This time, Meiana interrupted him.

“Wait a moment, Your Grace. It seems like something important is missing. I’m curious about why we are going to the capital.”

A brief silence followed. Cediloy, who had been silently staring at her with closed lips, lowered his gaze and sighed briefly.

“Lady Celine doesn’t have much time left.”

At his words, Meiana felt her chest sink in one corner. Her heart raced, and her vision became dizzy.

“What do you mean…”

“Now, she can hardly move. Someone I sent is taking care of her, and the doctor is prescribing as much medicine as possible, but it’s difficult for her to hold on for long. So… I want to let Arianthe meet her at least once before it’s too late. Arianthe has the right to meet Lady Celine.”

Lady Celine. The person who allowed the unfamiliar Meiana to rest and breathe inside the house, provided warm meals, and made tea for her even when she couldn’t see. If there was a wish for the lonely woman who lived with an old dog, it was to see her granddaughter, Liria, again at least once.

“What about Lady Liria… How would you describe her?”

Cediloy let out a deeper sigh.

“Even if I talk about Liria now, you might not understand. According to the person taking care of her, she has lost a significant part of her memory. No, it would be more accurate to say… she only remembers the past. Lady Celine thinks Liria is about eight or nine years old. She has been worrying all the time, thinking that her granddaughter went out to play and didn’t come back.”

“Are you planning to hide the truth, then?”

Even though it wasn’t her intention, her tone became accusatory. Meiana felt a slight sense of guilt as she looked at the pained Cediloy. However, she hoped he would answer. Regardless of the response, she wanted an honest answer.

Cediloy, who had been silently watching Meiana, slowly spoke.

“If Lady Celine asks about Liria, I plan to tell her the truth at that time. She may resent me, but she has to accept it. Even if she buries that incident in her heart and suffers for the rest of her life, that’s my responsibility. However, if Lady Celine only remembers Liria when she was young, I think there’s no need to tell her everything. She doesn’t need to know that her granddaughter, who was only eight years old, got married, had a child, and was killed by someone even before celebrating the child’s first birthday.”

It was a valid point. However, Meiana couldn’t shake off an inexplicable sense of unease. Lady Celine had waited for news of her granddaughter for far too long.
Granddaughter, who left for a warm place on a journey, would not have left that house, waiting for her return to embrace her. What can repay the depth of that wait? What can console?

Cediloy spoke again.

“In essence, the reason we’re going to the capital is to meet Lady Celine. Of course, after cleanly dealing with the matter of Jocelyn… that is. After meeting Lady Celine, we must also pay our respects to Her Majesty. Both in the case of Swan and in this matter, Her Majesty lent us her strength.”

Meiana nodded calmly. However, her gaze toward Cediloy was quite challenging.

“I understand what you’re saying, Your Grace. I know why you’re going to the capital. But still, there’s one thing that I don’t quite understand. While planning such an important matter, are you telling me you’re investing time in just sewing my dress?”

“Your task is as precious to me as any other. I can’t express it as just a ‘task.'”

In that moment, Meiana felt an indescribable emotion filling her chest.

She had repeatedly told herself to pull herself together, that now was not the time. However, the emotions that started to stir didn’t settle easily. Like a child who heard the words ‘you will receive a wonderful gift.’

Cediloy, watching Meiana’s reddened cheeks, smiled. He approached her and left a gentle kiss on her ear. The sound of the lips touching and parting was unbelievably clear and vivid.

Meiana touched the spot where his lips had touched with her fingertips. It felt as if hot droplets had splashed there.

“Kosha.”

“Kosha? Why her?”

Coughing lightly, Meiana, who was once again fidgeting with her ear, said,

“Kosha knows. About… your, um, relationship with me. She didn’t seem to know very well, but Jocelyn advised that if the Head Steward found out, he wouldn’t stay silent.”

Cediloy chuckled softly and this time, planted a kiss on her cheek. The warmth that touched the thin skin spread along the gentle curve of her lips.

“Such a thing will never happen, never. Jocelyn will no longer be able to interfere in this house. To anyone, in any matter.”

“So, is it just unnecessary worry?”

Cediloy nodded and pulled Meiana into his arms.

“Yes, it’s unnecessary worry.”

Their faces, leaning toward each other, got closer. After a breathless moment, their overlapping lips tasted each other’s warmth and scent. Cediloy’s movements toward her were careful yet persistent.

Meiana felt as if they were both sinking into the water, into the deep and blue water, experiencing a moment that was both dark and captivating.