Evandria sat quietly on a chair in the garden of the Goldleaf manor, beneath the shade of an old tree.

A gentle wind passed through the garden, lifting strands of her hair and letting them dance freely in the air. She didn’t stop them. Her gaze remained distant, lost in thought.

So far… my life here has been calm. Only because Elion isn’t at the manor.

A week had passed since their wedding, and Elion had left the manor right after that day. Evandria didn’t know where he had gone. The servants said he often left like this for his business. But for Evandria, something about his absence felt unsettling rather than comforting.

Maybe the things I heard about him are true.

Evandria had heard all the bad rumors circulating about Elion, but just as she arrived at the Goldleaf estate, she started to see it for herself. The servants here were always careful. Even while performing the smallest tasks, their movements were restrained, their expressions tense, as if fear lingered constantly around them. And when Evandria asked them anything, they hesitated in speaking to her.

There is also one woman named Veronica. She seems very close to Elion. She handles everything related to the manor. Sometimes she supervises the servants, and at other times, I have seen her handling documents and paperwork. She is quiet, observant, and unreadable. But I feel like I have seen her somewhere before. But what is important now is that closed room.

There was a room that was always kept closed. The servants cleaned the entire manor every day, but they always left that room untouched. When Evandria asked them about it, they hesitated to talk about it.

His entire manor feels no different from him, cold and eerie.

That’s why I come here and sit. I’ve been coming here for the past few days. This is a flower garden, filled with Alstroemeria flowers. When I sit here, I feel warmth. I feel a little better.

Evandria lowered her gaze to the flowers blooming around her. Alstroemeria flowers filled the garden, their soft petals swaying gently with the wind.

Evandria’s lips curved upward, and a faint smile appeared on her face. “Alstroemeria…” she murmured.

These flowers always remind me of my sister. When we were little, she used to give me these flowers and say, ‘I’m happy to have you.’

“But… she’s not with me anymore.”

Evandria’s fingers tightened around the arm of the chair. Her smile slowly faded, replaced by a quiet sadness.

When I was at the academy, I received a message… saying that my sister died while she was on her mission.

Her chest felt heavy as the memory surfaced.

My father said he had sent a search team, but they found nothing. They reported traces of a fight and my sister’s blood at the scene, but they were unable to find her body. The knights said she might have fallen from a cliff while fighting… or maybe her body was taken by a demonic monster. But in the end, they confirmed her death.

Evandria swallowed, her throat tightening. Sitting beneath the old tree, surrounded by the gentle sway of Alstroemeria flowers, many emotions began to surface within her.

Her sister was only a few years older than her, yet Evandria had always looked up to her. She had always wanted to become like her.

My sister was beautiful, strong, always smiling. She was a cheerful person. I remember how she always looked after me. She always took care of me, loved me, and protected me.

One time… she was almost seriously injured while protecting me from a demonic monster.

Evandria closed her eyes. Surrounded by flowers that symbolized bonds and affection, she allowed herself to remember and to grieve.