Side Story 2.3

– Imperial Year 1051, October 11.

From the day of their meeting, he began to visit Sophia more and more often. Grandfather Bernard continued to bake bread and trade with the mansion, but her mother, agreeing with him, encouraged them to spend time together.

As expected, Sophia was from a wealthy family. There were rumors that the granddaughter had married into a Marquis family, but the reality was even more surprising.

For example, unlike Grandfather’s house, which looked so ordinary it was almost shabby, Sophia’s room was filled with all sorts of fascinating things. A large teddy bear, a music box with a spinning ballerina, and perfume with a fresh fruit scent.

There was also a crescent moon-shaped mobile hanging from the ceiling, and pretty tiles here and there made the place feel like another world.

Having no sisters, he had never seen such a girlish room before. Drawn in as if bewitched, she entered and chatted while exploring the room.

Perhaps the beauty of Sophia’s room was what made her want to visit so often. At first, they both sat awkwardly, but in that strangely relaxing space, they soon found themselves talking freely. Sophia would listen with a bright smile and respond to everything he said.

When conversation lulled, Sophia would pull out a large sketchbook and draw. Black charcoal would sketch various scenes on white paper—the newly moved-in room, the wheat fields seen through the window, the distant steeple and sky, Grandfather Bernard, people, and himself.

Her delicate drawings captured many moments. Sophia loved painting. Though her long dress hid it, she had uncomfortable legs, making it hard to walk outside for long.

But her eyes never betrayed her. The scenery reflected in the window, the world created on paper—these were Sophia’s only friends.

While she drew, he read books from the shelf. As the future lord and a mage-in-training, there was nothing too difficult to read. But the Flanders territory, ruled by the Unifa family, was so remote that it was hard to bring in diverse books. For her, this time was more enjoyable than any other, as she devoured unfamiliar content.

There was a whole world she’d never known inside those books. The subjects were incredibly varied—philosophy, science, theology, and much of it was difficult for a thirteen-year-old. So, when she didn’t understand something, she would ask Sophia, who always explained it simply.

Once, Sophia seemed even more knowledgeable, and he felt a bit jealous, but her childish heart secretly believed Sophia was truly an angel, and the jealousy soon faded.

‘Well, if she’s an angel, she must know everything.’

She folded her arms and pondered, but quickly forgot about it and immersed herself in reading.

Of all the topics, what fascinated her lately was the universe. Unlike philosophy or religion, it was visible and based on clear evidence. For someone with mage blood, she was quite realistic. Not that she didn’t enjoy books discussing deep inner worlds.

Still, she couldn’t explain why she’d suddenly become obsessed with this field. Whatever the reason, learning that enormous stars existed beyond the land they lived on was shocking.

“Sophia, then, is it all a lie that we go to heaven after we die?”

“Well, who knows. That’s something humans can’t know. Religion was made for people’s governance, but no one has actually visited the afterlife. So, you can’t say it exists or doesn’t exist.”

Sophia looked at her with a mischievous gaze. She knew this was a question with no definite answer, but why did it feel like Sophia knew everything again? She felt like she was missing something.

“But doesn’t the fact that no one has proven it mean there’s nothing to prove?”

“Why do you think so? If you look at it that way, the universe is the same.”

“But mages and scientists have discovered it with magical tools and microscopes.”

“They haven’t actually been there. It’s all hypotheses. Philosophers only say philosophy is important to themselves, that’s all.”

As she always did, Sophia calmly answered while drawing.

Up close, Sophia was shy, and contrary to her proud first impression, she was intelligent, humorous, and likable. Moreover, she enjoyed listening to people. So, the only time she spoke in a decisive tone was when discussing certain facts.

Thanks to that, he gained hope that maybe heaven did exist. Her father had died, but maybe he was living in a warm place in heaven.

But her thoughts didn’t stop there. As she concluded on this topic, she suddenly wondered what was most important to Sophia. Sophia always listened to her, but when it came to herself, she would fall silent. As her thoughts reached that point, she couldn’t shake the feeling that Sophia seemed cold.

“Then what’s important to you?”

“To me?”

“Yeah. I’m curious about your thoughts.”

After pondering for a moment, Sophia replied.

“Beauty. All the beauty in the world moves everyone, angels and devils alike.”

Sophia smiled broadly and looked straight at her. She couldn’t forget that gaze. Like the first time they met, Sophia’s unwavering eyes seemed to represent the future.

After answering, Sophia immediately turned back to her sketchbook. With a few corrections and shading, a puppy that looked ready to jump out of the page was finished. Even though she drew it from memory a week later, it was vivid. After cleaning up and admiring the result, Sophia asked in return.

“What about you?”

– Imperial Year 1053, July 4.

The adults probably didn’t know what they talked about. Whenever Grandfather Bernard and his mother were around, they pretended to play or made excuses. Usually, they claimed to be practicing cursive writing with Sophia, or reading fairy tales and practicing speech.

Both adults were always busy, so they never paid much attention to the children. When they saw them, they would marvel at their grown-up vocabulary. With the granddaughter visiting for her health and the son who lived alone now having a friend, that was enough for them.

The only problem was that outside of time with Sophia, he still had to study magic separately, but she didn’t mind. Time with Sophia was more valuable. But everything that seems eternal eventually fades.

That applied to her relationship with Sophia.

In the year she turned fifteen, Sophia’s health worsened significantly. If she stayed in bed, her legs would stiffen, so every week they would walk together near the house.

The only change over two years was that Sophia wore simpler dresses more suited to Flanders, and swapped her laced parasol for a straw hat. But one day, as they walked side by side, an incident occurred.

Sophia suddenly collapsed, crying out in pain from her sick leg. The pain seemed to spread throughout her body, making it hard to move at all. He carried her on her back and rushed home, left a note for Grandfather Bernard, and ran to the hospital. But when they arrived, the doctor looked at the affected area and shook his head.

“This is strange. Nothing is broken, and the reaction looks normal, but the patient says it hurts… There’s nothing I can do here. You should go to a bigger hospital.”

“What are you saying? The child is in pain!”

“I’ll prescribe painkillers for now. Please go to another territory quickly.”

They left with only medicine, but even after taking it at home, Sophia didn’t get better. There was still some time before Grandfather Bernard finished work.

He laid Sophia on the bed and sat beside her. All afternoon and evening, she could only hold Sophia’s hand and stay by her side as she groaned in pain. Tears soaked the pillow. Her legs had been gradually stiffening, but neither of them had expected this.

Come morning, they might never see each other again.

They didn’t say it, but it was felt in their joined hands and gazes. They stayed together until Grandfather Bernard returned and told him to go home. As she let go of Sophia’s hand and stood up, Sophia spoke.

“I’ll definitely come to see you again.”

Sophia blinked her big eyes and smiled as tears fell. He, her own vision blurring, quickly nodded and left the room.