Chapter 48 - Vignettes of a Winter Day (3)
On that day, snow fell in the royal capital.
Even though winters in the royal capital were cold, snow was not particularly common. It was the sort of thing that might accumulate once a winter, if at all. And even if it did pile up, it was at most only a finger or two deep, disappearing in less than half a day.
Even if the peaks of the Dragonbone Mountains visible in the far distance were dyed pure white every winter, snow falling in the royal capital was a somewhat rare occurrence.
The sleet that had fallen on the royal capital, which had grown severely cold several days prior, turned to snow before midnight. The intensity of the snow was not so fierce, but dawn broke without any sign of it letting up. As the royal capital began to move with the dawn, the snow continued to fall.
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"How was the snow? How does the garden look?"
In the hallway of the former House Mares royal capital estate, which had changed its name to the Ariarein Memorial Royal Monastery. Stuart Stevens, who had become the Registrar of the monastery, called out to Felix the gardener.
After saying it, he reflected that he had said the same thing before.
"It's a handful... oh?"
Felix, who answered, also tilted his head.
"We had this conversation during the previous heavy snow too, didn't we, Mr. Stevens?"
"Yes, yes, indeed."
Stuart, who had aged several years since that heavy snow, nodded with a laugh.
"What I'm doing isn't much different from the previous heavy snow. Except this time, it seems like no branches will break. Other than that, well, I'm just knocking off the snow each time while praying it stops early."
"The city also seems to be maintaining its composure better than during the previous heavy snow."
At Stuart's words, Felix also nodded with a smile.
"Come to think of it, during the previous heavy snow—"
"Yes."
Stuart's eyes took on a look as if he were seeing somewhere far away. Both of them were thinking of the same person.
"I wonder if she is doing well."
"She must be. Didn't a letter come just the other day?"
"That's right. About the firstborn child..."
"It feels like it's finally happened, in a way."
"Come to think of it, Mr. Registrar, your great-grandchild, if I recall..."
"Yes, thanks to you, just the other day."
For Felix, the story of Stuart's great-grandchild was one he had already heard many times. However, they both felt that happy stories were fine to tell many times, and fine to hear many times.
"My, what an unusual pair."
A voice, aged and soft yet resonant, slipped into the break in their conversation.
"Ah, Lady Valeria."
Valeria, the former Archbishop who had abdicated and was now a single nun living in the monastery, still commanded the same respect as before.
"I wonder what you were talking about?"
What had changed was rather Valeria's own attitude. The previous solemnity had vanished, and she even seemed to have become light-footed.
"The two of us were talking about old times. Lady Valeria, if you like, would you care to join us? I shall open up a drawing room. It wouldn't be bad to have a bit of a trip down memory lane there."
"Yes, yes, on a day like this, such stories have a certain charm to them."
Stuart began to walk ahead of Valeria, who had nodded, and Felix followed after them.
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"Claudia, are you not cold? Are you not chilled?"
"Yes, neither I nor the child."
To the young King Eirik, who asked somewhat worriedly, Queen Claudia responded with a calm demeanor.
A fire was lit in the large fireplace, and the King's private room was sufficiently warmed. Along with a very few chamberlains and maids, the King's family was enjoying a moment of relaxation.
The snow had not yet stopped, but there was nothing the King needed to do. He could leave most matters to the Queen's father, the Minister of Internal Affairs Ludovico Foscar, without issue, and the King himself had the experience and memory of the previous heavy snow. As long as he looked back on that experience, it was safe to say there was no fear of major chaos arising.
In fact, reports of chaos beyond what could normally occur due to snow had not come up from anywhere.
"I am putting the Minister of Internal Affairs to a lot of trouble."
To the King who muttered this, the Queen slowly shook her head.
"It may indeed be trouble, but I do not think Father minds it. Being a little busy is just right for him."
"—Is that how it is?"
"That is how it is."
I see, the King nodded. He had a somewhat amused expression.
"Thanks to that, I am being allowed to take it quite easy. During the previous heavy snow—"
The King, who cut off his words, shook his head. He was remembering the time when he had to decide everything himself without understanding anything or being certain of what he should do.
"It seems like a very long time ago now."
"In fact, it probably was quite a while ago. That was certainly right after Father collapsed."
