Free Web NovelEventually, both Pavela and Eleanor changed into new clothes.
Pavela wore the crimson dress, the crimson cloth still wrapped around her wrist.
Eleanor wore the light pink dress with a dark coat over it.
Regardless, she insisted on putting on the coat, as if to preserve the last of her dignity.
Even so, the hem of the pink dress peeked out from under the coat, swaying gently as she walked.
Lydia saw them to the door, not forgetting to urge Eleanor to "definitely come back next time" before they left.
Eleanor's reply was "We'll see."
But Lydia still smiled very happily.
Since Eleanor didn't say "no," it meant she would definitely come back!
...
There were even more people on the street than before.
The afternoon sun began to soften, its golden rays spilling diagonally across the flagstone road, stretching the shadows of pedestrians long.
Steam buses continued to come and go.
Warm yellow lights began to glow in the shop windows.
The newsboy on the street corner was loudly hawking today's evening paper.
Everything was very normal.
Very everyday.
And very... peaceful.
Pavela walked beside Eleanor, her gaze involuntarily falling upon her.
Eleanor's posture was still upright, her shoulders always maintaining an elegant curve.
But unlike when she usually wore her military uniform or casual clothes—
Now, she looked a little less sharp.
That pink dress, the ribbon swaying gently behind her, those long exposed legs—
All of it made her look more like...
An ordinary girl.
While Pavela was still dazedly stealing glances at Eleanor, Eleanor blushed slightly and uncomfortably tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
"Stop staring, it's time to go."
Pavela blinked, finally snapping out of it.
"Oh... oh, where to next?"
"Let's just walk around for a bit."
Eleanor reached out and naturally took hold of Pavela's hand.
"It's still early today anyway."
...
They passed by a bookstore.
Several newly published novels were displayed in the window, their covers exquisitely designed.
Eleanor stopped and took a look.
"Want to go in and see?"
She asked.
Pavela nodded.
The two of them walked into the bookstore.
It was quiet inside, with only the rustling of pages being turned and the occasional sound of footsteps.
Rows of bookshelves stood tall, extending from the floor all the way to the ceiling.
The air was filled with the scent of paper and ink.
Eleanor walked slowly between the bookshelves, her long fingers occasionally brushing over the book spines.
She stopped in front of a shelf and pulled out a book.
It had a deep blue cover with gold-stamped lettering.
She flipped to the first page and looked down to read.
Dim light spilled from above, falling onto her profile.
Her long eyelashes cast a shadow on her cheek.
Her lips were slightly pursed, as if she were intently reading the words on the page.
Pavela stood beside her and also pulled out a book.
But her attention was never on the book.
Her gaze remained on Eleanor.
Watching her movements as she turned the pages.
Watching the occasional furrow of her brow.
Watching the slight upward curve of the corners of her mouth.
Those subtle changes in expression were all captured by Pavela one by one.
She suddenly realized—
She hadn't observed Eleanor so quietly in a long time.
Since the Night of Calderburg, too many things had happened between them.
The escape.
The adoption.
The Social Season.
The terrorist attacks.
The academy.
The void realm.
Every single thing was urgent, important, and dangerous.
They were always running.
Always dealing with the next crisis.
Always without time to stop.
But now—
Now they were just standing in a bookstore.
Quietly reading.
Like two ordinary people.
"Hmm, this one isn't bad."
Eleanor closed the book and turned to look at Pavela. frёewebηovel.cѳm
"It's a story about a knight and a princess—but the princess saves the knight in the end."
She handed the book to Pavela.
"You should like it."
Pavela took the book and looked at the cover.
"Why do you think I'll like it?"
"Because you're the kind of person who would go and save the knight,"
Eleanor said.
Pavela was stunned for a moment.
"...I'm no princess."
"But you would save people just like her."
Eleanor's finger lightly tapped the cover of the book.
"Even if the enemy is far more powerful than you."
"Even if you know you might die."
