Between Your Letter and My Reply

Chapter 43

[Translation By Divinity]

As they arrived at the tram stop, the tram Damian was supposed to take was just pulling into the station. Damian bowed his head to Pascal in a slightly hurried manner.

“Ms. Pascal, thank you so much for today.”

“I’m sorry I couldn’t stay longer, even though there’s so much more to discuss. I can’t be away from Kelta for too long…”

“It’s alright. Thank you for taking the time to meet with me despite your busy schedule.”

“If anything comes up, I’ll let you know through Lily. Take care.”

After exchanging polite farewells with Pascal, Damian gave Lilliana a brief nod and boarded the tram. A few seconds later, the tram departed with a bell ringing.

Lilliana tucked her hair behind her ear and fidgeted with her fingers as she watched the tram carrying Damian disappear from sight. When Pascal sat down on a bench at the stop, Lilliana slowly sat beside her and asked the question she had been wanting to ask since she woke up in the hospital bed.

“Auntie, I… I heard a bit over the phone, but is the situation worse than that?”

Lilliana glanced at Pascal with anxious eyes.

“I thought you’d assign someone to stay by my side… but I didn’t expect it to be like this. There’s still a lot you haven’t told me, isn’t there? What is it? Is it worse news than what I’ve already heard?”

Pascal opened her mouth to speak but then closed it again. After a moment of careful consideration, she began,

“No, I don’t think the situation is that pessimistic. But your aunt tends to worry a lot… So, about the hospital and other matters…”

“But Dad… passed away. While I had no memory… Is it related to that?”

Lilliana’s voice trembled slightly.

“Is it… perhaps… I mean, just in case… is it related to brother Casey?”

She bit her lower lip, her face filled with unease. She was afraid to hear Pascal’s answer. But Pascal shook her head, looking genuinely surprised.

“No, Lily. It has nothing to do with Casey!”

“But brother Casey was always with Dad. And he’s a bit unstable, and he acts awkwardly around me…”

“That’s not it either! Casey, he…”

Pascal paused, sighed, and then continued,

“Anyway, it’s not Casey’s fault.”

“Then can’t you at least tell me how and why he passed away?”

Lilliana said, her voice filled with frustration.

“Why? I only saw Dad once in eight years, but he was still my father! But I couldn’t even attend his funeral or visit his grave because I was stuck in bed! Then at least tell me why he died!”

“…”

“What about brother Casey? If Dad passed away, where is he? What was he doing when Dad died? Is he alone now? What’s he doing? Does he contact you? Is he safe?”

Lilliana was now half crying. She was pouring out all the worries she had been holding in. Pascal grabbed her hand.

“Don’t be anxious. This is the best way to handle the situation.”

“Handle? Why are you handling my situation? I’m an adult. I’m old enough to take care of myself!”

“But you’re an adult with a two-year gap in your memory. You don’t know what’s been happening in the world for the past two years.”

Pascal’s words hurt Lilliana. She suppressed her rising anger and said in a low voice,

“Then at least tell me why you’re not telling me anything.”

“Because you don’t need to know.”

“…”

Lilliana’s breathing calmed. She knew it was pointless to argue any further. She had asked the same questions countless times. But as always, Pascal wouldn’t give her the answers she wanted.

And she would leave Lilliana in Nichio and return to Kelta, not coming back for a while. So what was the point of talking anymore?

Lilliana finally gave up on communicating with Pascal. It was the first time in her life.

Ever since her mother passed away, she had shared everything with Pascal – her thoughts, ideas, and dreams for the future. But there was a two-year hole in Lilliana’s memory, and Pascal had no intention of sharing what happened during that time. Now that she knew that, it was Lilliana’s turn to let go.

“You’ll understand me later.”

Pascal spoke to Lilliana in a gentle but firm voice. Lilliana, at Pascal’s attitude, was able to let go of her completely.

“Okay.”

Her reply was simple. But the unspoken words that followed were not short.

If Pascal was going to act like that, Lilliana wanted to say she would handle her own affairs. Whether it was about regaining her memories or how the situation would unfold in the future. It was time to graduate from relying entirely on her aunt…

The tram arrived at the station. Lilliana didn’t turn her head towards the tram but exchanged glances with Pascal with teary eyes.

She thought she hadn’t expressed any emotions, but Pascal could see the quiet fire burning in Lilliana’s blue eyes.

She knew too. What Lilliana was thinking. She had to know. She had shared countless things with Lilliana and had seen the world longer than her.

After the tram doors opened and closed, Lilliana was left standing alone where the tram had departed.

That’s how Lilliana sent Pascal off and was left alone in a big city where she had no connections.

☆

“Edenfallen – This stop is Edenfallen Station!”

Damian, who had been dozing off on the train, quickly woke up, yawned, and got off at the station. As he exited the station, just like the last time he was here, there was a carriage waiting on the roadside. Having no intention of walking, Damian approached the carriage.

“Wait, aren’t you…?”

Someone recognized Damian. It was the coachman of the carriage Damian had taken the last time he was here. Was his name… Carl?

“You’re back again?”

Damian replied nonchalantly to Carl, who was looking at him curiously.

“Yes, I have something to check.”

He got into Carl’s carriage without further ado.

“To 14 Philpos Street, please.”

“What? Again?”

Carl looked back as if asking if Damian’s business wasn’t already finished. Damian shrugged.

“I told you I have something to check.”

“Didn’t you already check everything last time?”

“…I guess I’ll have to take a different carriage then.”

As Damian actually made a move to get off, Carl quickly stopped him.

“Alright! Alright! I don’t know what it is, but alright!”

Damian sat back down, and the coachman started driving. They arrived at the familiar, desolate burnt house along the same road.

Before getting off the carriage, Damian asked,

“Aren’t they going to demolish this place?”

“Well… I haven’t heard anything about it…”

“Who owns the land?”

“I believe it’s the late Baron Benbrick.”

“Then the ownership must have passed to his heir.”

“Probably.”

“Hmm…”

As Damian approached the burnt-down mansion, Carl followed him, curiously striking up a conversation.

“So, did you find the person you were looking for?”

“I don’t know. That’s what I’m here to find out…”

Damian stood in front of the entrance to the mansion, staring blankly at the building. The first time he came, he was too flustered and had only briefly looked around the house. But in the meantime, he had organized his thoughts. He had come back this time to confirm something.

“Didn’t this house have dogs?”

“Dogs? Ah, I think they did.”

“Did they also die in the fire?”

Damian asked, remembering the mother dog named Timo and her puppies from the photo. Carl frowned, unsure.

“I’m not sure about that…”

“I see.”

A bitter taste filled his mouth. He thought it would feel strange if the dogs had died too. He was about to enter the house to see if there were any other traces left when Damian suddenly turned around in surprise. But his gaze wasn’t directed at Carl, who was observing him from behind. Instead, he was staring at the bushes next to him.