Anastasia lay in her bed, the heavy blankets pulled up to her chin, her body still weak from the heart attack and the emotional collapse the day before. The healers had left strict orders for complete rest, and the maids took turns checking on her every few minutes, their worried faces a constant reminder of how fragile she looked.
She didn't have the strength to get up, but she didn't need to. With trembling fingers, she reached for the silver Metia Yae had given her and draped it over her shoulders while still lying down. The magic item hummed faintly against her skin. She didn't need to speak out loud — she could think, and Yae would hear her.
Yae... can you hear me?
Yae's voice came back clearly in her mind, calm and professional. "Yes, Lady Anastasia. I hear you perfectly. Are you alright?"
Anastasia closed her eyes, too tired and too depressed to pretend. Yes... but the maids are constantly checking on me. I can barely have a moment alone.
Yae's tone softened slightly. "I heard about your reaction. I'm sorry. If it makes you feel better, I went back and retrieved the ring. I have it with me now."
Anastasia's heart gave a weak, tired flutter. She didn't feel the usual rush of satisfaction. It doesn't matter anymore... but thank you, Yae.
There was a brief pause before Yae continued. "They're on the road now. Julius just told Rem they're making a detour to the old Roswaal mansion. That's why he wanted to leave two days earlier."
Anastasia listened silently, too drained to react strongly.
Yae kept talking, filling in the details. "Rem was really pissed at first. She said it felt like another one of your setups. But eventually she thanked Julius and agreed to go. Julius is probably trying to get back into her good graces — he knows Rem's sister died there, so he's using it to create some emotional connection."
Anastasia remained quiet for a long moment, staring at the ceiling with empty eyes. ...I'll contact you later. I really don't feel like it today.
Yae's voice was gentle. "Understood, my lady. Rest. I'll keep watching and only report if something important happens."
Anastasia let the mantle stay draped over her shoulders, but she didn't focus on the vision anymore. She turned her head to the side, facing the wall, and let the tears come again — silent, exhausted tears that soaked into the pillow.
She felt hollow.
Broken.
The plan she had spent so much time and effort building was moving forward without her, and she no longer had the strength to steer it.
All she could do was lie there, weak and useless, while Julius and Rem traveled together toward the hot springs — and toward whatever future they were creating between them.
The day passed slowly without much happening. Anastasia didn't want to watch Julius and Rem in the carriage — it only pissed her off. She spent most of the time in bed, resting as the healers insisted, her body still weak from the heart attack and emotional collapse. The maids hovered constantly, bringing her food, medicine, and gentle words of comfort, but she barely spoke.
The next morning, she felt a little better. The throbbing in her eye had eased slightly, and the crushing weight in her chest had dulled to a constant, heavy ache. She reached for the silver mantle Yae had given her and draped it over her shoulders while still lying in bed. The magic item hummed faintly against her skin.
She focused, and the connection opened.
Through Yae's eyes, she saw the scene.
Julius, dressed in his formal knight uniform, was digging a grave in the ruins of the old Roswaal village. The ground was hard, but he worked steadily, sweat glistening on his brow. Rem stood a few steps away, tears streaming down her face.
Yae's voice came through the metia, surprised. "You didn't use the metia sooner, my lady? I thought you would want to see this immediately."
Julius paused his digging and looked at Rem with gentle concern. "I think it's best for you to face it, Rem. I thought of this place because it's relatively close. I know I should have told you sooner, but I was afraid you might not want to come and would argue. If you want to move on, you need to face your past. Especially since I remember how you told me you regret never burying the remains of your sister."
Rem's voice broke as she cried harder, clutching the bundle to her chest. "I hate it... Subaru and I should have been the ones to do it. Because we betrayed them..."
She sobbed, but still managed to say, "Thank you, Julius... Can you support me through this?"
She reached out and gently took his hand.
Julius nodded, his voice soft. "Of course."
They walked together through the destroyed village, Rem leading the way. Yae followed at a safe distance, deducing that Rem was heading straight to her sister.
Rem was stressed and sad, her breathing ragged. Julius held her hand the entire time, steady and supportive. When they reached the ruined house, Rem stopped in front of a wall marked with the cultist dagger symbol. She whispered, "It's here..." and broke down completely, screaming through her tears:
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry, Ram! Rem is sorry!"
