"Very well. Under what name?" the young woman asked, offering me a polite smile as her hand poised ready to write.

"Harrie Smith" She immediately scribbled my name onto a slip of paper before tearing it off. She placed the slip and my letter into an open-faced cabinet crowded with various envelopes and parcels similar to my own.

"That will be three gold, please"

I reached into my brown coat, pulled three gold coins from my pocket, and placed them on the counter. "Thank you. Your letter will be dispatched tomorrow and should arrive in about two days" I gave her a slight nod and a thin smile in return.

I turned and walked toward the door. The upper half was set with a pane of translucent glass that looked out into the waiting area. Through it, I could see Claire. She was sitting on a bench, lost in thought, her gaze fixed vacantly on the door.

Klak 

I closed the door behind me just as another patron slipped inside to take my place. I walked over to Claire, who still had not realized I had left the room. 

I waved my hand gently and called her name in a soft voice. "My Lady, I am finished"

Silence. I let out a sigh and, this time, emboldened myself to tap her shoulder twice."My Lady, I am done. Do you not wish to go home?"

Still no reaction. Slowly, I leaned my face in closer to see if she truly hadn't noticed me, even at this range. Up close, I could see her amber eyes, shimmering with a light like polished gemstones. 

Then.. her eyes blinked. Her expression shifted instantly into one of utter shock. I intended to call her name again to ensure she was fully conscious of her surroundings, but—

THWACK.

Claire suddenly lurched her head forward, resulting in a violent collision between her forehead and mine. "What on earth are you planning?!" she snapped, her eyes burning with sudden fury.

To be honest, I was speechless. But then, Claire’s expression shifted again. Her eyes widened, and she pointed at my forehead, her voice trembling. "B-blood..."

I felt a warm liquid racing down my face, eventually dripping onto my white shirt. My hand instinctively flew to my forehead. It came away stained with fresh, bright blood.

Several people in the waiting room turned toward us, their gazes filled with pity, though more than a few looked at Claire with an expression I could not quite define.

 I looked at her. she seemed paralyzed by the situation. I grabbed her hand and led her out of the post office, even blood still flowing freely from the wound.

I fumbled through my coat pockets, hoping to find a clean handkerchief. Suddenly, Claire, who had been silent until now, thrust a white handkerchief toward me. I noticed her name was delicately embroidered on the corner.

She gestured for me to lean down, a necessity given the height difference between us. As I bent over, Claire immediately pressed the white cloth against the gash.

 It did not take long for the pristine white fabric to turn a deep, soaked crimson.

I could see her amber eyes clearly now. They were swimming with tears. It looked as though she were fighting with every ounce of her strength to keep from breaking down in front of me.

"I am sorry" 

Claire bit her lip, her eyes never leaving the injury. "Sorry for what? You did nothing wrong, Mr. Harrie"

I offered a thin smile and a soft laugh. "Sorry for making you wait so long"

"Sorry for startling you just now"

"And—"

She finally found the courage to meet my gaze, her pupils wavering with doubt. "I am sorry for making you the center of attention back there"

The tears she had been holding back finally spilled over. Her hand, still holding the cloth, inadvertently pressed down hard on the wound as she collapsed into a crouch on the ground, hiding her face in her hands and sobbing.

"Ow!" A sharp pang of pain shot through my head. I held the handkerchief in place myself and crouched down beside her, waiting for the crying to subside.

Several passersby stared at us with furrowed brows. Some even whispered that someone should call the watch, seeing me crouching beside a girl much smaller than myself who was clearly in distress.

I sighed, beginning to regret my decision. I should have refused her from the start, then none of this would be happening. But what was done was done.

Slowly, the sky began to shift into a blend of orange, yellow, and deep purple. I did not want us to be heading back in total darkness. I nudged her gently, encouraging her to start moving.

"My Lady"

"How long do you intend to cry like this?"

Slowly, she lifted her head from her hands. Her eyes were swollen and her face was flushed from the long bout of weeping. She reached into her pocket for her handkerchief, only to realize I was still holding it. 

She wiped the lingering tears away with the backs of her hands instead. She stood up and brushed the dust from her thin white gown, letting the autumn wind carry the dirt away. 

I stood up as well and tentatively pulled the cloth away from my forehead. Fortunately, the bleeding had slowed, but the wound was prominent and looked as though it could reopen at any moment. "My Lady"

"Do you know of a clinic nearby?"

Claire gave a small, silent nod. "Then, could you show me where it is?" I added.

 "In exchange, you may buy one item—anything you like—while we are here. I will pay for it"

I hoped this would cheer her up, but a slow shake of her head told me otherwise. She began to walk in silence, her footsteps crunching over dry leaves. Around us, vendors were packing up their stalls, occasionally sharing a laugh with their families.

The autumn night was too cold for the shops to stay open much past dusk. After a short walk, Claire stopped in front of a small building labeled Aria Clinic.

She pushed the door open, triggering the chime of a small bell above the frame. a middle-aged woman inside turned around and called out to her with surprising familiarity.

"Claire!"