episode_0008

the next day.

I headed to the garden that was chosen as the meeting place with Renia. My steps going there were extremely heavy.

Because I had something to say today. Those are not very pleasant words either.

The entrance to the garden came into view from afar. And Renia too.

Renia spread her arms and was waving at me. Since there was no need to go out today, Renia was dressed in a dress.

“Would you like to play hide and seek today?”

As soon as we arrive, Renia welcomes us with a bright smile and asks us to play. I thought about that smile for a moment.

‘Yeah, it’s better than leaving without a word.’

I made a firm decision and tried to tell Renia that I had returned. But why? The lips did not separate easily. Should I say that I am speechless?

I hated talking so much.

“Why are you doing this all of a sudden? Where does it hurt?”

Renia, unaware of my feelings, was just beaming.

“That’s actually… ”

Okay, let’s say it.

There is no reason for me not to speak. Why are you hesitant to say it?

“Actually, I… Go back tomorrow… .”

Am I pretending not to hear it, or am I really not hearing it?

Renia looked straight at me and asked back.

“Huh? What?”

“I’m going back to Fletcher Territory tomorrow.”

Once again, you said it right.

however-.

“Renia?”

Renia stopped.

With a bright smile.

Then soon-.

Tears formed at the corners of my eyes, and my bright expression collapsed in an instant. Renia suddenly changed into a dark expression.

“… ”

Then, without saying anything, Renia turned and walked away.

I was left alone in the garden and stood blankly. The situation that suddenly unfolded was just disconcerting.

“… What are you asking me to do?”

I just said I was going back, but it changed so suddenly.

But that doesn’t mean I can’t stay here for the rest of my life. I could only blame Renia for reacting that way.

That was the only thing I could do.

today… No, even though tomorrow morning is the last day, you just go away.

“Yes! Renia had no intention of staying with me for a long time in the first place!”

For some reason, I felt grumpy.

Has he been influenced by Renia? I stamped my foot without realizing it. When I realized this, I immediately stopped.

“… I recommend you look for it.”

“Wow, it’s a surprise!”

A woman’s voice suddenly comes from behind.

When I checked, it was a maid I had seen before. It was definitely the maid who guided me and my father to the restaurant.

“Uh, since when have you been here?”

“… ”

The maid just smiled. No answer was given.

“I think it would be a good idea to quickly go see Lady Renia.”

“Why? Renia left because I didn’t want to see her!”

“No. When something sad happens, Miss Renia just turns away. I guess he wants to be alone. Well, that’s it.”

“… Do I know where Renia is and go find her?”

“That’s… This is a problem that Master Chris needs to think about.”

The maid who said that left me and went out of the garden.

“Go find Lenia… ?”

I didn’t feel like it.

Because my pride was hurt. But for some reason, now didn’t seem like the time to protect my pride. If what the maid just said is correct… .

“At least it means that Renia is sad about breaking up with me.”

I also didn’t want to break up like this. So I moved. To find Renia, who has gone into hiding.

***

Under the big tree on Lumia Hill. There, Renia was crouching.

“… You must have come to hate me, right?”

The sudden news that Chris is leaving. I suddenly felt overwhelmed by the news. That’s why I ran away from the scene.

Even though I know I shouldn’t do that.

“But… What should I do when I can’t help it… !”

This was Renia’s bad point.

When the sadness became unbearable, there was nothing I could do. It’s like a habit imprinted on the body. I didn’t want to show it to anyone, so I hid it.

“Farewell… I have to… .”

Renia learned that saying goodbye is more important than saying thank you. That’s what Renia herself was thinking.

My mother died while giving birth to me. Because I know the sadness of not even being able to say goodbye to your mother. If I couldn’t even say goodbye, I couldn’t even miss you.

That’s why Renia considered saying goodbye more important than anything else.

But now, if things continued like this, there was a high possibility that I wouldn’t be able to say goodbye to Chris. If only I had time to put my mind in order…

“Yes, that’s right! But you can tell me sooner!”

If I had told you sooner, I could have put my mind together.

I got grumpy for no reason.

At the moment when Renia was puffing out her cheeks and being grumpy…

“panting… ! I’m sorry, but… me too! The fact that I went back yesterday… That’s what I heard!”

Behind Renia.

Chris was standing there, breathing heavily and covered in sweat.

***

“K, Chris? How are you here?”

Renia’s embarrassed appearance. For some reason, I felt better knowing that I had been defeated.

“It’s not in the mansion, so that would mean it went outside… . Well, a street bench, a park, or here.”

