The roses in the garden bloomed in full with the beginning of the beautiful spring season.

The spring garden, which no one expected to see from the black walls, was open for everyone to come and go.

Thanks to this, even the servants who had been stuck inside the castle repeating work and tasks were freely coming and going, enjoying a warm time.

The prosperity of Habertz.

Contrary to what people thought for the past few decades that it would soon collapse, Habertz was steadily preparing to meet its heyday.

Aden too, as if assimilating into that season, attended to his duties and greeted people with a relatively gentle face.

Those who had found it difficult to approach Aden, who had been working with a dark and hardened face for the past few weeks, nodded at his gradually improving appearance.

In the end, time was the medicine. Humans are creatures of forgetfulness. As time passes, they gradually forget memories of the past and move forward.

Three months might be a long time for some, but in the context of an entire life, it was just a fleeting moment.

The emotions and memories built within that time could surely remain as beautiful memories of the past when looked back upon later.

Aden, who had returned to a peaceful daily routine, woke up at dawn to train, ate breakfast, and then devoted himself to work.

Thanks to the systematically organized internal structure, Aden’s workload decreased and even more perfect results were produced.

After morning work was done, he would have lunch, take a simple walk, and rest. In the meantime, he would receive guests from outside and then attend to afternoon work.

After eating dinner again, before returning to his room, he would train once more, then briefly wash up and take a walk.

Throughout all this series of processes, Aden’s face was peaceful.

When night had fully descended and deep darkness had fallen, Aden turned around after bidding Salome goodnight and telling him to go rest.

The castle reflected in his eyes had changed remarkably.

Many new things had come in and settled as if they had always been there, elevating the dignity of the castle.

As if emphasizing the importance of decorations and interior design, a chandelier soaring high on the entrance ceiling dispelled the darkness of the night and scattered elegant light.

Aden, who had been staring at that sight absent-mindedly, moved his steps.

Aimless steps without a destination. In the two months since Ludmila had disappeared, Aden had not been able to fill the emptiness he felt deep in his heart.

After eating meals and attending to work, he didn’t know what to do.

What did he use to do in the past? When such thoughts suddenly came to mind, Aden couldn’t come up with an answer.

It was because he realized how much his daily life had changed before and after Ludmila came here.

Though he hadn’t thought much of it, the cup of tea he had shared with Ludmila after their evening dinner was a very important element that allowed him to peacefully conclude his day.

Just as Aden, who had belatedly acknowledged this fact, was about to let out a sigh, his steps came to an abrupt halt.

What his halted gaze was directed at was a painting hung near the history hall.

A painting he had received when he didn’t pay money even though an investment had yielded results. But it was a fake.

Outwardly there seemed to be no problem, but in the end, it was a worthless forgery.

As Aden silently gazed at that painting, the face of one person was drawn in his mind.

That person seemed to be saying something to the men, and then eventually made them bend their knees.

As the vividly remembered face of bewilderment came to mind, a dry smile formed on Aden’s lips.

His legs, which had been staring blankly at the painting, moved again. Past the history hall to the logging room, which had now become the most important place.

Passing by the front of it, bearing traces of intense work, he opened the back door and stepped out into the garden.

The mild air felt upon opening the door, and the thick scent of roses and grass that tickled his nose riding on that air.

Led by that distant fragrance he had never smelled before while living here, his steps were directed to where a cleaned fountain was placed.

Was this here before?

The unfamiliar feeling he had when he first saw this fountain came back to him. A slow breath lingered on Aden’s lips.

Aden, who had been silently looking at the fountain carved with wolves, turned his head.

The night garden where soft oil lamps dispelled the darkness. The entrance, corridors, everything he was enjoying now.

There was no place untouched by Ludmila’s traces. It was hard to believe that all these changes were brought by just one person.

Even though she had only stayed for 3 months, spreading such a deep fragrance was not something anyone could do.

Back to daily life. To that time of desperation but without cracks.

All daily routines seemed to have returned to how they were before Ludmila came, but the lingering scent she left behind was so strong that no matter where he looked, he couldn’t help but think of her.

Do you truly know? The fact that all these things you said you did for me, because you loved me, make me miss you.

Aden recalled the letter Ludmila had left.

That letter, containing information to suppress Jeffrey, had a calm farewell message to Aden written in it.

What reason you had for making such a decision when we had only met for a few days.

Perhaps, if there’s some answer in that painting. There are many curiosities, but they’re not important now.

