Our Summer Isn't Over Yet - Chapter 75

The room, filled with Dylan’s affection, glowed with a soft light. Mia no longer wanted to see the fluttering curtains whenever a gentle breeze blew. She felt like she had to get rid of those curtains from her sight as soon as possible.

Mia supported herself on the bed with her hand to get up. She felt a warm sensation at her fingertips.

‘Dylan already left a long time ago…’

Puzzled, she lifted the blanket and saw a warmed hot water bottle.

Mia had always worn layers of clothes, so he must have remembered her shivering from the cold while wearing thin clothes.

Dylan’s consideration, as familiar as flowing water, had now become ingrained in her. Her remaining life, however short, would not be spent with him, yet he had already taken up too much space.

“…Useless thoughts.”

These trivial thoughts had been increasing lately. Shaking off the thoughts that were crowding her mind, Mia approached the window. Without hesitation, she pulled back the thin curtains, and harsh sunlight poured in on her.

This light used to feel like a breathing hole, but today it felt particularly stuffy and glaring. She felt a strange sense of alienation, but Mia ignored it and turned away.

“I should organize my luggage in advance.”

It would be best to pack her belongings before the person sent by Morgan arrived. Since Dylan, who was always with her every day and every moment, was not around, there was no better timing than this.

Mia entered the room where her clothes were organized.

Since coming here, she had only worn clothes ordered by Dylan, so she picked up the drab and insignificant clothes that had been pushed to the corner. Then, she picked up the low-heeled shoes she often wore and carefully packed them into her suitcase.

The bag, with only a few items, was very light.

“Pathetic.”

It felt like nothing was left after emptying what was not hers, what could not be hers. Her chest throbbed again.

“These are really useless emotions.”

Mia, having closed her bag, got up. She pushed the simple luggage into the back of the dressing room. It was in a position where it couldn’t be seen unless one was determined to find it.

This was enough.

Ready to leave, ready to discard.

The news Elio brought in the early morning was unwelcome to Dylan.

The Pilat delegation is expected to arrive at the palace in five days.

He had expected people from Pilat to come soon, but it was faster than Dylan had anticipated. Moreover, it was a difficult situation because the royal family had learned of this fact before Elio could intercept the information.

-They say the ship had some problems along the way and sailed faster than usual. Fortunately, they contacted Hippoli while repairing in a cooperating country.

Dylan repeatedly clenched and unclenched the wooden doll Mia had given him.

Meanwhile, Elio continued his report.

-If Your Highness departs from Valencia tomorrow, you will be able to return to the capital in time for the arrival of the Pilat delegation.

“Make arrangements to depart tomorrow. If the Pilat delegation arrives earlier than expected, delay them a bit there.”

Dylan finished giving Elio some instructions in preparation for any possible situation and put down the receiver. He immediately called Aaron, instructed him to book a train ticket to the capital, and then looked down at the documents he had been writing before receiving Elio’s call.

It contained a manual on how to treat ‘Mia, who will remain in Valencia.’

[Turn on all the gaslights in the mansion before 4 PM.

Always call the knight to check that the lights do not go out.

She gets cold easily, so maintain a suitable temperature in the room.

She has trouble sleeping, so move as quietly as possible.

Keep the scented candles lit for a certain amount of time so that the scent permeates the room.]

From the beginning, Dylan had no intention of taking Mia to the capital. He planned to keep her here until the Pilat delegation left Hippoli. The reason he brought Mel here with him was in case Mia got sick again.

Valencia was under his control. Yesterday afternoon, he had also taken measures to prevent the post office phone from being connected to the outside, so Mia could not ask for help from outside.

Morgan would not interfere in their relationship unless Mia ‘directly’ requested it.

Everything was proceeding according to plan, but Dylan could not shake off his anxiety. His gaze reached the post office phone usage records.

“Anna Cole.”

It was the name of the woman who had used the phone just before the call was disconnected.

With the old phone in the Valencia post office, it was impossible to accurately check where the call was connected.

To confirm who made the call, he looked for the employee who was working at the time. However, the employee who had directly seen ‘Anna Cole’ happened to be on vacation from that day and had bought a ticket to leave Valencia.

Dylan did not like such coincidences.

Above all, what kept making him uneasy was…

“What on earth is she thinking?”

It was Mia’s behavior yesterday. She was different from usual, and her expression, which he couldn’t read at all, gave him a headache all day.

He wondered if he was being too sensitive, but when he thought about the usual Mia, he couldn’t help but be sensitive.

Dylan shook his head and tried to erase his thoughts. If he was going to prepare to leave tomorrow, it would be more beneficial to think about how to make Mia’s life here, rather than worrying about such trivial matters.

He moved the stopped fountain pen again.

His words were added to the more than twenty instructions. How long had it been? A light knock was heard.

“Your Highness, it’s Aaron.”

When Dylan gave his permission, Aaron entered his office.

“I have found out about the train tickets you ordered. Among the 7 AM, 2 PM, and 4 PM trains, the 2 PM train is completely sold out. It seems that a festival is being held in the capital after the execution of the Murad royal family.”

It would be better to go to the capital as quickly as possible and wait for the Pilat delegation. Especially considering the unexpected variables.

Mia, who had been sleeping more recently, came to Dylan’s mind.

She used to wake up early in the morning, but lately she had been waking up late in the afternoon, and she hadn’t even seen the promised sea yet. Above all, if Dylan tied Mia’s feet in Valencia and left, she would never smile at him again.

Even that fake smile placed over the mask.

“Make arrangements to book the 4 PM train. It wouldn’t be bad to double-check everything before leaving.”

“Understood. Then I will book it right away.”

After Aaron left the office, Dylan looked at the clock on the desk. It was almost time for Mia to wake up.

He carefully placed the wooden doll, which he had been rolling on his palm all along, on one side of the desk and then moved his steps.

The next day, Mia woke up early in the morning.

Considering that she had been waking up late in the afternoon for a while, it was quite an early awakening. Her gaze reached the side.

As yesterday, Dylan was not there. She could vaguely predict the reason why he was away.

‘He must have heard the news from Elio Bohrmann.’

Dylan must have also heard the news that the Pilat delegation would soon arrive in the capital. The only reason Dylan, who had been by her side all day, was away was that.

Mia closed her eyes and took a deep breath, then went inside the dressing room and took out her luggage. It seemed okay to take it out since Morgan’s person would be coming sometime today.

She opened the bag, briefly checked the contents inside, and was about to close it again when the wooden doll caught her eye.

“Wouldn’t it be okay to take this?”

She slowly reached out and grabbed the wooden doll. The smooth and round texture felt good. She hesitated for a moment, repeatedly clenching and unclenching her fingers. Mia put the wooden doll into the open bag.

Then, as if nothing had happened, she organized her luggage and headed to the empty room.

It was a room that the servants cleaned every other day. Mia carefully pushed her luggage under the empty furniture and quietly returned to her room.

It was 7 AM when she finished preparing to leave.

“I woke up earlier than I thought.”

While reciting the new fact, Mia lightly scanned the room. She scanned the room, which was full of traces of herself and Dylan, several times and then looked at the clock again.

‘Time went by so well when I was with Dylan.’

It was just too slow.

No matter how many times she went back and forth in the room, time passed very slowly. Eventually, Mia grabbed a thin shawl and left the room.

If she stayed in the room like this, it felt like time would stop forever.

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