HTDD 36

Chapter 36

The hill overlooking the town of Pettigrew was reached by walking along a gentle slope and climbing a short set of stairs. Unlike the royal capital, this town was rich with trees and flowers — and it was said that even incognito travelers sometimes visited to gaze upon the scenery and heal their hearts.

Natalie, accompanied by Julius, walked straight toward their destination without hesitation — as if to reaffirm that there was no confusion left in her own heart.

And as they followed the path—

(…It’s beautiful, no matter how many times I see it.)

The rows of brick houses, the colorful blossoms, and the lush green trees were all bathed in the golden light of the setting sun. A peaceful, nostalgic landscape spread out before Natalie’s eyes.

As a child, she had come to this very spot with her parents. She remembered her father saying contentedly, “What’s nice about Pettigrew is that it never develops too much.”
Back then, she hadn’t understood what he meant — but now, she did.

Looking at it again, she could see the reason clearly. The abundance of nature, the way time flowed gently through the town… all of it felt like an irreplaceable treasure. Ever since marrying into the ducal family, she had never been able to visit again.

—But she had always, always wished to see it once more.

The view that had remained unchanged since her memories seemed to charm other visitors as well. Besides Natalie and Julius, there were several others sitting on benches or standing in the fields, quietly admiring the scenery.

Then, standing beside her, Julius murmured softly:

“…It’s beautiful.”

And after a moment, he added,

“This view is truly magnificent… Thank you for bringing me here.”

“No, I’m glad if you’re pleased with it,”
Natalie replied.

“Ah…”
“And—look over there, do you see it?”

Following the direction Natalie pointed, Julius turned his gaze.

“Ah, I see it—”

Before them rose the mountain that marked the heart of Pettigrew’s domain, and halfway up its slope stood a large stone building, clearly ancient.

“That is said to be the ruins of where our ancestors once lived… We’ve covered it with a magical barrier so it won’t collapse,”
she explained.

“…I see.”

“Yes, there are also protective enchantments placed to keep it from being damaged by the weather and such—”

The healing magic of the Pettigrew family was not suited for combat.
Instead, it was often used for preservation and protection.
There were many such places warded by their spells — even the cemetery outside the town, for instance.

Before she had died, Natalie had asked Mina to tend to her parents’ graves, since she herself had run out of time and couldn’t visit.

(But knowing Mina… I’m sure she took care of them properly.)

Hearing Natalie’s explanation, Julius looked intently at the ruins, his expression stiffening slightly. Natalie couldn’t read what he was feeling, but standing there side by side with him, she felt it deeply—

This time they were living was completely different from her first life.

Her parents and Mina were alive.
The world had changed from that tragic past of war.
She could speak and laugh with her loved ones again — and the everyday peace that protected them was something precious beyond measure.

There was nothing more painful than losing someone dear.
To Natalie, the reality of living together now was sacred — shining and radiant, like the evening sun over the town.

And above all, that this peaceful reality even existed… was largely thanks to Julius.

“M-My lady…?”
“…Eh?”

Julius, who had been watching the scenery beside her, spoke in a worried tone.
He seemed startled, his eyes fixed on her face.
Only then did Natalie realize that tears were streaming uncontrollably down her cheeks.

“Ah… why am I…”
“……”
“The sunlight is just… a little too bright, that’s all…”

The words stumbled out awkwardly.
These tears — they were because the war was over, because she was happy.
At least, that’s what she wanted to believe.
When she tried to hide her face by lowering it—

“…I’m a tree.”
“……Eh?”

The words Julius spoke didn’t quite register at first.
Natalie blinked and looked back at him. He had his brows lowered, an expression uncharacteristic of him.

“So… don’t mind me. It’s fine.”
“……!”

“I may not be much use, but…”

He looked conflicted, as though struggling to find something he could do after seeing her cry.
And then—

—Though she didn’t want to acknowledge it—
She realized he was standing in such a way that his tall frame shielded her from the view of others around them.

Natalie gripped his clothes tightly, overcome by emotion.
Hot tears continued to fall.

“Why…!”
“……”
“Why couldn’t you show that same kindness… those same words… to the me back then? Why couldn’t you talk to me, smile with me, just like you are today?”

—She hadn’t wanted to admit that she regretted it.

If only, before she died… or even after their marriage, he had treated her normally.
If only he had looked into the baseless accusations from the servants and his stepmother.

No—more than that.

She just wanted to talk to him, even casually.
She wanted to share a meal.
Even if their marriage hadn’t been born of love, she wished they could have lived without resentment.
Above all—

She wanted to live with her son — Liam — longer.

She wanted to see him grow up.
To see when he would first stand, when he would speak his first words—
To witness all those ordinary, precious moments of his childhood.

And maybe, just maybe—
There could have been days like today, when Liam would learn swordsmanship from Julius, while she watched over them with a smile.

That kind of everyday life — a life that would never come back — filled her mind completely.

A life where they might have laughed together, as a family.
And perhaps, from that, she could have found the strength to move forward no matter how hard it became.
That unbearably painful thought overflowed from her chest.

“Why…!”

She had promised herself never to cry in front of Julius.
Yet now, clutching his clothes, she couldn’t stop the tears.

She knew — she knew in her mind — that blaming him would change nothing.
That it was all too late.
That she shouldn’t keep holding onto him like this.

Barely managing to restrain her emotions, Natalie began to release her grip on his clothing.

And then—

A sudden gust of wind swept across the hill.

Whether it was a seasonal breeze or just a random burst, the strong wind made Natalie lose her balance for a moment.
In that instant—

A strong arm caught her, supporting her body.
She found herself closer to Julius’s chest than before.

“…! I-I’m sorry…”

Before she knew it—

Natalie was in Julius’s arms.