Silver Lining Yesterday - Chapter 24
“Gemma! It’s not like that…!”
Jean, flustered, tried to continue the conversation, but the loud thundering of boots drowned her out.
Armed knights quickly surrounded her and Nix. As she looked back at Gemma, who had settled behind them like a steel fortress, Jean’s stomach churned with frustration.
“Nix, I don’t know where you learned such malicious magic, but you’ll regret it. I’m not merciful enough to let people who mock me go free.”
Gemma, who had turned back into the indifferent duke, resumed her lounging posture and put a pipe in her mouth.
“Nix Heidegger. You’ll have to explain yourself properly regarding the bombing of the Kilmain military base last year. …And that woman.”
Gemma pointed at Jean with the end of her pipe and exhaled a puff of smoke with a chuckle.
“What do you think? Should I find you a better position, perhaps?”
Laughter erupted from the crowd in unison. The mocking arrows of jeers rained down on one person.
However, even as the target of those arrows, Jean had no space to feel embarrassed.
With her body battered and torn, Jean was lost in thought, desperately trying to come up with a solution.
What should she do?
How could she make the one she loves look at her properly?
Jean lowered her eyes in despair, then forced them open again and looked directly at Gemma.
“February 11, 1886.”
“…?”
“March 1, 1887.”
“…What is she talking about?”
Gemma frowned slightly.
As if she had expected this, Jean bitterly muttered to herself.
“You don’t remember, do you?”
To her, those days were as vivid as yesterday, but for Gemma, they were distant memories.
Jean tried to calm her anxious heart as she reflected on the twenty-three years that had passed.
“February 11, 1886. That was the day we first met. I was on my way to deliver the Esdel Genesis to Professor Myers at the request of Professor Amelroi. You had just finished your training and, as you were walking back, you reached out a hand to help me after I tripped over a rock. You were ten years old.”
“…”
“March 1, 1887, was the day we both entered the Riholm Academy. We were at least seven or eight years younger than the other new students, but the teacher insisted on pushing our admission. I remember you were so happy when you received your school uniform. Do you remember when Ernest, who was bringing butter cake for the celebration party, tripped over the doorstep and fell flat?”
Jean struggled to hold back tears, trying to keep her emotions in check as they welled up. Her hands nervously fiddled with nothing in particular.
“July 1889… sorry, I don’t remember the exact date. Gemma, you were very sick that summer. The teacher stayed up for three nights to take care of you, but you don’t remember, do you? I honestly thought you were going to die. The day you woke up after being ill for almost a week, I held you so tightly in my arms without thinking, and you fainted again. I cried so much that the teacher couldn’t even scold me.”
“…”
“Do you remember 1888? The year you turned twelve, you finally took the knight’s oath. You said you hated carrying on the family’s legacy and that your only talent was being better than others. I never said it, but I always thought your quick sword was beautiful. Even when you beat Ernest after a night out, I still thought that.”
The memories they had built together still sparkled brightly, as if those were the most beautiful and brilliant times of their lives.
So, Gemma, even if it may seem faded to you, maybe it will shine once again.
Jean hesitated for a moment before slowly lifting her gaze to Gemma. Her deep eyes filled with longing.
“If you could remember, I would tell you even more. Time is fleeting, and humans are powerless. It’s only natural that your memory fades over the 20 years. What animal does not forget?”
“…Jean.”
Gemma, pale as ice, murmured in a half-whisper. At that moment, Jean’s eyes widened in shock.
“Yes, it’s me, your Jean. My dear Gemma, how much have I… opened my eyes in this unfamiliar world without you?”
Jean, who had been hastily approaching the stage, clenched her small fist tightly, trying to hold back the surge of emotion. Then she forced a bright smile and glanced around.
“Where did the others go? I heard Karl became a professor. I can’t even imagine how proud Professor Myers must be. Do you remember? He used to go on and on about how he would probably flunk out.”
“…”
“Right, Miranda! Miranda came, too, right? I thought maybe if I came to your birthday banquet, I might get to see her. My heart raced at the thought. Miranda, she must’ve grown into a wonderful adult just like you, right? Everyone must have gathered like old times, toasting with drinks… Gemma?”
Jean blinked in confusion.
Gemma remained utterly still, as if cast in plaster, her complexion sickly pale, resembling someone suffocating.
Concerned, Jean stepped closer to the stage, but then, from somewhere, a suppressed laughter echoed. It was an eerie sound, like a chill wind that dragged the room into a pit of silence.
Jean hesitated and looked back.
Nix, who had been hunched over, suddenly shot a fierce glare at Gemma with his blood-red eyes.
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