Ioannis had a businesslike conversation with the York lord.
Personally, he did not like the York lord, but business was business.
They adjusted the contract to serve both of their interests.
"Because of the aftermath of the war, there are pirates along the trade routes. Our house will dispatch escort ships, but only as far as the Leiden Sea. If the royal family of Drossel grants us the right to travel by sea, we will protect the trade routes."
"In that case, I have no objection. I will speak to the royal court."
"Then let us discuss the goods to be traded."
Isabella sat beside the York lord.
Her eyes were on the contract, but her mind was on something else entirely.
'...Taylor.'
The little child she had met in the slums under falling snow.
The child who had been thrown away like garbage was much like herself.
Because that fate resonated with her so deeply, because it made her so sad, she had taken the child in.
Everyone around her had asked what kind of position she was in to be raising a child, but Isabella had been confident.
She had given the child the name Taylor.
The thought that she wanted to protect her.
The thought that she wanted to help her.
Those thoughts had given Isabella the strength to keep living.
'I wonder if she's doing well.'
The York lord beside her said that if she became the York family's young lady, Taylor would be sent somewhere safe.
For a great noble house like York, that would not have been difficult. They would have protected her.
And yet, as Taylor's older sister, she still worried.
Would the child be lonely?
Taylor was lively and bright, so she needed friends to talk to beside her.
She had not been able to teach her much, either, so Taylor lacked knowledge.
What if the other children ostracized her—
"Isabella."
The York lord, her biological father, called her name.
His amber eyes, the same as hers, looked down at her coldly. They did not seem like the eyes of a man looking at his daughter. At least, that was how Isabella felt.
"Focus."
With Ioannis present, the York lord only gave her a mild warning. She swallowed a small groan. So I'll get an earful later.
"Please don't be too harsh. Children are like that, aren't they?"
Ioannis smiled faintly. It was a smile that made him seem genuinely likable.
"If you say so, my lord. By the way, have you eaten?"
The York lord's expression softened. Ioannis checked his pocket watch.
"It's already one o'clock."
"Would you care to have lunch with us?"
"Gladly. I know a place that does seafood well."
The York lord lifted the corners of his mouth. Ioannis was the next Basileus lord and had earned tremendous military merit.
He was an ideal match for marriage.
So the three of them visited the most prestigious restaurant in Leiden.
As Ioannis had said, the seafood dishes were excellent.
"Would it be all right if I stepped out for a moment?"
Isabella asked cautiously.
It was impolite for a lady to leave the table during a meal.
Before the York lord could say anything, Ioannis spoke.
"I don't mind."
At Ioannis's agreeable response, the York lord readily allowed it.
"Go ahead."
Isabella went to the restroom.
A little later, Ioannis patted his stomach and said, "Hm, it's been a while since I've had seafood, so I'm feeling the urge myself."
"By all means, my lord."
The restroom was outside. Ioannis stepped out.
Isabella was crouched against the restaurant wall. So the restroom had not actually been urgent after all.
"There you are."
"Ah... I, um, I mean..."
Isabella, caught in a lie, flustered and stammered.
I raised a hand as if to reassure her.
"It must have been hard, being forced to sit through that."
"W-What?"
"Don't be on guard. I just wanted to talk."
"......"
I brushed the floor with my foot and sat down beside Isabella.
She looked thoroughly wary, drawing her knees up and seeming uncomfortable.
"How old are you?"
"...Thirteen. Why?"
Isabella answered sharply.
"Is the lord pushing for an arranged marriage?"
"...Yes. My father brought me here today to make a good impression on you."
"I see. Do you have feelings for me?"
"I'm sorry, but... not at all. I want to be with someone I choose. Spending my whole life with someone I feel nothing for... that would be too painful."
"Ha ha, that's true."
"You don't have feelings for me either, do you?"
"You don't seem like someone I could look at that way."
"Well, of course. A thirteen-year-old child wouldn't be someone you could look at that way."
"....."
I had nothing to say to that. I scratched my cheek. It was time to get to the point.
"Is there someone you miss?"
"...Huh? How did you know that..."
"Your eyes."
I looked into Isabella's eyes. She was not wearing glasses at the moment, so her amber irises were clearly visible.
"My eyes...?"
"They say the eyes are the windows to the soul, don't they? You're missing someone... I can tell."
"...So what if I am?"
Isabella did not easily let down her guard. She wondered if I might be demanding something in exchange for Taylor as a hostage.
"I know that feeling too."
"...."
War hero.
Isabella had heard his reputation far too many times.
The ruthless swordsman.
The devil.
The butcher.
By title alone, Ioannis sounded like less than a beast of a man.
But the man before her was quite different from the figure in the rumors.
His eyes, said to always be filled with killing intent, were warm, and there was no scar cutting across his face. If anything, he was handsome.
"But wanting to see someone doesn't mean you can meet them."
"That's true."
Isabella nodded. Taylor was in an orphanage somewhere, sent there by the York lord. Unless the York lord allowed it, Isabella could not see her.
"You don't seem very close with the lord."
"No..."
