Chapter 178: Side Story – Marie, Her Mother, and Her Grandmother
[space_man][space_man]Marie purchased stationery at a general store in the central capital and exited the shop. While she could return to her lodgings to write, she decided to look for a nice cafe since she was alone today. As she walked around, she realized she had arrived at the northern part of the central capital. Marie’s body stiffened as she recognized the area. The slums where she used to live were located around here. She usually spent her time in the southern part of the central capital, but Marie continued walking toward her old home.
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]To be honest, she had only lived there for a mere five years. The years that followed were incomparably happier, she felt. But sometimes, she would remember her childhood days.
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]She entered a residential area and found a narrow path. The last time she came here, Eld and Moira were with her. She was scared, but she had two reliable people close by. But now, they were not here. Marie steeled herself and entered the path.
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]The place was completely different from her memories. The dilapidated shacks they had built themselves were gone, replaced by a park-like plaza. Marie sat down on a nearby bench.
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Was it around here……?”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Marie looked around and focused on a particular corner. In her memory, that was where she used to live.
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Oh my, I haven’t seen your face around here before. Are you lost?”
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[space_man][space_man]A petite old woman stood before Marie.
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[space_man][space_man]”Ah, no…… I used to live around here a long time ago……”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Is that so? Then were you here during that relocation ten years ago?”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”No, I left this place much earlier than that.”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”I see. I’ve been living around here for a long time, but it was quite something ten years ago. The country even provided jobs for those who could work. The young people, especially, were delighted.”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Is that so?”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Although Marie was not good at talking to people, she couldn’t gracefully cut off the old woman’s long story.
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Oh yes, there was this one woman who absolutely refused to leave this place. She said that she couldn’t leave because her daughter, whom she had entrusted to her mother, might come back here.”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Is that so……”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”However, it seems she died from a severe cold or something a few days before the relocation. I didn’t see it myself, but apparently, her mother came to collect the body. That woman had beautiful red hair.”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Marie’s expression hardened upon hearing that.
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Your red hair reminded me of her. Well then, take care.”
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[space_man][space_man]Saying that, the old woman left.
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”No way…… could it be……?”
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[space_man][space_man]Marie tried to leave, but she couldn’t get up from the bench. Trying to change her mood, she took out the stationery she had bought and began writing a letter to her grandmother, who was living with her aunt in a distant foreign country.
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[space_man][space_man]”……Come to think of it, it was about ten years ago when Grandma said she was going to live with Aunt…… It took about half a year to move because of the procedures and all……”
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[space_man][space_man]Her hand holding the pen stopped.
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[space_man][space_man]”Could it really be……? No way……”
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[space_man][space_man]Marie finished writing the letter. Then, she stood up and looked at the place where their house used to be. Before she knew it, she had walked over there.
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[space_man][space_man]”Sigh…… what am I doing?”
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[space_man][space_man]Marie turned around to leave the plaza. But as she turned, she saw a woman standing there.
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[space_man][space_man]”Okaa-san……”
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[space_man][space_man]The woman bowed deeply and then disappeared.
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Okaa-san…… you were…… waiting all this time…… How foolish…… For me to come here…… It might not have happened……”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Marie wiped her eyes and left the plaza.