Things have changed since that encounter.
My family didn't say anything to me about wearing a robe hood and stopping me from pulling the cage, but I also looked relieved inside.
And when Rachel came to the Mansion, she started speaking to me, as a matter of course.
"What are you showing me today?
"So, shall I serve you all sorts of animals in the water from this fountain?
"Yeah! I want to see it!
This guy seems very interested in witchcraft, and when I show him witchcraft, he makes his eyes shine and he's happy with anything.
So I could just remember the feeling that magic was fun too, and the days I spent with Rachel were gradually paid for the worries in me and I felt healed.
In an attempt to meet Rachel's hopes like that again today, she decided to put out an animal that seemed delightful.
You know, I seem to be paying attention to what comes out of my hand with my cat-like eyes glittering in anticipation.
The edge of my mouth accidentally rises to the appearance of such a rachel.
When I first put my hand over the fountain, the water from the fountain turned into a large mass and floated along with the movement of my hand.
"Wow!
"You can touch it."
"Really? Wow, it's cold!
Speaking to Rachel, who intrigued to peek at a chunk of water, Rachel happily reached for the water.
"Well, for now, at first..."
"It's a twist!
When he creates a sheep with a chunk of water, Rachel stares eagerly at the sheep as he shouts and shudders with pleasure.
While checking that horizontally, this time changing horses, dogs, cows, cats, etc.
My cheeks also loosen naturally to Rachel, who rejoices with an exclamation whenever the water changes shape.
"Next and last"
"Beautiful! Birds!
As he birds the shape of water and wings around Rachel, Rachel moves his gaze to the blue sky to follow the bird.
At that moment, the water can play in the air with the movement of my hand.
"Wow, very nice! We got a rainbow!
With a brilliant water splash in the light of the sun, it was the big rainbow that appeared in the sky as if watching over us.
Moving his gaze toward Rachel standing next to him, he stared at this one, as Rachel noticed my gaze as she looked happily at the rainbow.
Shortly afterwards, he turned his grin on Niccoli and me.
"Thanks"
"No, there's nothing like this."
"I wonder if I can do it too."
"Oh. You'll be good at water, so if you work hard and learn, you'll be able to do it."
"Really? Me, I'll be able to study hard and use it. Then I'll show you the best."
"Oh, I'm looking forward to it."
At this time, I thought my days with Rachel would go on and on like this.
She would come to visit us sometimes and play with us, including my brother Lian, I guess.
Like today, I guess Rachel will be happy to shine her eyes on my magic.
And slowly, I teach Rachel magic or something...
It vaguely painted such a future.
But when I was fourteen.
The news of Rachel's grandmother's death changed such a future.
A month after Rachel's grandmother's funeral.
When my grandmother tried to go out to the Marquis Marcel's house to return what she had kept, she was forced to accompany her.
The Marquis Marcel family I visited, the first thing that caught my eye was the garden.
Many seasonal flowers were so beautiful and overwhelming.
Watching the flowers bloom beautifully, it seems to me that Rachel is smiling happily in this garden, and the grin leaks unexpectedly.
But I'm sure she's depressed now.
At first sight during the funeral, Rachel was behaving in a temperament at the age of eight, looking straight ahead as she bit her lips.
Without tears.
That's why I couldn't help but worry about how she was doing.
There's no way Rachel, who was nostalgic to her grandmother, can't be sad to lose someone she admires.
Rachel's mother, Marquis Marcel, greeted me and greeted me there asking about Rachel.
Then it turns out that these days Rachel is often caged in her room in an airy condition.
Ask the Marquise for permission and head to Rachel's room.
"Rachel."
Rachel was sitting on the couch when the samurai showed her into the room.
Speaking up, I can see Rachel's eyes turning bright red with her face up.
- I knew it.
I thought I was sure this kid was crying alone.
I walked up to Rachel's sitting couch and I gently stroked her head.
Then I can see that my fist, which was squeezing tightly on my knees, loosened slightly and my shoulder strength fell out slightly.
I can't see Auntie anymore. Really?
"... right"
"He's gone to heaven."
"... ah"
"I promised to go out with you again tomorrow."
"... right"
Sitting next to Rachel, Rachel shrugs in a weakly disappearing voice.
That's sad.
"Do you want to...?
"Oh. It's so sad and lonely to be unable to meet someone important"
"Me... because we all look sad when I cry..."
"Well done. Were you crying alone so you wouldn't worry about everyone"
To my words, Rachel nodded once in silence, not responding.
Eight years old. My first death in a pattern close by.
I can sense what adults are saying and the atmosphere.
Still, young age to understand death perfectly.
Go to heaven.
I can't see you anymore.
Even if I can understand that with my head, I refuse it with my heart.
