Maylily - Chapter 134

Under the pale lighting, white petals scattered around the tree standing tall. Maylily appeared from the side of the stage and moved forward with steps as light as if she were walking on water. The light sky-blue skirt swaying in time with her steps scattered light that looked like a stream of stars flowing across the stage.

Soon, as Maylily stood at the center of the stage, the accompaniment for the signature aria of <Agnes>, “Eternal Season,” began. This was the climax of the work, where the singer playing Agnes appeared alone on stage and captured the audience’s full attention.

Hugh, who had reserved a box for this season for today, slowly looked around the theater. Above the heads of the audience filling the seats, a clear singing voice spread like a transparent wave.

Of the season that once shone brightly

the final flower falls.

Nine years ago, when Maylily stood on this stage as Agnes, her voice was just as pure and beautiful. But the song, now filled with deeper emotion, revealed a firmer and more mature Agnes than before. The faint sound of the audience swallowing their admiration could be heard.

Even if the petals scatter and vanish,

the fragrance of love remains.

After gathering the petals fallen on the floor into her hands, Maylily straightened her body and lifted her gaze toward the audience. In her eyes shone either the will not to submit to fate, or the composure of one who had already overcome her trials in her heart.

What the silence of sorrow has brought to bloom

is an unbreakable promise of eternity.

Maylily was now the most famous singer on the continent. In every city she visited, posters bearing her name in large letters were displayed, and the public loved her voice.

And the man standing by her side, Hugh, was called Maylily Aile’s man. Among the political and business figures of the continent, there was no one who didn’t know Hugh Skaard, but to the general public abroad, Maylily’s name carried far greater impact and influence.

Each time they denied the rumors, the title “Maylily Aile’s man” spread even more. Hugh rather welcomed it. It felt as though he’d finally become something that belonged to Maylily.

Tonight, as Maylily’s man, he was able to watch her shine more brilliantly than ever, and Hugh was happy. The seven years of waiting were by no means short, but they were worth it.

As long as spring returns and flowers bloom,

our season will be eternal.

A bright smile spread across Agnes’s face, as she overcame her tragic fate and found her own happiness.

As soon as the song ended, the audience rose to their feet and applauded, calling out Maylily’s name. It was such a fervent response that it seemed the Roden Opera House had never resounded with louder applause.

Through the red curtain descending over the stage, Maylily’s eyes, looking out at the audience, filled with emotion.

She once thought she might never be able to stand on the stage of her homeland again…. Yet tonight, those who came to the Roden Opera House cast aside rumors and prejudice and were captivated solely by Maylily’s voice, cheering for her. At that realization, her heart swelled with emotion as if it might burst.

The pleasant excitement continued through the curtain call. Standing before the audience last among the cast, Maylily expressed her gratitude amid thunderous cheers.

Soon, the curtain fell completely and the lights went out. An inexplicable sense of emptiness came over her as she left for the dressing room after exchanging greetings with her fellow singers. With each step she took, the emotion and excitement that had filled her heart slipped away bit by bit.

Coming down from the splendid stage showered with applause and cheers and returning to an empty hotel room where no one waited for her always felt lonely. It was a feeling she couldn’t share with anyone because it was the path she chose, yet today it dug especially deep into her heart.

It’s over now. It’s time to go home.

She imagined over and over the sight of returning to the mansion in Cereno, holding Dylan’s hand. Yet the emptiness in her heart wouldn’t easily fade. It remained even after she finished removing her makeup with the help of the makeup artist and changing her clothes.

Perhaps it was the emptiness that comes when everything is over.

As she sat alone in the dressing room, blankly turning over that inexplicable feeling, it happened.

Knock, knock.

At the soft knocking sound, Maylily came back to her senses and turned her gaze toward the door. The moment she saw the two men appear from behind the door as it opened wide, a bright smile spread across her face.

“Hugh! Dylan!”

Just like in the photograph she saw before going on stage, the two of them wore matching black tuxedos. The sight was unbearably lovely. Springing up from her seat, Maylily walked toward them with light, excited steps.

“Congratulations, Maylily.”

“Thank you for coming even though you must be busy, Hugh.”

After exchanging a brief greeting with Hugh, she bent her knees and crouched down to meet Dylan at eye level.

“I didn’t know you’d come too, Dylan. It’s late, aren’t you sleepy?”

“No, today is a special day.”

Dylan held out the bouquet of roses he’d been gripping tightly in his small hands and smiled sweetly.

