—Next day, Velora's room—
I let out a sigh while reading the letter in my hand.
"At least she finally stopped."
'Visiting their mother, huh…'
'So I suppose Lord Caelrion will not be bothering me either.'
I glance at Kel.
"Kel, what date is it today?"
"May 10th, Lady Velora."
"I see… so it is Sunday."
"Yes, my lady."
'In my previous world, Mother's Day was celebrated every 2nd Sunday of May.'
'Mother... The Late Duchess...'
I fall into deep thought.
'Didn't Rey say our mother died a week before Velora's birthday? but—'
I begin recalling everything that happened ever since I came here.
'Not once did any of them ever mention their mother.'
"Do you have plans for today, Lady Velora?"
"Kel."
I slowly look toward her.
"Where do you think Mother's grave is?"
—clatter—
The things Kel was holding immediately fall from her hands.
"Lady Velora…"
"Are you finally thinking of visiting the late duchess?"
I stare at her in confusion.
"Eh!? Y-You could say that…?"
Kel suddenly rushes closer before tightly clasping both my hands.
"I'm so happy!"
"We can visit her right now if you wish!"
I look at her dumbfounded.
"Sure…"
'Is that really such a big deal?'
'Does Velora never visit the grave?'
'Even though she spends all her time hiding inside the late duchess' room…'
—Later that day, Rosethorne Estate—
I quietly follow behind Kel while she carries a bouquet of lavender flowers wrapped carefully in paper alongside a small cleaning cloth.
Far away from the main manor, a lone gate slowly comes into view.
Kel pushes it open.
A strong gust of wind immediately blows past us as sunlight pours through the entrance.
Beyond the gates lies a quiet garden.
A single gravestone rests beneath a large tree with an old swing hanging from one of its branches.
'Ack!'
Something suddenly flies straight into my left eye.
"A-Are you alright, Lady Velora?"
As soon as I open my eye again, Kel suddenly screams.
"Gyaah!? Lady Velora! Y-Your eye is red!"
—Few minutes later in pain—
I finally stand before the grave of the late duchess.
It looks barely maintained, as though it had been untouched for years.
'Velmira Rosethorne.'
"Kel."
"Yes?"
"Do you celebrate Mother's Day here?"
"Yes."
'Yeah i kne— Wait what?'
I turn toward her in disbelief.
"Is… Mother's Day today?"
"Yes."
Kel smiles brightly.
"Oh…"
I quietly stare back at the gravestone.
"Does anyone visit Mother's grave?"
Kel's expression slowly darkens.
"Well… the late duchess' sudden passing left a deep wound within the household."
"Even your brothers and the former duke have never visited ever since."
Kel suddenly looks up to me.
"But seeing Lady Velora doing well again has brought life back into the household."
Kel quickly covers her mouth, shoulders trembling from suppressed laughter.
"Especially imagining Lady Velora running away from Lord Reynard— pfft."
'Ah....'
"Hahahaha..."
I avert my gaze and scratch my head.
Kel gaze lowers sadly and let out a sigh.
"We servants were even told not to touch the grave…"
Kel smiles weakly while holding the cloth in her hands.
"So I'm very happy you brought me here today, Lady Velora."
"Is it alright if I clean it?"
"Huh? Sure…"
Kel immediately begins carefully cleaning the gravestone.
"As for me, I think Erisa would have been even happier to come here."
"How so?"
"Well, Erisa personally attended the late duchess."
"She was her personal maid after all."
'What..? Is Erisa secretly that old?'
"There!"
"All clean!"
Kel suddenly hands me the bouquet.
"Here!"
In panic, I immediately grab it.
'Ah on no!'
Scared it suddenly didn't turn.
I stare at the flowers nervously, waiting for them to suddenly change.
"…Huh?"
'Nothing happens.'
'Is it because I'm only touching the paper wrapping around them?'
'That's new? I... I can touch flowers indirectly.'
Carefully avoiding direct contact, I slowly place the bouquet before the gravestone.
Then I glance toward Kel.
She cannot take her eyes off the grave, her expression filled with lingering sadness.
'What kind of person was the late duchess…?'
'To have been loved so deeply, yet left alone for this long.'
I slowly kneel down enough to touch the grave.
For a brief moment, the cold stone presses against my fingertips.
For the first time since coming into this world…
The Rosethorne Estate no longer felt unfamiliar to me.
I quietly lower my gaze.
'I've been making sure Velora eats properly.'
'Sleeping comfortably…'
'I was told I've been snoring loudly too.'
'Making friends…'
'Chaotic ones.'
'Avoiding death…'
'No matter what, I absolutely refuse to die!'
'Though honestly, surviving here feels harder than my previous life.'
I let out a sigh.
'I never realized being a noble was this exhausting.'
'So many etiquettes to memorize…'
'And on top of that, I even had to live as a girl.'
I start to place my hand on my neck.
'Sorry I started complaining.'
'Maybe I miss my family...'
The wind softly brushes past me, rustling of the tree and the creak of the swing.
I look at the grave at such care.
"Happy Mother's day, Mother."
'Happy Mother's day, Mother of Velora.'