Chapter 35

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 35

Chapter Title: One Last Day

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"...Young Lady! ...Miss! ...Lady!"

"Ugh..."

Lucia frowned and tossed in her sleep. For some reason, the surroundings felt noisy.

Someone was trying to wake her up.

"Lady Lucia!"

"...Huh?"

When she finally opened her eyes, a familiar face came into view through her blurry vision.

"...Sein."

"Young Lady! What on earth were you doing sleeping here? My goodness, all this food you ate!"

"Eek!"

As Sein, Lucia's personal maid, began her scolding, Lucia's head started throbbing. Clutching her head, Lucia prompted Sein to let out a sigh.

"Was something troubling you? You suddenly asked for wine last night..."

Following the grumbling Sein, Lucia looked around and pieced together what had happened the night before.

Yesterday, after hearing from her father about an arranged marriage meeting, she couldn't sleep. She'd flipped through her diary and downed some wine.

Then... she must have dozed off on the terrace.

"I can't go on like this. Even if summer's almost here, nights are still chilly. What if you catch a cold?"

Sein left to prepare a bath. Lucia blankly surveyed the room before coughing.

"Cough, cough. Ha... What a pitiful mess."

Was it the diary stirring up old memories? Or the hangover's aftermath? Her stomach churned.

Lucia forced down the nausea and followed Sein into the bathroom. Sein and the other maids were filling the tub.

"Young Lady, it's not fully ready yet..."

"Sein, I'm cold."

"That's what you get for sleeping on the terrace. It's mostly ready now—get in quick."

Lucia let the maids undress her and slipped into the tub. The warm water eased her shivers a bit.

"How's your stomach? I brought some honey water."

"Thanks. I'm lucky to have you, Sein."

"Save that for after you've recovered."

Sein shot Lucia a glare while kneading her body. The firm yet gentle pressure loosened the muscles tensed from curling up in sleep.

Noticing Lucia's eyes closing wearily, Sein asked,

"Young Lady, are you sure nothing happened?"

"What would be wrong? I just sometimes feel like drinking alone."

"I get that sometimes, but..."

"You can stop the massage now. Go on out. I'll call if I need anything."

"...Yes, call if you need me."

Once Sein left, Lucia's smile faded into a blank expression as she scanned the steamy bathroom.

She recalled Sein's worried gaze from moments ago.

They'd been together since childhood.

Though servant and lady, they'd grown up like childhood friends—close in a way different from her bond with Herwin.

Sein knew everything about her except her feelings for Herwin; they shared a candid closeness.

But no longer.

After the Bianca incident, Lucia had learned how dangerous it was to reveal her true heart.

When Sein occasionally looked hurt, Lucia felt guilty, but her defenses kicked in automatically, letting her feign nonchalance.

Splash—

As her stomach churned again, Lucia splashed water on her face to clear her jumbled thoughts.

"That's not what's important right now."

She had only one chance left to confess to Herwin.

Her father had said he'd wait, but time was short.

How could she make Herwin feel the same way?

After thirteen years of failing to sway his heart, could a single chance make it possible?

Her brief optimism crumbled against harsh reality.

"It would've been better if Father had just arranged the meeting by force."

Realizing her slip, Lucia slapped her cheeks in surprise.

"I can't whine now."

She was the one who'd begged for this final chance. No backing out.

Lucia sank fully into the tub, sorting her tangled mind.

* * *

"Young Lady, Young Lord Peneus is here to see you."

"...Herwin?"

Just shaking off her hangover and resting, Lucia jolted up and turned to Aaron.

"I saw him yesterday... What's this about?"

"Shall I show him in?"

"Oh? Y-Yes! Of course. Guide him to the drawing room. I'll be right there."

Aaron bowed and withdrew. Lucia hurriedly checked her appearance.

Her reflection looked dreadful—pale from the hangover, devoid of color, sickly.

Herwin was probably in the drawing room by now; no time for a proper fix.

"What do I do..."

"Young Lady, sit down for now. We'll get you ready quick."

The maids, well aware of her crush on Herwin, bustled around her. She watched their busy hands in the vanity mirror.

"Light makeup to hide the fatigue, a touch of color on the lips. How's this?"

It hadn't taken long, but she looked far better than before.

"Yes, thanks. I'd be lost without you all."

