After finishing his meal, Dien returned to his room and sat in his chair, lost in thought. His expression was quite different from when he had been eating with Oren. After a moment of contemplation, he put on a formal suit with a serious face.
*Knock, knock, knock.*
“Come in.”
The sound of knocking was followed by Nue cautiously peeking her head into Dien’s room.
“Master! Are you going out now?”
“Yes. I have something to perform.”
Because the days had grown so short that pitch-black darkness descended by dinner time, Nue asked with concern. However, Dien’s reaction was somehow different. Usually, he would have a bright smile on his face whenever he looked at her.
Nue could only tilt her head at the dark atmosphere surrounding him.
“You told the Baron that you were going to have a swordsmanship lesson.”
“Yes, I did.”
Dien’s following answer was also short.
“Master, is something the matter?”
Nue spoke carefully while reading his expression. It seemed as though Dien did not want to reveal his inner thoughts.
“No, it’s nothing. You don’t need to worry about it.”
Despite Dien’s answer, Nue remained worried.
‘Is something going on…?’
It was the first time she had seen such a gloomy atmosphere since the Devil’s Curse was lifted. Seeing the loneliness etched into his expression made her feel dejected as well.
As if he had read her mind, Dien approached Nue while forcing a smile.
“There really isn’t anything wrong, Nue! You’ve been practicing the guitar well, right?”
“Of course!”
“Good! Then keep practicing today, and I’ll take a look at it tomorrow.”
“Yes! Master!”
Only after seeing the energy return to Nue’s face did Dien feel relieved enough to start walking.
“Also, if I leave now, I don’t think I’ll be back until midnight. Don’t worry!”
“I understand, Young Lord…”
Nue wanted to ask the reason for Dien’s late return, but she kept her mouth shut seeing how he was sparing his words. Seeing how quick-witted Nue was, Dien patted her shoulder.
“Really, don’t worry.”
Once Dien finished his preparations to leave, Nue quietly stepped aside to clear the way.
“Oh, right, Nue! Please don’t tell Father where I went.”
“Pardon? Yes, I understand.”
Nue toyed with her hands for no reason at Dien’s gentle voice.
After leaving the house, Dien silently walked along the main road toward the outskirts of the city.
***
The next morning.
Before heading out, Oren stood in front of the walnut tree in the yard as he always did.
‘It has grown a lot…’
Because he had heard that walnuts were good for children, he and his wife, Kanae, had planted this walnut tree in the year Dien was born. Like Dien’s growth, the walnut tree had grown noticeably larger with each passing year. It was possible because Oren had given the tree special attention, as much as he cherished Dien.
‘Dien has also grown this much before I knew it…’
Oren spoke as if whispering to the tree. At some point, Oren had begun to reminisce about Kanae while looking at the tree; the tree that symbolized Dien’s growth had become a medium for remembering Kanae.
‘…That day has approached once again this year. I shall visit you in the afternoon.’
Ending his monologue as if writing in a diary, Oren slowly passed through the gate and prepared to board his carriage.
Just then, the gardener approached Oren and spoke to him, as if he had been waiting for him to come out.
“Baron, a moment, please.”
“What is it?”
He was a skilled gardener the family had recently hired. He ran toward Oren in a hurry and then spoke after offering a polite bow.
“Baron, about that walnut tree.”
“The walnut tree?”
“Yes, I was wondering if you had any thoughts about cutting it down. The branches are spreading out in all directions, which isn’t good for the landscaping. Also, walnut trees prevent the surrounding plants from growing well. How about cutting it down this time?”
“That… tree?”
Having arrived only recently, the gardener did not know the story behind that tree and nodded without being able to read the trembling in Oren’s eyes.
Oren stopped speaking, feeling uncomfortable. Suddenly, the image of Dien practicing swordsmanship in the small yard flashed through his mind.
“Do so… Cut it down this time.”
Oren nodded with firm resolve. It pained him to see Dien practicing swordsmanship in such a narrow yard… and he thought that perhaps it was time for the garden to change as well.
“Yes. I understand.”
“Wait, don’t plant anything around the spot where the walnut tree was cut. I think I’ll have to make a small training ground there.”
“Understood, Baron.”
After finished speaking, Oren boarded the carriage, and the gardener bowed to him.
‘Yes, it’s better this way… Dien needed a training ground anyway.’
He let out a long sigh, contrary to his thoughts. Had it become a habit to think of Kanae in front of the walnut tree every morning? He recalled the day he and Kanae had bickered while planting the walnut tree.
The memory was still vivid even sixteen years later.
As he retraced those memories, the road to the Royal Castle felt longer than ever. He wondered why the wind felt exceptionally cold today.
‘I believe you will understand as well.’
In that way, Oren let go of the tree that held his memories with Kanae in his heart.
***
Before entering his own office, Oren first stopped by Persian’s office.
