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Chapter: 5
The man I had only thought was missing was standing right in front of me. And yet, no one else seemed to realize he was the person who had gone missing.
How could someone know a person was missing if no one even knew who that person was? And if others didn’t recognize him, how did I know him?
It was the kind of situation that would require a long explanation—one that would make anyone who heard it frown and ask countless questions.
I was no different. It was astonishing that I was the only one who could recognize him when no one else could, so I stared at him for quite a while.
“Soon, a joint funeral date will be announced.”
That was the last thing he had said to me after receiving various forms of assistance at the Navy Headquarters, before we parted ways.
“Is it okay for you to be out and about like this?”
I asked him a somewhat foolish question. The young duke’s brow furrowed slightly.
“I don’t see any reason why I shouldn’t be.”
“Well… still, the naval personnel will recognize you, sir.”
He did not answer. Feeling slightly awkward for no reason, I lowered my head and began rambling on with things I didn’t need to say.
“Ah… I came here to look for a job. Fortunately, there was still an opening, so I’ve arranged to go for an interview in a week. At the Russell Marquess—”
Suddenly, he grabbed my shoulder and pulled me back, cutting off my words.
Startled by the abrupt action, I looked up at him blankly. From behind us, I heard the grumbling voice of a middle-aged man.
“Hey, why are you standing right in the way of the entrance?”
His tone was full of irritation. Lowering the hand he had raised in the air, he clicked his tongue.
“Looks like that’s your girlfriend—take better care of her! Next time, I won’t be so forgiving!”
With that, he shot me a glance and strode into the post office.
I had almost been shoved aside. I swallowed hard, staring at the sharp edge of something nearby.
It was the first time I had ever been treated like that.
Musen—the city known for being pleasant and peaceful. A city where most people were kind and relaxed.
I was witnessing with my own eyes that that reputation was beginning to crack.
Gathering my shaken composure, I spoke.
“…Thank you.”
Once at the harbor, once at Navy Headquarters, and now at the post office.
For some reason, I kept owing him favors.
I gave an awkward smile and continued.
“I must have said too many unnecessary things. You must be busy, so you should go—”
“This doesn’t seem like a suitable place for a conversation.”
He cut me off in a low voice.
“…Pardon?”
I frowned slightly and looked up at the young duke. Was he saying he wanted to continue talking with me?
“Didn’t you have business at the post office?”
“It wasn’t anything important. So where was it you said you found a job? I don’t think I heard you correctly.”
The young duke, wearing a refined smile, extended his hand to me. I looked at his large hand in confusion, then instinctively took it. He gently guided me forward with steady force.
What was this about? Why was he so interested in my job?
Even after leaving the post office and walking for quite some time, I still couldn’t find an answer. Then I suddenly remembered what he had asked and quickly replied,
“I haven’t actually found a job yet. I’m going for an interview in a week. At the Russell Marquess estate.”
I felt his arm, where my hand rested, stiffen for a brief moment. He stopped walking.
“The Russell Marquess estate… do you mean in Bœln?”
“Yes. The pay conditions are good.”
“I see. I wouldn’t recommend it.”
“If it’s because of the old lady Russell’s strict personality…”
As I tried to continue speaking—
“Official notice!”
Someone shouted from the direction of the square. The voice was urgent. Both of us turned toward the source of the sound at the same time.
“A notice has been issued by the military! Please review it!”
In an instant, my expression darkened.
A military-issued notice would mean the date for the joint funeral of the fallen soldiers.
It was a bleak Wednesday, with snowflakes drifting softly through the air.
The joint funeral for the fallen was held.
Together with surviving soldiers and the families of the deceased, we mourned my father and the others who had lost their lives.
I was standing beside my father’s coffin, placed in a deep grave, throwing lilies when someone approached me.
There was only one person here who would come to stand beside my father and me.
Johannes Schultz.
But I didn’t have the strength to acknowledge him. I simply stood there, absentmindedly continuing to toss lilies.
After some time, he—who I had assumed would remain silent—spoke.
“Sergeant Prim and I were close.”
“……”
“I thought it was time to convey the message he left behind.”
I stopped my hand from throwing lilies and drew a breath. I couldn’t respond. My breathing came out unevenly. My eyelids trembled, so I squeezed my eyes shut.
Soon, his calm voice flowed into my ears, carried by the wind.
“He said he truly loved you.”
I gripped the hem of my skirt tightly. My entire body trembled, and my fingertips turned pale.
“He asked me to tell you not to be too sad and to live happily, and that one day, you would meet again.”
“……”
“That is what he wanted conveyed.”
Though I had not seen it myself, I could imagine how my father’s final moments must have been.
Tears kept threatening to spill, so I lowered my head.
I wanted to ask what illness my father had died from, what his final moments were like.
Those questions rose to the tip of my throat, but I couldn’t bring myself to ask them for fear that I would break down in tears.
Biting my lip tightly to hold back tears was all I could do.
‘Meet again?’
Such a miraculous thing would never happen. My father had passed away.
We could never meet again.
“I sincerely offer my condolences.”
His low voice pressed down on me. It felt as though he was telling me it was time to let my father go.
Staring at the lilies piled high over the coffin, I slowly closed my eyes.
I had thought I had already shed all the tears I had, but it seemed there were still many left.
In the end, I burst into tears again—this time in front of Johannes Schultz.
Only after my eyes became so swollen that I could barely open them did I stop crying. Before I knew it, the military cemetery was empty.
The sun was setting in the west, casting a reddish glow across the sky. Under that crimson sky, the man stood there.
“I’m sorry. I don’t know why I always end up acting so disgracefully whenever you’re around, sir.”
I moved aside the black veil covering my eyes and wiped them with the handkerchief he handed me. Schultz quietly shook his head, signaling that it was alright.
“I heard that you lived alone with your father. I also heard you studied pharmacology.”
I looked up at him in surprise.
“Did my father tell you that much? I see… you must have been quite close.”
He nodded calmly.
It was a relief that my father had someone he was close to, even on the battlefield. At least he hadn’t been alone.
As a faint smile appeared on my lips, he spoke, still gazing at my father’s coffin.
“Though it may be presumptuous of me, I do not recommend the Russell marquess family.”
“If it’s because of the old lady’s strict nature, I appreciate the concern, but I’ve already made my decision.”
“No. It will be difficult for you to live in a foreign place. I would like to offer you something more practical from my side.”
Practical help? Was he taking pity on me?
Without realizing it, I frowned and turned toward him. He also turned to face me.
“If this is out of pity for me, I’ve already received enough help.”
“Pity… that is a plausible reason.”
“Pardon?”
There was still no emotion in the young duke Schultz’s eyes.
“I’m sorry, but that’s not it. I cannot simply ignore the daughter of someone who has helped me greatly, and as it happens, I’ve found a suitable job nearby.”
Nearby? A job offer certainly piqued my interest. But it felt awkward to show it immediately, so I pretended indifference and asked,
“Where is it?”
Looking back now, I wonder if this might have been his first proposal.
With eyes tinged by the sunset, the young duke made a suggestion to me.
“Would you consider taking on the duties of the Schultz ducal house, Miss Prim?”
