Chapter 48 Cadiz Summer season Pageant

Translator: Tseirp

The summer season solstice solar didn’t appear to be it wished to set, and it was vivid even within the night. The port of Cádiz was rocky, and there have been numerous individuals on the craggy stones. Every holding a small boat-shaped piece of wooden of their hand, lighting a brief candle, and launching their boats out to the pulling waves.

Individuals who launched boats with a smile. Individuals who ship them crying. Individuals who pray with their eyes closed because the boats drift away.

Everybody gave the impression to be having conversations with the departed souls who go to solely whereas the candles burn.

The inside elements of the harbor had been sandy and grassy.

Easy stalls had been lined up with grilled meat, fruit, candy baked items, fruit juice, equipment, and easy toys. All types of issues had been offered.

Nonna was so intent on strolling round wanting on the meals stalls that I feared I’d lose sight of her if I didn’t maintain her hand.

(Ah, whether it is this crowded, no one would discover us), I felt relieved in an odd means, and I additionally thought, (Why am I comforting myself with that?).

Folks congregated tightly in that slender row of stalls and it turned terribly crowded. After deliberating for a very long time, Nonna lastly selected fried spherical bread with loads of beet sugar sprinkled on them.

“Mommy, it’s candy and scrumptious!”

Saying that, she handed me the half-eaten bread. I took a small chew.

“Yeah! It’s scrumptious!”

Nonna smiled fortunately once I answered that. Just lately, her entrance tooth fell out, ruining her magnificence, however she was nonetheless pretty.

“Look!”

Once I seemed within the path Nonna was pointing at, I noticed that the low tide was about to succeed in its peak, and many individuals had been concurrently floating small boats out to the ocean.

“Wow”

Nonna with beet sugar round her mouth stared on the sea. Most likely greater than 1,000 small boats carrying candles slowly sailed offshore.

“Lets launch a ship too, Nonna?”

“We are able to?”

“After all.”

I purchased two boat-shaped items of wooden that had been offered all alongside the world and had them gentle a candle. Nonna and I proceeded to the rocky space, cupping the fireplace with our palms so it wouldn’t exit.

“You’ll get harm in the event you fall. Watch your step.”

“Okay!”

Because the crashing waves soaked our footwear, Nonna and I joined the individuals round us in releasing our boat. The boat, which was concerning the dimension of two palms, drifted towards the ocean little by few minutes swaying.

I spoke silently to the candle on my boat, transferring solely my mouth.

(Father, mom, Emily. I miss you. I wish to see you. I’ve been working exhausting all this whereas, however I’m a bit drained now.)

It was as if a sizzling mass had clogged the again of my throat, and tears poured down. There have been many individuals round me, however I crouched down and sobbed as I watched the boat drift away.

“Sniff… Kuh…”

A shocking quantity of tears flowed down.

Nonna rubbed my again together with her small hand.

“I’m sorry, Nonna. I’ll cease crying now.”

“It’s okay. Mommy can cry too.”

Whereas squatting down, I wiped my tears with my palms and took just a few deep breaths.

“Lets purchase some souvenirs dwelling?”

I smiled and talked to Nonna, however she was wanting up behind me with a dumbfounded face.

Once I rapidly circled, the Commander was standing diagonally behind me.

“Jeff!”

Nonna jumped at Commander.

“Jeff! Jeff!” Commander lifted the clinging Nonna along with his left arm, and he hugged my shoulders and helped me rise up.

“I assumed I’d have to come back right here for years till I discovered you. However I really discovered you within the first yr.”

His voice nonetheless sounded good.

I needed to say one thing and apologize, however all I may do was cry like a toddler.

Commander mentioned to a person with a strong physique.

“I’m sorry, however I’ll be going dwelling first.”

“Sure, thanks in your exhausting work. This yr may be very a lot simpler due to Safety Director’s assist. Have night.”

The person despatched us off with a delicate smile. Commander confirmed us to a small home.

“That is my dwelling.”

“Commander’s home?”

“I’m not a commander. Now I’m the Safety Director of the duchy.”

After saying that and making us sit on the couch, Commander turned to an aged girl who gave the impression to be a servant.

“I’ll do the remainder, so you may go dwelling now.”

Nonna sat together with her head coming up and down. She was in all probability drained from all the joy. I took off Nonna’s wig, and Commander flippantly picked up Nonna and laid her down on a bench, then lined her with a skinny summer season blanket.

Commander sat subsequent to me, his massive physique leaning towards me, and with out saying a phrase, locked me in his huge chest and didn’t transfer.

“I’m glad you’re protected. I used to be so nervous that one thing occurred to you.”

“I’m … sorry.”

“No, you don’t must apologize. I don’t need you to apologize. Extra importantly, what ought to I begin with? I’ve quite a bit to let you know.”

Commander held me near his chest and held me firmly in his arms as he advised me many issues.

That the assassination squad got here from Haggle, that I used to be pronounced useless, and that the Ashbury ruling elite knew my true id. That Mrs. Yorana and the others had been protected.

“I understood once I heard that you simply had been the ace of the particular forces.”

Listening to that, I couldn’t search for.

“So that you don’t must run away anymore. Victoria Sellers is useless. Any longer, you may dwell in peace. For those who’re nervous about by chance assembly somebody you understand, you may dwell right here in Cadiz. Foreigners come and go in Hayden’s harbor however they by no means come to Cadiz as a result of it’s a half-farming, half-fishing city. Aside from the summer season solstice, there are solely locals right here. Let’s dwell right here with me. I journey to the Safety Director workplace from right here.”

I requested him what had been on my thoughts for a while.

“Commander…”

“Jeff.”

“Jeff, why did you permit the Knight Order and are available right here? It’s my fault, proper?”

“No. It’s not your fault. Truly, I vaguely suspected that you simply ran away from a company. That’s why I used to be initially considering of quitting the Knight Order to dwell with you. However you disappeared so I ended up working right here. Ultimately, I’d have stop no matter whether or not you had been there or not.”

Actually? If I didn’t become involved with him … After considering that far, I panicked. That’s proper! The ship!

Once I mentioned, “Oh no! The ship dwelling!”.

“If there’s a place you wish to contact, I’ll ship a messenger.” Commander, no, Jeff didn’t let me go.

“I don’t wish to remorse it anymore. How a lot I regretted receiving that letter. How indignant I used to be with myself that I didn’t speak to you sooner. For those who’re nonetheless nervous to remain in Cadiz, the three of us can transfer into the mountains. I could make a residing as a hunter.”

“…”

“Victoria, the place have you ever been and what have you ever been doing? Was there any hazard? Please inform me.”

“Jeff, earlier than I let you know that, there’s one thing I need you to know.”

I straightened my again and seemed straight into Jeff’s face.

My physique trembled with apprehension from what I used to be about to say.

“Once I entered the coaching faculty on the age of eight, I used to be pressured to throw away my title and was given the title of an agent, Chloe. I’ve not used my title for 20 years since then, however my actual title is Anna. Anna Dale. That’s my treasured title that my father and mom gave me.”