Klak 

As the door to her room latched shut, I let out a heavy sigh. I straightened my posture and began the walk back to my quarters, navigating a corridor that felt cavernous and dark now that the candles had been extinguished.

My mind drifted aimlessly. With every step, a sense of weight and a hollow gaze followed me, until the darkness was suddenly pierced by light. One by one, the candles began to flicker back to life as Rei worked her way down the hall, a match flickering in her hand.

When she spotted me, she offered a bright smile and a cheerful wave. "Ah, good evening, mr Harrie"

Faced with such an enthusiastic greeting, I could only manage a faint smile in return. "Good evening, Rei"

"Just finished your lesson?" she asked, her attention returning to the final unlit wick.

I nodded slowly, my voice brief. 

"Yaa. I just finished"

“A relief. I thought you might be in there for quite some time" I felt my brow furrow at the comment. 

"Pardon?"

Rei merely offered a knowing smile as she lit the last candle in the hallway, then walked toward me. "So? Are you feeling any better now?" The fragile peace I had gathered vanished instantly. The worst of all possible outcomes had come to pass.

I felt the blood drain from my face as I scrambled for a plausible excuse to explain my condition, but before I could speak, Rei laughed and gave my shoulder a gentle pat. "Hahaha, relax. I promise not to tell a anyone,not even the Mistress"

The breath that had hitched in my throat finally began to flow again. I felt my nerves settle, though the unease didn't disappear entirely. "Thank you, Rei"

"To be honest, it wasn't my intention. My head was throbbing. I only meant to lie down for a moment while Miss Claire worked on her assignment. But... I ended up falling into a deep sleep and didn't wake until dusk"

Rei nodded understandingly, her smile softening. "I understand your situation, mr Harrie"

"Besides, I made sure no one entered that room. Not even the other servants"

"So, you don't need to worry. You should go back to your rest so you can be fully recovered by tomorrow"

I gave a slow nod of gratitude.

"Thank you for your help, Rei. Truly. Sometimes, I Will bring you a famous dessert from the capital"

"Really? I’m keep your promise" Rei smiled broadly before excusing herself to finish the rest of her chores.

…

A cool morning breeze drifted in from the south, carrying the crisp scent of maple leaves settling onto the dry grass.

I sat on the crest of a hill, leaning against the trunk of a leafy tree. 

From here, the borderlands stretched out before me, clear and vast as far as the eye could see. It was my day off. To be honest, I hadn't yet prepared the weekly report on Claire for Eric.

 I leaned my head back against the bark, catching a stray maple leaf that had landed on my brow. I observe the leaf, with a thin smile forming. 

idea began to take shape—a poem for this year’s autumn edition. In addition to my work as a librarian and a tutor for the Dominique family, I had been contributing poems and short stories to newspapers since I was nineteen.

It hadn't been an easy journey to reach the point where readers actually sought out my work. But that was how I grew.

Now, my poems and stories were highly anticipated, particularly by young women of all stations. 

Market demand grew even as I busied myself with my primary career as a tutor at a prestigious academy. But Still, I loved the craft and remained dedicated to it. 

To me, poetry and stories weren't just work. They were a way for me to speak from a different side of my soul. I began to jot down the poem, capturing every flicker of inspiration, until the sharp crunch of dry leaves underfoot made me look up.

"Good morning, mr Harrie!" Claire called out, smiling broadly and waving.

I blinked in surprise before quickly shifting my gaze back to the small notebook in my left hand. Claire was dressed in a light blue gown adorned with tiny floral patterns along the lace. 

She walked toward me, occasionally trying to peek at the contents of my book. Before she could catch a glimpse, I snapped it shut and tucked it into my coat pocket.

Claire stomped her foot in frustration, crossing her arms over her chest. "Tch. Stingy" she muttered, huffing with annoyance.

I sighed and turned my attention toward her. "What are you doing here, miss claire?"

"Is there not still two days left of your confinement?"

Claire hesitated, refusing to look at me, before finally sitting down on the hill without showing her face. "Why? Am I not allowed to be here?" she snapped.

I turned my gaze back to the horizon, maintaining a distance that allowed a heavy silence to settle between us. Claire, who clearly detested such awkward pauses, eventually turned to me with a pout. 

"And now you're pretending to be a mute"

Rather than answering her sharp remark, I leaned my head back against the tree and closed my eyes. With my eyes shut, the sound of the gentle wind became vivid. 

I could smell the faint, thin scent of autumn.

Gradually, I heard someone humming a sweet, delicate melody. For a moment, I wondered if the sound was merely a figment of my imagination. 

But as I kept my eyes closed, the voice grew clearer, feeling entirely real. I slowly opened my eyes, letting the dappled sunlight filter in. Her humming grew more melodic as her light blue gown danced in the cool autumn breeze.

As my eyes adjusted to the light, my gaze fixed entirely upon her. She was standing at the edge of the overlook, humming softly.

Her hair was loose, fluttering in the sunlight like the heroine of a romantic novel. In that moment, quite without realizing it, I found myself entranced.

Claire turned back toward me, tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear as the wind picked up. Her amber eyes widened in surprise when she accidentally caught my gaze. She walked back toward me awkwardly, biting the corner of her lip.

When she sat back down on the grass, she stole a glance at me before looking away again—perhaps at the view, or perhaps just watching the maple leaves drift from the trees.

I smiled faintly as I pulled the notebook back from my pocket, pouring out the ideas that had struck me just minutes before.

Claire gradually edged closer, peering curiously at the notes in my hand.

"What is that? Is it some kind of poetry?" 

she asked, her voice filled with intrigue.

I gave a small nod. "Something like that"

"So, do you work as a writer as well? I mean, do you send these to the head offices for the daily papers, or do you just keep them for yourself?"

I stopped writing and turned to her.

"I don't believe I need to share that. It is a private matter"

At this, Claire pouted and shot me a cynical look. She turned her eyes back to the borderlands, making a show of not looking at me.

I sighed, closed the notebook, and held it out to her. "Read it. I could use your opinion"

At first, Claire acted as though she wouldn't touch it, as if even looking at the book was beneath her. But in the end, her ego lost the battle against the curiosity she had been harboring.

She finally accepted the book, when her lips still pursed. Her pupils dilated, and a spark returned to her eyes as she read each line with her finger tracing the words. 

"A melodic hum like a fairy in the autumn air. Guiding her steps among the fallen leaves. A cool breeze caresses her long hair. Making her light blue gown flutter in the sky. To the rhythm of the chilling autumn wind. She hums with a heart made full. Filling the spaces within the silent void"

A smile blossomed on Claire’s face, followed by a quiet stillness once she finished reading.

I couldn't tell if she was simply impressed or if she realized she was the subject of the verses. However, the moment Claire finished reading…