Epilogue

「To my dearest Cecil,  

Cecil, I wish I could tell you more about my days, but life here is truly monotonous.  

I wake up at the same time every day, follow the same routine, and return to my room at the same hour. My greatest joy these days is reading the books you sent me and writing letters to you.  

Still, I woke up in a good mood today, even before dawn. I dreamed of you last night. I can’t quite recall the details of the dream, but honestly, it doesn’t matter. Just being with you in the dream made it perfect.  

Before falling asleep, I read and reread the letter you sent me, placing it by my bedside. Perhaps that’s what brought you to me in my dreams?  

If that’s the case, tonight, I’ll read all the letters we’ve exchanged and pile them high next to my pillow. I hope you’ll stay in my dreams a little longer tonight.  

Please don’t worry about my health. I’m always excessively healthy. What I’m worried about is you, Cecil. I heard it’s very cold in Belfort these days—please be careful not to catch a cold.  

With love,  

Ethan Hoffman.  

P.S. Please send my regards to Mer and Vivi.」 

—

「To Ethan,  

After days of bone-chilling cold, it snowed heavily today. Since spring is near, this might be the last snowfall. It’s a relief that Portum, where you are, is much warmer than here, but it’s a shame you can’t see this landscape, with the world blanketed in pure white. It’s so beautiful that just looking at it brings happiness.  

Yesterday, I invited Lawrence over for dinner. Mer and he are still doing well. Judging by the atmosphere between them, they might get married around this time next year. Merilyn Blake… It feels strange.  

To be honest, I want to keep Mer close to me for a little longer. But she’s an adult now, and since they love each other deeply, I can’t oppose it without reason. Besides, Lawrence is such a good man.  

However, Vivi doesn’t seem to accept him as family yet. She acted sulky for no reason yesterday. Come to think of it, it’s funny. Vivi warmed up to you from the very first day. I suppose it’s because you’re handsome.  

As healthy as you are,  

Cecilia Godwin.  

P.S. Keeping the letters by your bedside won’t work. I always sleep with your letters under my pillow, yet I’ve never once dreamed of you…」  

—

「To my beloved Cecil,  

You were right. There’s no correlation between the placement of letters and dreams. I can neither summon you into my dreams nor walk into yours, so I’ll have to find another way.  

Cecil, forgive me, but I won’t be able to send letters for a while. Please wait until I send my next one.  

Ah, I can almost picture your expression right now. You’re probably frowning with your eyebrows furrowed and biting your lip slightly. But Cecil, there’s nothing bad happening, so don’t worry. The only thing I’m concerned about is that the snow covering the Earl’s estate garden might melt faster than I expected.  

At the end of winter,  

Ethan Hoffman.」  

—

The quiet morning of autumn. Cecilia stood by the window, reading the letters she had exchanged with Ethan. They were the letters they had written after confirming their feelings for each other in Portum and before Ethan returned to the Godwin Estate six months later, after completing his military service.  

Suddenly, strong arms wrapped around her waist from behind. Without the slightest hint of surprise, Cecilia spoke with a composed expression.  

“Ethan, are you going to keep sneaking up on me like this?”  

“I didn’t particularly try to muffle my footsteps.”  

Ethan lowered his head and kissed Cecilia’s cheek. He glanced at the letter in her hands, recognizing it, and let out a soft chuckle.  

“So this is what you were so engrossed in.”  

Cecilia smiled gently in return and replied,  

“Back then, the time apart was just frustrating and agonizing, but looking back, it wasn’t all bad. We were left with letters to cherish forever.”  

“They’ve become your treasures.”  

Cecilia shook her head and pressed the letter to her chest.  

“No, they’ve become our treasures. We’ll pass them down for generations.”  

“If I’d known that, I would’ve written them better.”  

Ethan leaned slightly closer, whispering softly into her ear.  

“And maybe left out some of the naughty and cheeky lines.”  

Cecilia’s face flushed red. Memories of the intimate stories they had exchanged through metaphors and the occasional bold jokes scribbled on paper flashed through her mind. Regaining her composure, she responded firmly.  

“Of course, I’ll leave out those letters, Ethan.”  

Ethan burst into laughter at the sight of Cecilia’s reddened neck. He kissed her cheek repeatedly, as if he found her endearing, and teased in a playful tone,  

“It seems the number of letters we’ll pass down has decreased significantly.”  

