Chapter 9

"Open your eyes...!"

The dukes were surprised.

Yuno hurriedly held out Lily in front of Rose's face. Rose slowly opened her eyes.

"Is that... Lily?"

"Yes, it's Lily!"

"Why are you here...? Is this a dream? Lily disappeared among my belongings when I got married decades ago."

"It is indeed Lily. She really wanted to see you—Miss Marie... I think."

"Really? I've missed her too. Lily."

Rose, still lying down, took Lily with trembling hands, looking delighted. She rubbed her cheek against Lily affectionately.

"I searched for her for so long but couldn't find her, and I reluctantly gave up. But you've come back to me."

"Where did the name Marie come from?" Dirk asked.

"Marie is my nickname. I only used it when I played alone as a child. I never liked the name Rose. That's why only Lily knows that name."

Then she said to the maid standing by.

"Could you bring that box over?"

The maid brought a lace-trimmed old box. Inside were old doll clothes and accessories, likely belonging to Lily. They were all luxurious, befitting a duke's daughter.

"I tried to dispose of them many times to forget about the lost Lily, but I couldn't bring myself to do it."

Lily stared at the items, showing interest in one of the dresses. She gently tugged on Yuno's hair, trying not to be noticed by the others.

"Is it... this one? Do you want to wear it?"

Lily nodded vigorously. Yuno was puzzled, but still...

"Um, Lily says she wants to wear this dress..."

"Say it?"

The dukes and the maid looked confused. Yuno realized she had spoken without thinking. Still, Rose smiled gently. It was a smile that seemed to come from a long life, one that seemed to understand something.

"Of course."

The maid dressed Lily, and Rose slowly stroked her head.

The dress was the first one Rose had made as a child. It was a simple, awkwardly sewn piece, cut from fabric and stitched together at the sides. It couldn't compare to the other luxurious, beautiful ready-made items. Yet, Lily, wearing the awkward dress and being stroked by Rose, looked happier than ever before.

***

"I see. That's good."

In the palace reception room, the high priest smiled when Yuno told him about Lily.

Yuno smiled back, glad that Lily was happy.

She thought of the doll that Cindy had taken from her long ago. She wished she could have protected it. She couldn't back then, but now, knowing she had magic, she felt she could protect it.

(Sorry...)

She whispered in her heart.

Reuben asked worriedly,

"Does Lily move around at night in the duke's house? Is it okay?"

"It should be fine. Rose—Marie seemed to understand something," Dirk replied. Yuno felt the same.

The high priest and Reuben exchanged glances, then the high priest said,

"Long ago, there was someone who could purify magical artifacts like you. They were called the 'Holy Maiden.'"

"Holy Maiden..."

"Everyone says she had a gentle gaze toward the feared magical artifacts. She must have been someone like you."

Yuno thought it was impossible, but Reuben nodded vigorously beside the high priest, overwhelming her so much that she couldn't deny it.

Yuno decided to see the high priest off to the cathedral with Reuben. Dirk said he had something to investigate and went to his office with a troubled expression, not even looking at Yuno.

(What's wrong...?)

He seemed tense, but she couldn't ask why.

They arrived at the cathedral next to the palace, and Yuno decided to return to the palace alone after the high priest and Reuben, who had to prepare for the Mass, left.

Walking through the square in front of the cathedral, she thought about the coming winter. The sunlight was warm, but the wind was cool. The air was cold, making the sky a clear, deep blue.

(It's just like Dirk's eyes.)

That vivid blue.

She thought as she looked up at the sky. As a prince, Dirk had no reason to interact with Yuno, a servant maid. They had only been able to act and talk together because of the magical artifact, Lily.

But that was over now. They were old acquaintances, but only that. Yuno had even refused his proposal.

Dirk would never be interested in Yuno again, and they would have no reason to meet. Ever.

She felt ashamed of feeling lonely about it.

She just wanted to see him from a distance, even if that was all. It was her true feeling. But...

Sooner or later, Dirk would marry someone. As the third prince, he would marry a woman far superior to Yuno in status, appearance, and education. Someone like the beautiful girl she had seen in the palace's entrance hall.

She had to bless him.

(Can I...?)

She asked herself, but the answer was clear.

She couldn't.

She didn't want to. Just thinking about it made her chest tighten, and seeing it would surely break her heart.

But she knew she had to bless him...

She bit her lip tightly when she suddenly felt a gaze. The square was crowded with tourists. A person far away at a bronze statue looked like her sister, Cindy.

It couldn't be. There was no way she would be here. Still, her heart raced.

Their eyes met. A cold shiver ran down her spine, and she quickly turned away.

It must be someone who just looks like her. It would take two days by carriage from her hometown to get here.

(That's impossible...)

Cindy's mocking smile flashed vividly in her mind, making her terribly afraid. Yuno ran away from the spot.

She ran to the palace's service entrance, out of breath from the sprint. But she was relieved to have escaped from the person who looked like Cindy.

'You're such a failure, sister. I'd be too embarrassed to show my face.'

Cindy's mocking voice echoed vividly in her mind, making her shudder.

(Just to be safe, I'll stay in the palace for a while.)

But five days later...

"Yuno, your family is here to see you."

Keira said this while Yuno was cleaning. She felt as if her body had frozen.

"Family?"

"Yes, your mother and sister. They came all the way to see you. Isn't that great?"

It couldn't be. But she couldn't say more to Keira, who was genuinely happy that Yuno's family had come to see her. She headed to the servants' dining room where they had been shown in.

It must be someone else. They didn't know Yuno was here.

But Keira had clearly said 'mother and sister'...

She pressed her heart through her apron and opened the dining room door cautiously. Then—

"It's been a while, Yuno."

"There you are, sister."

It was her mother and Cindy.

The dining room was a simple place with a long wooden table and round chairs, but it was a place where Yuno felt at ease, as it also served as a break room.

But they seemed to dislike the simplicity. They clearly thought they shouldn't have been led to such a shabby place. They didn't even touch the tea Keira had carefully prepared for them, frowning.

(Nothing has changed...)

Her heart sank. But Keira was not someone to be looked down upon. She was kind and caring, and being with her was comforting.

Encouraged by the rising feelings, Yuno spoke.

"Why are you here...?"

"We were in the capital after a long time, and Cindy saw you in the square. Even from a distance, she was sure it was you, so we searched everywhere."

It was indeed Cindy...

The painful memories of the past came flooding back. Had they come to hurt her again?

But it was different from what she imagined.

Her mother smiled in a fawning way.

"I heard from a maid that you can use a rare kind of magic now."

(What...?)

"Since you can use magic, you can come back home. How does that sound?"

She couldn't believe her ears. She never thought her mother would say something like this.

Cindy, for a moment, looked envious but then smiled as if to regain her composure.

"Or we could live here. No, I think that would be better. Since sister is here, we should live here too. I can use magic too, so I can be a magician here."

Yuno was taken aback by her suggestion.

Thank you for reading. I appreciate your bookmarks and reviews. They are very encouraging. The story is expected to conclude in about three more chapters, so I would be very happy if you could stay with me until the end (^^)