Chapter 11

Barely two days after Adrian announced his departure to the battlefield, another devastating piece of news arrived at Red Hall. Graham was also drafted to White Bloom. He wasn’t an ordinary soldier but a cavalry squad leader. Morgan Herbon returned from the palace and informed the twins of this fact. 

Jenna naturally protested vehemently. 

“No. Graham can’t go. He’s not even twenty yet! No battlefield wants a child. Father, let’s just pack up today and move to our estate, Posys. There are private soldiers in Posys, so they won’t treat us poorly. If the central government comes down, I’ll hire mercenaries to protect Graham!” 

Jenna was so angry at the Emperor’s actions that she was ready to prepare and head to Posys immediately. In her eyes, Graham was still a boy. No matter how much he had grown, he still seemed like a child. 

However, Graham spoke calmly. 

“Sister, I am a knight. I am a high-ranking knight from a military academy who swore eternal loyalty to the Emperor. If someone like me refuses to go to the battlefield, who will? Who will defend the glory of Ingénes? I am strong. I won’t die. Jenna… we are one. How could I leave you? Don’t worry.” 

Even though Jenna was the mature one growing up, Graham had grown too, and he responded firmly with irrefutable words. 

Morgan Herbon looked at them with a complicated expression before forcing himself to speak. 

“Even someone of noble status like Adrian Henrique moves when ordered, so we can’t just hide in Posys. Fortunately, he’s in the same unit as Adrian, and also…” 

Morgan lowered his voice. 

“Take Cloud as your guard.” 

Cloud de Herbon was a mute man as big as a black bear, originally a mercenary leader, whom Morgan Herbon had retained by giving him part of his estate the year the twins were born. 

He couldn’t speak but possessed the strength to tear a person apart with his bare hands. Originally responsible for protecting both twins, he became Graham’s dedicated guard after Graham received extensive training. 

Despite this, Jenna’s expression did not soften, so the Earl added. 

“I’ll assign a hundred private soldiers. They won’t go to battle but will protect only Graham. How about it, Jenna? Don’t worry, dear.” 

Though concerned for Graham, Jenna also worried about Adrian’s safety. As a member of the Imperial Family, he couldn’t even think of having private soldiers. 

“Adrian, he…” 

Morgan Herbon smiled faintly. 

“You said you couldn’t stand the sight of him, but you still worry about your fiancé, don’t you?”

He left those words and quietly turned his back, entering the study. 

* * * 

It was nearly three months after Adrian and Graham had left for the border region of White Bloom. 

After the departure ceremony, Jenna followed her father to the Imperial Palace every day. Helibet, the capital of Ingénes, was desolate with many having left for the front lines, and it felt more comforting to assist her father with state affairs at the palace than to feel stifled at home holding a book. 

That day, she was also idly spending time in her father’s office at the Imperial Palace.

Ahem! The attendant cleared his throat to announce a visitor. 

“Who is it? Father has gone to have an audience with His Majesty.” 

“Lady Jenna. It’s Magda de Belbard. Sir Graham… has returned.” 

Graham! Oh my! What could have happened without a single letter? It’s only been three months!! 

Jenna ran out without even inviting Magda in, grabbing her plump hand and rushing to the carriage. 

“My lady…” 

Magda lowered her head and mumbled something, but Jenna couldn’t hear it. 

Graham! My brother, my love, you’ve come! Finally! 

When the carriage reached the large lobby of Red Hall, a group of knights in mourning clothes bowed their heads to Jenna. Jenna… didn’t even see that. 

“Graham! Graham!” 

Where had Graham, who she thought would run out and spin her around in his arms, gone? 

“Graham! Where have you gone!” 

“Uh… uh… uhhh…” 

It was Cloud, the mute knight, who stopped Jenna as she crossed the lobby. He was, he was crying. Jenna had never seen him smile or cry before. He was that stoic of a man. 

“Cloud, where’s Graham? Did you come alone?” 

Jenna tried to shake off Cloud, who blocked her, desperately denying the ominous feeling rising to the top of her head. But Cloud, crying, stood like a rock in front of Jenna. 

“Huff, huff… My lady, Lady! Ugh. Cloud, what is this rudeness? Let the lady pass immediately. She must see him! Step aside! She is the most important person to witness Sir Graham’s final journey! Don’t stop her. You have no right. We have no right to do that. Sob.” 

Magda, who had followed Jenna, screamed hysterically. 

Final journey? What is that… 

Though her legs were giving way, Jenna walked forward slowly. 

What nonsense are they all talking about. What nonsense! 

“Graham! Graham Herbon! Stop joking… Come out! Quickly! Graham… th…” 

As Jenna approached, the people gathered at the edge of the lobby glanced at each other and simultaneously made their way. At the end of that path, Adrian Henrique stood, staring blankly at something with his chest neatly bandaged. It was a black coffin. 