Isabella was a byproduct of one of the York lord's "mistakes." He treated her not as family, but as merchandise. He demanded decorum and wanted her to cultivate the manners of a woman.
"Don't be discouraged. My relationship with my father isn't good either. Hmm, maybe it's even worse?"
"Really?"
"I've rambled on too long. What I mean is this: someday, you'll be able to meet the person you miss. Bonds are eternal."
There was certainty in those words. A certainty that it would truly happen.
"...I really hope that's true."
Isabella felt as though her heart had become lighter.
There was no telling when she would see Taylor again.
She would have to enter an arranged marriage. An illegitimate child's life outside the house was severely restricted. She could not go out as she pleased. She might have to spend most of her life within the mansion.
Taylor was an orphan with no power at all. It was nearly impossible for Taylor to come and see Isabella.
And yet, after hearing Ioannis's words, she became certain.
That someday, she would be able to meet Taylor.
Because the bond between Taylor and me is eternal.
He stood, brushing off his clothes.
"I'm sorry if my words were bothersome. I should go back in now. The lord may start to suspect something."
"...Yes!"
He patted Isabella on the head.
*
Six months into recovery.
Hajins sent a letter.
-Ioannis. How's your recovery going? You're healing well, I hope?
Even I would worry about injuries like that.
I told you I was starting a company, right? It's a mail company. The name is CH Mail. Named after me. Pretty good, isn't it?
Well, you probably don't care about that kind of thing, do you?
I'll tell you about the lady you wanted, Violet. She's recovering at the central hospital in the capital of Ancien.
It's a hospital with excellent skill and character.
I brought in the prosthetics craftsman I know best and had him make her an artificial arm. She's probably still in the middle of adjusting to it.
I couldn't go myself either because of company work. I'll go check on her condition and tell you later.
By the way, I hired a ton of beauties at our company. There's especially this Auto-Memories Doll named Cattleya, and she's so alluring.......-
"What a useless thing to write."
I let out a dry laugh and folded the letter away. As expected of Hajins, half of it was about women.
Cattleya really was beautiful, though.
Hoping Violet would adjust well, I swallowed my medicine.
The battle at Intense had ruined my body.
I had lost important sensory organs, and my internal organs had suffered permanent damage.
Even if everything healed, I would never have the same combat strength I once had.
"I wonder if Violet can beat me."
If it had been before, I would have been certain. Now, I wasn't sure.
With that pointless thought in mind, I picked up my bag and left the room.
It was time to go.
I had rested enough, and staying any longer would only be uncomfortable.
So I left at dawn. It would be a long journey.
I wanted to see the characters of Violet Evergarden with my own eyes.
I was just about to walk out through the gate when—
"Ioannis."
"Lord?"
He had come out.
Those strangely unreadable eyes turned toward me.
"You are leaving."
"Yes."
"...I see."
The lord stroked his cane, his lips twitching. He looked like he had something to say.
For several tens of seconds, he remained that way.
"Do not get hurt again. You are to be the next Basileus lord."
"Understood."
I bowed my head. That was the end of our father-and-son farewell.
*
Click.
The blue eyes opened.
They were eyes that seemed to hold the image of a beautiful sky within them.
Violet looked at her hands. They were wrapped tightly in bandages. She could not feel them.
She raised her upper body and set up the table. It was a practiced motion, as though she had done it many times before. Then she laid out the paper and picked up her fountain pen.
Violet began writing her report with trembling hands.
To her superior.
-Major Ioannis.
Today marks the 120th day since I was admitted.
My body has mostly recovered.
There are some difficulties with movement, but I am capable of carrying out missions.
I request immediate return to the unit....
Snap!
Her strength gave out, and the fountain pen fell from her hand.
She did not know how many times this had happened already.
Violet bent down to pick up the pen.
At that moment, the wind blew and swept Violet's golden hair aside. The report she had written flew away on the wind.
The report, no, the letter, had to go to its recipient.
That was the reason letters existed.
Whoooosh—
The wind delivered the letter. It was the fastest delivery in the world.
The letter climbed over mountains, crossed ruins, passed the railways, and then the royal palace before entering a city.
All so it could reach its recipient.
With a soft flutter, the letter fell before a man with long hair.
It landed precisely before him, among many people.
Flap.
The black-haired man received the letter gently.
It was the gesture of someone receiving something precious.
Once the letter reached its recipient, its miraculous motion came to a stop and it became an ordinary sheet of paper.
"...What is this?"
Ioannis stared in wonder at the letter that had fallen from the sky, then slowly read its contents.
For some reason, he felt he had to.
Before long, Ioannis's black eyes went wide.
"Why is this..."
As Violet's superior, he received reports every day.
The reports had been for teaching Violet how to write. Ioannis knew Violet's handwriting exactly.
This letter was indeed Violet's.
'A letter written at the beginning of the anime.'
Ioannis stared at the letter with a strange expression.
How many minutes had he stood there like that?
Eventually, realizing he was blocking the road, he hurriedly stepped aside.
He carefully folded the letter and tucked it into his chest.
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