At the servant’s immediate response, Kirhin scratched the back of his neck. If Lucienne had decided it, there must be some reason, so he couldn’t change it on his own.

“Where is Lucy now?”

At his question, the servant’s gaze flew toward the wide-open window. Exhaling a faint sigh, Kirhin grabbed a thick scarf and headed toward the garden.

It was cold enough that breath was visible just by breathing quietly, but recently Lucienne had been spending a lot of time outside.

Since entering the mansion, she hadn’t wasted a single minute. She was doing something every moment, and even in the late dawn, lights were often on in her room or study. Her determination and momentum to absorb everything she didn’t know was sometimes frightening.

In reality, Lucienne had accomplished many things. It could be said that she had become a completely different person from when she used the name Lucienne Gwynter. It was truly an amazing transformation to have achieved in less than three months.

But now…….

Following the small footprints in the patches of snow, Kirhin clicked his tongue briefly. He didn’t need to follow the traces to the end to know where they led. It was the small pond in the rear garden.

As he got closer, he could hear the sound of wet water splashing. Kirhin could easily find Lucienne standing by the pond.

With her long hair neatly braided up, she wore a dark gray dress with voluminous sleeves and a purple fur-trimmed coat over it. The harmony of colors looked beautiful and noble, but it felt somewhat dark and heavy for someone as young and vibrant as her to wear. It also made her white skin look even paler.

Without any decorative accessories, Lucienne’s gaze was directed at the ripples on the pond caused by the stone she had thrown. Seeing her emotionless face that showed no motivation, Kirhin swallowed a sigh and cleared his throat.

“It’s cold out here. What are you doing, Lucy?”

Lucienne, who seemed not lost in thought but rather detached from all senses, slowly turned her head. The corners of her mouth lifted slightly as if by reflex, but it didn’t look like a smiling face.

“Just feeling stuffy inside.”

Clicking his tongue at her exposed white neck, Kirhin wrapped the scarf he had brought around her neck. Lucienne’s gaze, which allowed his touch without resistance, was directed at the pond where the disturbance had completely disappeared.

“What if you catch a cold?”

“If I catch one, I’ll lie sick in bed. It’s not like I have anything to do.”

The calm response made Kirhin feel even more stuffy inside. The current Lucienne looked like a shell with all life’s vigor sucked out of her. She was completely different from how she used to be, with intelligent eyes sparkling with life despite having an exhausted face from lack of sleep.

Though he knew the reason, it wasn’t something he could freely intervene in. Rubbing his face, he crossed his arms and asked grumpily.

“The color of the curtains is too dark. Don’t you think it would be better to change it to a brighter color?”

It was a method he employed hoping that if he picked a fight, she might regain some energy by arguing back, but Lucienne quietly opened her mouth while fiddling with the small stones in her hand.

“I thought it would be nice to have time to honor the late Baron before the banquet begins. Was it too gloomy? Was my thinking shallow?”

“No. No. Your thinking is absolutely right. Mine was shallow.”

Hastily shaking his head, Kirhin decided not to even mention the dessert. Lucienne, who smiled weakly, lightly threw a stone. The stone bounced on the water only twice before sinking. Kirhin looked at the spreading ripples and spoke.

“Chester Storms is attending as your partner?”

“Yes.”

“Well, he’s a man without fault. No bad rumors, and he lives quietly despite being in a position that attracts attention in many ways. He might even be boring for you.”

“Is that so?”

Lucienne’s voice sounded as hollow as an empty tree. Kirhin’s brow furrowed at her tone, which suggested that such matters had nothing to do with her. Finally clenching his fist, he stepped closer.

“Um, Lucy. Are you really thinking of marrying Chester……”

“It’s raining.”

“Huh?”

Following Lucienne’s hand pointing at the pond, Kirhin turned his head. Thin raindrops were falling on the calm pond, creating overlapping small ripples. Lucienne looked up at him and said.

“Let’s go inside. It doesn’t look like it will stop soon. The sky is getting dark.”

Would any words even reach those ears? Perhaps it was just a matter of time. Girls her age sometimes fall for someone, then quickly turn their eyes elsewhere as if it never happened.

From the beginning, Lars was too difficult a match. He was a man with duties to fulfill and goals to live for. Not someone to keep close and share warm affection with.

“Yes. Let’s do that.”

Kirhin readily agreed and patted Lucienne’s back. In the distance, thunder rumbled. The rain was getting heavier.

* * *

“I recall the wondrous feeling when I first saw Miss Lucienne. That moment was like a ray of sunlight accidentally falling into a forest full of ignorance and barbarism. It also reminded me of my younger self who purely loved and embraced poetry. Of course, the beautiful Miss Lucienne and my younger self are quite different.”

People burst into laughter at Penu’s joking words. As I bowed my head in courtesy, Penu raised his glass toward me.

“Hoping that Miss Lucienne’s sparkling intellect continues for a long time. Since it seems there will be something to celebrate soon, I’ll express my feelings this way.”

People raised their glasses toward me and Chester. Chester was looking at me with a gentle smile. Penu’s voice suddenly pierced my ears sharply.

“Through chimneys, through door cracks, through everywhere. Seeping in like smoke.

For it, there are simply no barriers.

Ah, into the arms of the cruel destroyer who will forever shake me, I willingly fall.

Into those arms full of love, I willingly throw my everything.”

My cheek, which had been smiling politely toward Chester, began to tremble faintly. That poem was by the poet Arto, which Lars had once recited.

No matter how much I searched, I couldn’t figure out which poet it was, causing me quite some distress. It was none other than Laurel who told me the title of the poem. She told me after seeing the notebook where I had written down the verses so as not to forget them.

‘So you’re not just pretending to read poetry. Have you found a man you fancy?’

She said the poem was written by Arto when he was 60 years old, about love. Though he lived his entire life alone with not a single known lover, before his death, he left a notebook containing his poems to a woman. She was about the same age as Arto and was a farmer’s wife who had been living alone after losing her husband long ago.

The two lived in different places and seemed to have no connection. Even those who were close to Arto didn’t know the woman’s identity. They could only guess that the two must have crossed paths at some point in their lives, as he had written down the woman’s exact name and address.

The woman died a few years later, and Arto’s notebook was donated to a library. The notebook remained largely unchanged from before it was entrusted to the woman. Except for the title of the poem written in the woman’s handwriting.

Rosaret. That was her name.

“Are you alright, Lucy?”

Lost in thought, I looked up at the quiet voice calling me. The gazes of all the seated guests were directed at me. I quickly put down my glass and smiled naturally.

“Mr. Penu has always been a mentor who teaches me beautiful poetry. I will work harder to become a disciple he can be proud of.”

“Not at all.”

The atmosphere softened as Penu willingly bowed his head. Moving my fork without knowing what I was putting in my mouth, Chester, who had been watching me carefully, stood up from his seat. People’s gazes flew to him once more.

“Since this is a joyous occasion to welcome the new year, I have something I want to say before everyone……”

Suddenly, a loud rumble of thunder made someone jump up with a yelp. It wasn’t just thunder. It was as if a massive lightning bolt had struck right in front of us, piercing through the roof.

My ears were ringing, but following the sharp cracking sound mixed with the thunder for that brief moment, I looked around and gestured to Brook who was running toward the table.

“Brook. The window over there is broken.”

“I’ll check it, Miss.”

Brook hurriedly called the servants and headed toward the window. It seemed a thick branch had broken off and pierced through the window. Fierce wind sounds and heavy raindrops were coming inside. Kirhin rose to his feet.