No! No… my Graham. My love! My other half. 

Her ominous premonition was becoming reality with each step she took.

“Jenna… don’t look! Please. Let’s talk first… let’s talk outside…” 

Adrian Henrique grabbed Jenna’s shoulder with his unbandaged arm. Suddenly filled with anger, she roughly shook off his arm.

“Let go of me!”

The black coffin was uncovered. Just as she was about to lean in to look inside, Jenna squeezed her eyes shut. 

No… it can’t be. 

Forcing her heavy eyelids open, Graham lay there beautifully, as if playing a prank, just like when he pretended to be dead as a child. 

“Ha, Graham! Get up! Your sister is here! This isn’t fun, you doing this… Please… I was wrong about everything, whatever it is, your sister will do anything. I’ll give you my breath, my love… Graham… please! Open your eyes, open your eyes. Quickly… quickly, Graham! Please…”

Kneeling beside the coffin, she cried and begged, but Graham did not rise. 

There was a commotion, crying, attempts to comfort Jenna, or to help her stand continued for a long time. 

But to Jenna, it all felt distant like a dream; time and space did not seem real, and she couldn’t see the people around her. She felt hands trying to lift her, but her body would not move. When someone tried to give her water, she angrily swatted the hand away. 

Buzzing noises next to her ear, the nonsense that Graham was dead, reached her. Jenna neither cried nor moved, remaining fixed in place beside Graham’s black coffin.

Twins. From the moment they were separated from their mother’s womb, Graham and Jenna were together. They didn’t need to speak or say they loved each other; they could sense each other’s breath. They could feel each other’s existence. 

But why was it that Jenna, despite being so close to her brother, did not sense his death until she saw his body? It seemed absurd to her. 

“Escort the lady to her room. The Earl collapsed on his way back from the Imperial Palace. Quickly, escort the lady to her room!” 

Hands came under her arms, attempting to forcibly detach her from the coffin. Several attendants and maids clung to Jenna out of concern. 

“Let go! I said let go! How dare you lay hands on me! No one, no one should touch me! Leave me alone!”

Jenna screamed desperately, shaking off the hands of the maids clinging to her. 

Seeing the lady’s eyes roll back as she shook off their hands, the attendants exchanged glances and shook their heads. The lady was so agitated that touching her now seemed like it would only harm her. They signaled to give her some time.

Once the hands holding her disappeared, Jenna collapsed beside the coffin. Time and space had stopped, leaving only Graham’s body and herself. Jenna’s world had halted. 

How much time had passed, a low voice was heard. 

「Jenna. Little one. Can you hear me?」 

「…」 

Her body felt drained of moisture, a sense of exhaustion overtook her. 

「You know I was connected to your mother Olivia, right?」 

「…Mother.」 

The story of her mother, who existed only in portraits, didn’t feel real.

「Yes. Your mother Olivia Fleur.」 

「…」 

「Olivia asked me something before she died.」 

「…」 

「She said she truly loved Graham and you. Olivia died trying to protect you. She wanted me to tell you she didn’t give up her life meaninglessly. So don’t let sorrow consume you.」 

「Graham is dead… My brother, my other half has fallen.」

「Yes.」 

「I don’t have the strength to get up…」 

Sorrow has already consumed Father, and it has swallowed me too. 

However, Stone Killer’s voice persistently echoed. ‘Stand up, you must stand up.’

「Lady Jenna. You can overcome this. You are strong. And think carefully. Would Graham want you to sit by the coffin and die with him?」

「Graham… I can’t let Graham go alone and lonely… I am…」 

Stone Killer’s voice was no longer heard. 

When she finally came to her senses and looked around, it was dawn, a faint blue light seeped through the window. At her feet, Magda lay asleep, curled up on the floor as if in prayer, and beside her, Cloud slumped against the wall, his large body drooping. Their faces were a mess from crying so much. 

“Graham…”

It was extremely uncomfortable to stretch her legs. However, she forced herself to stand and looked into the black coffin. Graham lay asleep with his eyes closed. He still hadn’t risen. 

With light brown hair, copper skin, rosy lips, mischievous.

She lowered her hand to stroke his beautiful face one last time. It was still soft, like someone alive.

As she stroked her brother’s soft hair, she suddenly remembered the small sewing scissors that Magda always carried. 

Jenna searched Magda’s pocket at her waist while she slept and found the scissors. She then cut a small lock of Graham’s thick hair and held it tightly in her palm. Bringing it to her nose, she felt as if her beloved brother was still alive. 

“Graham… you’re not dead. Not forever. Just wait until I enter your land… until I enter the land of the gods, just until then. My love, my other half.” 

Leaving the blue darkness of dawn behind, Jenna trudged back to her room.