Chapter 12

Violet Evergaden: Chapter 12

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The Flying Letters and the Auto-Memories Doll (Part 2)

In cities,villages and even forests, those touched by the winds laughed at its greatness.The raging gale’s sounds were a melody of rattlings. With the grace of the Sun,limpid blue skies blessed the people below.

On thatday, the wind had suddenly become strong from afternoon to evening. Thevigorous airstream was almost as a dragon undulating its body and tramplingdown the earth. Wherever the gust dragon pa.s.sed by, the sounds of leaves andcries of birds and insects chorused. The site of Leidenschaftlich’s army’s AirForce base, surrounded by woods, became the wind’s playground as well.

Heaps ofguests who had just arrived exited a pa.s.senger truck that had been going onrepeated trips over and over for the sake of the special day. As its interiorbecame empty, it once again returned to the city. The people who had descendedfrom it crossed the forest road while chatting cheerfully amongst one another.As they walked through the tree path, their roars and joyful voices rose at theprofound, swiveling sound of fighter aircrafts dancing in the sky.

The 7th AeronauticalExhibition was taking place.

In thatmidst, the figures of members of the CH Postal Service led by Claudia Hodginswere also present. From clerks who had been working in the office to postmenwho were done with their deliveries, they all walked with faces enveloped in afeeling of liberation.

“Brightenup, Little Lux.”

Whileeveryone else seemed to be having fun, Lux alone had a sour expression. Thepresident, who was now over thirty years old, desperately attempted to talk toher in order to make her smile.

Whilethinking that she was being a child herself, Lux spit out the incomprehensiblefeelings in her heart, “No, it’s not like I’m in a bad mood. I… Something Icouldn’t do anything about no matter what… was solved with a single statementof yours, President… I’ve once again come to understand how things work inthis world; I’m merely climbing up the stairs of adulthood… This world isso…”

“Was it sobad to have the public office extend the deadline? But, look. Thanks to that,we were able to bring everyone from the company to the festival. I… had alsowanted to do something for everyone, since they did their best at work becausethey had wanted to come here…”

“But thatreceptionist from the public office was your ex, right, President Hodgins?”

“Aah… well,was she?” He answered vaguely, as she actually not someone who could be countedas a lover, for the two of them merely happened to know each other’s nakedbodies.

“In short,you have a relationship of sympathy, in which you normally overlook one another…that’s why, if I had been the one to ask the favor, it would have beenuseless… that’s why…”

Hodgins hadbeen observing Lux, who was making several different comic faces, with worry atfirst, but it gradually turned into amus.e.m.e.nt and he wound up laughing. Thechildishness of that girl, who was still alienated to the subtleties of humanrelations despite having become able to do quite a lot of work, and thereforeremained too innocent, was adorable.

“LittleLux. Getting frustrated over something like this is no good. You’re mysecretary, so you’ll have to keep steadily learning my dirty ways from now on.The president’s statements are…?”

“A-Absolute.”

What was hetrying to make her learn?

“You’relacking energy. One more time. The president’s statements are…?”

“A-Absolute!”

Hodginspatted Lux’s head in satisfaction. “Little Lux is so cute. I’ll raise you intoa great member of society.”

As hecontinued caressing her in the manner one would do with a dog or a cat, hishand was caught by other employees.

“President,you’ll be arrested for that. By the military police.”

“Lux, too,shouldn’t follow what the President says. You’re the company’s star of hope, soyou must fight back against anything inappropriate as if you intended to stabthe President.”

“Aren’t youall terrible?”

The clerkslaughed, and Lux naturally ended up laughing as well. Upon looking at them,Hodgins was finally relieved. He was no good with women making gloomyexpressions.

——Now, on to the other girl that I’m worriedabout.

Afterentrusting some warrant money from his own wallet for Lux to buy everyonesomething they wanted, Hodgins left to look for Violet and Cattleya. Someonehad said that he would find them if he went on walking, but the number ofguests attending the Flying Letters was the double of the previous time andbreaking a record. The base of the Air Force itself was extensive, so hebelieved it would be a difficult task.

——I had tried to instigate them to get alongwith each other, but I wonder if I managed it.

UnlikeViolet and Lux, those two were a pair with a questionable success rate forpromoting the growth of a friendship. However, as Hodgins had Gilbert andhimself as an example of success, he wanted to bet that the two of them couldsurprisingly become friends. He was out of touch with Gilbert at the moment,but tried not to think about it.

