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Au Revoir – Part 01

In a village nestled deep in the mountains of the Sauville Kingdom, the snow that had blanketed the entire community was now visibly melting, signaling the end of winter.

The church, general store, and market square were largely deserted. With limited items for sale and a reliance on rations for everything but food they could provide themselves, the housewives who used to frequent the shops were conspicuously absent.

From an inn along the main street, the vibrant voice of Ms. Cecile resonated.

“Everyone, we have one apple and three lemons. How many are there in total?”

“Me!”

“Me!”

“Me!”

Energetic children’s voices sounded, competing with enthusiasm.

In the lobby on the first floor, noble children sat side by side on a couch, resembling a flock of birds perched by the window. The fireplace crackled. Standing in front of a wine barrel that served as a makeshift podium, Ms. Cecile waved a twig.

Ms. Cecile, hired by noble ladies who couldn’t evacuate with their children’s private tutors, had utilized the lobby to teach small children in the morning and high school students in the afternoon. Recognized as a highly competent teacher by the women, Ms. Cecile felt relieved for the time being.

“On to the next question… Anyone know?”

“Me!”

“Me!”

“…Me.”

Sophie, the red-haired maid who had been polishing the French windows in the lobby, playfully raised her hand with the children. Ms. Cecile’s large round glasses glinted, and she put on a slightly chilling smile.

“Okay, Sophie!”

“Huh?”

Sophie turned around with a start. Holding a rag, she blushed and said, “I-I didn’t hear the question. Come on, Cecile,” she grumbled.

The children turned around, looking worriedly at her face. Then, one of them stood up, hurried over, and whispered the answer.

Sophie threw out her chest proudly. “The answer is five!”

“Correct…”

“Why do you sound disappointed? I got it right.”

“Tch!”

“Did you just click your tongue? Of course you did. Too bad. I was planning to bake some cookies for snacks.”

“What, cookies?!”

Ms. Cecile smiled again, then returned to the class. Sophie also eagerly resumed wiping the window glass.

Outside, the melting snow glistened in the morning sun. Birds sang somewhere. The wind blew, gently shaking the windows.

---

“Will you return to police work now?”

In the capital, Saubreme, of the same Sauville Kingdom, the snow had long melted, and the roads were dry. The bare, roadside trees had not yet sprouted leaves, but the atmosphere was warm, quietly waiting for spring.

Few cars and carriages passed by, and the number of pedestrians had significantly decreased compared to before the war. A man and a woman strolled along the quiet, noontime street, maintaining a modest distance.

The man appeared like a prince, possessing beautiful features and flowing golden hair. The woman, with her brown hair casually gathered and a hat perched atop, had playful brown eyes that darted around impishly.

Grevil de Blois, still not fully healed, ambled slowly, dragging his leg a little. Jacqueline de Signore matched his pace, a worried expression etched on her face.

Grevil, more carefree than usual, said, “I failed to enlist in the Free Sauville Army. But I can’t return to my father either. Besides, he’s currently losing his standing after ruling the Ministry of the Occult for a long time. The Academy of Science is gaining power within the government, and there’s talk about an arrest warrant for my father. It’s not the best time for me to do anything.”

“So, what’s your plan?”

“Well, I’ll visit Mr. Signore to express my gratitude. Your husband arranged a job for me at the Sauville Police Department. Unfortunately, my Wellspring of Wisdom is no longer in this country.”

“Wellspring of Wisdom? What’s that?”

“Oh, no, it’s nothing!”

Grevil shook his head, his golden hair swaying softly. He looked up at the sky with melancholic eyes. The sunlight gently illuminated his beautifully sculpted features.

“Anyway, I have to solve cases on my own from now on. I’ll be giving up the title of famed inspector. Of course, I can’t rely on my father’s prestige anymore. But that’s also why I’ve decided to do my best. Yes…”

Grevil briefly squinted, stealing a glance at Jacqueline with a gaze filled with innocent admiration, like a child looking up at the sun.

Jacqueline, distracted by a lovely bird, gazed at the branches of a roadside tree, and as in previous years, missed Grevil’s subtle hints of love.

