Episode 52

Although I had intended to give it to you eventually.

I handed Ute the ribbon that had been stashed in my pocket all this time.

“We couldn't use it at the clock tower on January first. You seemed eager to.”

“Huh...?”

“You mentioned you didn't have a wish, so I inscribed the most common wish people make.”

Typically, people wrote with a pen, but I prepared a separate fabric and embroidered the interior.

“This looks much prettier.”

The ribbon and fabric left in the noble's mansion incurred no expense.

“So, you did this? Yourself?”

“Yes. This is simple. Don’t spend money on these charlatans; if you need something genuine, I’ll just make it for you... for less than market price.”

Ute's gaze at the ribbon was vacant.

‘Did I overdo it?’

I had been carrying it around without giving it for this reason.

But the ribbon was already in his hands. I had no choice but to await a response.

He alternated looking at the green ribbon and the embroidered letters inside, remaining silent for a long time.

Eventually, I broke the silence.

“Shall we go tie it to the clock tower? It’s not New Year’s, but it’s not too late.”

“No, it’s okay.”

“Ah, right. Makes sense. Then, what—”

“I want to keep it.”

Ute lightly scratched the inside of his palm and awkwardly lifted the corners of his mouth.

“Thank you.”

“It’s just a ribbon—”

“I’m glad you’re here.”

The soft ribbon protruded from his tightly clenched fist.

Gentle, folded eyes, cheeks that lifted, lips bitten and then released.

“Really, I’m glad.”

I captured all those changes with my eyes.

---

A few days later.

Ute hurriedly spoke, almost ready to kneel.

“Sonnet, um, I’m really sorry to say this. I have no excuse even with ten mouths.”

“...”

“It’s my fault, but not entirely, though it’s clearly my mistake, but, ha...”

His face, usually so composed, continued breaking today.

His dark green eyes revealed through the fingers rubbing his face appeared somber.

He looked like someone receiving an apology rather than making one.

I struggled to look at Ute, who couldn’t meet my eyes and asked.

“What’s the matter?”

“I received my enlistment notice.”

---

“You know, this summer I plan to accompany Carlyle and visit Ronda.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. It’s been a while since I saw my family. Do you know? My hometown embodies a truly beautiful sea.”

The madam chattered nonstop while I fixed her hair.

This charming female lead laughed much more often after all troubles disappeared.

“You'll like it too.”

“Me?”

“Sonnet, you grew up by the sea too, right? There won’t be much to do. I’ll introduce you around. Ah, should I also bring that doctor you’re close with?”

The kind madam who cared about me.

As I tucked her hair behind her ear, my fingers brushed her youthful cheek. I couldn’t delay any longer.

“Madam, I have something to tell you.”

“What is it?”

“Well...”

I never thought I’d say this myself.

But it had been decided long ago, so I had no choice.

“I’m resigning.”

“Resigning? From what?”

“This job. It’s been an honor to serve you all this time.”

“What... what do you mean?”

Her pink eyes widened.

Her body turned sharply toward me from the mirror.

“Did I do something to upset you?”

“No, madam.”

“Is it because the salary is too low? I’ll raise it.”

“That’s not— No, madam.”

I almost asked how much.

I bit my lips hard and shook my head.

“You were always alone, it must have been tough, right? I've been so childish... Now it’s okay, I’ll hire more people. Give you more holidays.”

Her delicate hands clasped mine.

They were weak enough to shake off at any time, but I didn't move.

“Come to think of it, you couldn’t visit home at the end of the year, right? Do you want to see your family? I'll give you a bonus...”

Her cheeks, fuller compared to our first encounter, were now crumpled.

Her tearful voice was pitiful.

“Can’t you stay with me?”

“I can't, Madam.”

I knelt on one knee and looked up at her still lovely face.

Her small frame fit perfectly within my arms.

“Madam, my dear madam.”

“No, I don’t want to hear it.”