I’m sure I’ll miss you. But it’s okay.

If you look up at the sky, the moon will be shining. It will be the same sky we watched together.

Surely it will be as beautiful as that time when I leaned on you and kissed you in the moon’s radiance.

Even if there comes a time when the moon becomes so small that its light can’t be seen in the darkness, don’t worry.

The more darkness comes, the more brilliantly the multitude of stars in the sky will shine.

I hope there’s a light to guide you even when darkness comes.

I hope you’ll be happy. I hope you won’t get hurt.

That’s all I wish for.]

The final farewell letter he had read ten, no, more than twenty times.

As if recalling those words that came clearly to mind even with eyes closed, Aden’s gaze turned to the sky. A crescent moon hung in the cloudless sky.

Next to its faint radiance, a multitude of stars were beautifully twinkling.

The light that guides me. The star that leads me.

But among those countless lights, there was nothing to guide him.

Aden, who had been looking at the night sky with bewildered eyes like a child who had lost its mother, closed his eyes. As if to let him know that it had not yet left, a cold wind swept over his body.

Amidst the thick fragrance brushing his nose, Aden was just drifting like a buoy caught in waves, unable to find the light to guide him.

Before long, Ludmila’s daily life began with the early morning dew.

The farming she had started just to divert people’s attention was now bringing her quite a bit of peace.

Green foliage was starting to appear on the land that had been empty.

Unable to forget that strange sensation she felt when the first sprouts appeared, Ludmila planted new crops in addition to the simple vegetables she had planted in the garden.

What had started as a pastime soon became her profession.

From early morning, she would check on the crops, and after finishing work, she would meet the wife of a nearby farmer to get information related to farming.

Thanks to that, Ludmila, who had bought new seedling trays, thought that when this year’s farming was over, she should try more seriously next year.

This year, the amount planted was small, so it was difficult to expect any significant harvest, but next year, surely more would be harvested.

When that time comes, I’ll be able to share with the people around. The gentle elderly couple who do charity work at the church and Bionia who is raising a newborn. And…

Ludmila’s lips, which had been curving into a smile as she recalled the faces and names of people in her mind, stopped when she thought of Aden.

Ludmila bit her lip as she caressed the fairly grown barley with her fingertips.

“…Should I send some?”

I don’t know if he likes barley, but if I grind it into powder and send it, he could make bread. Freshly baked barley bread was certainly delicious.

Even if not that, if made into hardtack, it could become a daily snack to fill Aden’s stomach as he often traveled to distant places.

As her thoughts reached that point, Ludmila suddenly felt impatient.

Should I increase the amount even now? It seems hard to wait until next year.

As she rolled her eyes with such thoughts, she felt her reverie scatter with the incoming wind and smiled helplessly.

What am I thinking now?

After leaving Aden, now thinking of gifting him barley.

Shaking her head slightly at her own thoughts that seemed ridiculous even upon reconsideration, Ludmila heard a voice calling her.

“Lady Ludmila.”

It was then that she heard a voice calling her. Turning around, Ludmila saw Angar standing on the roadside and approached him.

Taking off the wide-brimmed hat she had been wearing, Ludmila greeted him politely, and Angar smiled in return.

“What brings you here?”

“Ah, it’s nothing special. I was wondering if you might be interested in attending the village festival in two weeks?”

“A festival?”

As Ludmila asked with round eyes, Angar pointed to one side.

“Every year, the villages take turns hosting a joint festival. It’s like a ceremony to pray for peace before facing the hot summer and rainy season… something like that. Would you like to go together if you’re alright with it?”

At his polite question, Ludmila bit her lip and hesitated for a moment.

Realizing that Ludmila was finding it difficult, Angar opened his palm.

“Of course, I’m not forcing you. Um…”

“I’ll go.”

Before Angar could finish speaking, Ludmila’s voice flowed out.

To him, who looked surprised as if unexpected, Ludmila gave a polite smile.

“Thank you for inviting me. Is there perhaps any preparation needed?”

Angar, who had been staring at her seemingly more relaxed appearance as if she had put something down, nodded slightly with a small smile.

“Yes, first of all…”

His voice, speaking steadily, scattered in the quiet wind. In the center of peaceful spring.

Ludmila was still adapting to this unfamiliar time.

And beyond that, in the Empire too, a festival announcing the opening of the Founding Day celebration was beginning, as if led by a new wind.