Chapter 31

The next day, Alvis left the capital with Elina in a carriage. A little further on, there was a cemetery. Stopping the carriage just before it, Alvis lifted Elina into his arms and got off the carriage.

"Um, Lord Alvis?"

"This area has some steep slopes, so it's better this way."

Even on a normal road, it would be fine, but a slope would put more strain on her legs than imagined. Elina, in her current state, couldn't be made to do such a thing. For Alvis, carrying Elina alone was no trouble at all. He instructed the guards to wait here, and then Alvis and Elina entered the cemetery, stopping in front of a gravestone and gently setting Elina down.

"Lord Alvis, this is?"

"A grave. For those who have no family to claim them. Though nothing is written on the gravestones..."

Unnamed graves. Not properly managed by family, just buried and marked with a gravestone. The gravestones varied, some made from nearby stones, others from carved logs. But what they had in common was that someone had mourned them and wished for their souls to reach the goddess.

"Could it be that... here?"

"Yes. Shuri is resting here."

Alvis buried her with his own hands. With his blood-stained hands. He hadn't visited since then. The gravestone had some chipped parts. He had never told anyone about this place. Littane probably knew, but it was unlikely she had visited. So, it was thought that no one had ever come here.

"Shurieta..."

Elina knelt down, clasped her hands, and closed her eyes. She was praying. Alvis felt that Shurieta would be happier with Elina's prayers than his own. They had met in a dream, and though Elina had tried to forget, she couldn't. Alvis, who had never come here and had been neglecting his duties, no longer had the right to meet Shurieta.

As he thought this, he sensed someone approaching from behind and turned around. There, a sister was walking towards them, her arms full of a basket brimming with flowers. Noticing the visitors, she tilted her head.

"It's rare to see someone praying at a communal cemetery like this."

"Who are you?"

"I'm just a sister serving at the church nearby."

"I see."

There was only one church nearby. There were churches within the capital, but this was a different one. It was also the place Alvis was heading to.

"Hardly anyone visits this cemetery, so I was surprised to see someone here."

"...Yes, it's been years for me too."

"Still, I think they would be happy. Being forgotten is probably the saddest thing."

Hearing this, Alvis couldn't say anything. If he hadn't met Elina, he would have surely done the sad thing.

"Lord Alvis, I'm ready."

"Are you done?"

"Yes."

Offering his hand to Elina, who had finished praying, she took it and stood up. Then she noticed the sister.

"Lord Alvis, who is this?"

"She seems to be a sister from the nearby church. She came here to pray."

"I see."

"...Miss?"

"Huh?"

The basket fell from the sister's arm. Alvis picked it up and tried to hand it back to her, but the sister was staring at Elina with a surprised look. "Miss," the sister said. Perhaps she had a connection to the Littane Duke's family.

"Elina, do you know her?"

"...I'm not sure. Excuse me, may I ask your name?"

The sister's habit covered her head completely. So, hearing her name might help identify her. The sister, asked by Elina, removed the covering. Revealed was chestnut hair, tied in a bun at the back. Lifting the hem of her skirt, she performed a formal bow, indicating she had learned proper manners. Alvis was certain she was of noble birth.

"I am Zelie Lieber. It's been over ten years, hasn't it? It's been a long time, Miss Elina."

"Zel... ah."

Elina exclaimed as if she had remembered something. Zelie Lieber. Alvis recognized the name. She was the second daughter of the Lieber Count's family. A long time ago, she had submitted a resignation from the nobility, which the Lieber family had approved, so she was no longer a noble. This must be the woman in front of him.

Because of this unexpected reunion, Alvis and Elina decided to head to the church where Zelie was staying.