I'm sure she fights alone in the narrow between understandable and impossible.
I have no way of knowing Rachel's mood like that.
Still, can't you lighten her heart somehow?
Helpless I just think about it.
"You can cry a lot. You can say it's sad."
Gently comb your hair with your fingers with the head of Rachel sitting next to you against your chest.
"Everyone will be heartbroken that Rachel will grieve. But I don't want you to hide it.
I want you to say you're sad when you're sad. "
"Really?"
"If I were you, it would be hard for my precious child to cry alone."
I'm sure you worry about your surroundings, and I know you're patient.
Still, it makes me as bitter as I am when I think of Rachel crying every day by herself.
"Will your mother and father be gone like your aunt?
That's when I heard a pounding noise from next door.
Very small. If that voice hadn't sat next to you, I'm sure you wouldn't have heard it.
"One day, yeah. But that's me and you. Everyone alive is. Everyone goes to heaven one day.
But that's not right now. "
"Me too?
"Right."
To my answer, Rachel said, "Oh, my God."
"Are you going to be gone too?
Me?
As I peek into Rachel, my eyes meet with those staring at me jiggly.
"Lonely?"
"I miss you."
"Me too. I miss you."
The fact that Rachel replied that she missed me makes me a little bit of a joy.
At the same time, I wonder if I can manage to energize this depressed girl.
"But... right. I got hope from you."
"Hope? I didn't give it to you."
Unexpectedly a grin leaks to Rachel, who looks strange with Kyoton and sees this one.
I guess so.
This guy didn't mean to, he didn't rescue me.
Still, for me, this guy is a ray of hope.
I'm sure, all the time.
So I want to take care of this kid, even if Rachel doesn't want to.
That's what I hope.
"Anyway, I'll save you this time when I'm in the dark, just like you saved me from the dark"
"... I'm not afraid of the dark."
"Ha, well. Then when you feel scared... I'll help you"
"Really?"
"Ah. Absolutely."
When I answered forcefully, I finally got a smile back on Rachel's face.
Her eyes are still red and swollen, but she still strokes her chest down into her narrowed eyes.
"Promise."
"Okay. Promise."
I take Rachel's left hand and I mouth it on my fingertips.
"Reward Rachel Marcel when her life is in danger."
Yes, I did the trick to keep her from noticing.
The truth is, a technique such as danger to one's life would be more appropriate.
But I can't specify that in my own strength right now. So this is the biggest technique I can do right now.
Hopefully this technique won't be activated, but still as a protective measure.
I'm sure Rachel thought it was a promise.
"You might be scared when your mother scolds you. Maybe I'll get some help then," he looked straight at me with a slight lingering grin.
Still, I never forgot what I promised at this time.
Even if I no longer see that day for the last time.
The next time I see you, as Louis' fiancée, my friend, and even if you don't remember me.
For me, I thought that would have been a good thing.
Louis has an emotional flaw, but would prefer it if he touched Rachel's upright strength. Even Rachel thought that if she did not give up anywhere in Louis and touched her enthusiasm and her determination to protect what was important, she would surely be attracted.
Still, the position of fiancée friend on her side still hurt my chest a little.
Because even if I pretended not to see it, I was also aware that I would be blinded by the shadows of childhood and the atmosphere of adulthood that I occasionally show.
Besides, I wish I could have protected it nearby if I could, because I couldn't help it.
That's why I tried to build some walls and keep my distance.
You must not be attracted to Miss Rachel.
I told myself strongly that I would only be happy if I took care of my pale feelings for Rachel and watched over the two of them.
That led Miss Rachel to see another new side by engaging with her as she became magically depleted by illness or contracted with the Spirit of Darkness.
Still, when I see a smile or strength that has remained the same since I was a young girl, my chest stirs.
- You can never tell Louis that this is going to get narrow when it comes to Miss Rachel.
I'm really surprised at that depth of jealousy.
Besides, it's a friend thought, so I want to avoid being weirdly distracted or giddy.
I'm sure I care about her, but at the same time, I'm very important to Louis.
From the moment I found out I was engaged, I also sincerely hope that the two dear ones will be happy.
"... Damn, Miss Rachel always surprises me"
I thought you could keep forgetting.
Yet earlier I expected a little.
I thought you remembered.
Pour everything left from the wine bottle in front of you into the glass and it will flow into your mouth with momentum.
Drink it up and stretch your arms out.
Raising her gaze up, the stars were blinking beautifully as they did when she came here today.
I don't think so, I leak my breath forever and stare away for a few seconds.
I'm sure, realizing that I will remain much more fascinated by the brilliance of this star.
"Well, I guess I'll go to bed too"
I got up from the couch and, feeling a little drunk, went straight back to my room quietly.