Chapter 8.2

The day she learned Kaiden was in Roeta, she’d dreamed of Lake Bannon for the first time in ages.

A peaceful sky, warm breeze, the scent of grass by the lake. The dream, filled with everything she loved, was so vivid it hurt Brienne’s heart.

Why did such trivial memories matter?

The day they first rode a boat together, sneaking out at dawn for a secret night walk, betting on who could read longer and falling asleep to the sound of rain outside the window.

None of these were special memories, but that made them hurt even more. It was sad. Where happiness had vanished, only sadness remained.

To remember precious days with sadness meant it was time to let go of memories that had lost their meaning.

Even if she resented Kaiden, she couldn’t hate all those memories.

If she hated even those times, she’d truly have nothing left.

After that day, Brienne habitually visited the library to shake off thoughts of Kaiden. As always, books helped to calm her turbulent heart, and the sudden waves of gloom gradually subsided.

However, sometimes these questions would unconsciously emerge.

‘Did Kaiden hear my voice?’

‘If so, why didn’t he turn back?’

The first emotion that occupied Brienne’s heart when she saw Kaiden outside the window was relief.

Even as she tried hard to forget, deep down, she was curious and worried about his whereabouts.

How could she not be glad to know that he was safe?

Although she felt embarrassed about running across the campus shouting Kaiden’s name that day, Brienne did not regret it. The only thing that bothered her was the suspicion that Kaiden might have deliberately pretended not to hear her voice.

“Hmm, I’ve decided. Let’s go now, Miss.”

When Brienne, lost in thought, didn’t reply, Diashi waved her hand in front of Brienne’s eyes.

“Miss? Are you alright?”

“…Ah.”

Only then did Brienne snap out of it and look at Diashi, who was examining her face.

To be lost in other thoughts in front of someone—she couldn’t understand why she kept thinking about unnecessary things. With a sigh inside, Brienne gave a faint smile and gently took Diashi’s arm.

She didn’t want her personal thoughts to ruin her promise with Miss Diashi.

“I’m sorry, where did you decide?”

“There’s a delicious dessert shop right ahead! Do you like cake?”

“Yes, it’s my favorite food.”

“Knew it! We’re destined!”

Diashi, eyes shining as if moved, tightly held Brienne’s hand.

“Miss, shall we go and demolish the cake shop then? I think I can eat at least a whole cake.”

“Alright. I’ll try my best too.”

A bright smile spread across Brienne’s face as she nodded. She matched Diashi’s lively steps and walked among the bustling crowd of the shopping street.

* * *

“How much longer will you stay here?”

“Well, about a month. I plan to look for work during that time.”

Long shadows stretched behind the two men as they left the old cafe terrace. Standing in front of the carriage they had arrived in, Herace, who had carefully stored the documents, looked at Kaiden.

“Ha, Kaiden Bannon working. That’s a joke worthy of making the Duke Bannon faint with surprise.”

The earlier hostility was nowhere to be found in Herace’s light smile. Kaiden, who readily acknowledged the joke, finally smiled, a beat delayed.

“Interesting. According to you, it wouldn’t be bad to inform him of my plans in advance.”

“If you want, I can pass it on. Even reporting it to Bailey Newspaper today wouldn’t be bad. Your “father-in-law” welcomes any scoop with open arms, doesn’t he?”

“That’s a terrible thing to say.”

Kaiden shook his head, as if disgusted, and gestured toward the carriage with his chin.

“If you’re done with your business, go ahead. I’m heading to the shopping street.”

“Going there again?”

“It’s not for any other reason.”

With a sigh at Herace’s suspicion, Kaiden showed the newspaper he was holding. It was the page with a job advertisement for a private tutor.

“As you can see, I’m in a hurry.”

Herace’s gaze lingered on the newspaper before returning to Kaiden’s face.

They had joked earlier, but Kaiden had noticeably lost weight in just a week. Was he sleeping or eating properly? Herace, who looked at Kaiden’s uncharacteristic face, spoke sincerely.

“Kaiden, if you need money, just say so. I can help with that anytime.”

But Kaiden shook his head.

“I’m not a kid—I don’t want to beg from you. If I were going to do that, I wouldn’t have left home in the first place.”

Herace stared at the frowning Kaiden for a moment and then let out a small laugh.

“Fine, do as you wish. I don’t know how long that dream will last, but I sincerely support you.”

“Are you enjoying teasing me?”