Withoutwalking aimlessly, Hodgins headed straight to the general resting place.Several hours had pa.s.sed ever since Cattleya had left the office. They musthave had a good time seeing most of the displays and booths.

He realizedthat being tall was useful in that kind of situation. It did not take too longfor him to find Cattleya. There was no way that such a strikingly beautifulwoman, who could even be considered pompous, would not stand out.

Cattleyawas sitting alone on a bench, looking lonely.

“So Ifailed?”

As heattempted to call out to her with a “heey”, another man came to talk toCattleya first. He held onto her arm as she intentionally ignored him, in orderto forcefully make her stand up. He was probably inviting her to walk aroundthe festival with him.

“This isbad…”

Hodgins wasnot worried about Cattleya. He walked fast, pushing his way through the crowd.

“Don’ttouch me in such a familiar manner!”

As he heardthe shout of a high-pitched voice, he shoved people without holding back. However,Hodgins was one step too late for the rescue. Cattleya had steadily stood upand reversed the arm that had been gripped, quickly freeing herself, thengrabbed the man by the chest area of his clothes and dove her knee into hiscrotch. It was most certainly an unimaginable pain. The man lay on the groundwithout moving.

As Cattleyaintended to send more blows, Hodgins stopped her by calling out, “Cattleya,come here!”

“Ah,President!” Seemingly happy, she waved at him and ran in his direction.

Letting outa skeptical chuckle, Hodgins waved back.

Cattleyajumped into his chest. Although the stares from the surrounding people werehurtful, he prioritized Cattleya’s mental state. He embraced her gently once,then stepped back, receiving a full-fledged smile as he asked if she was allright.

“Guess Ididn’t make it in time…”

“President,were you trying to help me out? I don’t lose. But, I see… if I act feebly inthese kinds of situations, you will try to save me. I should have left it asthat for a few more seconds.”

“No, hum.That’s right.” He did not admit that the one he was trying to save was the man.“But, y’know, Cattleya… I’m sure I told you that you should try to resolvethings peacefully at times like this…”

“I didn’tuse my fists. I thought a former martial artist like me shouldn’t do that withan ordinary person, so I used my legs. Because my legs aren’t that strong.Praise me, praise me, President.”

The youngwoman named Cattleya Baudelaire was of a glossy beauty that seemed like shecould have plenty of men on the palm of her hand with just a glance, but on theinside, she was like a puppy. She was innocent and naïve, as well as vicious,since there were no bad intentions in whatever she did. Perhaps because she hadconfidence in her physical strength, she had the habit to solve anything byforce.

“It’s greatthat you didn’t let yourself get caught up by some strange man, but excessiveself-defense is no good, so points off. Let’s leave this spot. People arelooking.”

“Praise meee… ah, hum… but…”

By crawlingonto the ground, the man who had collapsed escaped while the two were talking.

Aftersparing a glimpse at his state, Cattleya turned back to Hodgins. “I have tostay here. Violet ran off somewhere. But she said she’d come back to this place.If I leave, we’ll end up missing each other.”

“‘Ran offsomewhere’… meaning you don’t know where to?”

“Yeah. Ithink she probably… went to chase after that person she calls ‘Major’.”

Hodginslost his voice at Cattleya’s words. His face astonished, he grabbed hershoulders with uneasy and trembling hands. “A black-haired man in a militaryuniform!?” It was rare of him to speak so loudly.

Perhaps hisunrest was transmitted to Cattleya, and she began to shake as well. “I-I don’tknow. I didn’t see him. But Violet said he was her user in the past.”

“Which waydid she go!?”

Pinned downby such a threatening att.i.tude, Cattleya pointed towards the crowd, her fingeroscillating feebly. “T-That way… but, it’s been a while since she left.”

“I’ll goafter her. I’m bringing her back. Sorry, Cattleya, but everyone from thecompany is heading to the Flying Letters’ retrieval place, so go meet with themthere.”

“E-Eeh,I’ll be on my own again?”

“You’re a goodgirl so go there! Okay?! And no reckless quarreling even if someone picks onyou!”

“President!”Cattleya was about to chase after Hodgins as if to hang onto him, but gave uphalfway. She was somewhat exhausted.

She woundup sighing as she had watched someone’s back while they broke into run for thesecond time that day. There was no helping it since she could not opposeHodgins, who looked after Violet as something like a subst.i.tute parent, and so,Cattleya started walking totteringly. While thinking it would be great if shebecame someone whom others would go after as well, she was lonely once again.

