“A few times when I was at the academy.”

“This is my first time. I’ve seen off the young masters returning to the academy with the Miss, but that’s all.”

Julie gazed at the suitcase at her feet, lost in thought. She had always been the one sending others off, but now she was the one leaving.

The bright white sunlight slowly settled along their gaze. Her round head rested on Kale’s shoulder.

“We’re really going.”

“Do you regret it?”

“No way. I’m incredibly excited. Especially with a dependable knight by my side.”

“It’s my greatest honor.”

His voice was respectful, yet somehow playful because of it. The knight lending his shoulder awkwardly arranged the lady’s hair. At that gentle touch, somehow her tension melted away.

“Our Miss, Vivi, kept asking if I really had to leave.”

“Is that so? Our kind prince told me to get lost quickly.”

“He must be quite bitter about losing such a capable guard as you, Kale.”

“Lady Violet must also be quite disappointed to be separated from a friend like you.”

The two briefly thought about the people they had left behind. They were incredibly close and more lovable than anyone. Julie and Kale had said their goodbyes and arrived at the train station.

The sound of the train cutting through the tracks could be heard from a distance. Julie held the suitcase handle in one hand and extended her other hand.

“Shall we go, sir?”

“Gladly.”

A calloused hand rested on hers. Eyes dense with greenery sparkled gently. Their meeting gazes were as clear as a midsummer stream.

Within less than a day, rumors spread throughout Paratan that the viscountal household’s maid had fled in the night, blinded by love. A month later, the most beautiful wedding ever held took place in Paratan.

And so the story of the foolish maid and the knight who seduced her was forgotten.

[To My Dear Friend]

Hello, Vivi.

It’s been a while. I’m sorry this letter is late. I said I would write, but traveling here and there delayed it more than expected. It’s already been five years.

I’m doing well. From what I hear, you seem to be doing well too, which is reassuring. I thought you would stay in the capital, but I heard you returned to Paratan. I suppose it’s more comfortable there. It’s peaceful to the point of boredom. After all, it’s home.

I’m in Stevan now. Yes, it’s a city relatively close to the port. Not far from Paratan either. It feels like we’ve settled near our hometown after wandering around, but I like it here.

There’s no mystical mountain like Fairy Mountain, but there’s a dense forest nearby. Village children often play hide-and-seek there. They say they sometimes see non-human things when they go in, but I think it might be the fairies’ mischief. Just the other day, I saw a local fairy couple scolding a child for playing pranks carelessly. The child looked a little under ten years old.

There were no fairies living in human settlements in Paratan, right? Just like werewolves or vampires. Perhaps because Stevan is close to the port, many different beings come and go. Some settle down, others leave quickly.

We will probably…… settle here permanently. That is, me and Kale. We haven’t separated yet. It might be a hasty judgment, but I often think I couldn’t imagine life without Kale. I can’t even remember how I lived before meeting him.

When I say that, Kale jokes that it’s because we’re soulmates, but well…… Still, the expression “soulmates” has a nice ring to it.

We traveled extensively for three years. First, we went to the white desert. Walking on snow-white sand like sugar felt like walking on the sky. Strange, isn’t it? Then we saw the red sea, visited the village where witches live, and traveled enough to fill a map densely with places we’ve been—more places visited than not visited, at least in this country.

We briefly stopped at the capital too. We didn’t stay long, probably about five days. As you know since you were there, it was quite crowded. Small houses were packed tightly together, and though we didn’t go in, we saw the royal palace. And Tempera House too. They say if you make a reservation in advance, you can watch an actual legislative assembly meeting. We didn’t bother with that though.

We crossed mountains, sailed seas, and climbed ice walls. Surprisingly, I have a talent for climbing. Not as good as a knight though. I especially loved the ocean. The scenery of white foam rippling, the humid and salty wind was really wonderful.

Kale says he loves the way I look at the sea. The look in my eyes when I gaze into the distance. I prefer when Kale is looking at something very close. The way he frowns while holding a pumpkin at the market is so cute.

