And Thus… It All Comes to an End - Chapter 16

Sweeping the hem of my cloak, I stepped out from the ancient castle.

A two-horse carriage awaited us before the gate. The polished metal fittings of the wheels caught the sunlight, reflecting a sharp glint.

“We are ready to depart at any time.”

I nodded slightly at the coachman’s voice. As I stepped toward the carriage, Julius moved ahead of me and respectfully offered his hand.

“Mind your step, Lady Luciana.”

His voice was soft and steady. Supported by him, I climbed into the carriage, followed by Anne, whose skirts swayed gracefully as she joined us. The door clicked shut, and the carriage began its gentle roll. Julius opened the window just a crack, allowing the breeze to carry the scents of the town inside.

“The wind feels wonderful, doesn’t it?”

I nodded, watching the cityscape through the glass. As we drew closer, the sounds and smells became more distinct: the rhythmic clang of iron from a smithy, the sweet aroma of fruit, distant laughter, and the faint melody of a flute from somewhere afar.

Eventually, the carriage slowed. With the coachman’s announcement of “We have arrived,” the swaying stopped. I smoothed the hem of my cloak. Julius stepped out first and opened the door, reaching out to me as the afternoon sunlight bathed the scene.

“After you, Lady Luciana.”

“Thank you, Julius.”

As I stepped onto the cobblestones, the town breeze felt soft, and the afternoon sun danced in the air. Anne followed, and the carriage door closed quietly behind us.

“Look, Julius. Isn’t it a beautiful town?”

He offered a smile and a nod. “Yes. It feels as though time flows more slowly here.”

I returned his smile. I held a secret wish in my heart that this town reflected in his eyes would one day become his own “country.” With that thought, I began to walk. Beyond the bustle of the market, I could see the warmth and weight of the people’s lives: their voices, their smiles, the piles of fresh fruit. All of it formed the very shape of this nation.

Julius drew close to my side.

“The shop district is quite lively, isn’t it?”

“It is. Oh, look, Julius! Freshly baked apple pie. Let’s have some. You like it, don’t you?”

The sweet, savory scent wafted from the steaming pies.

“I do, but as we are on an inspection tour, eating while walking is…”

“Don’t be so stiff. We’ll share one, then. We came all this way, after all. —Excuse me, two apple pies, please.”

The stall owner smiled warmly as he handed over the paper-wrapped treats. I took a copper coin from my small leather pouch and handed it to him. Splitting a pie in two, I gently placed one half into Julius’s hand.

“Here, Julius.”

From amidst the steam, the gooey, melted apples peeked out, their amber glaze shimmering in the sun. Julius hesitated for a moment before deciding to take a bite.

“…! It truly is delicious!”

“Isn’t it? It’s the most popular shop in town. Here, Anne, you have one too. You can finish a whole one by yourself, can’t you?”

“Thank you! I can eat these all day!”

Amidst our shared laughter, with the scent of apples still lingering, we walked up a gentle slope. The sounds of passersby, the tolling of a bell, and the distant splashing of a fountain harmonized like a peaceful afternoon melody. Julius walked silently beside me, always matching my stride and occasionally leaning in to subtly shield me from the flow of the crowd.

Eventually, an old wooden sign came into view at a street corner: “Clove Sundries.”

The bell chimed lightly as we pushed open the door. Inside was a quiet space filled with the mingled scents of paper, leather, and ink. It was much larger than I had expected, with goods arranged in orderly rows, sparkling under the soft light. On the back shelves were sealing wax, stationery, leather-bound journals, and delicate quill pens. Another shelf held colorful ribbons, scented sachets, and floral teacups. Further back, jars of tea, jam, and honey were lined up neatly.

“How lovely,” I whispered. The midday light reflecting off the glass jars scattered tiny, rainbow-like glints throughout the shop.

“What are you buying, Anne?”

Anne smiled as she stood before the tea shelf. “A souvenir for Lady Emilia. I’m hoping this might make her go a little easier on me during training… Ahaha, who am I kidding? That’s impossible.”

“Oh, Anne.” Her smile was so endearing that I couldn’t help but laugh.

Anne had come from an orphanage. When I was young, I had visited the orphanage and brought her back without a second thought. Afterward, Emilia had personally educated her; now, she was perfect in everything from espionage and magic to swordsmanship and maid’s etiquette.

“Lady Emilia has taken a liking to floral-scented teas lately… but this new arrival looks interesting too. Hmm… No, I’ll go with this one!”

Her voice was bright, and a confident smile bloomed on her face. The girl who had once cowered in the corner of an orphanage was now so dignified and beautiful.

“I’m sure Emilia will be delighted. After all, it’s a tea you chose for her.”

At my words, Anne’s cheeks flushed slightly with a shy smile. I turned my gaze to find Julius selecting notebooks and quills with a serious expression. He traced the leather bindings with his fingers, letting out a small sigh of appreciation every time he turned a page.

“You’re very focused. Have you found something you like?”

“Ah, my apologies. It’s just I could spend hours just looking at these things.”

“Heh, it’s quite alright. Take your time. I’m going to find a souvenir for my grandfather.”

I wonder if there is something that would go well with a drink, I thought as I peered onto the shelves.

When we finished our shopping and left the store, the afternoon sun was bathing the town in gold. A gentle breeze brushed my cheek, and the bell echoed softly from afar.

“Lady Luciana.”

Julius walked up to me, a slender package in his hand tied neatly with a gold ribbon.

“What is this?”

As I took it, he looked away slightly and spoke modestly. “A small token of thanks for showing me around the town today. It’s nothing grand, but…”

I gently opened the package to find a small leather bookmark inside. On the pale brown leather was a delicate embroidery of a small bird in white and blue thread.

“Oh… it’s adorable!”

A smile spread across my face. As I traced it with my fingertip, I could feel the texture of the leather and the warmth of the thread.

“You like small birds, don’t you? Lately, I noticed you’ve been knitting your brows quite often during your duties, so I hoped this might provide even a little bit of comfort.”

“My… you were watching me that closely?”

My cheeks grew warm. To think he noticed me knitting my brows, it was a little embarrassing.

“Haha, my apologies. Come, let us return before it gets too late.”

“Heh, you’re right. Thank you, Julius. …I truly love the bookmark.”

As we walked side by side, a peaceful smile rested on Julius’s face. The afternoon light turned his hair to gold, and the soft wind enveloped that gentle smile.