Chapter 39
It was the first time I saw Cassis’ red eyes properly. Ruby-like eyes that sparkle in the sunlight pouring in through the windows.
‘Pretty.’
Is it because I always look at them with contempt or indifference? It was refreshing to see Cassis, who was emotionless, surprised.
It was new, but…
“E-Eve! Are you okay?”
Evelia came to her senses at Ruth’s voice coming from behind.
Perhaps it was the same for Cassis, as he controlled his expression and instinctively let go of her waist that he had hugged.
Evelia quickly went to her seat and sat down.
“I, I’m… sorry. I didn’t do that on purpose.”
“…….”
Normally, I would have grumbled to myself, asking him if he was okay. But I was out of my mind right now, so I didn’t even think about that.
Evelia only looked out the window and touched her lips to avoid Cassis’ gaze.
I felt like I could still feel Cassis’ breath pouring over my lips.
A creepy feeling that makes your back goosebumps and your fur stand on.
‘It wasn’t that bad.’
Evelia thought absentmindedly, then shook her head.
‘Forget it, forget it.’
From then on, she persevered every time the carriage shook. Thanks to that, the unexplained feelings that had been captivating her disappeared before she knew it.
*****
The place where Evelia lived as a child was a small village on the coast. As soon as I got off the carriage, I saw a wide expanse of emerald sea.
“Wow.”
Ruth, who had only seen the sea in books, was very excited. The child, who didn’t know what brought them here today, asked cautiously.
“E-Eve. Can I go see the sea?”
Evelia smiled brighter on purpose to hide her bitter feelings.
“I have a place to stop by. Let’s just stop there and go see the sea.”
“Okay!”
Evelia unconsciously placed her hand on Ruth’s head and then lowered it. Then she turned at Cassis.
“Then shall we go?”
She unfolded the small map Samuel had given her and started walking. But soon the map was no longer needed.
‘I remember.’
Although it was my first time coming here in person, the memories of ‘Evelia’ remained. Although it changed slightly over time, the basic structure of the village was similar to what I remembered.
Evelia, who was walking ahead, became faster without realizing it.
‘He said it was in the cemetery.’
The cemetery was at the end of town. I knew where it was because I often went there with the village kids when I was young.
After quickly crossing the small village, we soon reached the entrance to the cemetery.
Ruth, who was chattering excitedly, fell silent when he saw the tombstones. The usually quick-witted child seemed to realize the purpose of coming here.
“Eve…”
The child’s face was grim as she moved closer to Evelia’s side. She squeezed the child’s hand once, then let go and looked for her mother’s tombstone.
Even without Samuel’s explanation, it wasn’t difficult to find the tombstone. This is because among the well-maintained tombstones, there was one that was particularly poorly maintained.
When I checked the name written on the tombstone, it was indeed Evelia’s mother.
Evelia looked down at the tombstone with a face filled with mixed emotions. Not only was the tombstone poorly maintained, but it also had cracks and breaks here and there, probably because they used cheap stones.
Even though she was not my biological mother, I felt bad.
Evelia closed her eyes and silence for a moment. Ruth, who had been following behind her, saw what she was doing next to him and closed his eyes.
Cassis, Logan, and Annie also took a moment to pray for the deceased’s rest.
Evelia didn’t know what to say to her dead mother as she closed her eyes.
She wasn’t really her daughter, and if she said anything, it would only be a deception.
So I just said, ‘I hope you won’t get sick and be happy there.’ and prayed for her peace.
After a moment of silence, Evelia opened her eyes and looked at Logan.
“Sir Logan.”
“Yes.”
“I want to make a new tombstone for my mother. Is that possible?”
“Of course it’s possible. I will also hire someone to manage it.”
“Thank you.”
Evelia smiled slightly and then wiped the tombstone with a handkerchief.
“Miss, I will do it.”
Annie, who also followed, took the handkerchief and began wiping the tombstone.
Even though there was no way the old stain could be removed with just a handkerchief, Annie worked hard to wipe it away, even blowing on it.
‘I’ve done my job.’
I hope the real Evelia can be satisfied. With that thought, she turned around.
“Eve.”
Ruth, who had quickly disappeared somewhere, held out a bouquet of flowers. Because it was made from small wild flowers, the bouquet was plain rather than flashy.
“This.”
“What’s this?”
“That….”
Ruth looked at the tombstone and tapped the ground with his toe.
“I wanted to give it to Eve’s mother….”
Evelia looked at the child’s white fingertips, which were now covered in grass, and then hugged Ruth.
It was strange. My mind, which had been calm until I saw my mother’s tombstone, was shaken by the child’s actions.
Only then did I realize it. I realized that I saw a family in the dead ‘Evelia’s mother’ that I would never see again.
My father, stepmother, and half-siblings. I loved them, even though they would never give me their hearts.
“Thank you.”
Evelia received a bouquet of flowers from Ruth and placed them in front of the tombstone. This flower was given to ‘Evelia’s mother’ and at the same time to her family that exists somewhere out there.
“Thank you so much, young master.”
And today, Evelia finally decided to shake off the past and live as ‘Evelia Adelhard’.
Maybe my second life wasn’t so bad after all.
*****
After visiting the cemetery, the three headed to the sea. Ruth took off his shoes and dipped his feet in the sea water, despite Evelia’s comment that the sea water was still cold.
Even though the child shivered at the cold water that touched his toes, he called to Evelia.
“Eve! The sea is so cold!”
“That’s because it’s still early summer. Don’t go too deep.”
“Yes!”
Evelia sat on the sand wearing the parasol Annie gave her. While Annie walked over to Ruth and made sure he didn’t get hurt
Cassis stood a little away from Evelia and looked at the sea.
At that time, Logan, who had gone to look for accommodations, approached him with a somewhat perplexed look.
“Duke.”
“What’s the matter, didn’t you find a place to stay?”
“No, I did, but…”
Logan’s gaze fell on Evelia and then dropped.
“I could only get one.”
“One?”
“Yes.”
He continued to explain.
“There is no inn here. So I looked for a spare room and I could only find one.”
“So all five of us are sleeping together?”
Logan was startled by Evelia’s question and waved his hand.
“How can we do that? Annie and I can just sleep in each carriage. We can camp out.”
“But…”
“The problem is that the three of you will have to sleep in one.”
Evelia, finally realizing what was bothering Logan, looked at Cassis in surprise. Cassis also stiffened his face, probably in embarrassment.
Evelia asked on his behalf.
“So, the Duke, Young master, and me? All at once?”
“Yes, it is.”
Logan added like a confession.
“By the way, there is only one bed.”
Evelia was so shocked that she couldn’t speak.
‘Three people in one bed?’
It was a situation that took my breath away just imagining it. Sleeping with Ruth is fine, but sharing a room with Cassis. It was nonsense.
“Then I’d rather go camping with Annie….”
It was Cassis, not Logan, who answered that question.
“That’s not possible. I’d rather camp.”
“But Duke, will you be okay?”
“Why not?”
Logan didn’t refute any more and kept his mouth shut. It seemed to him that if anyone had to camp, it should be Cassis, not Evelia.
“All right. I will prepare like that.”
Evelia tried to protest, but couldn’t say anything due to Cassis’ expression.
So Evelia and Ruth slept in the room, and the other three went camping.