I visited all the places where I played with Renia. It happened that Lumia Hill was the furthest away, so the last time I visited, it was here.

It was really late.

If there is any chance that Renia runs away in the future, I will have to find this place first.

First, I decided to properly convey my thoughts to Renia.

“I have something to tell you.”

“Ha, what should I say?”

“It was fun! Because I played with you!”

Renia looked like she had no idea what I was saying out of nowhere. Still, I didn’t stop sharing my thoughts.

“Renia, while playing with you, I learned a lot of things I didn’t even know!”

Flowers taught by Renia. It was fun because it was full of things I didn’t know.

“I also learned that I was just a human being.”

Perhaps because I had suddenly become attached to the thoughts of a noble, I did not go outside the estate and play with commoners. In that respect, I think Renia was a better person than me.

In fact, I was discriminating against commoners without even knowing it.

“So… Will you be my friend? It seems like it’s too late.”

“Yes! Good!”

“Even if we go back, we will still be friends… huh? What did you just say?”

Before I could finish speaking, Renia’s answer came out.

“I said it was good too! I want to be friends with you! I thought we were already friends!”

Renia’s expression suddenly became brighter, perhaps because she felt relieved. Renia was always bright, but now her expression looked brighter than ever.

For some reason, my heart started racing at that expression.

Feeling my face getting hot for some reason, I quickly changed the topic.

“But what is my friend saying…? ?”

It was a hastily changed topic, but I was really starting to get curious. Actually, I’ve never had any friends.

The first friend I ever had was Renia.

“Uh… ? Maybe we should play together… ?”

“Is that so? I think it’s a little lacking… .”

We are friends as long as we play together. Doesn’t it feel like something light?

“So, what does Chris think?”

friend.

Beings who play together.

Maybe that’s true, but something was missing. for example…

“Wouldn’t it be nice to be on your side in any situation?”

“He will be on your side in any situation?”

“Yes.”

A similar word is ally.

Isn’t a friend an ally? That thought suddenly occurred to me.

“Then, will you be by my side for the rest of your life?”

“Uh… ? For life?”

During an unexpected period of my life, I unconsciously asked myself this question with a stupid expression on my face. At this, Renia tried to cry again.

“Seo, are you really planning on screaming with me someday?”

scream… ?

“Scream… What does that mean… ? ah! Break off relations!”

Renia realizes her mistake. With both cheeks blushing, he spoke again.

“You are planning to break off relations with me!”

The sight of Renia raising her voice as if she was trying to hide her shame with anger. I answered with a very serious expression.

“No!”

No one knows what the future will be like… I had no intention of breaking off ties with Renia. For some reason, it didn’t seem like that would happen.

“Then, you will be by my side for the rest of your life… ?”

“Okay. I will be Renia’s friend and by her side for the rest of my life!”

Maybe it was the first time in my life that I felt like I was revealing my unfamiliar feelings. It didn’t feel too bad.

.

.

.

the next day.

I left as scheduled.

‘… ‘Why didn’t you come out?’

Was the conversation we had yesterday on Lumia Hill a dream in the middle of the day? Renia did not come out to see me off.

I felt a little sad.

Only Count Ruber and a few servants saw us off.

“Then, go carefully.”

“Then, let’s go soon.”

And my father got into the carriage. That moment when I too was about to board the carriage with my father.

“Now, wait a minute!!!”

Renia rushed over in a hurry.

Then he held my hand and handed me something. It’s a letter.

There was a shadow under Renia’s eyes. It looks like he stayed up all night writing a letter.

But suddenly-.

‘I think Renia said that letters are meant to be written to special people… ?’

When I remembered that memory, my face became warm for some reason. Surely Renia…

The moment you try to make a useless mistake -.

Renia prevented this in advance.

“Oh, I have no choice but to do it! Because we’re friends! And you must see it when you get home!”

Well, in a way, my friend is also a special person.

I also responded to Renia’s words.

“Yes, I understand. I’ll reply when I get back too!”

“Good!”

And so the carriage departs.

My father asked me again.

“Chris, you… As expected, you like Lady Renia, right?”

This is something I’ve heard so many times since coming here.

If there’s anything else…

“No… ”

That was my attitude in answering.

Unlike before, I did not panic and answered calmly. Maybe it was because I revealed my serious feelings. I felt like I had some freedom too.

“I don’t like you with the opposite sex. But that doesn’t mean I hate it. I really like you as a friend!”

This was my sincere thought.

And my father seemed to be moved by my sincere appearance, even if he didn’t know it.