——Is today a good or a bad day? I wonder which. She thought.

She added the fact that she had become able to talk withViolet a little to the score. Thefact that the latter had left Cattleya earned a subtraction. She soonwould join the people from the agency and not be lonely anymore. One morescore. However, Hodgins putting Violet before her earned a subtraction.Comprehensively, after evaluating the ups and downs of her feelings, she couldsay that her current situation was of having a bad day.

The reason why she disliked being alone was because it madeher feel as if she had no charm. People naturally gathered around charismaticindividuals. Hodgins was one of them. Cattleya had also been attracted to him as a b.u.t.terfly would be tohoney. Yet she understood that she could not become like him.

She chewed her lips lightly. Her heart was withering. It was supposed to be an extremelywonderful beginning of month, and the part of her that had been looking forwardto it since the previous one was awfully depressed.

“Hey,stupid woman. You alone?”

It wasdepressed, and yet…

“Benedict…”

…hertears went right back in at the ironic sentence as she was called from behind.

Meanwhile,Violet Evergarden, the center of that whirlpool, was facing a man as if confrontinghim. Away from the crowd, the two of them stood under the shadow of the plumtrees that surrounded the maneuver area, seeming almost like a couple. It wasnot as if they were completely unnoticeable as seen from the venue, so from adistance, they probably looked as though having a secret date.

“It hasbeen a while.”

Black hair.Green orbs. The man glared at Violet with said green orbs as if annoyed. Whileit had appeared as if she would lose him in the flow of people many times, fromthe moment she was finally able to grab his arm and stop him, he had seemedsullen.

“Please wait.”

Roughly yanking the arm that Violet hadgrasped, the man turned around. Perhaps because her grown-up figure was toodifferent from the last time he had seen her, the man’s reaction was slightlydelayed.

As he realized who the other was, he unabashedlyclicked his tongue and shoved her away by the shoulder. “Don’t touch me.”

He was very similar to the man Violet hadrecalled, but still different. He eyed her with disgust as she did not budge asingle inch even after being thrust away, her torso accepting the impact. He wasunlike Edward Jones, whom she had met in the past, but still keenly similar inthe fact that he exposed Violet’s past.

“You might not remember me, but…”

“I do. There’s no way I’d forget the killerweapon that ma.s.sacred my comrades.”

Gilbert’s older brother, DietfrietBougainvillea, stood there.

Violet blinked slowly once at the words thatpierced straight through her. Dietfriet was unlike Edward Jones, whom she hadpreviously met, but still keenly similar in the fact he attempted to expose herpast.

“I see.” Violet simply replied inacknowledgement.

“What’re you doing…? Someone like you has to beunder watch. What happened to your Master?”

Dietfriet wore the navy’s high-collar uniform.Perhaps he was stopping by for duty-related matters.

As Violet found herself unable to answer,Dietfriet clicked his tongue and added, “I don’t mean Gilbert. You’ve beentaken in and are being used by his friend at the moment, right? Hurry backthere. Don’t cling to me.” He gestured as though shooing a dog.

“You are aware?”

Violet’s att.i.tude as she spoke smoothly was probablydeemed as confusing for Dietfriet. When he had met her, she was a monster oflow intelligence that could not utter a word. “Don’t screw around.” He staredat her as if her beautiful appearance and grown-up figure instigated more fearwithin him. “This concerns my sibling. And mishandling. That’s obvious. It’s mylittle brother we’re talking about. Now come, I get anxious seeing you in themiddle of a crowd.” Dietfriet displayed his irritation. In light of his wrath,he forcefully grabbed Violet’s arm. As a grinding creak resounded, he let go ofit in surprise. He looked at the arm and then at Violet’s face.

The two of them were tense. Like an herbivoreencountering a carnivore amidst a prairie, both were at loss as to who wouldmove first.

“I am not… carrying any weapons. I will notkill anyone. I was told… to not kill anymore. And I… will not do it even ifordered to.” Violet unveiled both hands as to emphasize that she was unarmed.

“Like I can believe you. Is that really so?You… are a tool that wants nothing but orders, right? I’ve let go of you, butif I ordered something, wouldn’t you do it? Hey. You used to do that when I commandedyou in the past, didn’t you?”

“I will not.”