Before the King and Claudia had become acquainted.
The one who had been beside Eirik when he was the Crown Prince was a different young lady, and that young lady, after being exiled, had thrown the country into chaos and was now building up her original territory as a different country.
"At that time—yes, during that heavy snow, I feel like I had 'time to do nothing' for the first time in a long while."
In that room where the air was about to grow heavy, a slight weight was placed on the King's leg. A small prince, who had not yet reached his birthday, was standing while holding onto his leg. A faint smile appeared at the corners of the King's mouth. He waved off Claudia, who was approaching to pick him up.
"Many things have changed, Claudia."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"But I do not regret it."
There were things lost, things gained, and things that repeated.
Eirik did not regret his choice.
※ ※ ※ ※ ※
The same day. In a corner of the garden of the Marquess's palace in Mares, far away from the royal capital.
The Marchioness Ariarein sat in a chair and watched over her eldest son, Herzstahl. He ran with unsteady steps, fell, stood up, and ran again. What on earth was so fun? Herzstahl continued to laugh until he was out of breath.
"He has grown quite large."
Arveil, her husband, who was sitting in the chair next to her and watching over their child in the same way, muttered.
Within the garden of the Marquess's palace, where the garden trees and flowerbeds were well-tended, only this one section was kept somewhat desolate. Only a lawn was laid out, and even that was left with the grass a bit too long. Of course, there was a reason for that. So that even if Herzstahl walked, ran, and fell, there would be no danger. The lawn always caught his soft little body gently, and Herzstahl had never been injured in this garden.
"Truly. Even though it feels like he was just born the other day."
For Ariarein, the days spent with her young child were hectic and felt as if they passed in the blink of an eye. The infant who had fit perfectly in her arms had grown into a child running around the garden before she knew it. Of course, that was thanks to the efforts and consideration of Ariarein herself, her husband Arveil, and the surrounding maids and retainers. Even so, the days spent with a child were fast. That was what Ariarein thought.
A winter wind blew through, and Ariarein readjusted the thick stole she wore over her shoulders. Just as she thought her hands might have gotten a little cold, her husband's right hand covered her hands, which were resting on her lap.
"Are you cold, Lady Aria?"
"Yes, just a little. —Come to think of it, dear."
"Yes?"
"We've had our hands warmed in the garden like this before, haven't we? Wasn't it around this time of year?"
Arveil, who searched his memory for a moment, turned his gaze toward Ariarein with a wry smile.
"At that time, Lady Aria, you put your hands on my neck."
"...Was that how it was?"
"I still remember that cold sensation well, you know."
The husband's voice followed up on Ariarein, who had averted her gaze as if playing dumb.
"It's not like that now, is it? Snow doesn't fall here."
"That is certainly—"
Arveil, who was about to speak, smoothly let go of her hand. At the same time, Ariarein also pulled back her hands and then reached them out. The hands of the father and mother caught Herzstahl, who had come running while out of breath.
The young child, who laughed merrily for another while, started running again as if shaking off their hands.
"He,"
Ariarein, who saw off that retreating figure, muttered.
"Will not play in a snowy garden, will he?"
"Yes, Lady Aria, probably. However,"
Arveil, who took Ariarein's left hand, stood up. Ariarein looked up at her husband's face while remaining seated in the chair.
"He will make other pleasant memories in other places."
Ariarein, who nodded, layered her right hand over her left. Arveil's hands, which gently regripped both her hands, pulled up Ariarein's petite body.
"Like us?"
"Like us."
Arveil, who answered the short question shortly, drew Ariarein's waist close. Being stared at from close range by those deep green eyes, Ariarein closed her eyes. Something gentle and soft touched her lips.
Third story.
It has been about a year and a half since the start of the main story's serialization. Thank you for your long association.
The second volume, which is the concluding volume of the book version, was published yesterday, and this work "The Exile of the Marquess's Daughter Ariarein" is concluded, including the book version.
My heartfelt thanks to everyone who has accompanied me this far. Thank you, truly, truly.
The book version has more than three times the volume of the web version's main story, so for those who felt the web version was not enough, please do try the book version as well.
Also, I have actually started serializing a new work.
Please do take a look at that as well if you like.
"The Diary of the Foreign Lady Eulalia"
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n4463lg/