Between Your Letter and My Reply

Chapter 31

[Translation By Divinity]

Lilliana sighed deeply.

“So, let’s find something you’re good at besides fighting. Whether it’s applying for jobs or going to university.”

“I’ll think about it.”

Damian, pondering his aptitude, naturally turned his attention to Lilliana.

“By the way, what do you do, Lilliana?”

“Me? I was a university student. But as you can see, I’m on leave due to my health.”

“I see. Which university do you attend?”

“Noster State University. I think I mentioned it before, but I’m originally from the eastern region. Have you heard of Kelta? I live there.”

Noster was a province in the eastern part of Istarica, and Kelta belonged to that province. Although it was a university in a small city, Noster State University had a good reputation. And since Kelta wasn’t a particularly special place, not many people knew about it.

“So, are you a senior now?”

“Ah… well… yes…?”

Lilliana’s voice trailed off ambiguously.

Damian, not understanding what she meant, looked at her, and she waved her hand and said,

“Well, yes. I’m a senior. Yes.”

Lilliana affirmed, but her tone was a bit strange. Damian tilted his head and asked again,

“So you’ve been in the east all this time because of school?”

“That’s part of it.”

“Have you traveled much, or do you have any relatives living elsewhere?”

“I haven’t traveled much, and my family situation is… um… complicated… I only have my aunt as a relative…”

Lilliana replied hesitantly, and Damian said in an indifferent tone,

“I see. I don’t have anyone I can call my parents either, so it’s a bit complicated for me too.”

Lilliana blinked her round eyes and suddenly burst into laughter.

“Why are you laughing?”

“Well, when people hear my story, they usually get awkward and don’t know what to say, assuming I have some dark past. But you’re the first person I’ve met who just casually says they don’t have parents either, as if you relate to me.”

“Ah, I understand.”

Damian nodded.

“So you don’t have parents either, Damian. No wonder you seem a bit lost, like a kite with its string cut.”

“Yes…”

“Did they pass away?”

“No, but…”

Damian searched for the right words, then gave a vague answer.

“It just happened that way.”

Lilliana seemed to sense something from Damian’s expression and didn’t pry further.

“I see. My mother passed away when I was young, and my father recently… So my aunt has been taking care of me.”

“I grew up in an orphanage because I don’t have any relatives.”

“I see.”

Just like Damian, Lilliana didn’t pity him after hearing his story. She just sipped her coffee. Meanwhile, Damian was thinking to himself.

‘If she’s been studying at a university in Noster Province all this time, it doesn’t match up with Lintray’s story of being in Edenfallen since she was 20. Besides, Noster and Kelta are in the east, and Edenfallen is in the west. If Lilliana is telling the truth, it would be quite a burden to travel between the east and west frequently.’

Lost in his thoughts, Damian unconsciously tilted his head.

‘But her father passed away recently? When exactly is “recently”? Would she be offended if I asked?’

Damian stared intently at Lilliana, who was munching on a cookie.

‘Could she really be Lady Lintray…?’

Sensing Damian’s gaze, Lilliana pushed the tin case of cookies towards him.

“Do you want some?”

“No. I just thought you were eating them well.”

For Damian, who wasn’t fond of sweets, the combination of caramel macchiato and sweet cookies was enough to make his tongue melt. But Lilliana was enjoying her snacks with a satisfied expression.

Damian looked at her face and suddenly asked out of curiosity,

“What’s your major in university, Lilliana?”

Lilliana put her hands on her hips and said somewhat proudly,

“I’m an art major. I mainly do watercolor and oil painting!”

Damian imagined Lilliana filling a white canvas with colorful hues, holding a brush, and nodded.

“It seems like a good fit for you.”

“Really? I’ll show you my paintings sometime if I get the chance. I’m quite proud of them.”

Damian pushed the tin case back towards Lilliana. She nibbled on a cookie like a rabbit eating a carrot and asked,

“By the way, have you always lived in Nichio, except for when you were deployed?”

“The orphanage and the school were both here.”

“Oh, really? Then you must know Nichio well?”

Lilliana’s eyes suddenly sparkled as she looked at Damian.

“I’ve only been to Nichio once! And that was a brief visit when I was young, so I don’t know much about it. So, I have something I want to do when I’m discharged.”

“What is it?”

“It’s nothing special, I just want to go sightseeing in Nichio. I want to visit famous tourist spots and eat at delicious restaurants! So, um, so!”

“…You’re asking me to show you around, right?”

Damian, who had skillfully grasped the situation, said, and Lilliana nodded vigorously.

“If you’re busy, Damian, I… I won’t bother you. But if you have time, would you like to hang out with me? You can refuse if you don’t want to.”

Lilliana suggested cautiously in a somewhat timid voice at the end. Damian answered without much thought.

“Sure.”

“Really? Are you sure?”

“Yes. It’s not a difficult request, and I have no reason to refuse.”

Lilliana’s face lit up.

“Yay, I’m so excited! I was worried about having to explore alone! I’ve heard so many stories about how Nichio is so complicated that you could get ripped off in broad daylight!”

“It’s not that bad. By the way, isn’t Ms. Pascal coming with you?”

“Well… She has work in Kelta, so she can’t be away for long. That’s why she can only visit me once a week.”

Lilliana looked a bit downcast and lowered her eyes. Damian was finally starting to understand the situation. Lilliana must have been lonely during her hospitalization.

From what he had heard, she only had her aunt as a relative or family member, and she hadn’t mentioned any friends. It seemed like there was no one who could visit her from her hometown of Kelta or the university in Noster.

So she must have enjoyed spending time with Damian regularly.

‘No wonder she followed me so easily.’

Damian looked at her with a complicated expression.

“So, when are you being discharged?”

“This Friday!”

“That’s sooner than I expected.”

“They said I can switch to outpatient treatment if I don’t overdo it.”

“That’s great.”

“Right? I’m happy it’s earlier than I thought. But then I was a bit sad because I wouldn’t be able to see you anymore… I’m glad you said you’d hang out with me for a while.”

“Then when are you going back to Kelta?”

“I’m not sure about that…”

Lilliana scratched her head.

“I’ve decided to live here for a while. I was transferred here because the hospitals in the east couldn’t handle my condition. If I go back to Kelta and have another attack or shock, it could be serious.”

The eastern part of Istarica was relatively underdeveloped compared to other regions, especially in terms of medical services. So it was true that there was no better place than the capital for treating patients with severe illnesses.

But Lilliana continued with a dissatisfied expression.

“My aunt wants me to stay in the capital until I’m fully recovered, but shouldn’t people with my condition go to the countryside for recuperation, where the water and air are clean? Especially for heart problems, tranquility is the top priority. But is it okay for me to stay in Nichio, which is crowded and has polluted air? My aunt can’t stay here for long, so I’ll be alone. Of course, I’m an adult, so I can live independently if I have to, but I’d at least like to live somewhere familiar.”

“But Ms. Pascal has a point. Being close to a large hospital is a big advantage for a patient.”

“You think so too?”

Lilliana frowned.

Damian replied calmly.

“Don’t worry too much. I think you can manage on your own, Lilliana. Someone who survived after their heart stopped three times can survive anywhere. And you already have a friend, don’t you?”

Lilliana blinked her large eyes, and he pointed at himself.