Episode 28
After that, the light bulb emitted light for about 100 hours, then gradually went out.
At any rate, since we had obtained the desired result, there was no longer any need for me and Aidan to be in that laboratory.
“Ugh, I’m tired.”
So returning home was only natural, but…
“Why does it feel so empty?”
Was it because someone who was beside me every day was no longer there? I thought I had gotten used to being alone at home by now, but it seemed it was still unfamiliar.
“Is it because Dad isn’t here, I wonder?”
I picked up the picture frame in front of the window. The most recent photo taken together with Dad was from the academy entrance ceremony. Of course, Dad was no longer in the photo, though.
In the uniform I was wearing for the first time, me smiling while holding a yellow bouquet Dad bought for me, Dad smiling as he looked at such a me. I had taken that photo and framed it.
However, after Dad disappeared, only I remained in this photo as well, didn’t I?
If I open the gate and bring Dad back, will Dad form in this photo again?
“So what if he doesn’t?”
Once I find Dad, I can take as many new photos like this as I want. At that time, I should print it very large and hang it on the wall of this house.
“Then at that time, I should dress him in really handsome clothes instead of mercenary attire and take it~!”
Even at my graduation ceremony, he came in mercenary attire, didn’t he? Seeing a sight like that, Aidan was certain to be horrified, saying it lacked dignity.
“Ah, Aidan…”
My dad doesn’t particularly need to look good to Aidan, does he? Why did I have a thought like that?
“That’s because that guy naggers about dignity and etiquette whenever he gets a chance…”
Fearing that he might say something to my dad for no reason as well, a thought like that must have come to mind. Reaching that conclusion, I sat in front of the mirror. Slowly combing down my hair with a brush, Aidan’s face reflected in the mirror came to mind.
Green eyes like spring that contained warmth.
My cheeks grew hot again.
“Ugh, why do you look at me with eyes like that!”
When usually he only made a disdainful expression while sweeping his gaze over a person up and down.
“Is it because I succeeded?”
How much money was it that Aidan invested in this research? Because it succeeded, he must have been happy. Even I would be like that.
Furthermore, since he was tasked with the mission of finding a core this time, he must have had no thought other than succeeding somehow. So he must have wished for my paper to be completed more than anyone.
“Mm, as expected, it’s like that, right?”
Thinking that way, my mind feels comfortable. I almost got fluttered all by myself for no reason.
“Huh?”
I was flabbergasted by the thought I made myself. Almost got fluttered? Me? Toward Aidan?
“Are you crazy?”
Somehow, due to lack of sleep, oxygen supply to the brain isn’t being done properly, so a normal way of thinking doesn’t seem to continue. I wrapped my head in both hands.
“I have to sleep, I must sleep.”
I drank chamomile tea, which is said to be good for a deep sleep. Covering myself with a plush pillow smelling of sunlight and a cozy blanket, I even lit an aromatic candle that I only light on special days.
It was perfect. My body was heavy as a thousand pounds, and sleep was lacking, so if I fell asleep like this, it would have been a perfect day.
“I can’t sleep.”
Yet sleep did not come. What came to mind whenever I merely closed my eyes were green pupils.
In the end, seeing the sun rise, I barely fell into a light sleep and went to work at the laboratory with a very exhausted appearance.
“What’s this, didn’t you rest comfortably yesterday?”
Seeing my appearance, Aidan furrowed his brows. As expected, it wasn’t a face that rested comfortably in anyone’s eyes, was it? Brushing over my face with bare hands, I smiled awkwardly.
“Ha, ha-ha. Somehow, because I was far too happy that the research succeeded, sleep didn’t come, you see.”
Whether Aidan slept very well, today of all days, his face shone. Still, whether my answer was convincing, he nodded his head.
“It was certainly a remarkable result. This will certainly receive an award.”
Aidan spoke like that and held out the experimental log sheets we had recorded all this time.
“Now only the work of organizing the research results so far into a paper remains.”
“Yes, I can do it.”
