Chapter 184: Falling Leaves
If only today were still spring. Then maybe the breeze brushing against the face would feel a bit cooler.
It was a hot summer day, so they found a shady spot to sit. Maybe because there was a big tree behind them, the sound of cicadas constantly rang in their ears. But it wasn’t so bad, there were louder sounds around that drowned it out.
“See? I told you, the cicada is on the left branch.”
“There’s one on the right too. Look up, it’s all the way at the top.”
“Nobody can see that far up!”
“Oh? Want to sit on my shoulders then?”
“Wh-Who wants to sit on your shoulders!?”
Armand and Rachel were probably the noisiest pair in this whole summer.
Even though they usually got along well, ever since Armand tricked her at the horse stables, and Rachel pushed him into a trash can for revenge, they often bickered like this. But it wasn’t really arguing, it was more like playful teasing.
If you looked closely, they were actually very close. Thanks to Armand’s easy-going nature, the two of them had become good friends.
Armand played the role of the father, but he felt more like an older brother who could play with her.
Rachel played the daughter, but she felt more like the most energetic little sister in the family.
And the one playing the mother, Evelia—
After Rachel knocked a cicada off the tree while sitting on Armand’s shoulders, the two looked at each other and both brought their fingers to their lips.
"—Shh."
A soft hush slipped from their lips, floating off with the summer breeze, to who knows where.
Because... Mom is resting.
Armand gently helped Rachel down from his shoulders, and they squatted in front of Evelia, watching the beautiful young woman sleep.
She leaned against the big tree, the wind gently blowing strands of hair at her forehead and cheeks.
As an assassin, Evelia was someone who rarely slept. But ever since staying by Armand’s side, who knows how many times she had dozed off.
Someone who always had to stay alert, someone who would wake at the slightest sound or movement, was now napping outside, in the open air, even with people chattering nearby, enjoying a peaceful afternoon rest.
Rachel pitter-pattered over to Evelia’s left side and curled up beside her leg, letting out a big yawn. Armand took a few steps to her right, ready to offer his shoulder if Evelia started leaning in her sleep.
Rachel squinted her eyes. She smelled the fresh scent of grass and the light floral fragrance from Evelia. She rubbed her nose sleepily.
Armand mouthed, “Go ahead and sleep,” while leaning his head back against the tree.
Rustle—
Another breeze passed through, and the leaves above rustled softly. One leaf drifted down and landed in Armand’s palm.
Hot summer days can sometimes feel stuffy and uncomfortable. And in those moments, people often find themselves thinking back to the spring, or looking forward to the cool autumn days ahead.
But just remembering isn’t enough. We can only move forward and meet the autumn that will surely come.
Armand opened his fingers and let the leaf go with the wind. That rootless leaf floated along the breeze, but one day it would land somewhere.
After who knows how long, Evelia slowly opened her eyes.
They were still sitting on the grass, and even in the thick humid summer air, they had instinctively leaned close to each other.
Evelia leaned against Armand’s shoulder. Just like Armand had guessed, he caught her perfectly when she tilted toward him. He sat up straight, as if quietly resting with his eyes closed.
"You're awake?"
As Evelia blinked and slowly woke up from her nap, Armand’s voice sounded beside her ear. Maybe because he didn’t want to wake Rachel, who was still sleeping, his voice was so gentle it didn’t even sound like something a squad captain would say.
“Mm...”
Evelia looked up at the sun in the sky, trying to figure out what time it was. She guessed it was probably time to start preparing dinner.
"Is the main ingredient today still tomato sauce?"
"Still tomato sauce, Mr. Armand."
Although Armand had told Evelia about his stomach illness, she still didn’t seem willing to give up on tomato sauce. But as a compromise, Armand would eat the food she made, and Evelia would make the tomato sauce less sour.
And to be more considerate of Armand’s health, she also added ingredients that were better for his stomach.
This was, of course, her way of showing care. She just didn’t know that with Armand’s condition, no food remedy would really make a difference.
"Alright, alright~"
Armand understood Evelia’s intention. But since he didn’t want anyone to know how bad his body really was, he could only smile and accept her well-meaning efforts.
"Mr. Armand, you really have to eat properly."
"Mm-hmm, got it."
Armand chuckled and picked up the still-sleeping Rachel in his arms. Then the two of them slowly made their way back to the main house of the estate.
The sun was starting to set, stretching their shadows long behind them. Maybe it wouldn’t be long before autumn arrived. Behind them, leaves quietly drifted down from the trees, returning to the earth.
They had once left their roots and wandered with the wind. But in the end, they always found their way back home.
As the sunset painted the sky red, the rest of the day passed quickly.
After dinner, Evelia returned to her room before Rachel.
Although Evelia and Rachel’s relationship wasn’t as tense as it used to be, that snack-loving little girl never missed a chance to hunt for sweets. She believed that since she was an alchemical body, she didn’t need to worry about getting fat. So she continued on her mission to eat as much as she liked.
Like always, Rachel ran off, maybe to a maid, maybe to the old butler, and used her adorably pitiful expression to charm her way into getting snacks for the day.
Evelia, on the other hand, returned to her room. She sat at her desk, resting her chin on her hand, staring at the flowerpot that used to hold a dead plant.
Now, in that pot, there was a small, unopened blue rosebud.
This was the same flower stem Rachel had taken back before. Now, it had grown and was about to bloom.
That light, which once felt too dazzling for Evelia to face, used to make her turn away and hide in the shadows of the night.
But every night, the moonlight still shone, and tonight was no different. A thin beam of moonlight slipped through the gap in the curtains.
It landed right on that flowerpot, lighting up the hidden blue of the rose.
But this time, Evelia didn’t hide in the shadows.
Instead, she stood with the flower, quietly facing the moonlight together.
She gently touched the rosebud with her fingertips, afraid she might hurt it.
And with that tender feeling in her heart, Evelia slowly stood up. Under the cold, soft moonlight, she leaned down and placed a kiss on the blue rose.
It was like she was kissing the flower, but also kissing the moonlight itself.