Our Summer Isn't Over Yet - Chapter 72

In the Subtly Accumulating Time

Within Dylan’s heart, too, unfamiliar emotions were accumulating in the subtly accumulating time. It was to the point where he couldn’t pinpoint exactly when it had started. Was it the night of the wedding when she stripped bare and proved she wasn’t a princess? Or when she stayed up all night in Dylan’s office, exhausted, to strategize? Or when he envied Rodrigo, who burst into tears after finding his corpse? Or was it when the life returned to Mia’s eyes, which had been lifelessly observing the situation? Dylan Richard couldn’t tell. All he knew for sure was:

“You don’t know how beautiful you are when your eyes sparkle.”

He wanted to keep seeing that faint sparkle in her lifeless eyes, that beautiful sight as if a galaxy had poured into a forest. Even if the gaze directed at him was one of contempt, it was enough as long as she sparkled anywhere. That was enough.

“Mia.”

She flinched at his call, but Mia didn’t wake up. She groped around as if searching for warmth, then snuggled into Dylan’s arms beside her. The faint anger that was always present when she looked at Dylan was nowhere to be found. He held the small warmth he felt close and murmured,

“That’s… really enough.”

It seemed Dylan had never intended to leave Valencia in the first place. Mia learned this the day after she gave Dylan the wooden doll. She had overheard a conversation between the servants in the mansion.

“An order has been given to manage the mansion more meticulously from now on, as the mistress plans to stay in Valencia. His Excellency will organize and deliver the manual within a few days.”

“Oh my, His Excellency himself?”

“It seems he’s worried about leaving the mistress alone.”

She had been about to go out to the garden early in the morning when she heard this. Leaning against the door, Mia focused on the conversation between the servants.

“But will the mistress really stay here instead of going to the capital?”

“Judging from what Sir Aaron said, it seems His Excellency will also settle things in the capital and come to Valencia?”

“Really?”

“Apparently, the capital is a bit noisy.”

“It would be nice if we could continue to serve the mistress.”

The servants, who had been whispering happily, suddenly stopped talking.

“Shh, let’s be quiet and go. The mistress is sleeping at this hour.”

The servants, who had been chatting in excited voices, closed their mouths and hurried away from Mia’s room. Mia let out a faint sigh.

‘…I never expected this.’

Mia readily admitted it. She had been so preoccupied with the idea of betraying Dylan that her thinking had become narrow. From then on, she began to think about how to return to the capital. The probability of preparing alone and taking a train to the capital was extremely low. Dylan could mobilize people to take control of the entire station.

‘If that happens, I might not even set foot on the platform and be brought back to this mansion.’

She wanted to ask Morgan for help, but she couldn’t because Dylan was with her most of the time. The telephone in the mansion could only be used with Dylan’s permission, and it was highly unlikely that he would readily grant her request.

‘Only the post office, then.’

The only possibility was the post office. As a nationally recognized institution, it would be possible to connect to the royal family by phone, so she could contact Morgan by using the post office. The only problem was how to get Dylan away from her. Contrary to Mia’s worries, the opportunity came quickly.

“Madam, His Excellency has received an urgent call and asks you to wait a little longer.”

“Did he say what the call was about?”

“No, he only said it was a call from the capital.”

It was an ambiguous answer. Since coming to Valencia, Dylan had entrusted most of the work to Aaron. He rarely checked things himself, and it was even rarer for him to communicate directly. It wasn’t Walter he was communicating with, as Walter was still in Murad.

‘Then who…’

For some reason, Elio Bohrmann came to mind. Elio and Dylan had met before coming to Valencia, and Dylan’s attitude had subtly changed since then… Mia’s eyes sank coldly, though she wore a faint smile. It wasn’t certain, but perhaps everything she had assumed was true. It was only a hunch, but whatever the case, she had a definite reason to contact Morgan. And now was the right time.

“I understand. Can you tell Dylan to come slowly after he’s finished? I want to wander around a bit.”

“Now? If you wait a little, I’ll prepare for your outing…”

“I know Valencia is safe. It’s not a remote area, and I’ll be going around the city, so you don’t have to worry too much. Besides, I’ll be driving around.”

