CH 131

I’d heard about Tahata before and had an idea of what to expect, but seeing it in person was even more stunning than I had imagined.

The wooden huts were all grouped together like a toy village. Rex and I, who were new to the area, couldn’t help but gasp in awe as we approached the village.

The locals we met by chance greeted me with warm smiles, and I awkwardly smiled back.

Cheroke greeted the people warmly.

I felt rejuvenated just walking, maybe because the city is situated atop a tall mountain. It seemed like the people here had no worries.

The villa was built of white stone in the middle of the forest, and it blended in well with the natural surroundings, giving the impression that it was a watercolor painting.

It was a setting where fairy tale writers could be inspired to write a story about a beautiful princess.

Rex and I decided to use a room next to each other. There was a large window that overlooked the lovely forest and village. I’m glad I got a room on the second floor.

It had been a while since I had witnessed untainted nature. In comparison, I was struck by how artificial the gardens of the Imperial Palace were.

Rex also seemed pleased to see such a lovely forest.

I couldn’t help but think back to the fights and scrapes I used to get into as a kid.

‘Would it be possible to maintain this level of tranquility forever?’

If a monster showed up in a location like this, I had a feeling that even I would be running around in a frenzied state.

Cheroke’s eyes would sometimes get wet when he spoke of Tahata, but I assumed he was just a compassionate person.

I can now see why his eyes would get misty when he talked about this surreal setting. It makes perfect sense.

“Sister, there’s a rabbit running around!”

Rex shouted joyfully while I was gazing out the window with my chin on the railing.

A really white rabbit was hopping through the trees, just as Rex had mentioned. The cuteness of the rabbit made Rex and I tremble.

“Should we go outside and look?”

“Yes!”

Holding hands tightly, Rex and I went outside. I’m getting a little excited. Rex appeared to be extremely excited as well.

Of course, the mansion in Tahata is beautiful, but the excitement that comes from traveling was greater.

“Miss Mary, where are you going?”

“Let me take a quick stroll through the mansion!”

The butler in charge of the Tahata mansion, Aaron, came over and kindly enquired. His demeanor exuded ease and relaxation.

You will have a relaxed personality if you reside somewherein a place like this.

He said he’d make some snacks for me and Rex while we looked around.

Rex suggested we read a fairy tale book while sitting on a mat outside after hearing this.

“I’ll fetch it from my room.”

“Let’s go together.”

“No, go look around.”

As soon as Rex said it, I went outside by myself and noticed a hammock strung between two enormous trees not far from the mansion.

I moved toward it, intending to lie down for a while before Rex arrived, but there was already a person there.

‘Ah. I lost.’

Theodore was lying down with his eyes closed when I approached.

I extended my hand and gently shook the hammock, but Theodore remained steady. I gave it a firmer shake before speaking.

“Brother, are you sleeping?”

“Yes.”

How can someone who is asleep respond?

He isn’t even flinching. Theodore’s eyes were just close. I put my hands on the hammock and gently pushed it forward.

Rex would have jumped up and asked, “Sister, do you want to lie down here?” if it had been him. Gilbert or Aiden would have taken action as well.

“But what about Brother Aiden and Gilbert?”

“They are talking privately.” 

Theodore still answered with his eyes closed. I understand why.

Things weren’t great between Gilbert and Aiden when I was chasing after Gilbert like that.

Is there anything to be angry about in this watery and mountainous region? They must make amends.

“Brother, isn’t it nice to be on a trip?”

Theodore only had his left eye open as he cast a sideways glance at me.

Finally, it appeared as though he was beginning to show interest in me. I was so happy that I looked at him with sparkling eyes. Theodore closed his eyes again and answered.

“Yes, it was a good idea to come.”

“I’m glad I got permission just a day before. What would you have done if I really couldn’t come?”

“Oh, that. I asked Gilbert earlier on the carriage, and he was planning to give permission anyway.”

What?

“What do you mean?”

“It was supposed to be a trip for all of us.”

“But why did Brother Gilbert…….”

“He put it off until the very last minute, saying he just thought it was cute and funny to see you chase him around.”