Turning back with a brilliant smile, she said, “Is that so? That’s incredible!”

“Th-Thanks…”

“I’m always proud to be friends with you.”

“Really, now?” Grevil replied sarcastically.

Jacqueline smiled unabashedly.

At the intersection of the main street, the two parted ways, Grevil heading towards his new workplace at the Sauville Police Department, and Jacqueline towards Mr. Signore’s residence.

“See you!”

“Au revoir!”

Still dragging his leg a little, Grevil walked alone, his golden hair gracefully swaying in the breeze. He resembled a beautiful youth from ancient mythology. Jacqueline briefly turned to look at his retreating figure, then she straightened up, adopted a serious expression, and continued walking the path back to the mansion.

A cold wind blew.

As Grevil advanced, he gradually straightened his back, lifted his chin, and wore a sharp look. Was he finally letting go of long-held emotions, or perhaps… The young man, now alone, slowly but confidently began to walk the path he had chosen, dragging his heavy legs.

A car horn honked. Hooves clopped as carriages rode past. A cold breeze stirred the young man’s stunning golden hair.

---

The Great British Empire.

In a town northeast of London, near a British army camp, where parts of the city had transformed into mountains of rubble due to repeated bombings, Avril Bradley was present.

Buildings that were once hotels for tourists now served as field hospitals. Boys in military uniforms, not much older than herself, were placed on stretchers one after another and carried in. Each time, wounds were disinfected, bandages applied, and details of injuries and severity noted in files before being handed to the doctors. The number of doctors was hopelessly insufficient, and the agonizing moans of the injured never ceased day or night.

Avril, along with her cousin Frannie, had left for the Red Cross Society in London to volunteer as temporary nurses.

They were dispatched to this town immediately and had been working tirelessly, hardly getting any sleep. Witnessing boys their age arriving with severe injuries was daunting, but as children from the same country, a lot of times they felt sympathy. Nurses maintained constant smiles to uplift spirits, and despite their own injuries, soldiers endeavored to crack jokes or sing, aiming to bring laughter to them and alleviate fears about the sight of wounds.

And so, each day passed in a blur…

“Hey, Frannie,” Avril called, turning over.

It was dawn, and they were lying down in bed after finishing their shifts. Since there weren’t enough beds, the cousins were squeezed into one bed. Frannie didn’t complain about it at all; every night, she slept soundly.

“What is it? Can’t you save it for tomorrow? I’m so tired!” Frannie snapped.

“Hm…”

“…”

“Hmm…”

“What’s bothering you? Spit it out.”

“Well, you see…” Avril happily brought her face closer.

The moon outside the window shone a bluish-white. The curtains were long gone, used instead as sheets or bandages. The night sky watched the two cold, tired girls.

“When the war is over, what do you want to do?”

“Me? I want to watch movies with my boyfriend,” Frannie replied curtly. “Take a stroll in the park and go boating. And, of course, I want to eat ice cream.” She snorted. “What about you?”

“Well, I…”

“Let me guess: go on adventures. Old news.”

Avril’s spirit sank a little. Then, she nodded cheerfully. “That’s right! Once this war is over, and there are no enemies or allies anymore, we’ll be able to travel anywhere in the world. I want to go to the land beyond the sea. I’ve always thought the New World must be fantastic. I want to go on an exciting adventure, see lots of new things, and experience the thrill. And then, and then…”

“Hmm?”

“I want to see my friends again.”

Frannie stared hesitantly at the teary-eyed Avril. There was a tender light in her eyes, the kind a person shows a small child. She raised her right hand to pat Avril’s head, but stopped short, feeling embarrassed, and withdrew it with a frown.

Turning her back to Avril with deliberate coldness, Frannie said, “Go wherever you want. Hmph.”

“You wanna come with me?”

“I won’t mind joining you occasionally.”

“Yay!” Avril giggled.

A moment later, Frannie’s shoulders also started shaking; Avril’s laughter seemed to have infected her.

Suddenly, a violent sound tore through the night sky.