Our Summer Isn't Over Yet - Chapter 48

Walter, foreseeing the prolonged war, sent his wife and daughter to the region farthest from Murad.

At the time, it was considered the safest place. As Walter, who always had to be on the brutal battlefield, couldn’t protect his family directly, it was the most reasonable choice. However, Murad attacked even that seemingly safest place by sending his navy.

Unlike Hippolyte, whose navy wasn’t strong at the time, Murad had a solid naval force, resulting in enormous casualties. Among the many civilians who died at the time were Walter’s wife and his twelve-year-old daughter, whom the couple had late in life. It happened eleven years ago, when he was thirty-eight. Mia stared at Walter’s back.

For some reason, she thought she saw white hair that hadn’t been visible before.

“I’ve moved their graves near the capital. I’ll be able to escort you in the afternoon.”

“You can spend time with your wife and daughter.”

“It’s alright. I haven’t been able to keep this day for years, so they’ll be happy just to see my face for a moment.”

Walter turned his head, a faint smile on his lips. He no longer seemed to grieve over the death of his family. Rather, he looked relieved.

“Even when they’re not by my side, I always keep them buried in my heart, so it feels awkward to visit them specifically on this day.” Of course, his red eyes held deep longing. Watching Walter’s expression, Mia felt a surge of emotion.

Dylan and Walter could empty their hearts like that because they still had remnants of their families. She had never even had that. Strength tightened in her slender fingers. Veins stood out on her hand, which had turned white.

“…I hope the day will come soon when I can see my parents like that, even if it’s just for a moment.”

Walter’s relaxed lips slowly hardened.

“Since I don’t know the exact date they died, I’m going to spend every day with them when I find out.”

She wasn’t sure if he was smiling softly as usual.

Mia avoided Walter’s eyes and muttered, “You really don’t have to come tomorrow, it’s okay if it’s because of Dylan. I won’t say anything.” “Mia.”

“The place we’re visiting tomorrow is safer than the places we’ve visited so far.”

As she said, the situation was better than the relief sites they usually visited. They would be inspecting the reconstruction of a school that had been destroyed during the war and delivering relief supplies to a nearby orphanage, and that would be the end of it. Since it was a place with a lot of foot traffic, the security would be better than other places.

“I’ll visit in the afternoon without being late.”

With those words, Walter tapped on the car window.

Then, the driver who had been waiting outside got into the car. “Go to Duke Richard’s residence.” The driver immediately started the car. The wheels slowly turned, and before she knew it, the car was smoothly moving forward. Mia quietly watched it with her eyes.

The next day. As they had discussed, Walter didn’t come to escort her. Mia calmly explained the situation to Aaron, who was flustered by the fact. “Today is the anniversary of His Excellency’s wife and daughter’s death.”

“The date is already here.” Aaron exhaled as if he had remembered something he had forgotten at Mia’s words.

“I didn’t tell Dylan on purpose, because I didn’t want to burden His Excellency.”

“But…” “So, I hope you can just let this matter pass. Can you do that?” It was a matter directly related to Mia’s safety, so Aaron moved his lips several times.

Mia read the awkwardness on Aaron’s face, but continued to speak without stopping. “It’s just for one day. And I told him he didn’t have to come, but he’ll come in the afternoon.” If Jose was targeting her, today was the perfect day for Jose.

She didn’t know whether he would kidnap her or persuade her to take her away, but it wasn’t Mia’s concern how he would come.

Seeing Jose appear in her nightmare last night for the first time in a long time, she had a strange conviction that he would come today.

To welcome Jose, who would come to find her, it was better in many ways to reduce unnecessary personnel.

“Sir Aaron, I won’t move much at the relief site, so don’t worry. I’ll stay with the ladies.” Mia relieved Aaron’s worries with a gentle face like a painting. Aaron, who had been moving his lips several times, let out a faint sigh and said to Mia. ”

Still, I’ll send security personnel there as soon as possible in case of an emergency.” Mia didn’t refuse any longer at Aaron’s seemingly firm face. “Do as you please if that makes you feel better.” She could coax the security personnel to keep their distance.

If possible, it would be best if Jose found her before they arrived. But contrary to Mia’s expectations, a peaceful day continued. Even in the late afternoon, Jose didn’t appear. She deliberately separated from the ladies from time to time and waited alone in eerie places, but nothing happened. Even Aaron, who said he would send security, didn’t add any security personnel, as if something had gone wrong.

Before she knew it, it was almost time to finish. Thinking it was really the last time, Mia avoided the eyes of the noble ladies and headed to a deserted place. Mia, who had taken a place a little away from the relief site, where the sides were blocked by buildings so that it was not easily visible from the inside or outside, looked around. It seemed that her expectations were wrong. She had set up the whole board, but she couldn’t figure out if the problem was that the trap was too flimsy.

‘Did I underestimate Jose too much?’

No matter how crazy he was about her, Jose was a member of a royal family. If he thought about it even a little, Jose would know how crazy it was to take Mia from here. Above all, if Murad’s nobles remained by Jose’s side, acting as his eyes and ears, they might have advised Jose not to move easily.

If nothing happened today, how should she catch Jose in the future? Mia considered various aspects, wondering if she should go out and find Jose herself, even if it made Dylan suspicious. The deeper her thoughts became, the more Mia’s brow furrowed. ‘I never thought I’d want to see him again in my life.’ She wanted to see Jose more than anyone else right now. Swallowing a sigh, Mia checked her wristwatch. The clock pointed to half past four. It was time to go back. If Jose wasn’t coming, there was no reason to stay here any longer.

The moment Mia was about to turn around, she heard a rustling sound. Thud, thud. She heard the sound of heavy shoes pressing down on the floor. An unpleasant presence was getting closer and closer, but Mia couldn’t turn her head easily.

How many times did she swallow her dry saliva while clutching her skirt, the other person’s movement stopped. They were only about five steps away.

Strength tightened in Mia’s hand. Her palms were sweaty and already damp. Then, the wind blew between the buildings. The wind passed the person behind her and flowed to Mia.

Her hair shook wildly. When she took a deep breath, the familiar soap scent that always came from her tickled her nose once. Then, a smoky wood scent that made all the hairs on her body stand on end stung her nose. Mia sensed it. The person standing behind her was the one she had been waiting for.

‘…He’s here.’

The thought flashed through Mia’s mind once.

Next was fear. It was definitely a moment she had been looking forward to, but it took a lot of courage to face the person who had abused her for so long again. Mia closed her eyes, organized her breathing, and brainwashed herself. I have to go home. If I solve this problem well, I can go home.

If I catch Jose, I can achieve what I’ve wanted for a long time. So, I had to endure the rising nausea and fear. Mia, who had been desperately calming herself, slowly turned her body. Her eyes were still facing the floor.

Not far away, she saw dark black leather shoes. She slowly raised her head, following them. Dress pants that were well-dressed unlike the place, a neat jacket, and a tie that tightly constricted her neck were stacked in her eyes in turn.

As the things that had been seen one by one came into view at a glance, Mia realized what Jose was wearing. A groom. It was an outfit that wouldn’t be strange to wear to a wedding right away. His ominously black hair and dark black eyes flickered strangely.

At the same time, the other person’s mouth, smiling as if it was torn apart on both sides, moved. What came out of his open lips was a terrible, chilling sound like metal dragging. “Long time no see, our substitute.”

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