Sigh… I had forgotten Gilbert was Theodore’s older brother. Why was I trying so hard to get his permission, running around in all directions?

Later, when Aiden and Gilbert are done talking, I’ll be the next.

Did I say that in a place like this, there is nothing to be angry about? It was a verbal blunder. There is nothing in this world that can end nicely.

“Sister, I brought you a book!”

Along with Rex, who brought the book, I noticed the employees coming out to prepare our dessert.

They spread out a mat and prepared dessert and tea beneath a massive tree near the hammock.

“Rex, this is really nice.”

“Yes, having you here makes it even better.”

As expected, I don’t need my brothers or anything else; I just need Rex.

I looked at Theodore in the hammock as I chewed on cookies. When the dessert arrived, I expected Theodore to stand up, but he just lay down.

I abruptly got up and turned to face Theodore. He had his eyes closed, but I asked without hesitation.

“Can I also lay down in the hammock?”

Theodore slowly opened his eyes at my request. After all, he wasn’t sleeping.

Contrary to my expectations that he would refuse, Theodore willingly got up and let me take his spot. I was even thinking of turning it upside down if he didn’t move.

It felt different from lying on a bed. It wasn’t too bad, but I did feel a little uneasy, like I was floating in the air.

Lying in the hammock swaying slightly and watching the clouds drift by, it’s a little…… I feel like I’m falling asleep.….

The lakeside again.

The eerie atmosphere is still present even though I haven’t had this dream in a while because I’ve been dreaming of the original story.

Being a dream, it’s not particularly frightening, but I found myself rubbing my arms because I felt a chill that shouldn’t be there. That’s how I made my way along the lake before entering what appeared to be a temple.

Temple? I believe I’ve been somewhere similar before. Is it a result of my earlier visit to the temple that I’m having this dream?

‘But why?’

I entered a large temple and examined the headstones honoring God. And then I went to the shabby headstone among them.

There were still no flowers in front of it. I felt sorry for him.

I thought for a while and then went outside to see what I could find, but all I could see were weeds swaying in the wind along the lakeshore.

‘Was there a laurel tree there?’

Near the lake’s edge, I spotted a laurel tree. I walked towards it, mesmerized. I had a voice inside telling me not to turn in this direction.

I raised my gaze to the sky. The moon was red.

On a night when the moon is red….

A night with a red moon.

I made a laurel wreath and wore it on my head.

I repeated the lines in my head. I finally got to the Laurel tree. I noticed a man’s figure standing behind the Laurel tree. It was too dark to see him clearly.

The man had a laurel wreath on his head, and his expression when he looked at me was quite depressing. His sad eyes, though, are terrifying to me.

……it was purple.

I retreated a step to avoid the man’s hand as it reached out to me. My stomach suddenly felt nauseated.

Why am I feeling so queasy? I felt like I was floating on the ground. Someone was calling my name.

“Sister, are you okay?”

“Mary!”

I woke up with the feeling of someone shaking and grabbing me. Rex and Theodore were expressing concern as they looked at me.

“……what’s going on?”

“I want to ask you that. Why were you in so much pain in your dream?”

“I shook you several times to try to wake you up because you were moaning excessively, but you didn’t respond. Are you okay?”

It wasn’t even a painful dream, but Rex wiped the cold sweat on my forehead with a face that looked like he was about to cry.

Theodore was also looking at me with a serious face. I felt my body shaking in my dream. It must have been because they were shaking me.

It must have been worse since I was on the hammock.

“Are you feeling any pain?”

“It hurts.”

“Where? No, why didn’t you say something earlier? Where does it hurt?”

Theodore pushed Rex and grabbed my shoulder. I answered in a weak voice.

“I feel nauseated…”

Ugh.

Theodore let go of my shoulder and tapped my cheek with his index finger, telling me to get up right away after I threw up.

“Now, let’s go back to the mansion.”

By the way… Those purple eyes in my dream, weren’t they from the god of the underworld? That person… is he  even a person? In any case, who was that god in the temple?

“Are you all right?”

“Huh? Yeah. Shall we go in now?”

I smiled brightly to reassure Rex, who looked at me anxiously. However, my mind was complicated because of the purple eyes.