“Chancellor, are you in?”
“Oh! Come in, Baron Oren!”
Oren stepped into Persian’s office and slowly scanned the interior.
“Where did Dien go?”
Today was the day Dien was supposed to receive his succession lessons. He hadn’t stopped by just to see Dien, but when he saw that Dien wasn’t in the office, curiosity appeared on Oren’s face.
“Dien? Did he not tell you? He took the day off today. He said he had something to do. He gave me a hint about it starting a week ago. Did you not know?”
“Ah… Is that so.”
Oren let out a small sigh at Persian’s words. It was something he hadn’t known.
If he was taking a day off, it was only natural to tell him…
A sense of disappointment, for reasons unknown, filled his heart. Unaware of how he felt, Persian joked around.
“To think that such a sociable fellow didn’t say anything to the Baron! Surely your relationship as father and son hasn’t grown distant lately?”
“Hahaha. No, it seems the boy just forgot. He’s been very busy lately.”
“True, he is busy. Even when he comes to the Royal Castle, the aides don’t leave Dien alone. Recently, that fellow’s influence has been touching all the affairs of the Chancellor’s Office. Furthermore, the aides from the Construction Department…”
Persian, excited to praise Dien, went on at length, but his words did not reach Oren’s ears.
‘Has my relationship with Dien really grown distant? Perhaps I’m making Dien suffer because of my greed,’ such thoughts clouded Oren’s mind.
Oren only responded to Persian’s praise with an awkward smile.
While Oren could not hide his bitter expression, Persian spoke up.
“Well, you surely didn’t come here just to see Dien.”
“Yes, actually, I came here to ask if I could leave early today.”
“Leave early? Hahaha, go ahead. It’s been a long time since the Baron left early.”
Persian gave a hearty laugh toward Oren. Seeing how he was being excessively kind, Oren recalled the rumors that Persian was already considering Dien as a son-in-law.
Judging by Persian’s expression, it seemed he would bring up the talk of marriage again soon. To coldly refuse like last time might not be an action that would help Dien. A family with the power of the Cherbil Family would certainly be a good background for Dien.
Oren gave a faint nod.
“Thank you, Chancellor.”
“Hahaha, what is there to be thankful for over a simple early leave approval!”
At his boisterous laugh, Oren spoke with a smile.
“No, I meant I was thankful that you look upon Dien so favorably.”
“Hahaha, you.”
“Let’s have a serious conversation sometime soon.”
“Hahahaha, I understand! I’ll pick a date soon!”
Persian’s eyes gleamed sharply at Oren’s words. Even without speaking in detail, he could feel a positive signal regarding the marriage from Oren. Persian stood up from his seat, greeting his words intensely.
“Then, I will leave after processing only the urgent tasks.”
“Do so! Hurry along!”
Persian personally opened the office door to see him off. His face was covered in a wide smile. He looked as though he had achieved a long-held desire.
“It is particularly cold today.”
Oren walked alone through the Royal Castle where fallen leaves were fluttering. Familiar officials saw him and greeted him warmly, but he could not bring himself to put on a smiling face.
Oren hurriedly processed his work and left the Royal Castle early in the morning.
***
After stopping by a flower shop to buy a bouquet of Rodanthe, Oren visited Kanae’s grave. Rodanthe was her favorite flower during her lifetime.
It was already the anniversary of her death. Since she had passed away as winter was approaching, Oren would always leave work early on that day and visit her with Dien.
Though he was alone this time.
“Did someone come?”
Oren was startled to find Kanae’s grave neatly organized, with the weeds around it trimmed and the tombstone polished to a shine.
Furthermore…
A bouquet of Rodanthe, the same flowers he had brought, was placed on top of the tombstone.
“Hmm.”
Oren tried to narrow down who would visit Kanae on the anniversary of her death. Someone close enough to know that she liked Rodanthe, but he soon shook his head.
It was because he knew that for several years now, he was the only one who visited the grave on her anniversary.
After paying his respects, Oren sought out the grave keeper.
“Excuse me!”
“Yes, please speak.”
“The flowers placed over there… did you happen to put them there?”
Graves that no one visits are usually maintained by the grave keeper. However, the grave keeper wore a puzzled expression at Oren’s words and shrugged his shoulders.
“No, I don’t know anything about that.”
Indeed, how would he know what flowers Kanae liked and place them on the grave?
While Oren was lost in thought for a long time, the grave keeper spoke again.
“Yesterday, I saw a young lord stop by.”
“A young lord?”
“Yes. He stopped by in the evening.”
“Dien…”
Oren’s mouth hung open as if he were shocked by his words. Why hadn’t he thought that Dien might have come? If he had taken the day off today, he should have realized that Dien was well aware of the anniversary of Kanae’s death.
“I see.”
Oren finished the conversation with a short reply and hurriedly turned back toward the House of Portran.