Chapter 73

𝕾𝖔𝖓𝖌 𝖙𝖔 𝖑𝖎𝖘𝖙𝖊𝖓 𝖙𝖔: 𝕾𝖙𝖆𝖗𝖑𝖎𝖌𝖍𝖙 𝖇𝖞 𝕿𝖆𝖞𝖑𝖔𝖗 𝕾𝖜𝖎𝖋𝖙

***

His voice was deep, like a whisper from the farthest time of the place, and yet his words were one like a tale from a very long time ago, words that couldn't comprehend the meaning of time in my eyes.

As if his soul was never enough to capture mine, and yet it stood through the test of time. A shining soul that was fading from within, a kind of view that I was mesmerized by and yet couldn't help but part my lips.

"As I've said earlier, Lady Vestia, we could never die unless our hearts were to be ripped to pieces," Key said then chuckled he made it seem like it was light, but for me, I couldn't even imagine living in a world that people could die, and yet they remain.

I don't even know what it felt like to watch the people I care about fade into my sight because I was never someone who couldn't die.

Just like them.

I held both of Key's hands like he did earlier when he first met me and I looked into his soul to see it shining from within.

"If you need a friend that you can sincerely talk to, then all you can always count on me," I looked into his mirror reflecting mine and I could see how it became wider followed by a gap from his mouth.

It took him a few more seconds to finally close that gap and curl the edges of his lips.

"Then at the very end, please let me be useful as well," he said and I chuckled. I don't know why but the moment I met Jer and Key I felt my chest became light, and seeing that Jer and Lexus seemed to argue nonstop would remind me of Hellier and Oratio as well as Henry and Claudius.

Despite knowing that they were busy with their studies within the imperial academy, I knew that they still found time to send me letters not just consistently like before.

But Cain and Celna indeed sent me letters a few days ago that I couldn't understand.

"Is there bothering you, Lady Vestia?" Key asked and I felt his hands enveloping mine instead.

"No, Key but I at the very least have a favor to ask..."

"Name anything Lady Vestia," I could see that everything remained from Key but I knew by the next words, he would fade into a distant abyss.

"Can you tell me what you know about the Hildigger empire?"

***

"Lady Agnes!" a sweet nostalgic voice reverberated within the four corners of the building. She was wearing a white robe with her hair tied, as if she was like the people working within but her skin and her personality overflowed that light within.

I could even see some rays flowing around her. Then unknowingly, the corners of my lips did their magic.

"Lady Grenda," I said then welcomed the noble lady's hug.

Her warmth spoke of a summer's caresses, and it was indeed warm but never enough to pain my skin.

"I'm glad you came"

"And I did too, so what's there to do?" I asked her and she led me to the way within. When I tried to look around, I was reminded of an old building, where there was nothing, as if there was only an empty rack of broken wood, and broken wood everywhere.

But then the place became a haven for bottles of medicines, bags of herbs people who were working from within, and books that were placed in different bookshelves from within.

I could even feel the nostalgic rays of the sun descend within as if it were enough to keep the people warm as I could see them smile and greet me with respect even though they didn't know my true identity.

Their every gesture as they caressed the swift whispers of the breezes with their soft and delicate tone that were directed at me, and it only made the corners of my lips edged to a curl, in return.

Indeed, I wasn't wrong at making them work in here, since they were also the ones I've set my eyes on, from the moment I handed my bottles to them that first night.

"And here, were the others. Oh, and Thomas as well as Simon should be back by now. They had a lot of boxes to carry since the delivery had begun earlier this morning..." I've never seen so much dedication as much as I could see this young noble lady's eyes.

Her voice which sounded like honey bathed in the warmest water, was enough to melt some of my frozen parts within my chest.

As she led me within her small table and chair, to have a cup of tea, I could see that she was indeed a person who knew what hard work was about.

When I was in the past, I didn't pay any attention to these kinds of things, not because I didn't want to, but because I never knew what the outside world was feeling at that time as I was blinded by this unrequited side of mine, that all I could see and feel at that moment was to chase that crimson.

I never thought that chasing it would cause me to splatter my own.

If only Lady Grenda was a lady of the noble society, the ones they should call part of the social butterfly, the one where noble ladies would always gather and have tea time, then talk of normal events in their lives, but now.

She was here, right by my side, right by the people's side working hard to give them what they needed and working hard enough to be of help because perhaps, in my opinion, she knew how it felt like to be lonely.

Even a noble lady could be at times too.

"Lady Grenda we just finished... Oh, Lady Agnes?" The voice was familiar, but it wasn't like before that it was rough and dry.

At that moment, after hearing that velvety voice, bathed in the golden rays of the sun, my sight landed on a small young boy carrying a big box with a tall old man behind him and my eyes widened as the view in front of me sparkled, with sprinkles of light scattered within the entire place.

"You two! It was such a good thing you're all here," I said while putting down the warm tea and smiling at them. The small young boy put the box down while, while the old man carried it, but I knew I could see that some water from the boy's eyes was already sprinkling down.

"It's all thanks to you lady, and to the mysterious man that assisted you that day. Without you, we wouldn't know where we'll be right now"

"Oh come on and hug us since I'm not the only one responsible for keeping you alive, right?" Then I looked at Lady Grenda and saw how her eyes widened but the corners of her lips curled.

The old man put the boxes down and hugged us with the small boy. At that moment, I knew what it felt like to feel the warmth of ordinary people and it was way more than precious to be hugged by the nobles who were some strangers I knew nothing about.

After that day, we talked for a moment and I helped a little while Lexus came forward and helped as well but he never intended to appear right in front of Lady Grenda because he might know that she would get distracted.

Well, I knew that, but it seemed that Lexus didn't even want to because he had his personal reasons, to which I could only sigh and shake my head.

When the day finally ended, and I bid my goodbye to Lady Grenda and the others, I adjusted my coat as I looked around and saw Lexus's silhouette following me and when I knew that we were already in this narrow alley where we first met, the day he caught me fainting, I asked him.

"Lexus, this was the first meeting we had, right?" but then his answer startled me.

"No, we didn't meet here first, Vestia..." I parted my lips to speak again but his voice was faster than mine and my eyes remained wide.

"Do you remember the time of the day, it was on the same day that you were almost run on by the carriage within this market?"

"Yes, why----"

"That was the day I saved you but then I got shy and immediately moved away... I just never thought we would meet again and this time this was the place we met at the second chance I saved you again..." his words felt like soft fabric within my hands and I never wanted to let go.

And yet, by the end of his words, felt like sharp needles for me not remembering anything about our first meeting and yet he knew everything.

"Then I guess I have to note that as well..." I chuckled as I moved my feet around, he was the first one to speak this time.

"But then, at our second meeting, I never thought to find something unusual in this narrow alley that time"

"I see"

"I guess you also have felt that stench of blood around even though there was nothing within"

"There was nothing within?"

"Yes, but when I looked further, there were only wooden boxes that were used to put some trash... nothing else"

"But then, Lexus could I ask you once more?"

"I'll do anything the lady wishes for me," I saw him bow and there I inhaled deep air before sighing and saying the words I never thought just like that time with Anna.

"If magic exists then would it be possible that other creatures do as well?"