ITHTJ 47

Chapter : 47

Those Who Hide Secrets (9)

Eclipse, who had been watching me quietly, spoke to me.

“Bloomhire.”

“Yes!”

“This mountain is a place where beasts are frequently sighted. It’s not exactly suitable for a stroll. Next time, it would be better to find a safer location.”

Ah. Now that he mentioned it, that was true.

I voiced the question that had crossed my mind.

“Your Grace, if it wouldn’t be rude, may I ask you something?”

Of course, I asked for permission first.

Instead of answering, Eclipse nodded.

“I was wondering why Lady Stella’s memorial was built on a mountain peak like this. As Your Grace said, beasts appear here……”

“……”

“I’m sorry. That was probably an impertinent question……”

As I gauged his reaction, my voice trailed off on its own.

According to Eclipse, this place was a dangerous area where wild animals roamed.

‘There are clear signs that people come here regularly. If it’s being managed so diligently, wouldn’t it be better to build it somewhere closer?’

No matter how I thought about it, there was no need to place a memorial in such a remote spot.

I had asked because it wasn’t mentioned in the original story, but—

‘Given the nature of the question, I can’t help but be cautious.’

If he scolded me for asking something like this as a mere teacher, I’d have nothing to say in my defense.

Just as I was thinking I might have touched a nerve—

“This flower only grows at high altitudes.”

“…Pardon?”

An unexpected answer came back.

‘So the reason the memorial is here was because of that flower?’

My gaze shifted to the small flowers surrounding the gravestone.

Looking closely, their layered, tiny petals were so translucent they looked as if they had absorbed water.

“Do you mean these sky-blue flowers?”

“That’s right.”

Eclipse nodded.

“At first, I thought the same as you. I planned to build the memorial somewhere closer so I could visit often.”

Seems like people all think alike.

But to have that plan completely overturned because of flowers…

‘Just what are they, exactly?’

They were pretty, sure—but were they really that important?

It felt like they could have just used a different flower.

“Then one day, I remembered something the late Grand Duke once said. That my sister loved these flowers the most. That’s why he planted them all around Everett’s graveyard……”

Ah. I retract what I just thought. They’re extremely important.

‘I’m sorry for speaking without knowing anything!’

Feeling ashamed, I shut my mouth.

Eclipse, his eyes lowered, continued in a bitter tone.

“These flowers won’t even sprout at lower elevations. That’s why they had to be planted here. The Everett barony lies halfway up a mountain, so this was the closest environment that matched it.”

“I… I see.”

I failed to realize such an important fact…!

I promise I’ll never jump to conclusions again. I’m truly sorry!

I repented repeatedly in my heart.

Turning his head away from me, he gazed silently at the small flowers.

“When I brought these flowers here, I received Jade’s help.”

I didn’t expect the name of the tower master to come up here.

For a moment, I felt an odd mix of familiarity and uncertainty.

“Even that man, who was always unpredictable, was quiet that day. In fact, he was surprisingly dignified—unlike his usual self.”

Just what did Eclipse think of Jade, exactly?

‘Even so, surely he can read the atmosphere, Your Grace……’

Jade might be strange, but he wouldn’t behave recklessly in front of the dead, right?

That said, I myself had been surprised by how sensible Jade had been, so I had nothing to argue with.

‘If he brought them with Jade’s help… that means they used teleportation magic.’

Earlier, Eclipse had said he couldn’t go to the Everett barony himself because it was too far.

So instead, he had built the memorial on the hill behind the estate and planted the flowers Stella loved around it.

‘Teleportation magic… I’ve never used it, but I know the theory.’

Teleportation magic was among the highest-tier spells, difficult even to attempt without immense magical power.

‘Someone like Jade probably uses it as naturally as breathing.’

In any case, it was magic someone like me—a commoner—would never have a reason to use.

But then—

“That was the last time I saw my sister. After that, I only thought vaguely that someday I’d see her again. Someday, surely……”

“……”

“That was already five years ago.”

Seeing Eclipse speak with such resignation, a thought suddenly occurred to me.

‘Should I try it?’

His use of the word someday lingered in my mind.

He was probably referring to after handing over the Grand Duke title to Lynette.

‘The Eclipse in the original story must have thought the same. Unfortunately, that day never came……’

Thinking of him leaving the world with an unfulfilled wish made my eyes burn.

I discreetly wiped at the corners of my eyes with my sleeve.

My pity for Eclipse seemed to grow stronger with each passing day.

‘Alright. Let’s do this.’

I didn’t know whether it would succeed, but there was nothing to lose.

If it worked, great. If not, I’d at least earn some points.

Having made up my mind, I called out to him.

“Your Grace.”

He turned to look at me.

His neatly groomed hair fluttered lightly in the breeze.

Beneath lowered lashes, eyes like clear glass marbles reflected the light.

“What is it?”

“Well, um… I mean…”

“…?”

Was it just my imagination? Today, Eclipse looked especially forlorn.

Even his large frame seemed pitiful.

People often compared someone as cold and imposing as him to a black panther—but to me, he looked like a trembling kitten that had lost its mother—

…Wait. A kitten?

‘Have I lost my mind? What is wrong with me?’

If anyone else heard that, I’d be laughed at without mercy.

‘Get it together, Elsie Bloomhire! Stop thinking nonsense and focus on your duty!’

Ugh, what is this mess of emotions, seriously?!

Trying to calm myself, I pressed both palms firmly against my cheeks.

Watching me, Eclipse tilted his head in confusion.

“Bloomhire?”

No—now even that looks like a kitten!

‘What do I do? Is this some kind of infatuation? No matter what, this is too much!’

My head spun with absurd thoughts.

Overwhelmed by the sudden rush of emotions, my thinking short-circuited.

I squeezed my eyes shut and blurted it out.

“I’ll send you to Lady Stella’s side!”

“Huh? What did you just say—?”

Eclipse stared at me, eyes wide with shock.

I was just as shocked myself.

I meant send you to Everett, but even to my own ears, the wording sounded off.

‘Saying that in front of a grave makes it sound like I’m sending you to the afterlife too……! Sh-should I correct myself now?’

At that moment, the soldiers who had been quietly watching erupted into murmurs.

“What did she just say? She’ll send His Grace to Lady Stella’s side?”

“Is that a declaration of war?”

The atmosphere among the guards instantly turned hostile.

Some of them looked ready to draw their swords at any moment.

Cold sweat beaded along the back of my neck as the air grew tense.

‘See?! Everyone misunderstood!’

Why is everyone looking at me like I’m a traitor?!

No, everyone! That’s not it!

How could someone like me dare lay a hand on the Grand Duke’s sacred body?!

‘I’m someone whose dream is to earn a salary under this man for the rest of my life! How could I possibly try to harm him?!’

Frantically waving both hands, I rushed to explain.

“No, no! That’s not what I meant! I meant sending His Grace to the Everett barony! This isn’t treason!”

“Oh. That’s what you meant?”

“Right. She wouldn’t say something like that outright unless she had a death wish.”

As I explained at full volume, the soldiers’ hostile mood visibly eased.

They relaxed their stances and began whispering among themselves.

“By the way, Everett—isn’t that where His Grace’s sister rests?”

“Sounds like it.”

“But how would they get there at this hour? Even leaving now, it’d take over two weeks.”

“No idea. She must have a method if she said that.”

Thankfully, it seemed the misunderstanding had been cleared up.

Having barely salvaged the situation, I let out a long breath and wiped my chest in relief.

When I glanced sideways, Eclipse’s expression seemed to say, Go on. Explain properly.

Eager to meet his expectations, I quickly spoke.

“If we use teleportation magic, we can go right now.”