“, your grandmother was very reckless once I was youthful.”

“Nicely, not so reckless as…….”

“Nicely, in a great way, I used to be reckless, however to inform you the reality, I used to be a really self-righteous, self-important human being.”

The smile light from my grandmother’s face as she reminisced about her youth.

“It was assembly your lifeless mom that introduced me to my senses, however earlier than that, I’m fairly positive I used to be a…….”

She shook her head slowly.

I stood nonetheless, listening to her phrases.

“Unusual, isn’t it, that my grandchild resembles me greater than my very own daughter.”

“It’s …… unusual, however I prefer it, and being instructed I resemble my grandmother is the best praise I may ask for.”

“I’m actually…… blessed with my grandchild.”

Grandma’s voice trailed off.

“Lucy, my pricey……. I generally marvel if I might need  minimize off your abilities prematurely…… I usually remorse it.”

“…….”

“Lucy…….”

“…….”

“I’m sorry I didn’t make the most of your abilities, however I…… didn’t need you to develop up lonely.”

I used to be completely satisfied that she was my grandmother. There was no purpose for her to be sorry for me.

“Being too competent generally isolates individuals.”

Grandma’s voice trailed off.

She appeared like she wished to say extra, however I knew she wanted to relaxation.

“Grandma, I’m so completely satisfied that…… you’re my grandma, and truthfully, even now, I don’t perceive every little thing you say, however I do know that…… you don’t have anything to be sorry about. Actually.”

My grandmother’s eyes widened at my reply. Then, with a mild smile, she slowly closed her eyes.

I instantly put my ear to her chest.

I may hear a faint heartbeat.

Thank goodness.

Each time my grandmother closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep, I used to be grateful to listen to the faint sound of her coronary heart.

⁂

Grandma couldn’t swallow any extra meals; the tip was coming.

“Grandma, can I…… ask you a foul favor?”

I requested, my head hanging low, not daring to take a look at her face.

“I’m so curious while you say that, so go forward.”

“Mother and Dad are going to see you quickly, however…… are you able to stick with me for a short time longer?”

“Certain. …….”

For the primary time, my grandmother confirmed tears in entrance of me. I instantly apologized to her for asking such a egocentric favor.

She didn’t reply.

She simply stored crying.

⁂

As traditional, I held her hand and we talked about random issues.

I might inform her tales about what occurred on the Academy, or about Liel, and he or she would smile and pay attention.

“Grandma, in order that’s when Melissa…….”

“Lucy.”

All of a sudden, Grandma interrupted me and launched her grip on my hand. Her hand slowly moved as much as my cheek.

“Don’t get too wrapped up within the …… household identify. I simply need you to be completely satisfied.”

Tuk—

The hand that had been hovering within the air crashed down, and her hand landed on the white comforter with out even touching my cheek.

On the similar time, the tears I assumed would by no means come fell down the again of her dried hand.

Grandma handed away.

Sarah was the primary to run to me, adopted by Dioleta unnie, who pulled me right into a hug.

It’s okay— it’s okay, it’s going to be okay…….

She stored whispering to me that it was okay, although I didn’t really feel okay in any respect.

Her voice was watery as she mentioned that. I couldn’t say something in response to her phrases.

I didn’t wish to take into consideration something.

I felt like I used to be alone on the earth.

⁂

Overhead, I heard the voice of a priest mourning the dying of my grandmother. My grandmother was mendacity beneath a stone statue of Ophelia, coated in white flowers, her eyes closed.

I stored my head bowed, staring off into the gap with my arms on my thighs.

The sound of the priest’s voice in my ear and the mourners’ voices lamenting my grandmother’s dying stuffed the shrine.

Every time I heard their voices, I noticed my grandmother’s dying repeatedly.

“Goddess Ophelia, convey blessing to the tip of the lifetime of the Marquis of Anis Seywint.”

Lastly, the priest’s prayer ended.

“Could the glory of the gods be with you.”

One after the other, the individuals rose from their seats.

I used to be the one one who hadn’t risen from my seat.

I heard the sound of footsteps.

“Lucy.”

Then the footsteps light away.

“Lucy.”

When the footsteps stopped, I felt a shove subsequent to me. However I didn’t lookup.

“……Liel will likely be right here quickly.”

Solely the phrase “Liel” sounded completely different.

⁂

Not even Liel himself dared to assume that the day would come when he would come right here on his personal ft.

However Liel’s actions had been unflinching.

Shortly dismounting from his horse, Liel pushed open the temple’s gates with out wanting again.

Behind his again, sundown mild poured in.

The temple was empty.

Lucy sat alone, shivering beneath the statue of Ophelia.

Throwing off his sweat-soaked faculty jacket haphazardly, Liel walked shortly to her.

