SGC 29

CHAPTER 29

Translator: Rae

₊˚ ✧ ━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━ ✧ ₊˚

Together even after death? For a moment, Rozella doubted her own ears and frowned faintly, and the girl giggled as she explained.

“Surprised? But it is true! The spirits buried in the cemetery bless the souls of the two people so they can never be parted. The caretaker says it is the most kind and beautiful blessing the dead can give.”

A blessing of the dead. Whether it could truly be called romantic was uncertain. And the thought of never being able to part carried a faint chill.

As Rozella scratched her cheek uncertainly, the girl glanced between them and whispered softly.

“You like each other, don’t you? But you have not confessed yet, right?”

As if he had been quietly listening, Edmund gently interjected.

"We're already married." 

It was true, yet for some reason Rozella felt embarrassed, and her face flushed slightly. The girl looked surprised, then tilted her head.

“Really? Then why do you not hold hands or embrace each other?”

The girl, who asked with sincere curiosity, opened her arms and pointed at the mourners in front of another gravestone. 

Coincidentally, the two men and women, who appeared to be a couple, were seen sharing a light touch while leaning close to each other. 

"Look, people who come here usually hug each other, whimper, and then suddenly squirm, and then hold hands and go back, but you and your brother didn't even hug each other." 

“...”

“That will not do. Here, hold hands like this! Then go to the willow and kiss, all right?”

The girl took their hands and joined them together as though she were Cupid. Caught off guard, Rozella found herself gripping his hand and looked up awkwardly.

Edmund glanced down at their joined hands, then looked at her and offered a faint smile.

The girl, satisfied with her work, waved brightly and disappeared with her basket. As Rozella hesitated over when to let go, Edmund instead closed his hand more firmly around hers.

“Shall we move somewhere else?”

"Pardon?!" 

She spoke too loudly and quickly shut her mouth. Was he suggesting they go beneath the willow? Her ears burned as Edmund calmly gestured toward the sky.

“It will rain soon. It looks like a shower.”

She looked up reflexively and saw a dark cloud approaching. So that was all he meant.

Flustered, she lowered her head and answered in a small voice.

“Th-then let us. It is about time we return anyway.”

Rosella hastily put the bouquet of flowers she had bought from the girl in front of the gravestones and looked up at him. 

“Are you sure you do not wish to stay longer?”

She nodded. She had already said all she wished through her letters and paid her visit, so she was willing to return quickly.

They stepped out through the iron gate. As he said, raindrops began to fall. 

Edmund removed his coat and draped it over her shoulders. As they hurried along, the rain soon grew heavier.

At last, they took shelter beneath a nearby tree and looked at each other at the same time.

Rozella remained mostly dry under his coat, while Edmund’s white shirt and gray vest were soaked through.

Rosella hurriedly took off the coat and tried to return it to him, but Edmund shook his head to stop her.

“It is all right. At least the rain does not reach us here.”

Indeed, the dense branches sheltered them well.

“A fitting place to escape the rain. Perhaps it is because this is a place of blessing.”

He murmured lightly, a faint smile touching his lips. Only then did Rozella realize where they stood.

Only then did she realize that this was under the willow in question, and she cried out. 

“I did not bring us here on purpose!”

Her ears flushed again in embarrassment. At her belated excuse, a low laugh escaped Edmund, his rain dampened smile carrying a fresh clarity.

“It will pass soon.”

She nodded, pressing her warm cheeks with the back of her hand, her toes curling and uncurling inside her shoes.

Soon the sound of raindrops tapping against willow leaves filled her ears.

Looking down, she glanced at their feet placed side by side. There was a small distance between them.

As the flower girl had said, there was a distance between them that did not resemble that of a married couple. It was natural, and wishing for it to shrink further was her own selfish desire. 

Yet, to stand beside him like this… selfishly, it made her happy.

Holding that conflicting feeling, she slowly raised her head. The clouds had parted and the hidden sunlight emerged.

The shower gradually ceased, and a few golden rays filtered through the willow branches.

As she turned, relieved the rain had stopped, she met the gaze of the man who had already been watching her.

Beneath that single beam of light under the willow, Edmund was beautiful. Her hardly-believing gaze drifted to his dark hair.

The strands loosened across his forehead were still damp. Remembering, she took out a handkerchief.

"Ed." 

He looked at it, then lowered his head without hesitation.

"Will you help me?"

At the narrowed distance, their eyes met. The green of his irises grew lighter toward the pupil, strange and beautiful.

Like a fleeting star discovered deep within a forest.

Swallowing, she reached out as if entranced, gently wiping away the droplets from his brow with the white cloth.

Edmund leaned down a little more so that her hands could reached his forehead comfortably. His unwavering gaze was fixed solely on Rozella. 

Her breath grew unsteady. Avoiding his eyes, she brushed his damp hair, the handkerchief moistening her hand.

As she tried to withdraw, her hand was gently caught.

His hand enclosed hers, holding her in place ever so gently. She looked up at him in surprise.

"...!" 

His head tilted, and the bridge of his nose brushed her palm. His breath tickled softly.

"E-Ed?" 

His darkened green eyes captured her completely. Badump, badump, badump, her heart pounded wildly.

The hand he held felt burning hot, whether from her or him she could not tell.

"It smells like summer roses here." 

“...”

“It is the scent that always came from you, Rose.”

He whispered as though intoxicated, and his lips, brushing lightly, pressed softly into her skin.

His lips settled deeply into her palm, leaving behind a burning heat.

“Ungh.”

Unable to breathe, she stared, taking in his dark pupils and vivid green irises.

The intensity in his gaze, like a burning flame, felt unfamiliar. The more her fingers trembled, the tighter his hold became.

He lingered until her strength gave way.

Soon the rain ceased completely, and his hold slowly loosened. The touch that kept Rozella from running away slowly lost their force as well.

After squeezing her hand once, Edmund released it and straightened.

"Thank you for your help." 

His quiet voice fell as though nothing had happened, yet a clear trace of desire still lingered in his eyes, faintly flickering.

“I-it was nothing…”

She answered softly, clenching her trembling hand and touching her warm palm. Above them, the willow swayed in the wind.

Even in the cool breeze, the heat in her palm did not fade, and a fearful feeling settled deeper in her chest.

It was something deeper and heavier than the long held first love she had once felt for Edmund.

***

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