"You would still go."
Her voice was very soft.
"Because that's the kind of person you are."
Pavela's throat tightened slightly.
She looked down at the book in her hands.
The cover depicted a knight in armor and a princess in a long dress.
The princess stood in front of the knight, her arms spread as if to protect him.
"...Well, I actually am quite interested. I'll buy it,"
she said.
...
They walked out of the bookstore.
The sky was a bit darker than before.
The gas lamps on the street had begun to light up one after another.
Inside the lanterns on cast-iron brackets, flames flickered, casting circles of warm yellow light onto the ground.
"Are you hungry?"
Eleanor asked.
Pavela thought for a moment.
"A little."
"Then let's go get something to eat."
Eleanor led her into a small restaurant.
Wooden tables and chairs, checkered tablecloths, and several landscape paintings hanging on the walls.
The air was filled with the aroma of toasted bread and stew.
It wasn't large, but it was very cozy.
They found a seat by the window and sat down.
Eleanor ordered two set meals—roast chicken, mashed potatoes, vegetable salad, and a pot of hot black tea.
The food was served quickly.
Pavela cut a piece of chicken and put it in her mouth.
The meat was tender, and the seasoning was just right.
She looked up and saw Eleanor dining elegantly.
The cutlery seemed to dance in her hands, every movement precise and fluid.
Even in such an ordinary little restaurant, she still maintained her noble etiquette.
But that etiquette didn't make one feel distant.
Instead, it had a...
A reassuring feeling.
"Sister."
Pavela spoke up.
"Hmm?"
Eleanor put down her cutlery and looked at her.
"You..."
Pavela paused for a moment.
"Do you regret it?"
"Regret what?"
"Regretting saving me."
The din of the restaurant gradually faded away at this moment.
Eleanor looked at her.
There was no ripple in her ice-blue eyes.
"I don't regret it,"
she said.
"Not ever."
"Even though I've brought you so much trouble?"
"Those weren't troubles."
Eleanor's voice was very calm.
"Those were..."
She thought for a bit.
"My own choice."
"And—"
The corners of her mouth curved slightly.
"You've also brought many interesting things into my life."
"Like?"
"Like today,"
Eleanor said.
"It's been a long time since I've spent a day like this."
"Just... shopping, buying clothes, reading, eating."
"Without having to think about anything."
"Without having to worry about anything."
She picked up her teacup and took a light sip.
"I haven't been this relaxed in ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) a long time."
Pavela looked at her.
Looking at that face that appeared exceptionally soft in the dim light.
She suddenly realized.
Ultimately, Eleanor was also just a nineteen-year-old girl.
A girl who should have been studying at an academy, having afternoon tea with friends, worrying about exams, and falling in love.
It was only the war that had pushed her onto the battlefield.
Given her fame.
Given her power.
Given her countless glories and halos.
And given her too many responsibilities and burdens that didn't belong to this age.
She had to command battles.
She had to make life-and-death decisions.
She had to kill on the battlefield.
She had to watch her comrades die one after another.
She had to carry the expectations of those who had died and keep moving forward.
She had to be strong.
She had to be calm.
She had to be decisive.
She had to be everyone's pillar of support.
She absolutely could not cry.
She absolutely could not back down.
She absolutely could not show any weakness.
Because she was the "blood rose."
Because she was the eldest miss of the Schwartz Family.
Because she was the Commander of The Order.
But now—
Now she was just Eleanor.
A girl who would show a soft smile because of an afternoon date.
Pavela's heart beat very fast.
She finally began to understand.
Understood her feelings for Eleanor.
It wasn't just gratitude.
It wasn't just dependence.
It wasn't just affection for her savior.
But rather—
Rather, it was a deeper, more complex emotion that she had never experienced before.
When they finished dinner and walked out of the restaurant, it was completely dark.
The gas lamps on the street were all lit, one by one, like a string of golden pearls.
