"Claire!"

I caught the faint trace of a smile on Claire’s face as she greeted a middle-aged woman busy tidying her wares before closing shop.

"It has been quite a while since you last visited" the woman remarked. Her eyes soon shifted to me, widening slightly in surprise.

"My goodness, and who is this handsome young man?" With one hand still pressed against my forehead, I offered a brief, polite bow. "I am Harrie Smith, Miss Claire Winston’s private tutor"

The woman stepped out from behind the long counter and gave my back a surprisingly hearty pat. "Oh goodness! An educator, are you?" She chuckled, then cast a knowing look toward Claire. 

"It must be exhausting teaching this headstrong girl with manners and basic lessons" I could only offer a small, weary chuckle and a friendly smile in response.

Her gaze then sharpened, focusing on the handkerchief I held, which was stained with dark crimson patches. As she studied the blood, Claire spoke up, folding her arms across her chest.

"He struck his head against something hard. It’s bleeding quite a bit" Claire explained. 

"so, Please treat Mr. Harrie while I step away to use the bathroom" The woman nodded slowly, allowing Claire to head toward the facilities located near the stairs leading to the second floor.

"Follow me" The woman took the lead, her footsteps rhythmic as she climbed the stairs one by one. I stole a glance at the tightly shut bathroom door before following her up to the second story.

The upper floor consisted of a single, expansive room that opened directly from the staircase. It contained a small cot and an array of medical supplies. Rolls of gauze, cotton, and bottles of alcohol sat ready alongside various adhesives.

The woman motioned for me to sit. "Wait here" she instructed. 

"I need to find some herbal medicines from downstairs" She descended the stairs carefully, leaving me alone in the quiet space. 

The sharp, clinical scent of medicine drifted up from below, permeating the air. To be honest, compared to the clinics I frequented back at the Dominique estate, this place was far more modest. 

The harsh chemical odors I expected were soon replaced by the earthy, blended fragrance of medicinal plants, each unique scent weaving into a singular, calming aroma.

As my eyes wandered across the room, Claire and the woman returned. They carried a wooden tray laden with powdered herbs, sealed bandages, and fresh cotton.

The woman began to clean my wound. As the alcohol-soaked cotton touched the raw cut, my body jerked instinctively. The sting was sharp and piercing. I wanted nothing more than to cry out, but I swallowed the urge, acutely aware of Claire’s steady, unblinking gaze upon me.

Once the wound was clean, the woman applied a thick poultice of blended herbal powders to a pad of gauze. She pressed it against my forehead, securing it firmly with three strips of adhesive.

"There, all done" She smiled at me, turning to gather the spent containers. She stacked them quickly and headed back downstairs to tidy up.

My gaze fell to the white handkerchief resting on the nightstand. It had been my savior, but it was now ruined, covered in patches of dried, rust-colored blood.

 A white cloth like that would never be the same, no matter how many times it was laundered. Blood leaves a permanent mark.

"I am sorry"

Claire, who had been standing in silence, looked at me and let out a soft sigh. "Sorry, for what?"

I reached out to pick up the cloth. 

"Forgive me for staining your handkerchief, Miss Claire. I promise to replace it with a new one"

"There is no need" she replied flatly. 

"You won't find another like this anywhere" She paused, her eyes locking onto mine with sudden intensity. 

"And besides... I am the one who caused your injury, Mr. Harrie"

My eyes widened as Claire suddenly bowed her head deeply before me. 

"I am truly, deeply sorry"

…

Srak 

   Srak 

The sound of dry leaves underfoot echoed with every step we took. The evening glow had faded entirely, surrendered to a darkness broken only by our handheld lantern and the silver light of the full moon.

I glanced at Claire. Her dress was thin, and I noticed a slight shiver running through her frame as she walked. I moved to take off my frock coat and draped it over her shoulders.

"Wear this"

Claire hesitated at first, but as a fresh gust of night air bit at her, she quickly pulled the coat tight around herself. I couldn't help a spontaneous little chuckle at the sight.

We were still about fifteen minutes from the Winston estate. The path was lined with modest houses, their windows flickering with the faint, warm glow of lanterns and candles. 

Very few people remained out at this hour. It felt as though it were just the two of us, with the moon following our every move.

"Mr. Harrie" Claire said suddenly, tilting her head back toward the sky. "May I ask you something?"

I was tempted to decline, but I had a feeling I knew what was on her mind "Go ahead"

"I have been curious since I was a child" she began. 

"Why does the moon always seem to move with us? Didn't you explain that the moon doesn't actually move like that, and that it is actually very far away?"

"I am not certain if my answer will satisfy you, Miss Claire. But in short, because the moon is so distant, we cannot easily perceive its true position relative to our movement. It creates the optical illusion we see now. For instance, from here, the moon looks bright and clear. But in the North, it might be shrouded in mist and entirely hidden. It all depends on where you stand"

Claire nodded slowly, seemingly processing the explanation, though I wasn't entirely sure she found it easy to grasp. Suddenly, she reached a hand up, pointing toward the silver orb.