Mia lightly patted the servant and winked at the driver.

“Then, please deliver the message.”

Leaving the servant, who seemed to have lost his words, standing still, Mia quickly got into the car.

The driver soon started the engine, and the car she was in quickly moved away from the mansion. Mia got out of the car a little away from the post office, told the driver to go to the theater she had visited a while ago, and hurried away. Thanks to having roughly memorized the map as soon as she came to Valencia, she was able to find the post office quickly. As expected of a quiet neighborhood, there weren’t many people here either. After waiting for a few minutes, it was Mia’s turn.

Without being nervous or hasty, Mia sat down and smiled at the employee.

“What can I do for you?”

“I’d like to use the telephone.”

“Have you used the telephone before? You need to know the other party’s number clearly, and the fee is measured in minutes.”

“Thank you for the kind explanation, but I’d like to be guided on how to use it right away.”

“Yes, just a moment. Please write your name here before you go to use it.”

Mia received the stiff paper and took the pen. She paused with her hand on the space where she had to write her name, and hesitated for a moment. Should she write ‘Seydimia Richard’, or ‘Mia Blair’, or some other unrelated name? Mia’s hesitation was short. She shouldn’t leave any traces here.

[Anna Cole]

Mia wrote the most common name and the most common surname, smiled, and handed over the paper. The employee received it and kindly guided her.

“Anna, you can connect the phone here. The stopwatch will start as soon as I leave. I hope you have a pleasant call!”

After the employee left and Mia was left alone, she sat calmly in front of the telephone. She thought about connecting to the royal telephone, but then recalled the number that connected directly to Morgan and pressed it. Since only a handful of people knew the number that connected directly to his private office, calling there was more likely to connect her to Morgan.

Mia’s prediction was accurate. With a click, the other party answered the phone.

“I’m calling from Valencia.”

There was a moment of silence, then a voice was heard. It sounded somewhat reluctant.

-…Mia Blair?

“I’m sorry to contact you in this way.”

-What’s the matter?

“It’s not that, but I need help leaving Valencia, so I’m contacting you.”

Mia quickly got to the point. A faint sigh was heard over the receiver.

-Isn’t it a strange coincidence? I just found out that the Navy is trying to hide the facts related to the delegation coming from Pilat.

The moment she heard those words, Mia was certain. Something was going on between Elio Bohrmann and Dylan Richard. Morgan’s faint sigh came over the receiver. For a while, he didn’t say anything, and the stopwatch in front of her continued to tick. Mia repeatedly bit and released her lips lightly. She worried about what would happen if Morgan didn’t grant her request, and her anxiety deepened in that short time. How much anxiety did she feel? A clear answer came, making her tension seem pointless.

-I understand, I’ll send someone.

“Thank you.”

-By the way, it seems Pilat will arrive sooner than expected. I don’t think it would be bad to return from Valencia earlier than planned. What do you think?

“…When should I leave?”

-Two days from now would be good.

Mia paused at the schedule, which was a week earlier than planned. She should be happy that the time she spent with Dylan was decreasing, but she didn’t understand why she was hesitating. As she hesitated, pondering how to answer, Morgan asked.

-Why, are you hesitating?

At his words, Mia was startled as if she had been splashed with cold water. There was no need to continue with useless thoughts, so she quickly replied.

“No, then I’ll leave Valencia in two days. Thank you for helping me to the end.”

-It’s a reward for what you’ve accomplished. It’s a hassle, but it’s a pretty cheap price, so it’s not bad. Then let’s meet in the capital.

With Morgan’s words, the phone call ended. After calmly putting down the receiver, Mia went outside. She paid the call fee, as she had done when she came in, and left the post office.

She slowly walked towards the place she had told the driver to go. How long had she walked? Not far away, she saw Dylan getting out of the car. Without even fixing his appearance, he looked around busily. Then, Dylan found Mia and strode quickly towards her. Delphiniums were blooming profusely on the roadside where he was walking. The flowers swayed gently whenever Dylan walked. Watching the scene, Mia inadvertently realized. That Dylan would never walk towards her with that face again.

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