Shionne's POV:
As my grandfather and I strolled through the beautiful garden of our estate, he suddenly stopped in front of a striking flower and turned to me with a question, "Do you know what flower this is, Shionne?"
I had to crane my head up to look at him, and I was thrilled to demonstrate my knowledge. "It's a Verdantstalk!" I exclaimed confidently.
My grandfather smiled at me, and affectionately ruffled my hair. "That's right. As always, you are incredible, Shionne!"
"Hee—Hee!" I giggled happily at the compliment and savored the warmth of his hand on my head.
But then, he surprised me with another question, "What is your favorite flower, Shionne?"
I paused for a moment, unsure of what to say. "Hmm? I don't know, Grandfather. What's yours?" I asked in return.
He thought for a moment, as if reflecting on his own memories. "If I were to have one as a favorite, then I guess I have to choose the flower of mourning—Elysium's Embrace."
As I listened to my grandfather's answer, I was taken aback and couldn't help but be curious about the meaning behind his unusual choice of favorite flower. "The flower of mourning? What's that?" I inquired, eager to learn more about his sentimental connection to such a flower.
With a gentle smile, my grandfather began to share his story. "It's the flower I love the most, my dear. This flower holds a special place in my heart because it has always made me feel connected to those who have left us. Every year, I make it a point to search for these delicate blooms and place them on the graves of your parents and your grandmother. Whenever I do so, it feels as though they are with me, watching over me. That's why the flower of mourning has become my favorite."
I was amazed by the beauty of such a flower and the depth of emotion it represented. "Then, that's my favorite as well!" I exclaimed, eager to share in my grandfather's fondness for the flower of mourning.
My grandfather's smile widened, and he reached out to ruffle my hair affectionately. "Then, if you have the time, would you bring me some?" he asked with a twinkle in his eye.
At that moment, I didn't fully grasp the significance of his request. I simply smiled back at him and replied, "Of course, Grandfather!"
Little did I know, his subtle hint was a harbinger of the inevitable truth—that he was not long for this world, and once he passed, I would bring him the flower of mourning.
Fast forward to this morning, I found myself rubbing the sleep from my eyes and gazing out the window. It was only then that the realization dawned upon me that morning had already arrived, and with it, the somber awareness that this was to be the last day of my grandfather's funeral.
A deep sense of sorrow and loss filled my heart, and I felt as though the ground beneath me had given way. The memories of my grandfather, the times we spent together, his stories, and the love he showered on me, all flooded back to me like a deluge of emotions. The weight of grief felt unbearable, and I wished for nothing more than to go back to the time when he was still with me.
***
Aeltialiese's POV:
As I approached the receptionist at the hospital, I inquired, "Excuse me, may I ask if he is still present in this facility?"
The receptionist let out a sigh of frustration, seemingly perturbed by my repetitive questioning. I couldn't quite recall how many times I had posed the same query, but it must have been at least 20 instances, if not more.
With a tinge of irritation and frustration resonating in her voice, the receptionist replied with a weary sigh, "You again? You visit us every day and ask the same question. Why don't you just pay him a visit instead, my lady?" The mixture of frustration and incredulity that resonated in her voice was not lost on me. I could tell that she was genuinely puzzled by my behavior.
I replied, "I'm afraid I cannot do that. You see, I made a promise to my father that I wouldn't see him until he recovers."
The receptionist raised an eyebrow, clearly taken aback by my response. "What do you mean you can't see him? Why did you make such a promise?"
I inhaled deeply, and with a calm demeanor, I endeavored to explain my predicament. "My father, you see, he explicitly forbade me from visiting 'him' in this hospital. He had merely requested that I inquire about the young man's well-being, and that is precisely what I intend to do. Admittedly, the matter is somewhat convoluted, but my father felt that it would be best if I kept my distance until he had fully recuperated."
The individual in question, to whom I was inquiring after, was once betrothed to me, but alas, due to certain unfortunate circumstances beyond my comprehension, our engagement was dissolved.
Despite this, I felt a deep sense of obligation to ensure that he was well, but my father feared that if anyone saw me visiting him, it would raise suspicions and lead to unnecessary gossip. As a woman of the Afaretia house, it was vital to maintain the utmost discretion and decorum in all matters, especially ones that could cause scandal.
I did not wish to cause my father any undue stress or overwork him due to my carelessness. Therefore, I had decided that the best course of action was to check whether the young man was still here, discreetly and without any fanfare.
I refrained from voicing my thoughts to the receptionist who stood before me, for I deemed it a futile endeavor that would only squander both my breath and time.
"What is with this kid...?" the receptionist muttered an inaudible comment under her breath. The discourtesy was not lost on me, yet I chose to ignore it, aware that it would serve no purpose. All I wanted to know was whether the person I was looking for was still here, nothing more, nothing less.
"Certainly, he is still in residence, however it appears that the young man in question has determined that the time has come for him to take his leave of the hospital. Despite having made a full recovery, he has remained under our care for the better part of a month..." the receptionist replied, holding her head in her hands as if she was struggling with something. "In any case, it has been decided that he will be discharged from our care later this week."
Despite the apparent frustration of the receptionist, I found myself inclined to abstain from further acknowledgment. The only piece of information that held any relevance to my current pursuit was that the person I sought remained within the confines of the hospital. Thus, with that knowledge in mind, I pivoted on my heel and strode away from the reception desk, without deigning to offer any form of farewell to the aforementioned receptionist.
"Honestly, what's with that kid...? Not even a thank you."
As I departed, the receptionist muttered her discontentment under her breath, her words trailing off into the distance. Although her voice still resonated within my earshot, I refrained from casting a backward glance. After all, to do so would only be a wasteful expenditure of my precious time and effort.
As I emerged from the entrance of the hospital, my eyes were immediately drawn to a striking sight. A head of vibrant purple hair, an unusual shade to be sure. Upon closer inspection, I recognized her as none other than Shionne, the newly appointed head of the illustrious Alistair house.
News of the previous head's passing had quickly reached my ears, as my father had made mention of it just two days prior. He had been meeting with the head of the Asura house at the time, the very same man who had caused a great deal of strife for someone dear to me.
I confess that I was sorely tempted to confront the man and demand answers for his despicable actions. But alas, I could not let my emotions get the better of me, not in the presence of my father. As a woman of the Afaretia House, I knew that I must comport myself with the utmost decorum and grace.
As I took a deep breath, the crisp air filled my lungs and a cloud of white mist gently escaped my lips. I made my way towards Shionne, who was standing with her head bowed low and her eyes red-rimmed with tears.
As I drew nearer, it became evident that her gaze was firmly fixed upon the ground. In her state of distress, she appeared to be utterly oblivious to my presence. Nevertheless, I tendered my condolences to her.
"Please accept my heartfelt sympathies in this difficult time," my words were brief, yet they conveyed the appropriate amount of sympathy. I turned on my heel and began walking away, the snow crunching beneath my feet with each step.
I did not wait for her to utter a word, I simply proceeded forward, my footsteps creating a crisp crunch on the snowy ground beneath my feet.
As I strolled along, my gaze briefly alighted upon the window which ought to have belonged to 'his' quarters. I then averted my attention back to my intended path and carried on walking. I am familiar with the location of his abode, for I had previously inquired with the receptionist. Regrettably, I did not catch sight of him. My ardent desire was to lay eyes on him once more, as it has been a full two years since our last encounter.
'I hope we'll be able to meet soon.'
From the depths of my heart, I fervently wished that we might have the opportunity to reunite in the not-too-distant future.