“Congratulations on successfully finishing your performance, Mother.”

Mo…ther? Shocked by the unfamiliar form of address, Maylily forgot even to take the bouquet.

“Dylan, why are you calling me that all of a sudden? Call me Mom.”

“Father said I’m no longer a child….”

“In times like this, you should do as your mother wishes, Dylan.”

Hugh’s voice, slipping into the conversation between mother and son, was gentle yet carried an inexplicably strict tone.

“Yes, Father.”

Dylan nodded seriously as he looked up at Hugh, then turned his gaze back to Maylily.

“Congratulations, Mom.”

Has he started listening to Hugh more after staying with him for two years? She felt a bit disappointed, yet the sight of the father and son, different yet somehow alike, made her smile.

“Thank you, Dylan. Mom is so happy you came.”

Maylily accepted the bouquet and pulled Dylan into a tight embrace. They had just met the day before yesterday when she arrived in Riverton… yet the child already seemed to have grown more.

Children grow quickly, and the time that passes never returns. As that simple truth came back to her, she felt frustrated and regretful that she could only be there for the precious moments of her child’s growth in fragments.

At that moment, Maylily suddenly realized that the compass of her happiness now pointed not to the stage, but to the everyday life beneath it. It was a natural change, like night passing into dawn and winter giving way to spring.

She finally understood why imagining returning to Cereno with Dylan hadn’t been enough to ease her emptiness. The life she dreamed of now wasn’t complete with just the two of them. It was a picture that only felt whole with Hugh there as well.

After letting go of Dylan, Maylily stood up and looked quietly at Hugh. In her water-colored eyes, meeting his blue-gray eyes still shining like jewels, a budding anticipation for a new kind of happiness began to bloom.

“Thank you for enduring all this time so patiently, Hugh.”

Deborah and her aunt’s family came to the dressing room one after another to congratulate her on successfully completing the tour, then left. Soon, it was time for the party celebrating Maylily’s Roden performance to begin.

After sending Dylan back to the townhouse with Deborah and Mrs. Keaton, Maylily attended the party. Even if she didn’t enjoy social events, she couldn’t skip an occasion where she was the main figure.

The party went on well past midnight. Hugh, who stayed with her until the end, escorted Maylily back to the Skaard Hotel where she was staying. They stood side by side in front of the suite on the seventh floor.

“Let everything go tonight and get some proper rest.”

“Would you like to come in for a moment? There’s something I want to say.”

Maylily lightly caught Hugh’s sleeve as he turned to leave after saying goodbye. Hugh glanced at her hand and gave a small nod.

“Alright.”

Maylily’s hand trembled slightly as she inserted the key into the door. Perhaps because she was facing an important moment, she felt a little nervous. Swallowing dryly, she stepped inside and hesitated for a moment before speaking.

“Could you… wait here for a bit?”

She said she had something to say, yet asked him to wait. Did she prepare a gift or something? Watching Maylily head into the bedroom, Hugh let out a quiet chuckle and leaned his head against the back of the sofa. The lamplight flickered over his face for a while as he closed his tired eyes.

At the sound of the bedroom door opening, Hugh straightened his posture. As his vision cleared, Maylily looked no different from before. Except for one thing, the sapphire necklace shining at her collarbone.

“When the time comes, put it around your neck yourself.”

Maylily was declaring the end of the long wait. The overwhelming emotion rising within him was so great he let out a long breath to steady it. By then, Maylily had come close, her flushed face moving as she parted her lips.

“Um, Hugh.”

“Let me say it.”

At his words, Maylily gave a small nod, and clear tears quickly filled her eyes. Hugh gently brushed the corners of her eyes with his thumb.

“Marry me, Maylily.”

“Alright. I’ll make you so happy you’ll feel that waiting for me was the best decision of your life.”

“That’s quite the ambition. I like it.”

Hugh softly kissed Maylily’s eyes, beautifully curved at the corners. Then he reached into his coat and took out a small, deep-blue case.

Inside was the ring he’d obtained over two days in Bredova to propose to Maylily. After being rejected, he carried it with him every single day, and now it was seeing the light of day again.

Hugh slipped the ring onto her trembling finger and then firmly intertwined his hand with hers. Between their tightly clasped hands, the blue diamond, the same color as Maylily’s eyes, shone with a clear and deep light. It was the color of the happiness they had finally reached after a long time.

<The End>