeral for the fallen soldiers was held.
Together with the surviving soldiers and the families of the deceased, I mourned my father—now gone—and the soldiers who had lost their lives.
I was tossing lilies next to my father’s coffin, which had been lowered into a deep grave, when someone approached me.
There was only one person who could stand beside me here.
Johannes Schultz.
But I didn’t have the energy to acknowledge him. I just kept tossing lilies, dazed.
After a long while, the man—whom I assumed would remain silent—spoke.
“He was close with Sergeant Prim.”
“….”
“I thought it’s time to pass on the final words he left behind.”
I stopped tossing lilies and took a breath. I couldn’t respond. My rough breaths came out in intervals. My eyelids trembled, and I squeezed them shut.
Then his calm voice carried on the wind to my ears.
“He really loved you.”
I gripped the edge of my skirt tightly. My whole arm trembled, my fingertips turning white.
“If you don’t mourn too deeply and live happily, someday you’ll meet again.”
“….”
“He asked me to convey this to you.”
Though I didn’t see it firsthand, I could guess how my father’s final moments had been.
Tears kept threatening to spill, and I bowed my head.
Exactly what illness took my father, what his final moments were like…
Those questions rose up my throat, but I couldn’t bring myself to ask.
Clenching my lips tightly to stop crying was all I could do.
“Someday I’ll meet him again?”
That miracle would never happen. My father was gone.
I would never see him again.
“I am truly sorry.”
His quiet voice pressed down on me. It felt like he was saying it was finally time to let my father go.
I closed my eyes as I gazed at the mound of lilies atop the coffin.
I thought I had shed all my tears, but apparently many remained.
Eventually, the tears came again—right in front of Johannes Schultz.
I couldn’t open my eyes properly until my crying subsided. By then, the military cemetery had emptied.
The sun set in the west, painting the sky with a crimson hue. Under that reddened sky, he was there.
“I’m sorry. I don’t know why I keep making a fool of myself only when the Colonel is around.”
I wiped my eyes with the handkerchief he handed me, removing the black veil that had been obscuring my vision. I nodded slightly, signaling that it was okay.
“I heard that you spent time with your father, and that you studied pharmacy.”
I looked up at him, surprised.
“My father actually said that? You were really close, weren’t you?”
He nodded quietly.
It was a relief that there was someone he was close to on the battlefield. At least he wasn’t lonely.
I faintly smiled, and he spoke while still staring at my father’s coffin.
“This may be presumptuous, but I wouldn’t recommend the Russell Marquess’s.”
“If it’s because the lady is strict, I appreciate your concern. I’ve already made my decision.”
“No, it will be hard to live far from here. I want to give you more practical help.”
Help… Was he pitying me?
I frowned unconsciously and turned to face him. He also turned to look at me.
“If it’s out of pity, that’s unnecessary—I’ve already received plenty of help.”
“Pity… that’s a reasonable reason, I suppose.”
“Yes?”
The young duke’s eyes still showed no emotion.
“I’m not pitying you. I can’t ignore the daughter of someone I’ve helped greatly, and conveniently, I know of a suitable job nearby.”
Nearby? A job offer did sound appealing. But I pretended not to be interested and asked casually.
“Where is it?”
Looking back now, perhaps this was his first proposal.
With eyes reflecting the sunset, the young duke made his suggestion.
“How about taking on the duties of the Schultz family, Miss Prim?”