“……Lucy.”

Liel cautiously referred to as out to Lucy. Lucy slowly raised her bent waist.

Lucy’s empty eyes appeared up at Liel. Her face was coated in tears.

her, Liel bit his decrease lip. He didn’t know what to say to her.

He knew higher than anybody how she felt, and he didn’t dare open his mouth.

Lucy’s raveled hair slipped by means of her ears. Liel sat down beside her and smoothed her hair.

He may see tears forming in her dry eyes. Gently, Liel pulled her right into a hug.

Anise’s dying got here as an ideal shock to Liel.

Nonetheless, he had no time to be in shock. He was pressing to consolation Lucy.

However Lucy didn’t really feel Liel’s physique warmth.

“Grandma…….”

Burying her face in Liel’s chest, Lucy longed for the lifeless Anise.

It was the primary time he had ever seen her so damaged.

At this second, Liel resented his helplessness to do something for her.

⁂

After Anise’s funeral, Lucy locked herself into her room.

“Miss, miss. Please have one thing to eat…….”

Every time, Sarah cried and knocked on Lucy’s door.

Lucy by no means opened the door.

Trying sadly on the unlocked door, Sarah sighed closely and wiped her tears with the again of her hand.

Then she silently blamed herself.

Then, as if he’d been ready, Liel took her place.

“Lucy, it’s me.”

He mentioned, knocking on Lucy’s door. Unsurprisingly, there was no reply from Lucy.

Liel waited, unhurried. Then, from past the door, he heard a crack.

Squeak—

Lucy’s door opened, making a slim hole. Sarah hobbled over and handed Lucy’s meal to Liel.

Lucy, wearing her pajamas, stood in entrance of Liel as he entered the room, her face clean.

After locking eyes along with her, Liel closed the door.

On the similar time, the scarf that had been draped over her slim shoulders fell to her ft.

“Lucy, you’re going to harm your self.”

Fastidiously wrapping his arm round Lucy’s shoulders, Liel led her to the mattress. Lucy obediently let herself slip into Liel’s arms.

Lucy’s heels touched the mattress.

Slowly, she sank down on the mattress and Liel sat down beside her.

He moved his arms diligently to chill the steaming soup.

“You…… academy?”

Lucy requested as she stared at him.

It had been every week.

It had been every week since he’d heard Lucy’s voice.

Since Anise’s dying, she hadn’t spoken in any respect.

When Liel spoke to her, she would at the very least nod, however right this moment was the primary time for the reason that funeral that she had answered him straight.

Startled, Liel stopped stirring the soup and checked out Lucy, however her eyes had been nonetheless unfocused.

Though she was clearly taking a look at him, her pupils had been empty.

Liel smiled bitterly and replied.

“It’s okay, I knowledgeable them…… prematurely.”

He didn’t elaborate, although it didn’t make up for misplaced class days.

Lucy should have been questioning the identical factor, as a result of she shook her head and turned her gaze again to the entrance.

“Take a chew.”

Liel scooped up a spoonful of soup and held it out to Lucy. Lucy’s mouth slowly opened.

Gulp—

The method of accepting Anise’s dying should have been as painful and agonizing for Lucy as falling into hell.

Maybe that was why she was slowly dying.

And it was Liel, and nobody else, who was attempting to avoid wasting her.

It’s a superb factor too.

Lucy wasn’t confined to her room. 

Typically within the eating room, generally on the mattress in her room.

As soon as, she was mendacity on the desk in Anise’s workplace.

Liel went in search of Lucy day-after-day. When he discovered her, he would sit by her aspect and quietly await her to get up.

Servants marveled at how simply he discovered her each time.

Even when she was confined to the manor, the Marquis of Seywint’s manor was as spacious as a ducal palace.

Regardless of that, Liel by no means bought misplaced.

As soon as, Sarah had requested him how on earth he may discover Lucy.

He laughed, perplexed, and mentioned, “I simply knew she was there.” It wasn’t a lie.

He wasn’t mendacity.

Ever since he was a child, it hadn’t been arduous for him to identify Lucy when she wasn’t too distant.

“Liel.”

Lucy referred to as to him from her mattress, her eyes fastened on the ceiling. Lighting a candle, Liel blew out the match and leaned towards Lucy to reply.

“Sure. Do you want something?”

Lucy wordlessly held out her hand.

“……..”

As if on cue, Liel took Lucy’s hand. He sat down on the sting of the mattress and gently held it out to her so her hand wouldn’t go numb.

You continue to have me, but you grew to become so lifeless as in case you had nothing left.

Evening fell, and a small breath escaped Lucy’s lips.

By then, Liel had fallen asleep into Lucy’s mattress and closed his eyes.

Drowsiness overtook him.