The gloomy topic soon passed. Anika began to talk about various things she saw in the garden.

“Such flowers bloom in the north. It’s a species I haven’t seen in the south.”

Only then did Ophelia, who hadn’t known flowers bloomed in the castle’s garden, turn to look where Anika was pointing. Indeed, there was something with leaves a bit different from the usual.

Anika seemed to have keenly recognized a shape quite different from the flowers she usually knew.

Ophelia asked the woman observing the plump plant.

“Are you interested in flowers?”

“My mother likes plants.”

And Anika smiled brightly. Unlike the perfunctory smile she had been wearing all along, it was a genuine one. Seeing that face with affection for her mother flashing across it, Ophelia felt strange.

She had never been any woman’s daughter in her life. If anything, she had been a blemish.

The woman who had been a princess of a now-vanished country took her own life, unable to bear that blemish. Ophelia felt bad every time she realized that she was the reason for her death. It was as if she had to make amends, even though she hadn’t done anything wrong.

The thought didn’t linger long. They soon reached a uniquely shaped chair in the center of the garden. The chair, made of a huge circular stone, had a hollow in the middle that served as a small pond.

In the artificial pond, which smelled slightly fishy, aquatic plants and cold-water fish swam around. Golden and silver scales glimmered bluish in the water.

Ophelia looked down at the small pond she had never paid attention to in her previous life. It was then that Anika’s voice was heard.

“Ah, that must be the royal well.”

Ophelia turned her head to look where Anika was looking. There was a well covered with reddish plants.

It was a well that somehow felt unfamiliar, though it must have been there in her previous life as well. Anika beside her spoke.

“There’s a legend about that well. Before the god disappeared, that well was an altar for making offerings to wish to the god.”

And Anika told her how many things people of old had thrown into that well.

Ophelia thought it was probably just a story that had passed from mouth to mouth. Hearing the list of offerings that started from small animals and progressed to humans, it seemed the well should have overflowed long ago.

The conclusion of the story was quite bland.

“But now that the god is dead, they say no one uses that well as an altar anymore.”

And Anika added.

“If I may be so bold, I’m afraid I must take my leave now as I have a schedule afterwards.”

Ophelia chose a neutral reply to the woman who had shown sincerity despite the likely involuntary conversation.

“It was a pleasant time.”

“Yes, thank you for giving me your time.”

And Anika kissed her hand. It was a proper posture that showed she was well-educated. Though knowing it might be an overinterpretation, Ophelia thought it might be a trace of her mother. For she was the only one in the Rohos family who would have taught manners to her child.

As she had said, the weather was good, so Ophelia remained seated there even after Anika left. The surroundings felt a bit desolate without the person who had been speaking.

The conversation with Anika was better than she had expected. It was fine not to talk much, and it wasn’t that uncomfortable.

She suddenly thought that it could have been like this in her past life too. Though Idren had intervened this time, in her previous life, Anika had shown personal willingness to cooperate with her. She could have kept her close by her own power if she had wanted to.

But she didn’t.

Why was that? The answer to the question she asked inwardly was something she could know without digging too deep. Because it was hard.

Hadn’t she given up even living because it was too hard? Naturally, she had no room to make friends.

Moreover, wasn’t Haslen’s death in a way her fault?

Of course, it was Mahanas who directly harmed him. But when she thought of the young man who remained forever only a fiancé, Ophelia naturally came to think like that.

If she hadn’t revealed the truth to the boy in the field behind the palace in her young days, if she hadn’t embraced him, if she hadn’t heard from his lips that he would definitely marry her.

Then wouldn’t Haslen be alive?

No, it was Mahanas who killed Haslen. Ophelia corrected her own thoughts. At that time, her entire life was decided by Mahanas’s hands. Mahanas and Dares brought Haslen into her life and killed him at will. So the problem was her wretched elder brother……

It was then that someone’s shoe tip came into view.

“The wind is getting a bit cold, yet you’re not going inside.”

Ophelia raised her head at the familiar voice. A man with a cold face wearing a kind expression was standing in front of her.