"Piece of cake. Here, wrap this shawl around you."

With the shawl draped over her, Lucia headed to the drawing room amid the maids' cheers.

As always, her heart raced wildly just before seeing him. Knowing she had only days left to harbor these feelings made it pound even harder.

Lucia bit her lower lip and took a deep breath. Then, donning her usual smile, she opened the door.

"Herwin."

"Hey."

Herwin lounged with his legs crossed, sipping tea like he owned the place. He seemed even more handsome than yesterday, making her heart thud erratically.

Lucia approached without betraying her emotions.

"Did I keep you waiting?"

"Nah. I showed up unannounced."

"True. What's up? It's only been a day since we parted."

Lucia sat across from him with a bright smile. His red eyes scanned her.

"Forgot to mention something yesterday."

"What?"

"I'll be staying in the north for about a month."

Lucia's blue eyes wavered. Noticing, Herwin took a sip of tea.

"Should've said it yesterday with everyone around, but I spaced. Could've written, but I wanted to tell you in person."

His casual sip and offhand words shook her heart.

Whether intentional or not, it felt like he was saying she was special, unlike the others.

Suddenly recalling Arista, Lucia spoke up.

"Did you tell Arista?"

"Yeah, right before we parted yesterday. The others left early, so no."

"...I see."

Special over Arista? No way. Lucia shelved her fleeting hope.

"What's taking you north?"

"Time to start inheriting Father's duties, and you know about the monster surge up there lately?"

"Yeah, you mentioned it before."

"Right. The increase is abnormal. They found signs of monsters moving in packs, like the wave from when we were kids."

The monster wave was from a time she barely remembered. It had been so dire that the Peneus family had relied on the Agnes house for over a year.

"Father's letter mentioned discovering monster villages. So I'm going to help him wipe them out."

It was graver than she'd thought. The idea of Herwin heading into danger tensed her up.

She wanted to beg him not to go, but she was too old for such whims.

Unable to voice her distress, Lucia clenched her fists.

"Departure date set?"

"In a week."

Just a week. Only seven days left before he left. Her forced smile faltered.

Seeing her pained expression, Herwin paused.

"Don't worry too much. I'll come back safe."

Herwin's red eyes softened reassuringly. The kindness in them nearly brought tears.

But Lucia bit her cheek and snapped out of it.

"If you're joining the sweep, you might not make it back in a month?"

"Probably, but... I'll make it back on time."

Words were one thing; life didn't always cooperate.

She trusted Herwin, but if he left like this, her chance to confess vanished.

That meant at least a month's gap. Would Father really wait?

'How did things turn out like this?'

Less than half a day since asking Yohan for time, and now a week's deadline loomed without a moment to gather herself.

It felt like the gods themselves were pushing her to give up on Herwin.

Lost in her turmoil, her gaze drifted to Herwin's wrist.

An all-too-familiar item adorned it.

"You're still wearing that?"

"Hm? Oh, this."

Herwin glanced at his sleeve at her murmur.

"Feels empty without it now."

"But it's so worn..."

Lucia meant the cufflinks.

The red cufflinks she'd given him on the most horrific day at sixteen.

Five years later, scratched and dulled, yet he still wore them.

"It is worn. Still usable, though. It's from you."

Herwin chuckled. It overlapped with memories of their childhood.

It must have been a nightmare for him too. His cherishing words filled her with gratitude and affection.

Lucia bit her lip and bowed her head.

"You're acting off today. You feeling sick or...?"

Sensing her low mood unlike yesterday, Herwin reached out. Before his hand touched her, she spoke.

"Herwin."

"Yeah?"

"Before you go... can you give me one day? Just one full day?"

Not grasping her intent, Herwin watched as she lifted her head.

Her blue eyes held a resolute determination.

Lucia, always seeming fragile, looked different today.

"No problem... The whole day?"

She nodded. Herwin reviewed his schedule. Nothing special.

"Sure, anytime works. When?"

"It's Sunday today. How about next Friday?"

"Perfect. Let's do that."

Herwin agreed readily, asking if she had plans for the day.

He clearly saw it as a simple hangout with his childhood friend before heading north—not a date.

Bitterness filled her mouth, but she couldn't dampen his cheerful mood.

Lucia responded warmly, playing the usual childhood friend.

'This really is the last time.'

Her solitary resolve faded silently into the air.