Epilogue.2

“I’m terribly sorry.” 

“No, we should be the ones apologizing.” 

The Marquis and the Earl couple sitting across from each other politely exchanged apologies. 

The reason was this: for the Marquis, his son, who had been quietly sitting beside him until a moment ago, suddenly ran off right after greeting the Earl couple, saying, “I’ll be back in a moment!” Meanwhile, the Earl couple had just learned that their daughter, whom they thought was waiting patiently after getting ready, had gone off to play in the forest behind the mansion. 

They each sighed and were at a loss due to the embarrassment. 

Then someone spoke first. It was the Marquis. Known as the finest gentleman in the Empire, he maintained a polite tone even with the Earl couple. 

“The children haven’t met each other yet, so we can’t predict their relationship, but I was quite surprised when I first heard the story. It sounded as if you were looking for my son.” 

The older Earl replied with a happy and proud expression. 

“I was surprised too. I love my daughter dearly, so I acted on that belief, but I didn’t expect it to be true. I never thought that a young master would contact us directly after hearing, ‘We are looking for a boy named Nathaniel who remembers the name Cordelia.’

***

“Are you Alice Polium?” 

It was when she was squatting in a wide clover field she often visited. She heard someone’s voice. It was a boy, but unfamiliar. Startled, she looked around to find the source. Then she spotted a shadow of a person standing next to a tree. 

Judging by the voice, it seemed to be someone her age. Moreover, he seemed to be catching his breath, as if he had run over. 

“Who are you?” 

She responded with a question, glaring at him before answering. She tried to see the face hidden in the tree’s shadow. But there was no need, as he gradually began to approach her. 

“I’m Levin. Levin Laurel. I came to meet you.” 

“Levin?”

Alice was startled by the name and took a step back. She took a deep breath as she realized that the boy indeed had bright blue eyes, just like the name suggested. 

Her heart pounded, and cold sweat trickled down. Even though it was a past event in this life, memories of the previous life seemed to resurface. As she continued to retreat in fear, the boy, surprised, stopped approaching her. 

He then reassured her, promising not to come any closer. His demeanor was gentle and courteous. 

“I heard you’ve been looking for someone for a long time. Is that right?” 

“……” 

A strange sense of déjà vu began to rise from deep within her. It was the clear revelation she received just before ending her previous life. The vivid premonition that seemed to say, ‘You will meet again…,’ warming her heart. 

In the feeling of barely being able to breathe, she carefully observed the boy standing at a distance. 

Tall, with distinct features, blue eyes, and black hair. 

The boy’s appearance was certainly beautiful, but he was clearly different from the ‘him’ she knew. But then again, wasn’t she also different? 

Could it be that this boy was…

“I’m sorry. Did I scare you?” 

It was when her breath began to tremble. Despite her glaring at him without answering, he still looked at her with unwavering kindness. Then suddenly, he made a familiar expression. With slightly furrowed eyebrows and a bitter smile. At that moment, her eyes widened. Simultaneously, an answer became clear in her heart. 

Ah, that boy is indeed… 

Then he spoke to her.

“My name is ‘Nathaniel.’ Here, it’s not my real name but my baptismal name. I’m looking for someone named ‘Cordelia.’ Specifically, the person who once had that name.” 

“Ah…” 

“I heard from the Earl that you were looking for ‘Nathaniel who knows Cordelia.’ Is that true?” 

Her lips moved silently, but her throat felt choked, preventing her voice from coming out. Then she felt tears rolling down her cheeks, blurring her vision. 

This can’t be happening, it’s just unbelievable… 

At that moment, the boy suddenly raised his long fingers and made a sound like a whistle. Just like the habit she had seen when she was in Nathaniel’s arms. Soon, she heard the sound of a horse approaching. A black horse came running and rubbed its face against his hand. He then introduced it to her, saying, 

“This is Skoll, our horse.” 

Skoll. Nathaniel. Cordelia… 

Finally, like being struck by lightning, all the scenery became real. She ran to him frantically and wrapped her arms around his waist. He embraced her and spun around with her. Then, holding her, he laughed softly above her head. It was the same gesture only they knew. A part of the memory that only Nathaniel would know. 

“…You came running like this again.”

The embrace was as warm as before, with a comforting scent of wood. She wept with joy. 

“Were you surprised by the name? I was too, when I regained my memories. I wondered why it had to be this name. But perhaps it means something good for you this time. So don’t be afraid. I’ll make sure it’s different.” 

“Really, are you really Nathaniel?” 

“Yes, Cordelia.” 

“Why… why were you so late? I waited for so long…” 

“Yes, yes. I’m sorry…” 

He apologized as he used to. He was the only one who would accept her foolish complaints like this. She was convinced that this boy was Nathaniel. 

Ah, we’ve met. We’ve met again. And this time, without great difficulties or sad misunderstandings, we can be together like this. 

Joy filled her heart. At that moment, she thanked God countless times. Thank you for letting us meet again. She promised to devote her life to making His precious existence happy. 

“Let’s go. Let’s greet them and tell them we’ve met.” 

“Yes…”

Now, she would return to the mansion holding his hand. She would go and declare their engagement immediately. For the next two years, she would prepare to become a wonderful bride. This time, not just an inexperienced wife, but his perfect partner. 

As soon as they became adults, they would marry. And, like before, they would wake up in the same bed and continuously express their love for each other, showing and reaffirming these feelings. 

And this time, they would fulfill the dreams left unachieved in the previous life. 

She would plant a beautiful olive tree and wait for its fruits to bear, and bake him a very large pie he once wished to receive. She would watch him grow into middle age and old age, capturing these moments in her eyes. They would have children, ones who would resemble both of them. Together, they would walk hand in hand with their little ones through the yard, watching them grow and enjoying the passage of time. 

Then, someday in the distant future, they would make the same promise as in the previous life. She would say that she was happy to be with him and wished to meet him again in the next life. When she said that, he, with kindness, would surely caress her cheek and respond, ‘Me too.’ 

Through her tears, she envisioned their happy future together. It was a very clear premonition, as if it had been promised someday.

END