"Then, humans are just like the moon"

I blinked, thoroughly confused. "What do you mean by that?"

"Just like the moon creates an illusion where it looks different from two different places, people do the same thing"

I still didn't quite follow her logic.

"I mean the way people perceive one another" she continued.

 "Like you, Mr. Harrie"

"M-me?"

Claire nodded.

"In my eyes, you were an arrogant, short-tempered, ego—"

I felt my brow furrow and cut her off instinctively.

"Wait just a moment. Is that truly what you think of me?"

Claire let out a sharp sigh and squinted at me. "There you go again. You promised you wouldn't interrupt me anymore. What was that?" She turned her head away, her lips forming a stubborn pout.

Panic flared in my chest. I was terrified she might revoke our agreement and cast me out of the Winston house. "My apologies. Truly. I promise, I will not interrupt you again"

Claire crossed her arms. "Liar! You've made that promise so many times already today"

She began to stomp away, her pace quickening as she left me behind. I hurried after her, half-running to catch up. 

"Please, continue. What is the similarity? I want to hear the rest"

Claire brushed my hand away roughly. "No! I'm tired of you, Mr. Harrie!" she shouted, breaking into a full sprint.

Her legs were nimble and her constitution was far better than mine. I struggled to keep up, my body feeling the effects of a sedentary life spent mostly at a desk. Her back began to vanish into the thickening white fog that had started to roll in.

I had to stop for a moment to catch my breath, when suddenly—

"KYAAAAA!“

"Miss Claire?"

Her scream was sharp and piercing, followed by a terrifying, heavy silence. My heart hammered against my ribs. Fear and worry took hold of me. I ran blindly into the thick mist of the woods, shouting her name over and over.

"Miss, Miss Claire!"

My eyes darted frantically through the white haze, desperate for any sign of her.

"Mr. Harrie..."

Her voice was a faint, trembling whisper drifting through the fog. I called out again, using her whimpers to guide me through the trees until I finally found her.

Relief washed over me. She wasn't hurt. she was simply sitting frozen on the ground, her white dress stained with damp earth. When she heard my footsteps, she looked up, her voice trembling. "Mr. Harrie..."

I knelt beside her, checking for injuries. "Are you all right? Are you hurt?"

Claire only gave a small nod. She pointed toward the thick brush beneath a towering tree nearby. "There was something there"

With tears welling in her eyes, she looked at me. "I was scared, Mr. Harrie" she whispered, gripping my fingers tightly.

"It’s alright. Let’s get you up"

My own legs felt weak, but I helped her to her feet just as the bushes rustled again.

"M-Mr. Harrie" Claire stammered.

"Don't be afraid" I said, trying to steady my own voice.

 "You aren't alone"

Claire nodded and hovered close behind me, using my body as a shield. The rustling grew louder, more frantic, as if something was about to burst through.

Rustle

     Rustle

              SNAP

My eyes went wide as the culprit emerged. It wasn't a predator or a wild beast. It was a tiny white rabbit, scurrying out from the undergrowth and pausing to look at us.

I patted Claire’s shoulder and pointed at the little creature. "It’s only a rabbit, Miss Claire"

She slowly opened her eyes, realizing I was telling the truth. I lowered myself to the ground, beckoning the rabbit over. It was surprisingly tame, appearing almost like a soft puff of cotton. It even allowed me to stroke its fur without a hint of fear.

As Claire’s terror faded, she knelt beside me, reaching out a hesitant hand to pet the creature as well. Once she seemed comfortable, I stood up. 

The fog was worsening as the night grew deeper. I held out my hand to help her up. "Lets go home, Miss"

Claire hesitated for a second before placing her hand in mine. As we started walking, a wave of exhaustion hit me. I wasn't sure if it was the physical exertion or the sheer emotional weight of the day’s events, but I felt drained. 

Still, I was relieved she was safe.

We walked in silence for a long time, the only sound being the constant sigh of the wind.

"I am sorry for my recklessness, Mr. Harrie" Claire said softly, her head bowed so that her hair hid her face.

I let out a tired with awkward chuckle. "Knowing you are safe is enough for me. You have no idea how much I panicked when I heard you scream, only for everything go to silent"

Claire remained quiet, likely because she knew I was right. "And besides—" 

I added, "why wouldn't you just take the carriage home? You could have avoided the fear, the cold, and this exhaustion"

Silence fell between us again. After a moment, Claire looked up and met my eyes.

"Because... I felt it would be rude for me to ride in a carriage while you were forced to walk alone. And I promised to Rei, 

I wouldn't be a burden to you. I was the one who forced you to agree to this walk, so it didn't feel right to leave you. Besides, I actually enjoyed it. Sometimes, I only need simple things like this to feel... alive"

I nearly laughed. Her words sounded like something out of an old, philosophical poem. "Hahaha. You sound like a poet, Miss Claire. Very philosophical"

Claire crossed her arms and pouted. "But it sounded impressive, didn't it?"

I could only nod, trying to suppress the laughter that seemed to make her expression turn even gloomier as we continued our journey.