Rivan stroked the symbol on the letter. It wasn't of the Whishipper family but rather the Lether's. That meant Lady Rina didn't write the letter as Lady Whishipper, the Duchess, but as the foreign noble and the head of the Lethers.
That alone gave Rivan an idea of what he's about to read.
Still, he couldn't help but have a bitter taste reading the last words from his mother.
Getting past that feeling, Rivan opened the letter and started reading.
'Dear Rivan,
I write to my only son as his mother, Rina Lether, without my title as a Duchess of Whishipper. If you guessed that this is a formal letter from the Lethers, I'm afraid you're wrong, little one.'
Rivan looked at the previous words with widened eyes. His mother have guessed his train of thoughts.
Rivan couldn't help but draw a smile with complicated eyes. He thought to himself.
'I lost to her again...'
Going back to the letter, he proceeded reading.
'Rivan, my son, I think you have an idea why I had to die.'
He did. He knew why. Not completely but enough to dislike it.
'It's the last climbs of winter. Probably on a similar springy day when I lost you, I'll be passing away. You will able to come to this world among the livings.'
For 14 years, all he tired to do is go back with his mother. Yet, she was already gone.
'My soul wasn't the price for you to pass. But rather for a different deal. Don't overthink it. Although, I cannot tell you of the content of that deal and you already know the reason.'
Rivan knew that coming back with the livings wasn't with the price of losing his mother. He'd rather remain in that endless hell of death then live over her loss.
Yet she died to pay for another deal. It was a bitter fact that there was nothing they could do.
The deal she made 20 years is relevant.
What made him feel more bitter than anything is that he didn't know what that deal was about. What did she die for?
'Little one, you had to go through a lot. Yet you don't know why. It's too cruel to have to walk on a path blinded. I wish to help you. It's a little cheat if I may say.'
Rivan died, but he didn't know why.
He lost his mother to an unknown deal.
He has to do the quests of the reaper of his soul.
Without doubt, he was walking blinded on a path.
Thinking about that made him feel chained.
However, Rivan felt no despair. If he was chained then he'll break his hellish reality.
Reading his mother's words, it seemed like she knew about his situation and will help him.
'Somehow...I doubt that...'
He read the flowing words with a smile.
'If you wish to know more, look for my diary. That's why you found this letter for.'
Rivan stopped reading and stared at those words for a little too long.
She caught him.
-Ha...
Rivan let out a laugh-like-sigh.
He came to the study to look for his mother's diary. He believed it would have more information.
Yet it seems like his mother knows him too well.
'It's as if she's saying "work hard to get what you want"...'
The young Duke couldn't help but feel nostalgic reading the letter. It felt just like how his mother would talk.
Rivan closed his eyes.
The letter was coming to an end.
'Rivan, you'll go through a lot of hardships. But I know my little Duke will walk his way thought everything. Just as you climbed from behind your death, I know nothing will chain you.
Rivan, search about your father. That's your clue.
My child, live long.
Sincerely, your mother.'
Tick tock. Tick tock.
The only sound that filled the study was the ticking clock.
Not much time have passed since Rivan starter reading the letter.
It was the last thing left from his mother. This was the last time she speaks to him.
It felt like the gentle and fragile like her existence. But it was never fading.
Rivan folded the letter and kept it in chest pocket. He looked up, staring silently at the selling.
His pair of yellowish green eyes were glittering brightly. The corner of his mouth were lifted in a genuine smile.
He decided to spend more time in the study, where the scent of jasmine filled the air.
*****
The wind was stronger blowing in the early morning. Besides the light chirps of birds, no other sound was heard in the graveyard.
The young Duke's black robe flattered by the wind as he stood alone, looking down at a certain grave.
He placed the jasmines on the grave then moved a few steps back. The name carved on the stone was barely shown, hidden behind many fragrant flowers. That showed how many people loved and visited the owner of this grave, Lady Rina Lether Whishipper.
The expression on Rivan's face wasn't clear. After staring silently at the written name for a while, he looked up. The wind blow away his slightly long curly black hair. His eyes shone with resolve as he thought.
'I'll live long with no chains to hinder me.'
Rivan repeated these words in his mind, as if making an eternal vow to himself.
Whatever the price he has to pay, he won't live with a chained soul. And this grave of his mother would be his only witness.
The young Duke covered in black turned and walked away. The sound of his steps echoed endlessly in the graveyard.
End of chapter 19.