Your Regrets Are Late

When they arrived at the villa, Viscount Kashu and his wife, who managed the place, were already out to meet them.

“I’ve been waiting, little Duchess. Welcome.”

“Rusanel”

Charelize greeted him by calling Viscount Kashu’s name.

“I heard the word about you. May Goddess Resina’s blessings reach Royal Princess Ibelin.”

“Thank you for welcoming me. May Viscount be protected too.”

Viscount Kashu bowed down to pay respect to Ibelin.

“To be honest… I was very surprised to hear that Your Highness would visit me again in such a short time.”

“When was… the last time… I came here?”

Charelize was puzzled at Viscount Kashu’s words.

“Right before graduation from the Rosielt Academy, Your Highness came with a man. Why do you ask that?”

“…Ah, right, I’ve been busy with work, so I forgot about it for a while.”

Given that she had no memories of it, Charelize hurriedly glossed over it, realizing it must be something to do with Arensis.

“The last time Your Highness stayed in Isla, there were things you left behind.”

“…Things?”

“yes. The man who came with Your Highness also left something in Isla and put it in the first drawer.”

“I will check it… later.”

Isla. The room, named after her mother’s second surname, was one of her favorite places. Befitting the meaning of a free bird flying in the sky, everything from the wallpaper to the furniture was painted blue, so it was cool to look at. She often felt her twisted mind unravel when she felt the breeze by the wind in Isla.

Most of the guests were given a room on the second floor. It was very strange that she brought Arensis to Isla, a place that is rarely seen by others.

“May I ask what Your Highness is holding in your hand?”

Viscount Kashu asked about Lona’s ashes in Charelize’s hands.

“Lona… came with me.”

Viscount Kashu and his wife were longtime vassals of Duke Marsetta, so they had seen Charelize since she was little.

“Ah…”

“So… that’s it.”

Naturally knowing Lona, they noticed what she meant and put on a bitter expression.

“I’m thinking of burying her here. Is there a suitable place?”

“…I remember she liked flowers. How about a garden since we’ve just planted new flower beds?”

“Garden?”

“Yes. The paper I found and gave to Your Highness last time was also found there.”

After thinking about it for a while, Viscount Kashu carefully suggested the garden.

“Okay.”

At his words, Charelize nodded, recalling the purpose of her coming to the villa.

“Give it to me, Your Highness. I will prepare it right now.”

“Please.”

After entrusting Lona’s ashes to Viscountess Kashu, she headed to the garden. Viscount Kashu, who entered the garden first, stopped at the flowerbed.

“I was organizing the flowerbeds to change the wilted flowers before spring arrived, but something got stuck around there. When I looked, I found a box.”

“Is that why you informed me right away?”

“That’s right, Your Highness.”

Charelize and Ibelin shifted their gaze to where he beckoned. There was a hole in the ground big enough for a small box to fit in.

“I see. You can leave now.”

“During your stay, I hope you both have a peaceful time.”

Charelize took the paper out of her arms. “Ibelin, would you like to see it?”

“Yes. Give it to me.”

Charelize bent her knees and stared at the ground for a long time. Soon she handed the paper to Ibelin.

“What do you think?”

“Even though they’re similar, I don’t think they are ancient characters.”

“…I see.”

When Ibelin said it wasn’t an ancient text, Charelize sighed. “Then… can you read what is written on it?”

Seeing Ibelin muttering something and trying to interpret it, she regained hope.

“Is there a library here?”

“On the second floor. Most of them are at the villa during vacation, so I’m sure most of the books are there. Why?”

“I have something to look for. Can I borrow it for a minute?”

“There’s nothing wrong with that. Let’s go together. I will take you there.”

Ibelin said she had something to think about, and she wanted to be alone in the library.

“Ibelin.”

“…”

Even after a long time, Ibelin seemed to have no intention of leaving. Charelize, who was worried about her, was about to knock again.

“Your Highness, I buried Lona’s ashes.”

Viscountess Kashu, who approached her, announced earlier that the task had been completed.

“I’ll be right there.”

Charelize returned to the garden through the back door. Lona’s ashes were buried on the side with the most flowers.

Lona, sleep here.

She was grateful for the consideration of Viscountess Kashu, who even engraved Lona’s name on the tombstone.

“I remember she was always wearing a brooch in the shape of the lisianthus, so I set up a place here.”

“Brooch?”

“Yes. At first… I thought she got it from her husband because of its language flowers mean unchanging love.”

“But?”

