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Chapter 23
Time passed, and finally, the day of departure arrived.
It was the morning the head of the household was leaving on a long journey, yet the mansion’s atmosphere was no different than usual.
Still, the servants’ voices were quieter than the day before, and even Antoine, who usually fussed over every minute of sleep, had woken early without complaint.
“Ugh… I’m so sleepy, sister…”
“Very sleepy? You can nap a little more in the carriage.”
“Mm… but why do we have to leave so early?”
Camille, dressing the half-asleep Antoine as he nodded off on his feet, explained.
“We need to set sail in time for high tide. To get from the mansion to the port on schedule, we have to leave now.”
“What’s high tide?”
“It’s when the moon pulls and releases, playing tug-of-war with the waves.”
Antoine’s eyes cleared slightly at the mention, perhaps remembering the recent tussle with the puppy in the stables.
I couldn’t help but chuckle quietly at how he reacted to the mention of a puppy.
Once ready and outside the mansion, the carriage was being loaded with luggage.
“Be careful not to break anything!”
“Out at sea, even an item more precious than gold! If a single jar breaks, you’ll regret it!”
The servants carefully handled the boxes full of preserves, their movements even more deliberate at the frightening warning.
Finally, everything was ready.
“Master, please return safely!”
“Make sure you come back unharmed!”
“Don’t worry about the mistress, Miss, or Master!”
Amid the servants’ farewells, the carriage slowly began to move.
I rested my head against Father’s arm and eventually drifted off to sleep.
Moments later, a shaking hand woke me, and I opened my eyes, still groggy.
I had wanted to look at Father’s face just a little longer, but sleep had quietly taken over.
When the salty wind brushed my nose and I looked outside, it wasn’t the green meadow I expected—it was the vast ocean.
“Wow…!”
I gasped involuntarily at the breathtaking sight before me.
Sunlight shattered across the cobalt waves, scattering in a thousand directions over the crests.
At the pier stretching like rays toward the sea, a massive sailing ship waited, sails furled like a swan at rest, ready for its next voyage.
The ship was so huge that the people walking between its hull and the dock looked like tiny ants.
Strong, energetic sailors. Merchants buzzing with excitement over anticipated profits. Spectators with wide eyes, taking in the unfamiliar spectacle.
This was the Loire’s largest trading port: Port Nanterre.
I noticed that all the workers wore the same blue trousers and smiled.
Wow… that’s a lot of pairs. Father must have made a lot of money.
“Since we have a little time before departure, shall we take a look around the shopping district? There are lots of things you can’t see in an ordinary market—it’ll be fun.”
“You’re going to visit the market? I’m not so sure about that…”
Mother frowned, troubled, recoiling from the smells and dirt. Understandable, given her pale complexion, already faintly sickly.
I worried she might collapse…
“Are you really okay? There’s Guillaume’s building nearby; we could rest there. You can also see imported goods there.”
“That sounds good… a warm cup of tea will help.”
Even saying that seemed to require effort, as she leaned her head against Father’s shoulder and closed her eyes.
Under an atmosphere as heavy as a ship’s anchor, the carriage headed for Uncle Guillaume’s trading house.
Inside the trading house were members of his family.
Well, just Felix, really.
Spotting me, Felix immediately wore a grim expression, but when he saw Mother being helped down from the carriage by Father, he quietly shut his mouth.
With Mother in such a state, I had no choice but to admire the port view while waiting, when Felix spoke to me quietly.
“…Hey.”
If you’re looking for trouble, go on. I’m not in the mood to play.
“Is the Marquise… okay?”
Had he learned to worry about others? That was quite the improvement.
“She’ll be fine.”
“…How can you be sure?”
“I asked Uncle to prepare herbs to cure her illness. So… she’ll be fine.”
“Oh. I worried for nothing, then.”
“What?”
Scratch that. Just because something comes out of your mouth doesn’t mean it’s true, Felix.
“You’re lucky to have a mother.”
Felix’s blunt words made my heart drop.
Now I understood why he had been concerned for someone else.
“Our father is the finest merchant in the Loire. Herbs? He’ll bring back more than enough on the ship, so don’t worry.”
Seeing Felix so confident, I finally felt at ease.
Yes. Mother would be fine.
After all, that’s why he came back.
“You’ll return safely, right?”
“Of course. My final place is by your side. Arms, legs, eyes, ears, nose, mouth—nothing will be harmed. I swear I will return safely.”
As sobs of parting echoed around us, Father and Mother shared a final kiss.
“Father…”
“Adele, Antoine, listen to your mother and stay strong.”
“Papa, will it be ten nights before you return?”
“…Yes. I’ll return after ten nights. I’ll bring a big gift too.”
“Ugh… promise… sniff. Hoo… promise! Waaah…!”
Antoine finally burst into tears.
Yes, my little brother has done well holding it in this long.
Once all the formalities were complete and Father finally boarded the ship, the sailors pulled away the gangway.
The anchor, embedded deep in the water, surfaced, and the last rope connecting port to ship was released. The vessel stretched into the sea, cutting the water like a living thing.
Then it happened.
Mother, like a tree with roots ripped from the ground, collapsed forward.
“Mother!”
“Eléonore!”
Father’s arm, waving toward us from the deck, froze rigid.
Pale, he gave orders to the sailors, but the ship already underway could not be stopped.
Then something unbelievable occurred.
“Eléonore!!”
Splash!
“Someone’s in the water!”
“No, he jumped!”
Father had fallen from the ship—or rather, had jumped!
“F…Father…?”
“Eléonore! Argh… ugh… cough… pfah…”
He flailed his arms desperately. Was he really trying to swim all the way here?
“You fool! You can’t even swim—are you crazy?”
Uncle Guillaume—what did you say?
“Ugh, sa… save… not me, Elé… gulp…”
Despite swimming energetically, Father sank into the water.
The last air bubbles, once rising steadily, gradually became sparse until nothing surfaced at all.
No, Fatherrr!
