BTVF 10

~Chapter 10~

Bang!

The window shook loudly.

Like something had hit it.

A maid, who was secretly wiping her tears by the window, jumped in surprise.

“W-What was that?”

She turned her head.

A stupid bird had crashed into the window, fell down, then flew back and started pecking at it.

As if it wanted attention.

“Wait… isn’t that a carrier pigeon?”

Carrier pigeons weren’t supposed to come here.

They were trained to go to the west tower only.

But this one had no message tied to its leg.

“Is it just dumb?”

The maid tried to scare it away.

But the pigeon didn’t move.

It scratched the glass, made annoying noises, and kept hitting the window with its wings.

“You crazy bird…!”

“What is all this noise?”

At that moment—

A weak coughing voice was heard.

It was Sabina, the lady of the Valentine castle.

“I-I’m sorry!”

“It’s fine. What about the bird?”

Her voice was weak, like she might stop breathing at any moment.

Through the curtain, her thin body could be seen.

Her fingers looked like dry branches.

“Th-the bird is acting strangely…”

Even Sabina smiled a little at that strange report.

“I want to see this brave bird. Help me up.”

“No! The doctor said you must rest!”

“When people die, they rest forever.”

“Please don’t say that…”

The maid almost cried but held it in.

“You don’t have much time left…” Sabina knew it herself.

She had already accepted her death.

The maid helped her sit near the window.

But—

The bird was gone.

The maid thought angrily:

“I’ll cook that pigeon if I catch it.”

Then—

Sabina touched the window and asked softly,

“…Is this… cherry blossom?”

On the window were fresh cherry blossoms.

“That’s impossible… they already fell…”

The maid looked outside—

And froze.

The huge cherry trees were in full bloom again, moving in the wind.

An impossible sight.

A miracle.

* * *

Lloyd went to the place where he first met Aria.

Several jaguars followed behind him.

“Find her.”

They growled in response.

Then—

Something fell on his head.

A flower petal.

“…What is this?”

He looked up.

Flower petals were falling like rain.

Only the cherry trees were blooming among the dead forest.

“Did Kalin do this?”

No.

The castle’s mage wouldn’t do something this gentle.

“Then… someone else.”

Lloyd remembered a small girl.

Standing with a lace umbrella.

Surrounded by flowers.

“…Annoying.”

He looked at the tree and lightly tapped his sword.

Then—

A jaguar returned.

It was holding something.

A small, old bag.

“…Her bag.”

Aria’s bag.

She had held it tightly earlier.

“Let’s see what she’s hiding.”

Poison? Weapons?

He opened it.

Inside—

Cards, ink, and a broken pen.

“So she writes to communicate.”

“Foolish.”

Keeping written records is dangerous.

He should burn them.

Still—

He started reading.

[The flowers are pretty.]

Random.

[I like seeing flowers.]

So she likes flowers.

[Give me cocoa with melon taste.]

…Melon?

Next card—

[White, floating, soft.]

“…Marshmallow.”

[It’s delicious, melon.]

She liked it.

Even if she misunderstood it.

Then—

The cards changed.

Old. Worn.

[My name is not idiot.]

[I’m sorry.]

[It’s all my fault.]

[Please don’t hit me.]

[I’ll try to speak.]

[Sorry for being useless.]

The cards were worn out.

Used many times.

Ink was smudged with tears.

Then—

The last card.

[Please love me.]

…

Lloyd froze.

At that moment—

A jaguar nudged him and pointed toward the palace.

Aria was there.

He stayed silent.

His eyes briefly moved to the broken pen—

Then away.

* * *

Aria drifted in and out of consciousness.

She heard voices.

Felt hands.

Was it real?

Or a dream?

Voices echoed—

“Sing for me.”

“That’s all? Are you joking?”

“I spent everything to meet you.”

“Stop pretending to be sick and sing!”

“If you don’t want to die, sing now!”

Aria slowly opened her eyes.

“Ah! Miss, you’re awake!”

She blinked.

Dana was on her left.

Betty on her right.

They looked worried.

Dana gently moved her hair.

“I’m so glad you’re safe.”

“This is… the Grand Duke’s castle…”

Aria realized.

“They took care of me?”

When she was sick—

Someone stayed beside her.

Wiped her body.

Took care of her.

“You don’t have to suffer alone anymore.”

It felt strange.

Her eyes felt hot.

Like she might cry.

Dana patted her head again.

This time—

Aria didn’t resist.

It was too warm.

Too gentle.

“Don’t be sick.”

“Get better soon.”

It felt like she was melting.

Her body.

Her heart.

Everything.

Dana smiled softly.

“How can you be this cute…”

Then suddenly stopped.

“Oh! You’re sick—I shouldn’t overdo it.”

“I’ll bring you soup.”

She fed Aria warm soup.

Aria quietly ate.

Then suddenly—

She remembered.

Her bag.

She grabbed Dana’s hand and wrote:

[What about the Grand Duchess?]

“She’s safe. She passed the critical moment.”

“…Good.”

Aria relaxed.

“Also… the young master came earlier.”

Lloyd?

Aria lifted her head quickly.

Her bunny ears moved too.

Dana laughed.

“And he brought this.”

Her bag.

“When did I drop it…?”

Inside—

A pen.

But not her old one.

A luxurious fountain pen.

“…?”

Gold tip.

Decorated with diamonds.

Made by a famous craftsman.

Extremely valuable.

Aria looked at Dana.

“She probably found it in the office.”

“I see…”

So for Valentine—

Even something like this is just “picked up.”

Aria searched the bag again.

Then found a note.

[When you recover, get lost.]

…

“So… a goodbye gift?”

Aria asked Dana:

[Does Lloyd hate me?]

He did try to kill her earlier.

She touched the bandage on her neck.

She planned to stay quietly—

But—

She couldn’t get killed or kicked out.

Dana replied carefully,

“I can’t judge his feelings…”

Then added—

“But he ordered that you should be allowed to try every kind of dessert.”

Dana looked slightly troubled.

“That shouldn’t even be possible…”