Translator: Khan

Editor Group: Liber Reverie

'You can see me again if you want to. Why are you so sad?' Aria wondered, but what preceded was sadness which was passed on from Violet. And Aria also felt sad to part with Violet.

Violet was not a woman to be helpful. She couldn't even go out because she was concerned about her surroundings and could only drink tea and share a chat with her. Still, Aria felt sorry for Violet because she might have given her unconditional love.

If fate hadn't been twisted and Carin and Chloe had not parted away, she would have grown up in a harmonious family and become a completely different person. She even had the needless thought, and she felt sad.

"Madam, don't worry. Since I'm around her, nothing will happen to Lady Aria."

When Aria failed to answer, Asher, who was next to her, relieved Violet of her worries. Who could doubt the Crown Prince who said so?

"... Thank you. Please take good care of Lady Aria."

Aria, who ended her farewell only after Violet nodded her head, saying, "I'll believe that," was able to get on the wagon with Asher.

Without giving a moment's notice of what was so urgent, the carriage set off, and Aria stared vacantly through the window at the mansion of the Marquis, which was getting smaller and smaller.

"Lady Aria, use this."

As soon as the mansion of the Marquis became a dot and it was no longer visible, Asher, sitting next to her, suddenly handed over his own handkerchief to Aria.

'Why this?' Asher, who read the wonder in Aria's eyes, wiped her eyes and cheeks, instead of putting the handkerchief in her hand.

"You're crying."

"... Me?" As she looked down at the handkerchief in surprise at the words of Asher, she could see that it was really a little wet.

'When did I cry? Was it the last time I shed tears of blood at Mielle's shocking confession just before I was beheaded? No, I felt like I had shed tears of anger and resentment since then, but I have never shed tears because of such pure sadness.'

"... I must have got it from the Marquise. You know, it's like a yawn that passes on, sometimes."

'How long have I been together with her?' Aria, who was embarrassed by her tears, made excuses as it was not that she could not meet her forever.

And Asher said yes, wiping her eyes which were red, affirming that it was right. "That's right. That happens sometimes. And in my experience, when you get such a feeling, it's better to accept it as it is, and not to try to let it pass. It gets angry when it stacks up."

Then Asher put his handkerchief on Aria's lap and turned his head to the other side of Arya. He seemed to mean that she should not pretend that she wasn't, but feel sad to her heart's content. It was also because she did not express her weak feelings because of her personality.

In gratitude for the consideration, Aria turned her head again to the window, with the handkerchief in her hand.

* * *

Since their purpose was not a vacation or trip, they continued to travel in carriage except to stop by a village for a short rest. It was also because of Asher's expression, which sometimes kept him from thinking or hiding his nervousness.

Aria, who had assumed that it was because of the pile of work by his unscheduled visit to Croa, shook her head firmly at Asher's suggestion to go slowly. Thanks to the occasional change of horses, it took only four days for the capital, but it would originally take a week even if they ran fast.

"If it is this distance, I can go back with my ability, so I'll go first."

"... Yes?"

Suddenly, Asher said that he would return first, using his powers. 'How can you bring up such heartless, cold words?' Aria asked again if she had heard anything wrong, and he said again, holding a few packages of his own in his hand.

"I'm sorry, but I left behind something very important to me. I'll go back by myself because the driver has a strange suspicion if we go back together."

'Then you didn't need to come to me from the beginning. Moreover, it is absurd to say that you will go back alone even though we have only half a day to arrive.' She was really dumbfounded, but his will was so firm that she closed her mouth, which had opened a little bit.

"See you in the capital, Lady Aria."

"... You look very busy going back, with only one or half a day left, and I wonder if you'll be able to see me."

Asher did not reply with an unknown smile. And Aria was more upset by this, turned her eyes and gave him to leave now.

"... Go away right now. You said you are busy."

"All right. See you tomorrow, Lady Aria. Please have a good night."

Upon those words, Asher disappeared, and Aria, who covered the quilt to the end of her neck, closed her eyes nervously. 'If we're going to meet tomorrow, I don't know why you're leaving alone.'

The next day, as always, Aria, who left for the capital early in the morning, picked up Annie and Jessie on behalf of Asher's vacancy. It was because it was more comfortable to ride than the carriage of the servants. There was no need to let the seats vacant. Annie and Jessie opened their eyes wide and wondered why Asher had disappeared with their destination just around the corner.

"Did he leave alone?"

"Yes."

"Why the hell did he…?"

"He said that there's something busy going on."

Annie asked Aria no more questions because her voice was so cold to even answer. Jessie also stared quietly out the window, noticing Aria, who seemed in a bad mood, thinking, 'I'd rather ride a carriage with other servants.'

It was about the time when they ran half a day without a break to reach the capital.

"... Uh? What is that?"

Jessie, who had been staring out of the window all the time, raised her voice as if something was strange.

"Why?"

"Look over there!"

Jessie pointed to the wall surrounding the outskirts of the capital. And Annie, who turned her eyes to Jessie's gesture, responded the same way,

"... Oh, my God! What is that? Flowers? Are they flowers? Why are those flowers there?"

Aria also opened the window and pulled out her head to check the walls, and opened her eyes wide and couldn't hide her surprise. It was because the entire wall seen in the carriage was decorated with tulips.

"Those are... tulips…!"

'How can I not be surprised?' The walls that should defend the capital were full of beautiful tulips.

It was the same for those who stood in a long line at the gate to enter the capital, and they were all staring at the tulips, which were packed with walls until their eyes felt some pain.

As she stared at the splendidly embroidered walls, Jessie asked Aria with a misty look.

"Is there any festival in the capital?"

"That can't be! What would it be in winter? And no matter how great the festival is, I've never seen them mobilize so many flowers."

Before Aria gave an answer, Annie said, "That's ridiculous," and Jessie agreed, saying, "That's right."

"So, why did the walls suddenly go like that?"

"Well, I don't know. Miss, do you have any idea?"

"…"

At the question, Asher's face flashed across Aria's mind. The Crown Prince would be the only one who could prepare for such a great event by using tulips that were still fresh in winter.

Aria rolled her eyes without answering, and Annie, quick-wittingly, opened her eyes wide and covered her mouth with her hand. She must have thought of Asher, too.

"Oh, my God... Don't tell me... So, did he go back to the capital first…?"

'Is he going to present this beautiful sight to Aria? No, he wouldn't have prepared for such an event to show off tulips all of a sudden. He must have prepared something for a greater purpose.' Annie thought, rolling her head fast and screaming a little as if she had reached the greatest possibility.

"What's wrong, Annie?"

Jessie, who still hadn't figured out the situation, asked Annie, and Annie accused her of being not wary of the given scenario.

"Why are you so unwary of?"

"Why, why...?

"Oh, who can get so many tulips this winter, and who does he think he'll show it up to?!"

With those words, Jessie rolled her eyes and opened her eyes wide as if she thought of a person.

In the meantime, the carriage sped past the gate. It didn't take time to identify otherwise because it was a carriage of Aria, and was not anyone else's.