Julius gently put ram bones into the bundle , but Rem asked to carry it herself. "It's my sister..."
They returned to the grave Julius had dug. Rem placed Ram's remains inside with trembling hands. As she began to cover the grave with dirt, her voice broke again:
"I'm sorry I'm burying you here... but after so many years, I have no right to take you anywhere else. I'm sorry I should have come sooner. I'm sorry... I hope my sister would be able to forgive my foolishness."
Julius held her as she cried into his shoulder. He helped her sit on the ground beside the fresh grave as she continued covering it, her hands shaking with every handful of earth.
In her bed, Anastasia watched the entire scene through the metla, her heart aching with a complicated mix of jealousy, sorrow, and dark satisfaction. She didn't speak to Yae. She simply lay there, tears silently sliding down her cheeks, as she witnessed Julius comforting Rem at her sister's grave.
"Julius... can we make more graves?" she asked softly. "There were a lot of people I knew in this village. Some I never really cared about... but this is the last thing I can do for them. Because of me... they and their children died."
Julius nodded without hesitation. "Of course. We'll do it together."
They spent the remaining hours of daylight gathering stones and clearing small patches of ground. Rem moved with quiet purpose, her hands carefully arranging each grave marker while Julius helped lift heavier stones and dig shallow trenches. They worked mostly in silence, the only sounds being the rustle of leaves and the occasional distant bird call. Rem's face remained sad but focused, her fingers occasionally brushing over a stone as if offering a final apology to the souls buried there.
When the sun began to dip low and the sky turned orange, Rem straightened up, brushing dirt from her kimono.
"It's getting dark," she said quietly. "We should check the mansion. It should still be a safe place to stay for the night."
Julius agreed, and they began walking the short distance to the old Roswaal mansion. The grand building stood largely intact but abandoned, its windows dark and its gardens overgrown. As they walked side by side, Rem's steps grew heavier. Her shoulders slumped slightly, and the sadness she had been holding back all day seemed to settle deeper into her expression.
Julius glanced at her, concern clear in his eyes, but he didn't push her to speak. He simply stayed close, offering silent support as they approached the looming silhouette of the mansion.
Rem's voice was barely a whisper when she finally spoke again.
"I never thought I'd come back here... not like this."
The weight of her words hung between them as they continued walking, the last light of the day fading behind the trees.
"It looks like no one dared to steal from it," she said quietly. "The people were too afraid of the rumors... "
Julius nodded, staying close beside her as they stepped inside. The air was stale but not rotten, the high ceilings and long corridors echoing their footsteps. They made their way to the old kitchen, where Rem's eyes softened with nostalgia and sorrow.
She opened the pantry and found jars still sealed from the day she and Ram had last worked there. The food inside had long since rotted, but the preserved items — dried herbs, spices, and a few sealed containers — remained surprisingly usable. Rem's fingers brushed over one of the jars with a sad smile.
"I'll cook something," she said. "You must be hungry after a full day of digging and carrying those old bones around."
Julius helped her start a fire in the old hearth, the flames crackling to life and filling the kitchen with warm light. Rem moved efficiently, preparing a simple stew from what she could salvage. The aroma soon filled the air — earthy, comforting, and surprisingly appetizing.
When the stew was ready, Rem served two bowls and sat down across from Julius at the old wooden table. She looked down at her bowl, voice soft with apology.
"Sorry if it's bad... it's been a long time since I cooked here."
Julius took a spoonful, tasted it, and smiled genuinely. "It smells amazing. And it tastes even better. You have real talent, Rem."
Rem gave a small, sad smile, but the sadness in her eyes didn't fade. They ate in relative silence, the weight of the day and the place pressing down on them. After they finished, Rem stood up and looked around.
"It's safe here for the night," she said. "We can stay in the mansion."
She led Julius through the corridors, checking rooms until she found one that looked relatively clean and intact. She quickly tidied it — straightening the bed, dusting the surfaces, and making sure the space felt livable. Julius helped where he could, moving heavier furniture and opening windows to let in fresh air.
When the room was ready, Julius looked at her and asked gently, "Do you want me to help you tidy up the other room?"
Rem hesitated, then looked at him with a mix of vulnerability and quiet resolve.
"I was hoping... we could sleep together tonight."