He’s good at shopping. And his cooking is decent too. At first, his cooking was clumsy, but nowadays it’s quite edible. Before, how should I put it, his cooking method was specialized for survival, so there was no taste or texture to speak of. He’s especially good at making mushroom soup. Though it gets tiresome eating it for three or four days straight.

We’re living well, eating well in our own way. I work as a teacher here. Are you surprised?

When Kale and I first arrived in Stevan, there was a dilapidated inn. It was a modest two-story wooden building that seemed like it could be quite nice with some repairs. Having decided to settle here, it took about a year just to renovate the house.

We use the upper floor as living space and the lower floor as a classroom. I think it was originally a reception room, large enough to teach about a dozen children. There was a storage building beside it, which we now use to bake and sell bread daily.

Bread, suddenly—are you surprised? Though Kale couldn’t cook other things well, he was decent at baking from the start. Whether it’s because he’s strong or skilled, it was fortunate that there was a retired baker nearby.

Kale wakes up at dawn to bake bread, and I get up a bit later to prepare breakfast. Sometimes we just have freshly baked bread for meals. Since the classroom and bakery are right next to each other, we can help each other as needed.

Classes start at ten. I don’t teach anything particularly profound. At most, how to read and write letters and simple arithmetic. I also teach composition to slightly older children. Children with better circumstances usually go to academies. I heard that since last year, national academies no longer charge tuition?

Children really grow and learn quickly. It’s quite fascinating. When I first started traveling, I thought I hated caring for and soothing others. That’s what I had been doing all along since I was young. Dressing and putting to sleep my siblings who were born one after another, and then becoming your dedicated maid.

But I found that I like people more than I thought. Is “like” the right word? Yes, I think so. I enjoy mingling with people. When I said that, Kale spoke as if it was such a revelation. He asked if I thought he was the only one who was “kind, friendly to everyone, and weak to affection.”

Those were words I once said to Kale, and he returned them to me verbatim. I had forgotten, but Kale seemed to have taken them to heart. He has a strangely petty side.

On days when there are no classes, we often go to the sea. It’s just three train stops away. Sometimes we rent a carriage, but it feels a bit stuffy, so the train is much better. I often daydream about having a one-person train.

The seawater in Deling is very deep and dark. It’s different from the seas of Darako or Wilka. I was so surprised to learn that each sea has a different color. Looking at the light rippling on the surface like colored glass colliding, I sometimes plan to live in Deling when we’re older—though not seriously.

When I quietly listen to the sound of waves, it feels like I can sense that enormous movement inside my heart. It feels like the trembling when hearing a first confession.

I spend every day happily like this. Though he can be petty at times, Kale always respects me, and I cherish him too. Yes, I love him.

It’s not quite to the point where I think there’s no one better in the world, but…… It’s comfortable knowing without words how many eggs to fry, when to change the bedding, how long to continue a hug—just by looking at his face. He’s an affectionate person. So it never feels like the love has cooled.

It’s not a burning love like yours and His Highness Helio’s. If I had to compare, it’s like a candle lit at night? Or a campfire when camping, something like that.

It’s not fantastically dizzying with stars twinkling overhead, but I love our soil-stained hands touching while planting flowers, and how he strokes my bird’s nest hair. It’s a bit embarrassing, but…… I pretty much love everything. I’m content.

There’s a small flower bed in front of our house. I planted many flowers, and they bloomed fully recently. They’re flowers that bloom throughout spring and summer, and should last a good three months. They’re small, bright yellow flowers, but sometimes they sparkle even at night, perhaps due to fairy children’s mischief.

Orange, platinum, purple. The color of light changes depending on where you view it from. You would like it too. I know the garden at the king’s villa and the roses ripening on the walls are famous, but. Won’t you come visit? I’ll prepare bread you like and apple jam that’s not too sweet, and wait for you.

I would be happy to receive your reply.

On a day when the forest is just beginning to fill with green

Sending love and hugs, Julie.

※ P.S.: Oh! I’m enclosing a wedding invitation.

The End