Chapter 20
“Seven years ago, you seemed so unwavering that I couldn’t stop you… and I couldn’t help you.”
Pulled from my memories by Mikael’s voice, I looked at him.
He was watching me with a resolute expression.
“But now…”
“That’s no longer the case.”
“I’ll help you, no matter what.”
“And I won’t leave your side.”
“…”
“So whenever you need me, tell me.”
“Sometimes…”
“Forgetting the pain is also a way to heal.”
Silence settled between us.
After a long moment, I smiled softly and set my teacup down on the table.
“Thank you, Mikael.”
“…”
“But I’m alright.”
“You really don’t have to erase my memories.”
I truly was alright.
In fact…
I liked remembering Diana every now and then.
Continuing to meet the people connected to her.
Continuing to reminisce about her.
Opening the memories of her that were stored in one corner of my heart like the pages of a diary.
It didn’t hurt anymore.
I simply didn’t want to forget her.
I wanted to keep remembering.
As much as I possibly could.
I wanted to keep her alive in people’s memories so she would never truly disappear.
“Mikael.”
“It’s already been seven years.”
“It’s true that, even for me, Diana is gradually becoming a faded memory.”
“…”
“So much has changed.”
“I’ve changed too.”
“And just as you said…”
“Even without her…”
“The world has continued turning with heartbreaking indifference.”
He quietly listened without interrupting.
I smiled gently and continued.
“I just want to keep remembering her in my own way.”
“By revisiting the places we went together.”
“By making an effort to keep opening those old photo albums so I won’t forget.”
“By looking back on the moments we shared.”
“Because…”
“That’s the most I can do for her now.”
“…”
“So you don’t have to erase my memories.”
“I truly don’t want that.”
“And I’m no longer in pain simply because she’s gone.”
That was what I wanted Mikael to understand.
That he didn’t need to worry.
That everything I did…
Was simply for Diana’s sake.
That I was only trying not to forget her.
Perhaps…
Without realizing it…
I was also trying to convince myself.
Silence filled the room once more.
Then Mikael spoke.
His voice sounded unfamiliar.
“Would you like to go on a date with me tomorrow?”
The question came so unexpectedly that I stared at him.
Mikael smiled gently.
There was an unreadable expression on his face.
For some reason…
His eyes looked almost sad.
“If tomorrow doesn’t work…”
“Then the day after.”
“If not then…”
“The day after that.”
“Whenever you want.”
“…”
“If you don’t want your memories erased…”
“I won’t bring it up again.”
“I never meant to pressure you.”
“…”
“But like I said earlier…”
“From now on…”
“I’ll always be by your side.”
He reached his hand toward me.
“So from now on…”
“Let’s do everything together.”
“We can talk about Diana.”
“If you need a change of pace, we can go on dates.”
“Whatever it is you want…”
“Let’s do it together.”
I looked at his outstretched hand.
It was pale and slender.
A hand that reminded me so much of Diana’s.
I stared at him blankly.
“I’ll stay by your side, Kasia.”
“…”
My heart swelled so suddenly that I couldn’t speak for quite some time.
How much time passed?
Slowly…
I reached my hand toward him.
And gently took the hand he had offered me.
“…Alright.”
A soft smile spread across my face.
Unable to calm the emotions welling inside me, I bit my lip before continuing.
“…Then tomorrow.”
“And the day after tomorrow.”
“We’ll go on dates.”
“Alright.”
“And the day after that too.”
“I’d like that.”
I couldn’t help laughing.
The sound of our laughter echoed softly throughout the gallery.
Then Mikael said,
“…Anything is fine.”
“Let’s experience everything together.”
He held my hand warmly.
“If we keep finding new things that make your heart feel full…”
“Before you know it…”
“You’ll be happy again.”
“I’ll make you even happier.”
We smiled at each other.
The warmth of his hand that day…
Reminded me of the night seven years ago when he had cried for me.
And also…
Of the hand Diana had once reached out to me long ago.
* * *
Mikael stayed at the gallery for a while longer, chatting with me.
I showed him the paintings I had completed.
He spent several minutes quietly admiring them, his face filled with genuine surprise at my skill.
As we continued talking about one thing after another…
It gradually became time for him to leave.
He stood from his chair.
“It’s unfortunate, but I should be going now.”
I stood as well.
Looking at me, he smiled.
“I had a wonderful time today.”
“I’ll come back tomorrow.”
“I enjoyed today too.”
The gallery would be open again tomorrow.
We had already decided that he would come spend time with me again.
Just thinking about seeing him tomorrow made my heart beat pleasantly.
It felt exactly like the colors Arwin had spoken about—
As though vibrant colors were slowly returning to my heart.
