Summer 17

Though the season was coming to an end, the weather still held the warmth of summer. The sun was still hot during the day. Thanks to the roof and the sparse shade provided by the trees’ outstretched branches, the heat was bearable while Senita worked.

Senita moved her hands diligently. Since she was working alone today, the surroundings were quiet. In this tranquil atmosphere, she naturally found herself reminiscing about the past few weeks.

I wonder if the Empress is feeling better now.

Senita replayed their last meeting in her mind. That was what concerned and curious her the most. She hadn’t stopped thinking about it since her role as playmate ended.

The Empress had clearly rejected her. She must have been deeply displeased.

Why? What was the problem? Did I fail to satisfy her this time? Had I done something wrong?

The unanswerable questions kept growing inside her. The Prince said it wasn’t her fault, and she wanted to believe him. However, Senita couldn’t ignore the Empress’s clear displeasure, which she had seen and heard for herself.

She should have been more pleasing. She should have entertained her better.

Regret piled up, even though she couldn’t turn back time. Senita managed her gloomy emotions and carefully arranged the dishes. She placed the clean dishes into the box carefully, padding them with cotton to prevent them from breaking.

After finishing her work, beads of sweat dotted her white forehead. Senita straightened her bent back. The sun, now at its peak, beat down on her golden head. Though the afternoon still felt like summer, she was saddened by the thought that their masters’ summer retreat would soon end.

“Senita!”

A cheerful voice broke the silence. Senita’s gaze followed the voice that called her name. A shadow came running toward her from beyond the blinding sunlight.

“Are you all better?”

It was Lorenzo.

Recognizing him, Senita smiled with delight.

“Oh, yes. Lorenzo.”

“That’s right, Lorenzo. How are you feeling? Are you still sick?”

At his bright question, just like the first time they met, Senita nodded slightly. Then, she mustered her courage and spoke.

“No, um, thank you for taking me back to my room that day.”

“Huh? Oh, it was nothing. You already thanked me then.”

Lorenzo shrugged and grinned. He looked carefree.

“The fruit? Did you eat it all?”

“Fruit?“

Senita tilted her head at the unexpected question. Was he talking about the fruit the Prince had given her?

“Yes, I ate it all.”

“Was it good?”

“Yes.”

“That’s good.”

What was good about it? Was he glad I regained my strength after eating? If so, then he was a genuinely good person.

She didn’t have time to ponder the question.

From the direction Lorenzo had come running from, his father was calling out to him, just as he had before.

“Eek! I stopped in the middle of trimming; that’s why. I have to go quickly. Work hard! See you again next time!”

Lorenzo waved and ran back quickly. Senita watched him go for a moment before returning to her spot and continuing to organize the dishes. The silence that followed the gardener boy’s brief interruption felt especially long.

After closing the last box, Senita sighed in relief and wiped her hands on her apron. A breeze blew, as if to cool her sun-warmed body.

After re-tying her messy hair, Senita took a deep breath and looked at the forest stretching behind the back garden. The sun was still hot, and the forest was still green. It felt as if summer hadn’t ended yet.

She found herself wishing that the summer that had brought Iskandar to the Summer Palace would last forever.

It was a fleeting wish indeed.

***

Thanks to the efforts of the Summer Palace’s servants, the preparations for departure were quickly completed.

The Empress had mostly been confined to her room for some time, and the Prince spent his days attending to her or hunting. Senita, who had once spent a lot of time with them, hadn’t seen either of them since.

They were leaving tomorrow.

Early in the morning, as the pink dawn lit up the surroundings, Senita cleaned the main palace entrance steps. Her heart quietly stirred as she worked, before the masters awoke.

The Empress and the Prince hadn’t summoned her again. It was clear that they had forgotten about her completely, despite her once harboring the delusional hope that they might take her to Rasrosad. She was ashamed of her foolish desires and wanted to hide, even though she hadn’t told anyone.

Would she never see them again? Disappointment settled on her face as she thought about the empty farewell.

It would have been nice to say goodbye one last time, but there was no way for her to convey her feelings. She was merely someone who came when called and left when dismissed.

Still, looking back, it had been wonderful. Such a happy time that she could hardly believe it. That was probably why she couldn’t forget and still felt a lingering attachment.

But, just as her deceased mother wouldn’t come back to life and her departed father wouldn’t return, what was gone was gone. Senita had already learned to accept inevitable partings. She had already struggled with the unfamiliar and frightening reality.

So, this time too, she would be alright. Soon, after a few days, she would be fine. She was sure of it.

“Sigh…”

Repeating the words like a mantra, Senita finished cleaning the last step and slowly stood up.

The sun, which had begun to rise above her, scattered its brilliant light. The world was instantly filled with a bright, golden light, just like the Prince’s eyes. It was beautiful.

As she stared blankly at the sky, which was now dyed in a variety of complex colors, someone approached her.

“Senita.”

A familiar voice called her name. She turned around and saw someone who seemed to have just emerged from the main entrance.

“His Highness summons you.”

It was Iskandar’s attendant, who always came to fetch her.

The moment she recognized him, her eyes widened. Her heart started to race. It felt like receiving an unexpected letter after having given up hope.

Unconsciously, Senita bit her lip. She was happy. She was so happy, yet a sudden fear gripped her for some reason.

Still, she had to go. Iskandar was waiting. His summons was something she couldn’t refuse. It was something she had longed for and wanted to obey no matter what.

***

When Senita arrived at the stables with the attendant, Iskandar was inspecting his horse. Seeing him dressed in riding clothes with the green forest as his backdrop reminded Senita of the first time she met the Prince.

Bathed in the morning sunlight, he appeared to her not as a human, but as a divine manifestation born of the sun. There was an immense gap between them that couldn’t be bridged just because they had exchanged a few words and played with toys. Senita felt a sudden sense of unease at the vast distance between them.

“Senita.”

Sensing her presence, Iskandar called out to her. Senita, walking a tightrope between joy at seeing the Prince again and an inexplicable fear, looked up. The wise attendant gently nudged her back. At his signal, she quickly walked to Iskandar and bowed her head.

“Greetings, Your Highness.”

“That’s enough.”

A hint of amusement colored Iskandar’s voice. It seemed her attempt to emulate the attendants was clumsy.

Senita fidgeted with her clasped hands, feeling embarrassed. She had indeed heard that those who served the Empress and Prince up close in Rasrosad were all titled nobles or children of titled nobles. It was impossible for her to imitate their speech and behavior properly after observing them only a few times.

“Everything alright?”

“Oh, yes! I’ve been well. I’ve been working hard…”

“Good, I’m glad.”

Iskandar cut her off mid-sentence and mounted his horse. His movements as he placed his foot in the stirrup were light and agile.

“Come here.”