Dietfriet thrust a finger-gun onto Violet’schest. His nail lightly pierced her cleavage. It seemed her self-defensereaction would awaken at the raw feeling of being touched by the long fingertipof a man. Her usual self would have taken action upon it immediately. However,she did not move.

“Kill yourself.”

Violet’s breathing halted. It was still forone, two, three seconds. Although air soon filled her body again, her faceremained pale. Even the sound of her heartbeats felt as if it would stop at thewords she received from the man that reminisced vestiges of the one she respectedand loved in looks.

And yet, Violet responded, “I will not. I have been…ordered to live.” The reply she gave with utmost effort was mixed with sorrow.

“Seriously? Close call. I thought about this…after I had handed you over to Gil… He told you not to die or something,right…? Really, what a close call. He’s a softie. It would have been better if youhad died while being used by Gilbert. And yet you’re still alive and kicking.Even now… I still visit the families of the people you killed to give themmoney.”

The field of vision of Violet’s blue eyes grewunsteady. The fingertip that was pulled away from her had not drawn blood, yetthose words impacted her painfully in the same way that physical violencewould. “If… there… is… something I can—”

“I don’t need anything!! Not from you!”

As he raised his voice, he attracted others’attention. The duo wound up looking like a man in a military uniform intimidatinga civilian woman.

“You… too… leave. Just leave.”

“I still… have questions.”

Dietfriet gave a deep, deep sigh. He scratchedhis bangs and scowled at Violet as if he truly did hate her. And so, heproceeded to grasp the artificial arm that he had once pushed. “Then come withme in a way that wouldn’t look weird to everyone else. We’re going to anotherplace.”

By presumption, Violet came as close toDietfriet as she could. The guests nearby most likely believed they just had alover’s quarrel.

The two walked mutely for a while. Dietfriet’sconsideration in his manner of guiding a lady was proportional to the abusivelanguage he had used on Violet. Whether or not it was something he did onautomatic without meaning to could be conjectured in his facial expression. Hewas wearing the navy’s uniform, after all. Such behavior might be conventional.That is, walking as if being protected by an adult man.

It was not Violet’s first time walking througha scenery of people laughing joyfully with her hand being pulled by someone ina military uniform, yet it was overall a rare life experience. The situationwas completely different from the previous time. The person she had chased, theheight of his line of sight upon looking at her, everything.

The full-fledged female soldier reached out forher emerald brooch naturally. Her child self might have been the invincibleone. The grown-up Auto-Memories Doll Violet was wavering in apprehension.

Once the number of people diminished, Dietfrietreleased her arm as if throwing her away.

“You haveany business with me? If it’s about resentment, I won’t listen.”

“I do not…resent you.”

Dietfrietsnorted. “I wonder about that. I get praises and grudges from many directions.I have that sort of personality, after all. Sometimes, I feel like I’ll bedetonated just like that.”

“I will notdo it. I will not do… such a thing to you.”

At Violet’sresponse, his green eyes strained indescribably. A fury unlike his primarydisdain was encompa.s.sed in said eyes.

As if beingjostled by Dietfriet while he approached her, Violet took a few steps back. Herspine stuck against the trunk of a big tree, but as she intently stared back athim regardless without averting her gaze, a fist flew next to her face. She wasnot hit, but a piece of wood scratched her cheek. She was not the only one whobled. With a side-glance, she confirmed that blood was shed from Dietfriet’s fist.

“Do youremember…? When you were small, I used to punch and kick you.”

“Yes.”

“Whenever Ididn’t feel your killing intent, you would receive a certain degree of violenttreatment from me. When I’m with you, I become a monster too… you make melike this.”

“I… makeyou…?”

“That’sright. It’s your fault. It’s like that even now. Being with and talking to youinfuriate me. My heart can’t rest. You do that to me. You killed my companions.What happened back then appears in my dreams over and over. But though I’mdisgusted to h.e.l.l by you, I don’t despise you. No, it might be that I simplyhate you so much I can’t handle it, but it doesn’t feel like spite. It’s closerto giving up. I think I have no choice but conform to the fact a defectivea.s.set like you exists in this world… have you any idea why?” Dietfrietpunched the tree once again with his other fist.

Violet didnot look away. She earnestly stared at the other with those blue eyes. Perhapsbecause they were too blue and clear, they wound up bringing about a feeling ofexposure to Dietfriet.

“One of mycomrades that you killed had tried to rape you. That’s why you murdered him.Everything, everything, everything, everything goes in circles! It’s because itall goes in circles…! That’s why I don’t resent any of it.” Dietfriet said.

