Chapter 7

"Could you please sew this for me?"

I received a single drawing from my best friend. It was the emblem of the royal family of the neighboring country, the emblem from before the current king ascended the throne. The current king had repainted everything when he seized the throne.

I accepted my best friend's request. I couldn't say anything. It's difficult to suddenly start embroidering from a drawing. I had to turn it into a pattern, choose the appropriate fabric, and carefully select the thread colors.

I applied the design to a handkerchief that would fit in the breast pocket of a knight's uniform, just like the one I had once given to my brother. It's not easy to embroider a pattern that should be on a large piece of fabric onto a small one. I couldn't reproduce everything, so I simplified some parts, but I completed it. I was grateful to the god who had blessed me with good eyesight.

Neither my best friend nor I spoke about what the emblem meant.

"Thank you."

When I handed over the finished piece, I heard my best friend's low, genuine voice for the first time.

In her eyes, which wavered between determination and hesitation, I saw myself. I was sad about my own powerlessness. I felt empty about my existence, lacking the courage to stand beside the one who would walk the thorny path.

"As long as you stay well, that's enough. Aren't we best friends? Please stay safe. Stay well."

I didn't want to say, "May you have a safe journey." I couldn't say, "I'll be waiting for your return." My best friend nodded, looking as if she might cry.

A few days later, I received a message from the duke's family. It said that my best friend had passed away. The future I had anticipated had arrived. The duke had decided to execute the plan. I resolved to fulfill my role.

When I received the news of my best friend's death, who had been absent from school, I rushed there without even having time to arrange mourning clothes. The duke and duchess welcomed me warmly and shed tears with me.

For the funeral, the duchess lent me a mourning dress she had had made when she was young. Dressed in a high-quality but old-fashioned mourning dress, I, a friend of a different social status, mourned my best friend's untimely death and shed tears.

Many people shed tears over the tragedy of the young duke's daughter who had passed away. The coffin was tightly closed, and no one was allowed to see inside. The attendees were told that she had wasted away due to illness. The cruelty of the disease that had struck a young and beautiful person elicited tears from the people.

After the funeral, the duchess called me over. The keepsake I received was my best friend's long hair. My best friend had grown her hair and dressed in a dress, speaking in a high, artificial voice to protect herself from the man who had killed her grandfather and father, the king of the neighboring country.

My best friend had cut her hair and ended her false life.

"I want you to keep this. I'm sure she would have wanted you to."

The duchess only shed tears at the funeral. In front of me was a woman who knew everything and had made up her mind. She must have supported my best friend's resolve. In the duchess's resolute demeanor, I saw the resolve of a high-ranking noblewoman.

"Thank you. I will never forget the days I spent with her."

"Thank you. Please come often. My husband has decided to retire. It will surely be lonely. I enjoyed spending time embroidering with you. Let's continue to embroider together. If we can share memories of our daughter, my husband and I will be happy."

I nodded at the duchess's words. I was pleased that she would provide a place where we could talk, both of us carrying the same secret in our hearts.