After writing the letter, I went to the post office near the castle gate.
It’s already dusk and the stars can be seen twinkling in the distant sky.
“Marie.”
I heard a voice behind me and turned around to see Lieber standing there. A tray in his hand. A shawl was draped over one of his arms.
“It gets cold at this time of year. Because the Rose territory is located in between mountains.”
“Thank you.”
I was offered a shawl, which I gratefully accepted.
Along with the shawl, Lieber has a tray with two cups on it, one of which is offered to me. When I took it, it contained a cup of freshly brewed tea.
He must have taken the trouble to search for me and bring me a shawl and tea.
I braced myself for a conversation, but Lieber was quietly sipping his tea.
The two of us silently gazed at the view from in front of the castle gate. The view from in front of the castle gate, which rises slightly above the hill, gave us a faint view of the townscape.
As night approaches, the twinkling lights above the town begin to stand out. Compared to the bustling lights, the mansion was very quiet.
“Lieber-sama…”
“Yes?”
“How long has Lieber-sama served Reynaldo-sama?”
Even Rosemary’s memory of Lieber was only faint. She remembers that Reynaldo wasn’t accompanied by any attendant at that time.
“Marquis Hubert, Reynaldo-sama’s family, had to resign a large number of servants when he was demoted. I was in dire need of employment when I was approached by him.”
“Then…”
“That was when Reynaldo-sama was about thirteen.”
To hire such a talented person as Lieber at an age that can still be said to be a child. I can only say that it’s out of the ordinary.
“My brother was Reynaldo-sama’s father’s butler. I was still an obscure subordinate at that time. A little boy asked for my help, so I followed him for the fun of it.”
“How interesting would that be?” Lieber laughs.
“I also have something I want to ask Marie. How did you first meet Reynaldo-sama?”
“…. Through Alberto-sama.”
“Ah, Alberto-sama.”
From the nostalgic tone of his voice, I can tell that Lieber is an old friend of Alberto’s.
“I’ve been watching Reynaldo-sama for over twenty years, but seeing him talk to you reminds me of the old days.”
“The old days?”
Even though I was shaken by Lieber’s words, I regained my composure after drinking my tea.
Lieber also sipped his tea and remembered something while looking up at the sky.
“It’s like the time when Reynaldo-sama was spending time with his sister. It’s a nostalgic memory.”
“Reynaldo-sama’s sister…”
“She was called a wicked woman and was executed for treason 20 years ago. But, you see, I knew her, and she was never like that.”
My heartbeat increased at Lieber’s words.
I am glad.
The late Rosemary was called a “wicked woman” by the whole country. So much so that when people think of bad women, they think of Rosemary.
Still, those who knew Rosemary, even slightly, may not have easily believed the rumors.
It warms my heart.
“Does Marie know about that mausoleum?”
“Mausoleum?”
Lieber pointed to the edge of the mansion.
“I’ll have to warn Marie. I’ve been told that no one is allowed to go near it, but it’s a mausoleum. Reynaldo-sama visits there every day. No one knows what’s inside, but it’s likely that that’s where Rosemary-sama is buried.”
“What…?”
No way.
Rosemary was executed as a criminal.
In this country, those who commit crimes are not allowed to rest in the ground, nor are they allowed to go to God’s presence, and are destined to be cremated and reduced to ashes.
I thought Rosemary was treated similarly.
“Though it’s just a rumor. But don’t go there out of curiosity. There are even rumors that when bandits entered there in the past, they stepped in and never came back.”
Lieber said with a playful tone, but it was probably true.
Marie felt her body, which was supposed to be wrapped in a shawl, get cold, and she hurriedly drank the rest of her tea.
“Now then, it’s almost time for dinner. Reynaldo-sama will probably be back soon.”
“I understand.”
I walked with Lieber back to the mansion.
Lately, Reynaldo has been out a lot for work, but he still comes back around dinnertime. And he comes by to see me every day.
I’m sure he’ll come back riding his horse under the floating night sky again today.
Then, I’ll tell him “Welcome home,” just as I did in the past.
Just before entering the house, I looked up at the sky and saw a single shooting star.
They say that a shooting star is a sign of good fortune.
I prayed in my heart for a blessing.
I closed the door of the mansion while praying in my heart.