“Ethan!”  

Cecilia pushed his arms away and escaped from his embrace. Her steps across the room were unusually hurried, as if to hide her embarrassment. Ethan followed her leisurely, his pace unhurried.  

Only after he promised multiple times to stop teasing her did she allow him to sit beside her. The two of them sat side by side on the sofa, rereading Ethan’s final letter.  

“I still vividly remember the day I read this letter. The weather, my mood, the surrounding sounds… all of it.”  

“Do you?”  

Cecilia nodded.  

“It was bitterly cold, but there was no wind. I sat on the snow-covered swing and read your final letter. This short, curt letter.”  

She thrust the letter close to Ethan’s face and asked accusingly,  

“Think about it. How could I not worry about you after reading something like this?”  

Ethan shrugged.  

“I thought I was giving you a hint.”  

“I’m terrible at solving riddles like that.”  

“I’m sorry.”  

Ethan met Cecilia’s gaze as he continued. His golden eyes shimmered transparently in the sunlight.  

“But I didn’t keep you worried for long, so please forgive me, Cecil. The moment you finished reading the letter, I appeared before you, didn’t I?”  

“It was such perfect timing, it felt unreal.”  

As if reliving the emotions of that moment, Cecilia buried her face in Ethan’s chest and sighed.  

“Ethan, you can’t imagine how shocked I was then. I missed you so much that I thought I was hallucinating. Or that you were a ghost…”  

Ethan raised an eyebrow and asked,  

“A ghost?”  

Cecilia nodded.  

“That’s how unreal it felt. I didn’t expect to see the last snowfall of that year with you.”  

“We’ll share every snowfall from now on. I’ll see what you see, and I’ll hear what you hear.”  

Ethan lowered his head and kissed Cecilia. She quietly closed her eyes, feeling his lips press softly against hers, lingering with a gentle rhythm. The kiss, which had become as familiar as breathing, continued tenderly for a long time.  

When their lips finally parted, Cecilia reached out and stroked Ethan’s hair. His once-short hair had grown considerably longer. Brushing aside the strands that fell over his forehead, she spoke.  

“Lately, I’ve been feeling a little scared.”  

Ethan’s expression turned serious at her words. Looking into her blue eyes, he asked,  

“What is it that frightens you?”  

“Forgetfulness.”  

“Forgetfulness?”  

Ethan tilted his head in curiosity. Cecilia’s hand slid gently down his bronzed cheek.  

“The things written in letters can be reread and cherished, but moments like this will simply pass by. It’s sad that I can’t remember every happy moment.”  

“Cecilia.”  

Ethan clasped her hand in his and said,  

“You’re right; we can’t remember everything. Perhaps even this moment will fade from memory.”  

“……”  

“But I promise you this. I’ll give you so many happy memories that you won’t regret the ones that slip away. I’ll make sure there’s never a day when you feel your memories are lacking. So don’t be afraid. Just enjoy the happiness that each moment brings, Cecilia.”  

For a moment, Cecilia simply gazed at her lover beside her with a subtle expression. She wanted to flash him a radiant smile, but for some reason, her eyes brimmed with warmth instead. Ethan, as if understanding without words, tightened his grasp on her hand slightly.  

The warm rays of early autumn sunlight poured through the large window, illuminating the beautiful face of her lover sitting beside her. In his gaze, she could feel his unreserved affection. Everything felt so perfect, as if she had been living her entire life for this very moment.  

Cecilia longed to speak to the version of herself from the past. To tell her that, though she might feel unbearably lonely and exhausted, though there might be days when she disliked herself, she should hold on just a little longer. That everything would turn out better than she could ever imagine.  

That someone would come along who would find her perfect and beautiful just as she was. That he would awaken passions within her she didn’t know existed, and help her realize she was braver, smarter, stronger, and more lovable than she thought.  

That by his side, she would forget all the tears she had shed.  

Meeting Ethan’s gaze, Cecilia slowly parted her lips.  

“Ethan.”  

“Yes?”  

“You know I love you very much, don’t you?”  

It was an expression that couldn’t fully contain the depth of her emotions, but that was okay. Sometimes, simply sitting beside someone and meeting their eyes could convey more than words ever could.  

Ethan’s face lit up with a dazzling smile as he looked at her. Slowly, he nodded.  

“Yes, and I love you with all my heart as well.”  

<The End>