Chapter 3 – Unrequited Love, That Difficult Path (Part 7)

“Why did I do that back then?”

Lorraine sighed deeply and shook her head.

She had barely shaken off the label of being “just like her sister,” only to have it stuck on her until graduation. Louise, seemingly tireless, asked again.

“So, as a representative of the unmarried faction, what do you think of Olivia’s choice?”

“There’s nothing to think about. She’ll handle it herself.”

Lorraine shrugged, and Marianna looked at her with surprise.

“Oh….”

“It’s not something I should meddle in.”

Every time she saw Diana getting angry, Lorraine thought the same.

“Of course, when I first heard about it, I did think she was too young….”

“…But?”

“…She’ll figure it out. She’s already eighteen.”

“That’s… true.”

Louise nodded in agreement. Lorraine’s deep blue eyes darkened.

“I’m not living her life for her.”

“…….”

“The only thing I can do is help her to the best of my ability if she asks for it.”

Although she said this, Lorraine knew it was easier said than done.

She sighed deeply and pressed her temples.

***

“So, speaking of which.”

Monica picked up a napkin and wiped her mouth. After moistening her lips with water, she continued.

“When are you going to confess?”

Edwin choked on his drink, startled by the sudden question. He pounded his chest and thought as he gulped down the wine that Paul quickly poured.

‘Now I understand why she suddenly asked me to have a meal.’

“I don’t know what you mean.”

Edwin’s half-hearted defiance made Monica scoff.

“Really… you don’t know what I mean. Right?”

Her red eyes were filled with disdain.

“If you’re not an idiot, you should know by now…”

It would be over the moment he said anything. Edwin remained silent. Monica, who had put down her cutlery, sighed deeply.

“I can’t believe my son is this dense.”

“He’ll figure it out soon enough. He’s not that much of a fool.”

Owen patted Monica’s shoulder with a nonchalant expression.

‘Let’s see how far he goes.’

It was a sight that made one lose their appetite, but Edwin swallowed his frustration and silently watched his parents. Monica then gestured to the head maid standing behind her.

The maid carefully handed over an envelope.

‘This doesn’t look good.’ 

Edwin frowned, and Monica smiled brightly.

“The theater troupe I’m sponsoring is putting on a play soon, so you should go.”

“…What? Are you serious?”

“Eddie, I’ve always been serious.”

She continued, seemingly enjoying Edwin’s flustered expression.

“It features Alethea Doyle, so Lorraine would probably like it.”

“That’s not the issue here.”

At Edwin’s retort, Monica tilted her head with a calm face.

“Then what is?”

“…….”

‘I might as well become an actor.’

Monica, watching her son’s mouth open and close silently, delivered the final blow.

“There are two tickets, so just go together.”

“…Yes.”

‘Just close your eyes and go.’

Edwin put down his cutlery with a weary face.

“Pardon…?”

Lorraine was equally flustered.

She thought she was invited for tea.

She slowly put down her teacup, her blue eyes rolling as she cautiously asked,

“But why… would I go with His Grace…?”

“Well, it wouldn’t make sense for Philip and Edwin to go together, would it?”

Lorraine suddenly pictured Philip and Edwin sitting side by side in the box seats with sour faces.

It was a painful picture even to imagine.

“That’s….”

‘True.’

Unable to say no, Lorraine bit her lip. Monica, not waiting for an answer, added another remark.

“The next express train to Astia isn’t for another fortnight.”

It was clear there was no room for excuses. Monica’s poignant voice made Lorraine close her eyes tightly.

‘Just close your eyes and do it.’ 

Lorraine muttered to herself as she nodded.

“…Yes.”

Monica immediately grabbed her hand.

“Really?”

Lorraine, wide-eyed, answered reluctantly.

“…Yes, well….”

For some reason, Monica’s face lit up. Lorraine felt that every time she saw Monica, her vague illusions about the imperial family were being shattered.

In a good way, of course.

Lorraine watched as Monica hurried over to Edwin, eager to share the good news.

“Lorraine agreed to go with you.”

Monica’s words made Edwin glance at her.

It was an indecipherable look. Lorraine straightened her back instinctively.

‘What….’

But it was only for a moment. He turned back and moved his chess piece, responding.

“…Is that so?”

The table became noisy for a moment, and then soon quieted down.

“Check.”

Owen looked at Edwin with a questioning gaze, barely holding back his laughter.

