Kays Translations

Interlude: [SS] A Night with Licia

Several days had passed since Ren left Clausel.

One winter night, Licia stood in the garden of the Clausel mansion and gazed up at the frost-bright sky.

She had only recently finished bathing. A shawl covered her shoulders, but the cold air was already stealing the warmth from her body and chilling the pale skin visible beneath it.

The female attendant accompanying her had watched in silence for some time. At last, she could bear it no longer.

“You should not remain outside like this, my lady.”

Licia did not turn. Her eyes remained fixed on the sky.

“I’m fine. The cold feels pleasant.”

“I see…”

The attendant moved to stand beside her.

Licia did not look openly distressed. Still, her usual dignified expression seemed faintly unfocused. She had been busy with work since Ren’s departure, and fatigue might have played some part.

The attendant studied her face, then touched a hand to her own cheek.

“Oh?”

“What is it?” Licia asked.

“I assumed you had come outside because you were worried about Lord Ren.”

“Worried about Ren? Why?”

“The Baldor Mountains are particularly dangerous right now.”

Licia finally turned toward her.

There was no obvious anxiety in her expression. If anything, she appeared puzzled that the attendant had asked.

“I would be lying if I said I wasn’t worried at all. But I’m not nearly as worried as everyone seems to think.”

“Why is that?”

“The answer is obvious.”

Licia smiled.

“I know better than anyone in the world how strong Ren is.”

The certainty in her voice left no room for argument. It was difficult to imagine what experiences a girl her age must have endured to speak with such conviction.

“I see,” the attendant said. “Then it was a foolish question.”

“Yes, it was.”

As Licia smiled, fine snow began to fall.

The attendant draped the coat she had brought over Licia’s shoulders.

“Let us go inside.”

“I suppose we should.”

Licia started toward the mansion, but the attendant still could not explain the shadow in her expression.

If she was not greatly worried, then what had brought her out beneath the winter sky?

“Ah.”

A possibility occurred to the attendant.

For Licia’s dignity, she decided not to voice it.

“Did you say something?”

Unfortunately, Licia had heard her.

The attendant shook her head, but Licia stopped and looked directly at her.

“You needn’t hide it. What were you thinking?”

The attendant reluctantly answered.

“Perhaps you are not worried about Lord Ren so much as… lonely because he is not here.”

Licia’s expression stiffened.

She immediately attempted a dry laugh, but the remark had clearly caught her off guard. Color gradually spread across her cheeks.

The attendant maintained her smile while breaking into a cold sweat.

“I’m sorry,” Licia said at last. “I didn’t hear you clearly. Would you repeat that?”

“Would you care for tea before bed?”

“Thank you. I would.”

They proceeded toward Licia’s room with the solemn agreement that nothing unusual had occurred.

While preparing the tea, the attendant noticed a bright white dress laid across Licia’s bed.

She recognized it immediately. It was the one-piece dress Ren had given Licia in early summer.

Licia had taken it out because she missed him.

Had she been embracing it, the story would have been almost painfully sweet.

“Ah…”

Licia followed the attendant’s gaze and realized that her secret had been discovered. Her carefully maintained composure finally crumbled.

There was no longer any point pretending.

She took a sip of freshly brewed tea, carried the cup to the window, and looked out at the falling snow.

“Please don’t tell anyone.”

The attendant nodded.

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