Pedestrians wrapped in thick coats hurried past.
Their breath condensed into white mist in the cold air.
Eleanor and Pavela walked side by side on the street.
Neither of them spoke.
They just walked quietly.
Footsteps echoed on the flagstone road.
Hems swayed gently with their steps.
The cold winter wind blew over, carrying a crisp scent.
Pavela's fingers twitched.
She wanted to say something.
But she didn't know what to say.
She just felt—
Felt that today was very special.
So special that she wanted to remember this day forever.
To remember what Eleanor looked like in her pink dress.
To remember her profile as she read in the bookstore.
To remember this night they walked the streets together.
She opened her mouth.
Wanting to say something.
But all the words were stuck in her throat, unable to come out.
Finally, she just reached out.
And lightly took Eleanor's hand.
Eleanor stopped walking.
She turned around and looked at her.
"What is it?"
Her voice was very soft.
"Is there something you want to say?"
She leaned down slightly, bringing her head closer.
Her ice-blue eyes appeared exceptionally clear in the night.
Pavela looked at her.
Looked into those eyes.
Looked at that face.
Looked at the person who was so close to her.
Her heart beat as if it were about to burst from her chest.
Her palms were sweating.
Her breathing became very light and shallow.
And then—
She stood on her tiptoes.
And lightly pressed a kiss onto Eleanor's lips.
It was very light.
Very quick.
Like a feather landing on the water's surface.
Eleanor was stunned.
Her ice-blue eyes widened.
Her lips parted slightly.
Her entire being was as if a Body-Binding Spell had been cast on her, motionless.
The din of the street completely vanished at this moment.
There was only the sound of the wind.
Only the sound of their breathing.
Only the sound of Pavela's own heartbeat.
She took half a step back.
She looked up at Eleanor.
A sense of earnestness was in her grey-blue eyes.
An unprecedented earnestness.
"Eleanor, listen to me,"
she said.
"If one day, you encounter danger—"
"I will not come to save you."
In the night, the light from the gas lamps fell upon her face.
Dyeing her short silver hair golden.
"So, you must remember."
"Always put yourself as the first priority."
"Never for anyone—"
"Including me—"
"Make a choice that will put yourself in danger."
Her voice wasn't loud, but every word was crystal clear.
"Promise me."
The wind on the street blew over.
Blowing their hems.
Blowing Eleanor's long hair.
Blowing the flames of the gas lamps.
Eleanor looked at her.
And then—
She suddenly squeezed Pavela's hand.
Very hard.
With enough force that Pavela's wrist hurt slightly.
She pulled Pavela over.
Leaned down.
And also pressed a kiss onto Pavela's lips.
This time, it was Pavela's turn to widen her eyes.
"Pavela, you must also listen to me."
Eleanor's voice sounded in her ear.
"If one day, you encounter danger—"
"I won't come to save you either."
Her fingers lightly brushed over Pavela's cheek.
Her fingertips carried a hint of coolness.
"So you must also remember."
"If one day, the enemy we face is too powerful—"
"You must leave."
"Don't look back."
"Don't hesitate."
"Leave at all costs."
There was a sense of resolve in her voice.
An unquestionable resolve.
"Promise me."
Pavela's eyes grew hot.
She nodded.
"I promise you."
"Then you must also promise me."
"Okay."
Eleanor smiled.
That smile appeared exceptionally gentle in the night.
"I promise you too."
The two of them just stood there on the street.
Hand in hand.
Foreheads pressed together.
The light from the gas lamps caused their shadows to intertwine on the flagstone road.
Indistinguishable from one another.
The whistle of a steam bus sounded in the distance.
The newsboy at the corner was still hawking the evening paper.
Warm yellow lights still glowed in the shop windows.
But none of this had anything to do with them anymore.
At this moment, there were only the two of them in this world.
And this embrace.
And this promise.
And this—
This emotion that neither of them would speak aloud, but that they both understood.
