In total darkness, Estin moved aimlessly. It was incredibly dark, and there was no light to be seen.
Estin didn’t wonder where he was going or why he was here as he continued to walk endlessly. He just carried on his aimless stroll. Then he didn’t even ponder who he was.
His body was overcome by an unidentified helplessness, but he continued to move.
He didn’t even consider what might come out while walking or whether it was appropriate to just walk this way.
Tired.
Estin eventually stopped moving and fell to the ground. He desperately wanted to give up.
Just everything. He was unsure of what it was, but all he wanted to do was give everything up. His shoulders felt heavy.
He reasoned that if he let go of everything and gave up, he might feel a little better.
Then, out of nowhere, he sensed a presence in the shadows. Estin wasn’t even apprehensive about it. He was just standing there, staring blankly where he felt the presence. The presence then crept up on Estin gradually.
‘A kitten.’
The kitten had a red ribbon around its neck and was completely black. It appeared out of place in the situation Estin was in. Strangely enough, the little black cat was visible even in the darkness.
The kitten slowly walked up and rubbed its head against Estin’s hand. Without realizing it, Estin cautiously raised his finger and stroked the kitten’s head.
“Meow.”
The kitten began to purr softly at his touch. Next to Estin, the kitten kept meowing as if it were trying to communicate.
“Meow, meow.”
“You little thing is so loud,”
Estin, who had been listening to the kitten’s cries, spoke up for the first time. Even though a kitten cannot possibly comprehend human language, the kitten appeared to be upset. Still, the cat didn’t leave Estin’s side. It just kept purring and trying to make itself heard.
“I don’t understand a word you’re saying.”
He mumbled helplessly. He wished he knew what the cat at his side was saying.
Estin wondered if it was lonely.
The baby cat gently licked Estin’s palm as if she knew his heart. The cat’s tongue was said to be rough, but this one was soft and warm and tiny.
“Are you trying to tell me not to be lonely?”
Estin smiled. The baby cat meowed as if to agree.
“Meow.”
The kitten staggered back as if shocked as Estin teased her.
The small, round back of its head was so cute that Estin wanted to keep teasing it, but he held it in. He gently stroked the back of its head with his index finger.
When the baby cat looked back at Estin, her chubby cheeks were visible.
For a moment, he thought, “Is it okay to be so cute?” and scooped the kitten into his arms.
The cat offered no resistance. In fact, it was so comfortable in Estin’s arms, like it was where it belonged.
“It’s okay.”
“Meow, meow.”
“I’m really fine. It doesn’t hurt at all.”
And then the kitten stopped purring. The kitten’s black eyes seemed to be filled with tears.
“Shall we go a little further?”
With the kitten in his arms, Estin started walking again. His steps were a little lighter than before.
***
“It’s not fair. Rex has blonde hair, not black like the rest of us.”
I couldn’t think of anything to say in response to Tia Bluea’s whining.
I remembered the first time Rex had come to the Grand Ducal House and spoken to me, and how he had burst into tears when I complimented his blonde hair.
I knew that Duke Bluea himself was a man with a lot of scars over his hair color, but to do this to his own children…
I no longer felt like having tea with Tia. I tried to be as calm as I could.
“Anyway, Rex is a child who was abandoned because he didn’t have black hair.”
“Yes?”
“I sincerely hope you don’t tell Rex that.”
Tia appeared perplexed by my scathing remarks.
“Rex is my little brother.”
“Aren’t I your younger sister?”
I didn’t bother to respond. Tia then looked as if she was in tears.
“As I expected, you were secretly ignoring me because I was a stranger, right?”
“No, think about it. You would also be surprised if someone appeared out of nowhere and claimed to be your younger sibling.”
“I thought we were getting close!”
We’re not close. It’s still awkward for me to be around Tia, and it’s hard to feel at ease.
I’m speechless and can only stare at her. Tia bit her lips and fixed her gaze on me. After the brief confrontation Tia said,
“Please apologize to me.”
“What for?”
“You’ve been ignoring me!”
Tia made a claim that confused me. When did I ignore you?
“Do you think I don’t know? Even the servants at the Bluea Duchy were ignoring me.”
“No, you’re just getting mad at me for something that happened somewhere else,”
I’m not the one who is ignoring you. Earlier, when Theodore ignored you in public, you were like, “He’s just shy,” and now you’re doing this me.
“You’re so mean.”
I was surprised and frustrated by Tia’s attitude, trying to make me the bad guy. I had all sorts of thoughts going through my head.
“What about Tia?”
“What?”
“Tia, you were mean to me too.”
“When did I?”
“Tia said it was my fault that my father fell unconscious.”
It might seem petty to bring up old incidents, but I was hurt in my own way. Tia sighed when she heard what I had to say.
“Did you keep the words I said in your heart?”
“Didn’t you say that to keep it in my heart?”
I said it in a sarcastic tone because I wanted her to know how uncomfortable I was. However, I quickly came to regret my actions.
It was foolish of me to behave in this manner. The disagreement between Tia and I, however, continued.
Then I noticed Bonita hurriedly approaching us.
“Miss!”
“Yes?”
“Yes?”
Bonita, who was running in front of me, looked a little perplexed at Tia Bluea, who answered at the same with me.
“Ah, Miss Mary.”
“Then you should have addressed her directly.”
Due to our ongoing argument, Tia Bluea, who was already in a bad mood, spoke a little harshly. Bonita said with a shrug,
“Oh, our castle only has one lady.”
“What’s going on?”
“A letter from Princess Lausanne has arrived.”
“The princess?”
Tia Bluea’s eyes widened in surprise at the mention of a letter from the Princess.
“What? What did it say?”
“I haven’t even opened it yet.”
“You’re even corresponding with the princess, that’s amazing!”
Tia Bluea gave me a mischievous glare as if she had forgotten about the argument we had earlier. Then, as usual, she began complimenting me nonstop. Although she was aware of my engagement to the Second Prince, she didn’t anticipate that I would be close to the Princess.
When she said she wanted to be like me, I grinned sourly. As if it were simple, she said. Life would be so much easier if it was that simple.
I pursed my lips and cut the letter from Lausanne open with the paper knife Bonita had given me.
Tia leaned over to look at the letter I was holding because she appeared interested. But with a cunning wink, Bonita swiftly obscured her view.
Tia kept trying to look at the letter, but Bonita was blocking her vision perfectly.
Thanks to Bonita’s senses, I was able to read the letter without worrying.
[Mary Conler, how are you doing?
I’ve heard that the Grand Duke is still unconscious. You know you have to be strong when he isn’t around, right? I’m hoping for a speedy recovery for him.
The salon is no fun without Mary. I’m hoping we can get together soon.
Oh, I sent you this letter because I believed you hadn’t heard about it.
Like the snow that melts in the spring, Sophia Bruno, who was banished to Nicor, has vanished without a trace. There’s a rumor that she made a bad choice, but I’m still suspicious. Please look after yourself because you might be in danger as well.]
I finished the letter and then turned to face Tia Bluea in front of me. The sudden disappearance of Sophia and the sudden appearance of Tia made me feel uneasy.