While she blinked her eyes a bit slowly, Idren received an outer garment from the servant beside him and draped it over her shoulders. Ophelia stared up at the man while he tied the strings of her clothes. The words she had heard from him last evening still lingered in her mind.

“But that’s just my position, and it must have been burdensome for you. So I won’t do that anymore.”

The man who had brought up words that were almost taboo between them and broken the peace looked as if he was the one most hurt. Seeing that face as if he was pulling out his own internal organs, Ophelia was at a loss for words.

Why bring up such words if you’re going to make that expression.

While she was flustered, Idren continued speaking.

“Instead, will you promise me this one thing? Tell me before you make a decision. I think we’re close enough to at least say goodbye.”

There was nothing that more clearly showed how close they had become, yet at that time, misery was vivid on the man’s face.

But traces of emotion were washed away like footprints left by the tide when morning came. Idren had returned to his usual self again. He smiled well, often held her hand, and spoke gently. Nevertheless, Ophelia found herself constantly checking his mood. Only then did she feel at ease.

Though she knew it was unlike her, it was alright to follow impulses for now. Concerns about feelings could wait until after dealing with Reden and Mahanas.

As she stood up holding the man’s hand, Ophelia said.

“I’ll take Reden away from Mahanas. Then I’ll give you that land.”

The man, who would usually have made an excuse to hold her back with words like ‘Won’t you keep it?’, accepted calmly.

“I understand.”

At those words that seemed like he was preparing to part, Ophelia felt strange and rolled her eyes. However, the conversation continued smoothly before she could judge otherwise.

“How was the conversation with Anika?”

“It wasn’t bad.”

“She’s hardly doing any practical work as a lord now, so if you feel lonely, call her to the castle. She’s about your age, so she should be able to serve as at least a conversation partner.”

And Idren was silent for a moment. It was silence closer to choosing words rather than ending the conversation, so Ophelia waited for a while.

Finally, the man opened his mouth.

“It seems I’ll have to leave the castle soon.”

“What do you mean?”

“I received a report from Soier. It seems the First Prince of Brinwell’s army has started to seriously stockpile military supplies. There are also reports of goods moving within Brinwell.”

“……It seems war is coming.”

Though it was a fact that had been foretold several times, saying it out loud made her mood sink. It was puzzling how she had passed by without even caring in her past life.

While walking the path into the castle holding her hand, Idren said.

“Yes. I’ll try to handle it so that it doesn’t bother you as much as possible, but…… be careful just in case. Salode will remain in the castle, so discuss with him if any difficulties arise. The head of the Chesa family will also look after you. Try not to leave the castle if possible……”

All the words that continued on were only about her. Ophelia cut off the man who wasn’t saying anything about himself who was actually leaving.

“I’ll take care of such things myself.”

“I’m sorry if it was bothersome.”

“It’s not bothersome…… Never mind. When will you return?”

Though she didn’t remember exactly, the war had been long in her past life. Idren, who was initially in the castle, eventually left for the border in person to recruit troops from the lords, and only returned after the year had changed.

“I don’t know. I haven’t even left yet.”

The answer that came back was softer than before. Though it was a very subtle change, Ophelia felt the difference immediately.

She said in a smaller voice.

“Well, you be careful too.”

As he said, Idren hadn’t left yet, but since he told her to be careful, it seemed alright to say this much.

Though it was words without any intention, Idren’s ears reddened at that. It seemed the feelings he had were still the same for now.

Ophelia paused, unconsciously relieved at that fact. She didn’t know why she was relieved. As if she wanted him to keep liking her. As if she would be hurt or something if he didn’t.

Ophelia looked down at the ground where grass had sprouted as it melted in summer. Somehow her stomach felt ticklish. It felt like the wind was brushing her nape and her face seemed to be heating up too. While roughly scanning the ground with her eyes, she tried to gauge if her face was really red. There was no way to know without something to reflect in.

It was then that Idren cleared his throat softly.

“Not now, but when I really leave, please say it once more.”

And suddenly Ophelia realized. It would be red.

With her heated face lowered to the ground, she answered in a tiny voice.

“……Alright.”