“It’s not entirely boring.”

Shrugging, Herace nodded toward the newspaper.

“If you change your mind, contact me. Trying something you’ve never done before won’t be as easy as you think.”

“Thanks for your concern, but I’ll decline for now.”

With that neat answer, Kaiden turned away from Herace. However, Herace did not get into the carriage. Kaiden had dropped his handkerchief while turning away.

Herace, tilting his head slightly and looking at it, called out playfully.

“My Lady.”

He slowly bent down and picked up the handkerchief embroidered with sky-blue thread.

“Trying to catch my attention with such a classic trick? May I ask your name, as you wish?”

With a polite gesture and elegant tone, the gentlemanly courtesy usually reserved for noble ladies made Kaiden frown instantly.

“…Unbelievable. Save those words for Brienne.”

Kaiden snatched the handkerchief from him with a sigh and passed by Herace. Only then, with a satisfied smile, did Herace obediently get into the carriage.

But the farther Kaiden’s figure receded, the narrower Herace’s eyes became.

Shopping street.

Kaiden surely didn’t know Brienne was there, but somehow, Herace couldn’t shake off the uneasy feeling.

Would the same coincidence happen again?

Glancing at his wristwatch, Herace spoke to the coachman.

“Shopping street, near Morgen Atelier, please.”

“Aren’t you going to the academy?”

The coachman, who thought Herace’s destination was the academy, looked at him curiously. A meaningful smile appeared on Herace’s face as he nodded.

“Well, there’s a guy who gets God’s favor just for being pretty. I have to desperately create my own coincidences here.”

“Excuse me…?”

Unable to understand the reply, the coachman tilted his head, then accepted it and grabbed the reins. Herace’s carriage left the bumpy back alley road, circled Peterman Station, and headed toward the shopping street.

* * *

“Ah, the smell of new books is always wonderful! Can you hear it? The sound of my heart beating?”

Diashi, nose buried between thick bookshelves, asked for Brienne’s agreement with sparkling eyes. Brienne let out a small laugh and nodded readily.

“Miss Diashi, you really must love new books. I should’ve guessed when you invited me to the bookstore.”

“A true intellectual must love bookstores! The smell of old books is nice, but there’s a unique ink scent that only new books have, right?”

Diashi hugged the book preciously and smiled brightly, as if she were happy. Brienne learned that Diashi was as much a book lover as she was, something she found out while eating cake with Diashi before coming to the bookstore.

After sitting at the dessert shop and talking about how they had been, Brienne and Diashi visited Schurten Bookstore as the sunlight began to fade.

While Brienne browsed the shelves for books listed in her academy notebook, Diashi followed her around with a research book she had already chosen.

“Miss, you’re aiming for the Department of Magic, right?”

Brienne carefully flipped through a stiff book and nodded.

“Yes, though I’m not sure yet if I can get in…”

From what she’d learned, more than half of the students entering Roeta Academy dreamed of joining the Department of Magic. To get in, one had to earn high scores in all magic-related subjects.

Brienne closed the book with a determined look.

“If given the chance, I’m confident I’ll work harder than anyone.”

She hadn’t felt magic or even a hint of mana yet, but she’d always worked hard at her studies. Diashi smiled, as if proud of Brienne.

“That’s a great expression! Then I’ll recommend a few textbooks. This is the book I read in my first year—ta-da! My life’s book.”

Diashi approached the shelf Brienne was browsing and pulled out a book. But Brienne looked up at her with a puzzled face, not understanding Diashi’s words.

“A life’s book… Does that mean your life is written in it, Miss Diashi?”

Diashi blinked at the innocent question befitting a noble lady, then smiled.

“Hmm… ‘Life’s book’ has several meanings. What I meant was it’s my favorite book.”

“Oh, I see…”

So it wasn’t about Miss Diashi’s life. Blushing with embarrassment, Brienne took the book Diashi handed her and muttered softly.

Favorite book.

She had one too, of course. In Brienne’s downcast eyes, a memory of spring at nineteen flashed by—the book she’d lent to Kaiden.

She’d tried to make the test difficult so Kaiden wouldn’t get a perfect score, but he insisted on getting full marks and even demanded praise. Brienne ended up awkwardly patting his head, but couldn’t forget the sensation in her hand for a while.

Recalling that now bittersweet memory, Brienne smiled faintly and looked down at the book Diashi had given her.

It was a book with geometric patterns on a taupe cover.