𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟑𝟔: 𝐄𝐩𝐢𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐮𝐞 / 𝐇𝐢𝐫𝐚𝐞𝐬

It was the morning after the summer festival had ended.

ㅤ

Waking up in my second-floor apartment with Kami-sama, I, who was about to open the shop, suddenly noticed a brand new wreath hanging on the shop’s door.

ㅤ

“Huh? What’s this?”

“It doesn’t seem to be something dangerous.”

ㅤ

With Kami-sama saying that next to me, I took the wreath in my hands.

ㅤ

“It’s freshly made. Well, it’s indeed a pretty one. . . . . .”

ㅤ

I gazed around. It’s a beautiful wreath, made by collecting only the most vibrant herbs.

I picked it up and sniffed it — and in that moment, memories vividly awoke.

ㅤ

On a hot summer day, my mother told the young me a story.

ㅤ

—Mom got married in the summer.

—The wedding was modest, but. . . Dad made a crown full of fresh herbs instead of a wedding ceremony for her.

ㅤ

And then, my mother recreated that crown for me right in front of my eyes.

A fresh-smelling one, filled only with strongly scented flowers of summer, much like the perfume Mom used to wear.

In the depths of the ring, there was only a single marigold inserted.

You wouldn’t see it unless you held this wreath and looked closely.

ㅤ

“Dad!!”

ㅤ

With the wreath in hand, I ran around looking for him.

But no matter where I looked, I couldn’t find the figure I was looking for.

ㅤ

“. . . . . . Dad. . . . . . Can I believe that you’re alive . . . . . . ?”

ㅤ

I sat down and hugged the wreath.

Did my father hear about this shop and think of Charte, think of Charlene?

Kami-sama put his arm around my shoulder. It was good to have warmth to cling to at times like this.

ㅤ

The wind blew.

The signboard with the shop name Hiraes, also my father’s name, swayed, making a strong, invigorating sound.

―𝕿𝖍𝖊 𝕰𝖓𝖉―

---