“The things…that I did… and that you did…?”

“That’sright. Hasn’t anyone told you?”

Violetlightly shook her head. “No, I have been told about it.”

As ifhitting the mark, Hodgins’s prediction now befell upon Violet, “And then, for the first time, you’ll noticethe many burns you have. You’ll realize that there’s still fire at your feet.You’ll realize that there are people pouring oil onto it. It might be easier tolive without knowing all this. There will certainly be times when you’ll end upcrying as well.”

Until thetime when her eyelids would close for eternity, she would not know the feelingof having her body burn. Such was the monster she had been destined to be. Yetthe monster, the tool, Violet was currentlyliving as a person. She had been doing so ever since she had cried as shebrought a deceased youth back to his hometown – rather, way before that.Despite sniffing the smell of herself being wrapped and scorching in flames,she had chosen to ‘live’.

“And that’swhy, even if you begrudged me, I would tell you, ‘like I care’.”

There was areason why she had chosen to live as a person. Only, that was the sole shininglight in the monstrous girl’s life.

“You aremistaken, that is not it… my apologies for stopping you. I had… simply…wanted to ask about Major.”

Dietfrietslowly loosened his fist. Blood welled in his white knuckles. “He turned into acomplete mess thanks to you, but what about him?”

“Whatshould I do?”

“Haah?”

VioletEvergarden asked Dietfriet Bougainvillea, “Although I am… a tool, I wasunable to protect him. But… he told me to live, hence why I am living. Ifthere is… anything else… that I… could do, I wish you to tell me. Is itall right… for me to be alive? I end up… overflowing with sensations.Sensations… from being involved with people. Just from being involved withthem. Even though… I am Major’s tool… I was… told to live… I… towardsMajor…”

The two ofthem used to be a monster and her keeper, a wielder and his tool. Everything intheir relationship had changed.

“As if I’dknow!! Why are you asking me!?”

Even so,the servant pursued teachings from her former master.

“Because Iused to be… your tool.”

The monsterhe had picked from an isolated island had developed, became able to speak andwas trembling in restlessness.

“If you’rea tool, don’t go having a will of your own!”

Tremblingin restlessness and seeking for help.

“Because…you… used to be… my… Master.”

Dietfrietwas caught off-guard by Violet’s statement.

——Did you think I was your Lord?

Violet’sblue orbs were beautifully limpid. Therefore, they caused Dietfriet toreminisce to the things he had made her do in the past like a mirror.

“As if I givea d.a.m.n about a tool I threw away! You’re a monster and a calamity thatdestroyed my little brother’s life!”

The thingspeople did to others came back to them through time.

“SirDietfriet… then, why is it… that you… gave me to Major?”

Pain and gentlenesscame back to him. It was a gaze that seemed to shoot in his direction. One thatwas hanging onto him, but that did not say so. Those were the same eyes she hadshowed Dietfriet when parting ways with him. He had been pierced by such gazeand brought her with him from that remote island, leaving her to his youngerbrother, who was the only member of their family that he had contact with.

Why had hehanded her over to Gilbert? It was as Violet had said.

She was auseful tool, yet Dietfriet had deemed her as too much for him. He did notbelieve he had a concrete proof that his younger brother could properly use heras he entrusted her to him. The fact that he could have kept her alive and soldher must have run through his head. It felt as if Gilbert had been pressed onby Dietfriet.

What didDietfriet have in mind when leaving Violet to Gilbert? Was there really no oneas option except for Gilbert? What about the other navy officers? Back then,there must have been additional choices. Yet he gave her away to his family.

“Do youunderstand human feelings?” Dietfriet stretched out his hands to grab Violet’scollar.

Did he wantto hit her? Did he want to kill her? Or perhaps was it a lecture?

“If you do,then die. Accept my wrath and grief. But you… won’t die even if I tell youto, right?”

“Yes.”

“I won’tdie either. And I don’t want to understand… what you’re puzzled about. I’vebeen doing things much worse than you did for a living. But so what? I’m alive.When I die, it’ll be over. Even I have laments and hardships. There are alsotimes when I think dying would be much better, and at those moments, I considerdoing so. You keep making a face like you’re the only one having it hard;everyone has it hard. The guys you killed wouldn’t have died had they notgotten involved with me. It might have been my fault. I was the commander,after all. I wasn’t able to protect them while leading them. But, y’know, Monster…if you… have the slightest remorse for what you did, and won’t die no matterwhat… live on, until you get killed by someone or your lifespan runs out.Rather than dying…”

Did he wantto hit her? Did he want to kill her? Or perhaps…

“…it’sharder to stay alive.”