“She made it from the grave of her child whom she had miscarried before. It’s just a glimpse, so I don’t know the details. Lona was always by my side, so it took me about three years to start talking to her.”

“It’s a little different from the Lona I know. Lona is…”

Lona, who Charelize remembered, was always a lively person. She didn’t hesitate to approach her first and talk to her.

“Ah. She must have been like that because she heard that children tend to follow the person who took care of them.”

“…I see.”

It was probably when she punched Jeremy’s face, the second prince of the Kingdom Dwayne.

“Princess, Prince Jeremy is here.”

“…Send him back.”

“Aren’t you going to apologize? Is it really okay for the prince to leave like this?”

“Yes.”

Lona made a different expression than usual and said that she had to apologize, which seemed to be the reason. Charelize hated Lona for not listening to the end, so she didn’t answer.

She felt sorry for being mean. Although it was formal, she sent Jeremy a letter asking how he was doing.

“Princess… I hope you get along with your peers.”

“I don’t have to. Helene is picking a fight with me. Delphir smiles… but he doesn’t seem to be looking at me, which makes my expression harden. I don’t know why.”

“Then… How about the lady of Marquis Siona?”

“She’s… crying too much.”

She didn’t grow up the way Lona wished. Even if she didn’t get help from anyone, she was able to protect her body and the people around her. Now she had the strength to do that.

“I’m leaving now, Your Highness.”

Discovering Charelize’s face darkened, Viscountess Kashu quickly left the garden.

“Lona.”

“…”

No answer came back. Even though she knew it was natural, she couldn’t help but feel bitter.

“The reason why I hate the prince in the children’s book… because I wanted the reason for my happiness to come from you and my mother. I didn’t want help from anyone. But you seem to say that I can’t do it without a prince. That’s why I didn’t like it.”

“…”

“I won’t be grumpy with childish things anymore. Will you… compliment me?”

It was Lona who suffered from headaches every time because of Charelize’s ugly personality.

“Princess, did you tell Lady Siona not to come?”

“It wasn’t that painful from falling, but she deliberately cried until the Marquis came.”

“It might be painful for Lady Siona.”

In fact, Charelize told her not to come because when Lady Siona fell, Marquis Siona quickly came running and hugged her. On the other hand, it was lucky for Charelize if Duke Marsetta did not ignore her.

“I… didn’t do anything wrong.”

“Then, what will you do if Lady Siona doesn’t really come?”

“It’s better. Being together with her makes me tired too.”

Knowing that her words were because of her father, she shut her mouth because it was clear that Lona would be upset.

“Princess, if you’re tired, take a break.”

“I’m going to wrap up Chedin’s consequentialism by today. Father will ask, but I need to be sure to answer correctly.”

“…Sleepy.”

“I’m okay. It’s not hard at all. Sleep first, Lona.”

“Princess… why every time…”

At some point, Lona seemed to hate it even more that Charelize kept her feelings inside and didn’t express them.

In any case, it was time to let Lona go.

The person who conceived a new life under the blessing of her parents has spent a long time making beautiful flowers.

When the flowers bear fruit, she has done her best. She used up all her remaining strength to create a shade.

Blessings and protection will be given to the flowers that were to be kept to the end. Now sleep in eternal rest without any worries.

It was one of the verses the priest read during a parent’s funeral.

“Lona, your baby… did you meet?”

It was a friendly voice. It could be mistaken for a daughter comforting her mother, who lost her younger sibling.

“It was you who remembered my first words and watched my first steps.”

“…”

“You… never let go of my hand.”

“…”

“So, don’t be sorry.”

The truth of Lona’s death couldn’t be predicted either. The reality of not being able to do anything made Charelize feel that she was left with only the sadness of losing direction.

Relaxing her legs, Charelize sat on the ground as if slumped down. It didn’t matter that her clothes got dirty. She couldn’t get used to this situation, no matter how many times it happened to her.

Charelize, who had forgotten how to cry out loud, was startled by the sight of the woman before her eyes.

“…Ma.”

“Princess?”

“Ma!”

“Now… did you call me mother?”

As if going back to her childhood by walking through her memories, she could see the days she spent with Lona. The most profound afterimage was when she called Lona as her mother. There was a reason for that memory stuck in her mind.

“I…”

“…”

“I love you… so much… M…om,” said Charelize after finishing her thoughts and opening her mouth.

“Oh my god… Princess, you can’t call me like that.”

“Ma…?”

“You can’t… really…”

Lona smiled as she quickly corrected her, saying she couldn’t call her mom for fear of anyone listening to it. It was the prettiest and kindest smile of anything in the world.