Because we had recorded even the failed experiments in detail during that time, and both were people originally with a knack for summarizing and organizing, the time spent drafting the paper did not take long. We were able to complete the paper with time to spare compared to the paper submission period at the academic conference.
Confirming whether there were any typos or misentered numbers for the last time, Aidan closed the final page.
“Carbonization conditions of the bamboo used, thickness and length of the filament, voltage and current, vacuum pressure and lighting time. Down to variables and control groups. Perfect.”
A perfect paper recognized by the perfectionist Aidan. With that single phrase, it felt as though all the hardships until now were rewarded. Picking up a pen, he opened the first page of the paper.
“Then let’s write down the author. After that, let’s just submit it today.”
Without hesitation, Aidan wrote down my name.
[Cynthia Violeta.]
And he set down the pen.
“Huh? What about Young Lord’s name?”
“Why would I write my name?”
He lightly shrugged his shoulders.
“The person who conceptualized this research first, and the person who thought of bamboo as the material for the filament—it was all you, wasn’t it? I merely provided the necessary funds and equipment.”
“However…”
If it hadn’t been for Aidan, it certainly wouldn’t have succeeded.
“Research isn’t done with money, is it? The person who came up with the idea and proved it is you.”
Though I understood Aidan’s words as well, putting only my name here, why does my conscience feel so pricked?
“I will submit this paper to the academy in person.”
Organizing the paper, he spoke.
“You’ve worked hard during this time, Cynthia Violeta.”
“…Young Lord as well, you’ve suffered a lot.”
“Now this place is the end as well, it seems.”
At Aidan’s words, I thoroughly scanned the laboratory for no reason.
A desk scorched from heating glass tubes over fire, bamboo filaments replaced countless times, glass tubes and failed works stacked in the corner. The time we laughed and cried remained right here as it was.
I spent a truly vast amount of time here with Aidan during that time, didn’t I?
“Then what happens to this place now?”
“Since there’s nothing more to do, I’ll just sell it. I already own my own laboratory, and I have many buildings, after all.”
“What about the items in here?”
“Just throw them away, what else? It’s not like there’s anything particularly important, either.”
Once again, at his attitude toward items, I realize one more time that he is a wealthy noble. If it were my dad, he would have gathered them up, asking why throw away perfectly fine items.
“What are you doing, not going out?”
“I-I have to go.”
Trying to move my steps following him, who had already opened the door and gone out, I stopped right as I was and headed toward the wall.
“Excuse me, this mirror.”
“Hmm? What about that?”
“Is this being thrown away too? Or sold?”
Although it had no flashy patterns, because it was one of the props prepared by the Winslow family, I asked just in case.
“Selling it is more of a hassle. I’ll just throw it away, what else.”
Aidan himself didn’t seem to know well since he wasn’t the one who bought it, though.
“Then can I take this?”
“This? Do you need a mirror? Then I’ll buy you a new one.”
“I like this mirror!”
“…For what reason?”
Aidan made an expression of truly being unable to understand, but without asking further, he nodded his head.
Confirming the meaning of permission, I carefully removed the mirror and embraced it in my arms. It felt a little heavier than I had thought, too.
“Let’s go.”
Seeing me groaning, Aidan let out a sigh and held the mirror instead.
“S-Shall we hold it together?”
“Forget it. It’s more comfortable holding it alone.”
I followed behind Aidan walking with long strides.
Since it’s this fine, throwing it away is a waste, after all. Because there isn’t such a large mirror in my house, it will certainly be useful.
‘Yeah, that’s why I’m taking it.’
There was no other meaning at all, not even this much.
***
The academic conference ranks the papers that passed the first screening and selects a total of five people. And after those five people demonstrate the contents presented in the papers in person and complete a Q&A session, scores are assigned to determine the best paper.
In other words, today I had to perform the light bulb demonstration in front of people.
Swallowing dry saliva with lips parched from tension. Because Dr. Helico’s cherished item was at stake in this academic conference, it was receiving the attention of many people. Newspaper reporters pressed their shutters continuously, and murmurs from the audience seats did not cease.
“…Cynthia Violeta.”
The moderator called out the name of the first presenter. It was my turn.