Perhaps…

“It’s wayharder to stay alive. Still, swallow all of it down and live on. It just so happensthat those who can’t do this end up dying. If you won’t die by your own hands,never blame your sins on anyone, and live on. Live, live, live, live, live,live, live, live, live, live, live, live, live, live, live, live, live, live,live, live, live, live…” Dietfriet suddenly let go of Violet’s collar, “andthen die.”

Violetregarded Dietfriet with a gaze unlike the one she would give Gilbert, but itwas certainly of someone who was looking at her Lord. “Sir Dietfriet. Has Majorreally… pa.s.sed away?”

“What doyou… want me to say?”

At hiswords, Violet inhaled a ragged breath. She could see something glistening inthe sky. “You will not… say ‘yes’, as everyone else, will you? I have justconfirmed it. If Major had died, you would definitely, by all means… alreadyhave killed me.”

WithinViolet’s field of vision, something fell from the blue skies over Dietfriet’shead, like snow, like flowers.

“He isalive, right?”

The FlyingLetters were raining down. A gush of wind swabbed in-between the two, blowingfiercely with a rumble. The letters flowed about like a blizzard.

Yellowplanes flew as if cutting the sky open. They scattered the letters that carriedthe feelings of many, so as to deliver them to the people below. It was as ifthey meant to say, “Choose one from these. The letter you will pick up upon itsfall will cheer for your fate.”

“Violet!”Within a deprived line of sight, someone yelled Violet’s name and forcefullycarried her as if she were luggage.

Dietfriet’sfigure grew farther and farther away. She attempted whispering his name, but couldno longer reach him. The last she saw of him was as he abruptly turned on hisheels. He did not spare a single glance in her direction.

Violet thencalled out to the person running after desperately abducting her, “President…Hodgins.”

“Keep yourhead low!”

“Everythingis fine, President Hodgins.”

“It’s not!Why… are you with such a dangerous person!?”

Violetchecked once more the spot of the shining object that she had confirmedearlier. Nothing could be seen there anymore. “It really is all right. I hadalready noticed that I was under the aim of his underling’s sniper rifle fromthat hill.”

“‘Sniper’,you say…!?”

“Hisbodyguards were not together with him, but once I was close to him, I was ableto sense the danger. That person… had always walked around with bodyguards… soI knew it when I did not see them. But that was merely for watch. He did nothave any intention to give a signal. President Hodgins, is work going well?”

Hercalmness was usually reliable, but he could not say so in such a situation.Hodgins replied with anger and impatience blended with relief, “I was thinkingCattleya would cry, so I ended it as soon as possible… and then, I heard youhad gone after a man in military uniform… I got chills. Don’t ever go seeGilbert’s older brother, Little Violet. Though that person is related toGilbert by blood, they’re completely different people. Even if he’s your formerLord, you can’t. He’s a scary one. He… hates you. I was careless… From nowon, even if it’s a festival, we won’t partic.i.p.ate in this one. I thought youwere going to be dragged back into the military… I’ll have you go back homefor today. Okay?”

“Yes.”

“Did he sayanything? Are you all right?”

Violetdidn’t answer immediately. She stretched a hand towards the sky. Still beingcarried by Hodgins, she took one letter in her hands.

“Hey, didhe say anything weird? Little Violet?”

She pickedthe thoughts of a person directed to another.

“No, no.Nothing… I’ve only… received something.”

“Live.”

“What wasit?”

“Without ever blaming anyone, live. Live.Live.”

“Encouragement.”

“And then die.”

Dietfrietwalked amidst the dispersed letters. He distanced himself from the center ofthe maneuver area, on which people were going crazy about the Flying Letters,entering the control tower that was forbidden of access for anyone except thestaff. He nodded at those wearing the same naval uniform as himself, as well asthose wearing the army’s.

“If you’ddone anything uncalled for, my underlings in the acrobatic flight would haveseen it.” Amongst them, a man who stood on the side spoke to him. “They’restill flying.” As a screech resounded from his mechanical arm, the man who hadtalked pointed towards the sky.

“It’s beena few years.”

