The Springtime Chime of Marielle Clarac [Parts 1 to 4] by Haruka Momo

Author:Haruka Momo
Language: eng
Format: epub

When I answered it, I was met with the face of Joanna, who I had expected to be in bed by now. She had clearly been intending to sleep, as she’d let her hair down and changed into her nightclothes.

“Is something the matter?” I asked.

“No, my lady, but I heard a summoning bell, and it made me wonder if you were calling for me. Apparently not, it seems.”

Ah, I see, I thought, my eyes flicking to the table. A summoning bell sat there as well, of the diminutive kind that could be shaken with a flick of the wrist. It made sense that she’d think I’d used it and that the sound just now had thus come from me.

“Thank you. It wasn’t me, though. It rang from one of the other rooms.”

“Oh, really?”

Through the open door, I could hear a similar exchange from the neighboring room. Julianne’s lady’s maid was evidently asking the same question.

Joanna glanced in that direction. “Seemingly, it wasn’t Lady Julianne either.”

Hmm. Then who was it? His Highness, perhaps, or a member of the late duke’s family?

“My apologies for bothering you.”

“Not at all. I appreciate you going to the effort. You must be tired though. Please, get some rest now.”

“Thank you, my lady. Good night.”

After dismissing Joanna, I got into my bed. I’d feared that the excitement of staying in an old castle would have set my mind racing too quickly to fall asleep, but drowsiness overcame me in no time flat. The day’s journeying and subsequent touring of the castle had clearly taken a toll. The soft, high-quality bedding helped lull me to sleep as well. I was drawn into the world of dreams so quickly that I had no time to savor the castle’s nighttime atmosphere.

The next day, I was to eat breakfast privately in my room, so I asked Joanna to fetch it. In the meantime, I intended to linger sedately in my bed. I wonder if I’ll be able to go into the town today? I’d love to buy souvenirs for my family and friends.

However, after lying in bed mulling over such thoughts for a while, I grew worried that Joanna still hadn’t returned, so I got up. After donning my gown and running my fingers through my hair, I went over to the door and poked my head out to scan the corridor. As it happened, this turned out to be the very moment that Joanna returned.

“My lady, you are in no fit state to be leaving your room,” she scolded.

“I wasn’t going to leave. Only, you took so long, and I was wondering if something had happened.”

She quickened her pace and hurried closer. “My apologies. The servants here were in such a state of disorder that no one was giving me the time of day.”

“It sounds as though something has happened.”

“Yes.” Joanna nodded, her face clouding over. She sat me down in front of the fire and picked up a brush. As she explained the situation, she began to work on my hair.

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