“You’ve married an amazing person.” The Viscountess’s voice was feeble but as the room was quiet, Ilyin heard it clearly.

Ilyin turned to Aden. She smiled at him softly and answered, “I have indeed.”

There was no need to explain further. Ilyin also knew that the Viscountess had foresights.

Ever since Ilyin was seven years old, it was difficult to face her mom. There were opportunities to see each other as they lived in the same mansion, but it was rare since the Viscountess was rarely in her right mind as madness swallowed her.

It had been a long time since the two of them had a normal conversation, but they knew everything about each other like they had just spoken yesterday. Aden shortly thought that this was the connection between the people with the ability of foresight.

Then the feeling of loss from the Viscountess’s empty space in Ilyin’s heart was something that Delrose couldn’t fill in.

“There’s a mobile here like in the dream.”

Ilyin turned her gaze to the head of the bed. There hung a mobile she was familiar with, just like how the foresight had a mobile that just happened to be there.

It was decorated with ten different colored silk. Just like she always saw in dreams.magic

“It’s yours,” said the Viscountess softly and Ilyin’s eyes widened.

‘Don’t stop her if she tries to come.’

‘I have something to give her.’

Is that what she meant? Aden looked at the mobile again.

As if Ilyin was trying to look at her living mom just a little more, she couldn’t keep her eyes off. She never quite felt the empty space of her mom until now. Ilyin was aware that her mother’s health wasn’t well, but she didn’t think she’d pass away this soon.

Even to the ones with the ability of foresight, death was always a surprise. After Sid’s death, Ilyin was always afraid of death showing up in each foresight.

On the other hand, she had weakly thought about how if she prepared herself the moment the death was foreseen then maybe it might be less shocking.

But that wasn’t the case.

Ilyin thought about how anxious her mom was when Ilyin prophesied Sid’s death.

“Mom, you knew this fate.”

It was rare for a grown up noble to use the word mom.

Aden’s gaze was on Ilyin. He didn’t want to interrupt her in any way when Ilyin was having her last moments with the Viscountess, so he just lightly put his hand on her shoulder.

It was consoling. Ilyin held his hand and spoke, her voice almost cracking.

“I shouldn’t have said it out loud.”

She was reminded of the words that she had heard and repeated to herself since she was seven. She guessed this is what they meant. It meant that after knowing about death, all focus went on that death and that everything else lost light.

That seemed to be why both her grandmother and mother both really disliked the ability of foresight. Once again, the burden of the ability to foresee felt even heavier of a duty.

Not being able to avoid the future that was approaching was scary, but it was even more scary when you knew exactly what it held.

Ilyin’s hands trembled. Aden looked at her and quietly hugged her. Even though he had lots to say, he had no intention of getting in the way of their farewell.

Ilyin stared at the Viscountess until the room got even quieter. Aden noticed that the Viscountess had stopped breathing before Ilyin but didn’t bother saying it.

Ilyin carefully put her hand on the Viscountess’s cheek when she froze, the cheek that still had some warmth now was cold and the pale hue of it had no semblance to the color of blood.

It was weird that she wouldn’t be able to see her mom anymore.

No matter where she was, even if it was the far winter region, to her knowledge her mom was alive somewhere and so she didn’t give her mom much thought. She was more focused on adjusting to the winter.

Even now. It would be great if she just woke up from a dream and it was the winter region. Then in the Arlen mansion faraway, her mom would still be alive, and that she could just endure.

But this was the reality. The only thing in this reality was Aden who was consoling her.

“Ilyin,” Aden said softly and grabbed her trembling hands. He kissed her on the forehead.

Then he said something she needed the most, and she wanted to come true the most.

“Believe in the power of winter.”

***

When Ilyin and Aden had entered the Viscountess’s room, Viscount Arlen had gotten a weird feeling as his gaze was locked on the tightly held hands of Ilyin and Den.

Den, the man who was wearing a neat black uniform. The man with pale white skin, neatly slicked back hair and dark blue eyes that was like frost, and who felt like he was from another dimension.

For sure this was the man that Viscount Arlen saw in the morning. He should be part of the Acid Merchant, but his clothes didn’t show any such indication or symbol, was it on his sword then?

Viscount Arlen, unlike himself, thought sharply and to his mind came some more peculiar things. Den’s hand that was escorting Ilyin. Even someone as dull as him could know, Den was serving Ilyin with utmost care.

Was it serving?

To Viscount Arlen, the relationship between Ilyin and the man was confusing. Viscount Arlen could see clearly that the man was paying attention to every detail to make sure nothing was bothering her. As if taking care of something so important that might crack if something went wrong even slightly.

It wasn’t respect shown to a higher up, but it wasn’t loyalty shown to a master either. It was something way more personal.

Perhaps?