Hisappearance was different from when Dietfriet knew of him. One of his eyes wascovered by an eyepatch, and a laceration was half-hidden by it. His hair wasthe color of dusk. His emerald green irises were as real gems. His profile,bordered on melancholy, littered with coldness. His tall body was clad in thepurplish black army uniform of Leidenschaftlich, the seacoast country so famousfor being a military nation. It was not the one that any soldier could wear. Agolden badge attached to his cloak indicated the scale of his status.

Gilbertwaved off Dietfriet’s hand, which had rested on his shoulder.

“How cold.Just now, I met your tool.”

For the twoof them, it was obvious what “tool” referred to.

“I ain’tlying. She chased after me. It doesn’t look like she mistook me for you,though. Be careful. You’re pretending to be dead, right? Why are you doingthings in such a complicated way…?”

“Brother,about Violet…”

“I didn’ttell her anything.” Dietfriet uttered no lie. “It seems she was at loss afteryou were gone. I just told her something as her former Lord: to live as much asshe could and then die.”

Due to himnot having affirmed anything, Violet Evergarden had gone back home with thehope she that had been embracing rea.s.sured. He did not intend to reveal that tohis younger brother.

“This isyour wish, right? It’s probably not the same… for that thing. Before Irealized, someone was taking her away. Since he had conspicuous red hair, itmust have been that colleague of yours from your military school days, right?He must have thought I was gonna kill her. Haha, as if I could manage. If Iwere able to kill her, I already would have… Hey, Gil. You wouldn’t possiblysay that you like that monster, would you? You’ve raised it into a pretty finewoman, but you know what’s inside. Stop that.”

“It doesn’tconcern you.”

“It does.You’re important. You’re my little brother.”

“This isbetween me and Violet. It doesn’t concern… anyone else. The one who pushedeverything onto that ‘important little brother’ was you, wasn’t it? Whatever I,who was left behind…” Gilbert’s emerald orbs slanted. The sky was so brightthat watching it caused his eyes to ache. However, he did not close them. “…ambetting my whole life to protect is my business. I am carving my own positionfor that. Right now, my reason to live isn’t for the sake of aiming for evenhigher-ranking prestige in the army, or for cleaning up after you in theBougainvillea household. It’s for her. If you ever do anything, I will crushyou with all I have. That’s what my weapons are for. This won’t change even ifmy opponent is you, Brother.”

Seeing howmuch his younger brother, whom he was meeting for the first in a long time, hadchanged, Dietfriet observed the sky as if it were too dazzling. “You’re… notsmall anymore, huh.” He balled a fist and attempted to punch Gilbert on theshoulder.

Gilbert acceptedit. He grabbed ahold of the other’s hand firmly. Dietfriet endured the throbbingin his hand and wrapped it over Gilbert’s. It was almost as when they heldhands in their childhood.

“Hey, I maybe a s.h.i.tty brother to you, but… I love you.”

Thebrothers told each other secrets. In low voices, so that no one else wouldhear.

“I know.”

Within theBougainvillea house, they had always talked in such way. In order to not bescolded, they would only whisper, just the two of them.

“You really…do understand, huh. Even like this, I love you… with all my might. I loveyou, Gilbert… I… wonder why… I just… can’t properly convey this to thepeople I’m really fond of.”

“I know,Brother.”

As the veilof night descended, the people who had put off the Aeronautical Exhibitionrelied on the moonlight and the lamps of their rooms to read the words ofencouragement sent to them by someone unknown. Were their own letters inspiringanyone? With their thoughts running wild, they thoroughly reflected on thatday. It might have been a good one for some. It might have not for others.Whichever it was, the kindness given to them unconditionally reduced theloneliness of a long night and the anxiety towards following morning, bestowingthem with a tiny bit of hope.

Standingalone by a window, Violet attempted opening the single envelope that she hadbrought with her from the Flying Letters after having been taken back to theEvergarden mansion.

“Yes.”

All itcontained were the words “cheer up”, with a handwriting that seemed to be theone of a child.

Dawn brokeequally to everyone. No matter who it was.

Morningswere merely a small part of a whole day. However, it was also an importantmoment in which people’s conduct would be demarcated. The color of the sky theywould see, the scent of the air, whether they had eaten, how much they hadslept the day before – each little element was definite for their choices andactually dictated their fates. Without knowing that much, people would afterwardsregret the decisions they made casually. After all, dawn broke equally toeveryone, but that applied solely to the living.

Oncesomething begun, the only thing left to do was move on towards the end.