Thus, the long winter that had surrounded Bianca del Castana finally came to an end.
She had been freed from the chains that once bound her for the past 30 years, and she had found a anchor to accompany her on the long journey of her future.
[You really are a wild girl, Bianca. Don’t you know wh at others might say about you?]
In the past, a boy once looked at Bianca with astonishment. Just a moment ago, he had sent a sharp glare toward the little boys who had been looking at her with disdain, chasing them away. The first reason was that they had interrupted his conversation with Bianca, and the second was that he did not want to hear any gossip about himself.
The boy was special to the girl. He was the only one who did not flinch upon seeing her, the only one who reached out to her first, and the only one who called her a “friend.”
In front of him, she wanted to remain a good woman.
…And at the same time, it was terrifying.
Had she been too harsh just now? The fear that even he might come to ignore her gnawed at the back of her mind.
[Well, I can’t help it. If people say something about you, I’ll speak up for you. Even if I look like this, I’m still the heir to the duke’s family. Most people wouldn’t dare go against me, right?]
Warmth bloomed in her chest as she watched him stare into the distance, trying to hide his shyness.
“…Ahh.”
Bianca del Castana strolled through the flower garden behind the Estel Duchy. Her steps were leisurely—there was no need to rush. The time she could spend with him in the future was limitless.
For the first time in her life, she was basking in a sense of lightness and freedom.
The Duchy of Estel was a peaceful place. To a woman like Bianca, it provided a sense of security greater than even returning to her hometown.
…To be honest, it wasn’t a particularly comfortable place to live. The weather was bleak, and farming was difficult, making the entire territory somewhat lackluster. Compared to the wealth of the Castana Marquisate, this place was impoverished.
But Estel had something the stark and rigid Castana estate lacked. There was a strong sense of community here, filled with liveliness. It was common to see nobles conversing openly with commoners without condescension.
Though they were not rich in material wealth, the people who lived here carried a warmth that could not be found elsewhere. And perhaps, having grown up in this kind of place, he, too, had inherited that same warmth.
A gentle breeze brushed past her, and something got caught in her hair. She reached up and plucked a pink petal from her strands. Before she knew it, the world had fully blossomed into spring.
[With that, I have to go now. My father called me. It’s time to go back.]
The time had come to say goodbye to the boy. That was why she didn’t want to let go of his collar.
Before coming here, her “father” had told her that now that she had made her face known to the other nobles, it was time for her to return to the Castana Marquisate for her “education.”
Perhaps this would be their last time together.
The “education” her father referred to was a period of torment. Even for Bianca, who could endure any amount of pain, the agony of having mana forcibly infused into her body was unbearable.
…Yet, to Bianca, the pain of parting with him was far worse.
This could be their final meeting.
That thought alone hurt more than anything.
[Wait…Wait a moment.]
The boy left, disappearing briefly before returning with a small accessory in his hand.
It was an earring—a cheaply made trinket that could be found anywhere in the world. He held it out to her, his voice carrying a trace of embarrassment.
[It’s a gift. My father told me it would be inconsiderate for a man to send a woman away without one.]
It was the first gift she had ever received—one given purely for her, with no ulterior motives or obligations attached.
Bianca stared at him in a daze.
Then, gently, the boy reached out and stroked her hair.
[If you ever become an adult and have nowhere to go, you can come to the Estel family. The Duke’s household lacks competent mages. If you come, I will always welcome you.]
He had no idea what his words meant to her.
But to Bianca, one thing was clear. Even someone like her deserved a place to belong.
After that day, she yearned to grow up as soon as possible—clutching the earring he had given her tightly in her hand.
The brief memories she had with him echoed relentlessly throughout her life.
…And then, 30 years passed.
Time had moved forward, bringing countless events with it. There had been misunderstandings and conflicts. Paths that should have been straight had taken long detours.
But in the end, she had arrived at the place where she was meant to be.
After a long journey, she had finally fulfilled the promise they had made.
It was the only solace granted to her in this world.
“…Cain.”
She caressed the hyacinths blooming in the flower bed.
It was the same flower she had seen with him when she first returned to the past.
At the end of spring, the last bud to bloom was always the most beautiful.
Gently stroking the petals, Bianca pondered.
Even now… did she truly deserve to stand by his side?
She no longer wanted to be a burden to him. She wanted to stand proudly at his side, to share both his achievements and his failures equally.
Just as Aria had dedicated herself to him, Bianca wanted to be someone who could support him as well.
That was why, instead of following him to the Duchy of Decaraznan, she had chosen to stay behind.
Deep down, she wanted nothing more than to rip Aria away from his side and follow him herself. But there was something she had to do here, within the Estel family.
For now, she would endure.
Besides, she would have to return to the Castana Marquisate sooner or later. Quite some time had passed since she had left without “permission” from those wretched people.
She could already imagine the expressions on the filthy old men of the main family—including her so-called “father.”
Perhaps the former head of the family, the only person who had ever been on her side in the Castana household, had tried to defend her. But his influence had likely reached its limit by now.
Sooner or later, it was inevitable—armed forces from the Castana Marquisate, the infamous Knights of the Black Wind, would come knocking on the Duke of Estel’s doors in search of her.
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