Edwin, who had been tracing the chessboard with a bewildered expression, called out to Monica in a grim voice.

“Mother….”

Monica, with a prim expression, shook Edwin’s queen and said,

“When you’re talking to someone, you should focus on the conversation.”

With a huff, she left the parlor without looking back.

***

Thanks to the people heading to the Moses region, Lantil Central Station was always crowded.

“The 12 o’clock train to Tlemcen is departing!”

At the stationmaster’s shout, the train slowly started moving with a burst of steam and noise.

“Is this the platform for the train to Jaffa?”

“You need to go to platform 9 for the train to Jaffa.”

People hurriedly moved about with large suitcases. It was easy to get lost in the crowded station. Lorraine, who had been looking around with a slightly overwhelmed expression, handed over some snacks she had bought from a station kiosk.

“Have a safe trip.”

Victoria, standing next to Lorraine with her arms crossed, added,

“It’ll be around autumn when you come back.”

“Don’t fight, and get along well.”

Olivia, suddenly acting like an adult, said with a serious face. Victoria snorted, and Erich looked at Olivia with an amused expression.

Lorraine looked at Olivia with an incredulous expression and then reminded her once again.

“Make sure you come back safely. Remember, you’re going there to study.”

“I know. Do you know how many times Diana nagged me about it yesterday?”

‘So I wouldn’t forget.’

Olivia muttered softly, but it was loud enough for everyone to hear. Nevertheless, Lorraine gave one last piece of advice.

“Study hard, write letters to our parents regularly….”

Olivia interrupted, looking exasperated.

“And stay healthy…. Phew… I know, I haven’t forgotten.”

Lorraine watched her grumble and then stepped closer to adjust her hat.

“You still can’t even put on a hat properly by yourself, pretending to be all grown up.”

Lorraine fixed the slightly crooked hat and took something out of her pocket. Olivia’s eyes widened as she felt something heavy settle around her neck.

“…Diana said to give this to you.”

After fumbling for a while, Lorraine stepped back. Olivia began to touch the long necklace that hung from her neck.

At the end of the thin silver chain was a locket adorned with a sapphire and peridot, about the size of a thumbnail.

“Open it.”

At Lorraine’s words, Olivia carefully opened the locket.

“This….”

As Olivia’s lips moved, Lorraine shrugged nonchalantly.

“It was quite a task to get it.”

Inside the locket was a family photo taken a week ago.

“I can’t believe she ordered it and didn’t pick it up.”

Victoria scoffed, as if still incredulous. Even when Olivia said she was leaving the next day, Diana had been indifferent.

「I have a trial to attend that day.」

Diana had replied nonchalantly, pushing up her glasses.

「Have a safe trip. Don’t fight.」

She had said this without taking her eyes off her documents, prompting Olivia to grumble.

「Can’t you at least look up from your papers when you talk to me?」

「I’m busy.」

Olivia had looked down at the locket, not quite smiling or crying, and muttered softly.

“Anyway, she’s the world’s best at pretending not to care.”

Lorraine and Victoria burst into laughter at Olivia’s small grumble.

At that moment, the stationmaster shouted.

“The 1 o’clock train to Jaffa is departing.”

Erich picked up the luggage he had set down, and Olivia took out her ticket from her handbag.

“Have a safe trip.”

“I’ll write you a letter once I’m on the ship.”

Victoria and Olivia shared a brief hug, and Lorraine and Erich shook hands.

“Take care.”

“I’ll contact you as soon as we arrive.”

As they boarded the train, Lorraine and Victoria stood on the platform, watching the train they had boarded.

Victoria cautiously spoke up.

“By the way….”

As the train slowly moved, the people inside passed by in a blur. Lorraine watched them, then turned around and replied indifferently.

“What?”

“Am I the only one who feels strange?”

Victoria was frowning, staring at the departing train.

‘Here we go again.’

Lorraine sighed softly and whispered into her ear.

“What is it?”

“…Just.”

“Just?”

“It just feels… strange.”

Victoria shivered as if she had goosebumps. Despite being someone who dealt with numbers, she was surprisingly positive about probabilities and superstitions.

“Isn’t it a bit late to feel that way now?”

Lorraine shrugged, looking at the distant train that was barely visible, and replied. Victoria wiped her face with a dry hand and answered.

“Maybe it’s nothing?”

“…Let’s hope so.”

Though Lorraine responded indifferently, she couldn’t help but feel a creeping unease.

Victoria’s instincts were often right.