I walked him to the door.
Just before leaving, he turned around.
“Oh, Kasia.”
“Yes?”
Tilting my head, I waited.
He hesitated briefly before speaking.
“I think…”
“You should be careful around that man from earlier.”
“Who?”
“The one called Arwin.”
“Oh.”
I smiled.
“Because he’s the Third Prince?”
“…You knew?”
His eyes widened.
As the head of the Allison family, Mikael frequently visited the Imperial Palace.
The moment he saw Arwin, he had undoubtedly recognized him.
Thinking back…
He must have been completely bewildered earlier.
Remembering the stunned expression on his face made me smile.
“But earlier…”
“You both acted as though neither of you knew who the other was.”
“I know.”
“It’s a rather long story how things ended up like that.”
I continued.
“At first, I thought he was just an ordinary customer.”
“But it turned out he was His Highness the Third Prince.”
“…I see.”
Mikael let out a small laugh.
His expression suggested he found the entire situation both absurd and fascinating.
“…Does he know who you are?”
“I don’t think so.”
“He probably doesn’t recognize my face.”
“And I’ve never told him.”
Someday…
I might have to tell him.
But I didn’t want that day to come just yet.
The moment we both learned each other’s true identities…
It felt as though the friendship we shared now would disappear.
Eventually…
Perhaps I’d have no choice.
But if possible…
I wanted to delay that moment for as long as I could.
Besides…
I was pretending not to know who he really was.
Perhaps if he discovered my identity someday…
He would understand why.
“To me…”
“He’s become a close friend.”
“And also a valued customer who comes every day to buy my coffee.”
Strangely…
Whenever I thought about Arwin…
A smile naturally appeared on my face.
Perhaps it was because, unlike what one would expect from a prince…
He was sincere.
Simple.
Completely free of pretense.
“Mikael.”
“If it’s alright…”
“Could you pretend you don’t know he’s here?”
I asked him quietly.
“I don’t know what happened…”
“But it seems he has reasons for not wanting to return to the Imperial Palace.”
“I’d like to help him stay here a little longer.”
Mikael remained silent for a moment.
Then…
He nodded without hesitation.
“…Alright.”
Looking at me, he smiled.
“If that’s what you want…”
“I’ll gladly do it.”
* * *
Meanwhile…
Arwin walked slowly down the road with his cloak pulled low over his face.
Although he had left the gallery…
He couldn’t bring himself to return home.
Instead…
He had circled around the building several times.
“…Sigh.”
He stopped in the middle of the road and let out a deep sigh.
What was wrong with me back there?
When he had seen her latest painting—
The first one filled with vibrant colors—
An emotion he couldn’t identify had stirred inside him.
He knew he had no right to ask.
No right to pry into her feelings.
Yet…
He desperately wanted to know who had shaken her heart.
So he asked.
Naturally…
She hadn’t told him.
But the moment Count Allison entered the gallery…
He understood.
Ah.
So it was you.
You’re the one who stirred her heart.
To make matters worse…
He knew exactly who the man was.
Mikael Allison.
The eldest son of the Allison family.
And Mikael undoubtedly knew who he was as well.
It was a strange feeling.
Had he ever experienced anything like this before?
The Imperial Family traditionally kept every prince’s upbringing hidden from the public until their debut.
However…
A handful of high-ranking nobles with close ties to the Imperial Family were exceptions.
They had known him since childhood.
People like Count Allison.
Or the Duke of Hwidrian.
Adolf had met them all when he was young.
Yet back then…
Whenever he encountered Mikael in the Imperial Palace…
He had felt absolutely nothing.
But today…
For some inexplicable reason…
Simply seeing him irritated him.
It was the exact same face as always.
And yet…
Today, it annoyed him for no reason.
Then again…
The appearance of someone like Mikael in a tiny rural gallery like this was startling in itself.
What kind of relationship do those two have…?
How could a woman living as a commoner know a nobleman of such standing?
Does she really have some kind of secret?
But above all else…
The vivid colors in her painting…
And Mikael’s appearance…
Connected in his mind.
An indescribable emotion began to grow within him.
It felt as though…
Just as he had finally begun growing closer to her…
A huge, unwelcome intruder had suddenly appeared.
And then there was the way she had immediately stood up to greet Mikael.
The warmth in her eyes…
It was the first time Arwin had ever seen her look at someone like that.
And for a brief moment…
He felt something strangely close to despair.
He had left the gallery because he was too flustered to stay.
Yet…
He couldn’t bring himself to go home.
Because all he could think about…
Was the fact that the two of them were now alone together inside the gallery.
