Chapter 24
Raven didn’t answer.
He merely looked up at me with a face that seemed to have much to say. The eyes that held me were asking why I was suddenly saying such things.
I pretended not to notice that gaze as I stroked down his back, now glossy after the traces of his gunshot wound had completely vanished. Then, to gloss over what I had just said, I spread the blanket again.
“Now, it’s very late. Let’s hurry and sleep. Here, the spot beside me where you wanted to lie down.”
“……”
Raven stared at me suspiciously until the very end. But he didn’t refuse my offer.
After he wriggled his rump into the blanket and finished preparing to sleep, I carefully covered him with it.
Without questioning or asking about the words I had just spoken, he merely closed his eyes obediently. I lay down beside him and blew out the candle that had been lighting the head of the bed.
Pitch-black darkness settled where the light had disappeared. Raven, who had perfectly blended into the dense darkness, could no longer be seen.
I gave my final goodnight to him, whom I couldn’t see.
“Sleep well, and may good dreams be with you.”
* * *
The next day, the morning sun rose into the sky, and clear sunlight filled the room.
Bathed in the warm sunlight, I slowly opened my eyes. Raven was still lying quietly beside me, asleep. Fortunately, I didn’t accidentally hit him in my sleep.
Leaving behind the spot beside me, which was strangely hot, I rose from bed and slipped my feet into soft slippers. Then, I approached the window.
When I opened the window, a soft, cool breeze poured in.
‘Until not long ago, the wind was still quite chilly in the mornings and evenings.’
Before I knew it, the weather had grown this warm. Thinking that the time I had spent with Raven had passed just as much made me feel strangely moved.
As I stood in the blowing wind and briefly recalled the past days, I leaned my head out and checked the weather. Outside, where it was neither cold nor hot, even the sky was clear without a single cloud. The sun was so bright that the scenery far away could be seen clearly. It was the perfect weather for Raven to leave.
A little while later, I carefully closed the window so he wouldn’t wake, then pulled the bell cord and called the servants.
After lightly washing my face with the water they prepared, I changed clothes and had breakfast. Then, upon returning to my room and entering the dressing room, I ordered the maids,
“Make me as beautiful as possible, like that time.”
“By that time…?”
“When spring came, and I went out for my first walk in the garden. That time.”
At that moment, shadows fell over the maids’ faces all at once, and pitying gazes poured toward me.
They all looked as if they had much to say. But they couldn’t bring themselves to open their mouths and only moved their lips for no reason. They also exchanged gloomy glances with one another.
I knew what they wanted to say without hearing it. If parting with Raven was too hard, how about secretly raising him in the rear garden, Miss? That was probably what they wanted to ask.
But that couldn’t be done.
“I’m fine.”
“……”
“Of course I’m not in the best mood. Parting with the little one I’ve grown attached to is sad and regrettable in many ways. But…”
Slowly revealing what was in my heart, I paused for a moment, then soon continued.
“Even so, I know that letting that child go is the right thing to do. Even if I raise him in secret, how long could I hide him? It’s obvious he would be discovered. It’s right to send him away before he has to see anything harsh.”
The maids’ faces clouded as they listened. But that was all. They didn’t actively argue or try to persuade me.
They knew too. That Raven couldn’t be raised in the mansion.
“…Then we’ll dress you up like that time, as you said, Miss.”
“Yes, please.”
As soon as I finished speaking, three maids gathered around me and began changing my clothes.
While they straightened the fit of my dress, I carefully chose the pair I would wear today from among the several pairs of shoes prepared by the other maids.
Soon, makeup was applied to my face as I sat before the dressing table. At the same time, my hair was arranged, and hairpins were fixed into it. Around the time the makeup was nearly finished, I chose my accessories last.
It was then. Suddenly, familiar footsteps sounded from behind me.
I raised my head and looked around. Raven, who had awakened at some point, was quietly looking up at me.
“You’re awake? You woke up a little late today.”
“……”
He said nothing. He merely stared at my face as if entranced.
In the middle of choosing accessories, I leaned down and offered my arm towards him. It meant he should sit on my shoulder.
Raven seemed to hesitate for a moment, but soon settled himself on my shoulder.
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