On the 5th of October, 1911, at the Drevolre Manor,
The next morning, Augustin comes to take me to London town. This will be the last time I see that house, which I have exchanged for all my happiness. Only Diana comes to bid me farewell, which is just as well. Diana should not have come, as it would give me hope. I am a lost soul, not worthy of redemption. Let me die in the minds of those I love, and please forget the presence of this person. Thena was right, I am greedy. When given a glimmer of hope, I will seek more and be entirely ungrateful for what I have. I have brought this upon myself, and there is no reason for me to resent it.
Augustin, dressed in a black suit, stands by the carriage door, while Andermis stands beside him in silence. I turn to look at the two men I owe a debt to, my heart full of waves. I kiss Diana's head, gently saying:
"Take good care of mother. Now that I'm leaving, Thena and David don't want to see me anymore. You've become the pillar of the family."
"Can't you change your mind?" the girl still asks. "We don't need any of this, sister!"
"It's too late, Diana... It's too late!" I cannot hold back my tears as I speak in despair. "I made a mistake, and now I must pay for it. Please, Diana, help me persuade the family, or even if it's just you, accept the castle and the estate. Please help me avoid tormenting the remaining years of my life."
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"Oh Fiona..." The girl embraces me, and we both cry uncontrollably. She is already sixteen, and instead of enjoying the beauty of her age, Diana now has to bear all the burdens. "They say London is very cold in winter. Wear warm clothes and always write to me. And as for the family, I'll do my best..."
"Do you forgive me, Diana?" I glance at her one last time before walking away. The car horn starts to urge me on.
"You're forgiven," Diana nods.
"And Enzo... Have you seen him?" No matter how far I go, I cannot forget him.
Diana shakes her head, while I nod with satisfaction, but my heart cannot lie. I have lost all the games I have played. I hold her tightly one last time before bidding farewell completely. I step into the car, but my heart still lingers here. I turn my head to look at everything around me. The castle basks in the sunshine, the vast meadows, and the deep green hills. We are only two stones away, but we cannot complete it. This place is full of regret for a girl named Fiona Lamstrong, and now she will step into the car, leaving everything deep in the past.
The car rolls away, and Diana stands outside, watching me leaving forever, while I can only look straight ahead. Andermis and Augustin both look at me as if waiting for a signal. I suppress all my thoughts deep inside me. Taking a deep breath, I say:
"Let's go."
From today on, Fiona Lamstrong is dead, replaced by Fiona Morten, and soon she too will drift into the past.