“I’m sorry to tell you suddenly. I didn’t want to leave so abruptly...”

Life doesn’t go as planned or vowed.

Even Ute Velvet, who claimed to know the world’s secrets, said so palely.

'I received my enlistment notice.'

'Ute.'

'Sorry, you must have been very shocked. Just when I needed to lay out the next move, here I am, like this.'

I repeated what I had said to him.

“I’m going to the military.”

'I received mine too.'

I released my embrace and faced the madam.

Her tearful face was oddly stiff.

“...Military?”

“Yes, military.”

“Why would you go to the military...?”

“All Selcing citizens are required to attend around the age of 25.”

Regardless of rank, regardless of gender.

Unlike neighboring countries, Selcing still followed this strict rule.

“You don’t have to go!”

“I must."

“At the royal banquet, the princess I met was a year or two older than you, but she didn’t mention anything of the sort!”

“You can substitute service with a certain amount of sponsorship.”

But the amount was astronomical.

'How many generations of wealth must one accumulate to afford it?'

Because of that, the enlistment rate among nobles was relatively low. It was limited to a very few upper classes.

“But to sponsor—”

“I'll pay!”

The madam said urgently and shook my shoulders.

“How much? Hm?”

“Madam, do you know how many times my salary the sponsorship amount is...”

“What does that matter? You’re by my side, that paltry money means nothing!”

Indeed, she was the owner of a mine who casually repaid estate-level debts.

I forced my racing heart to calm with a strong will.

“I refuse.”

“Why not!”

“The sponsorship application has to be made at least a year in advance.”

Now, only enlistment remained.

Her large eyes were brimming with tears, ready to spill.

“You’ll come back after you’re discharged, right?”

“...”

“You’ll come back, right?”

“I'll ensure the new person takes over properly. So you won’t be inconvenienced.”

“Don’t say that...!”

“If you leave a position empty for someone who isn’t there, other servants will feel unsettled. I'm not trying to overstep my bounds, but...”

Despite my lengthy persuasion, the countess wouldn’t yield.

“If you change your mind, tell me!”

...until the day I enlisted.

“I’ll wait anytime...!”

Her figure waving a handkerchief at the mansion’s main gate was desolate.

Ute muttered quietly beside me.

“Is this the right genre?”

“What?”

“No, it's just that she cares a lot about you... Don’t get swayed by money even if they try to entice you.”

His ferocious face quickly closed the distance between us.

I rubbed my cheek and hastened my steps.

“It’s because I’m her first maid and she’s comfortable with me. She’ll change her mind in a few days.”

Out of sight, out of mind.

She is a kind and affectionate person; she would soon get along with another maid.

I waved back and replied.

“She’ll forget about an ordinary maid like me soon.”

---

“You didn't have to come if you were busy.”

“How could I not?”

Iris, with her cloak pulled down, glanced around hastily.

'It must be nerve-wracking to sneak out during work hours.'

I told her not to push herself.

“What about the person who's coming with you?”

“They're checking to see if there's a bomb planted on the train.”

"Your taste in people is really..."

Her chestnut eyes seemed to swallow a hundred words.

Iris sighed deeply and reached into her cloak.

“I don’t have much to give... but here.”

“You always wore this.”

“It’s my lucky hair tie.”

The colorful intertwined strings looked faintly silver from afar.

She had been wearing it since we first met.

“But are you okay giving it to me?”

“Return it when you’re discharged.”

“If I get discharged, Flora might forget me.”

“Will she? I'll keep telling her about you, don’t worry.”

An announcement for departure rang out.

After a light hug, I boarded the train. The first thing that came into view was the back of the head I had grown familiar with over the past year.

Ute, with his head buried against the window, gloomily mumbled something.

“Leaving home... on a train...”

“Ute, we have no home.”

“...”

“By the way, what’s the next plan? Everyone knows we enlist around 25.”

“Plan?”

Only then did Ute's pale lips part.

---

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