Violet Evergarden

Chapter 4

Writing letters was similar to singing tunes.

"Pleased to make your acquaintance. I rush anywhere my customers might desire. I am from the Auto-Memories Doll service, Cattleya Baudelaire."

Such was the pet theory of a certain Auto-Memories Doll, and she truly did think that way.

"Well, I'm going to begin, okay?"

Singing required people to put together a scenario in their heads, and therefore, it was also similar to painting.

"'Mert, have you been doing fine? Thank you for the letter. Your letters are encouragement for me.'"

The moment she would take a breath to begin writing was when she would start singing.

"My, I mistyped. Let's do it over."

Once the recipient received the letter, how would they react? How would they feel about those words?

"It's natural that you want to tell him to study hard... but if that occupies most of the letter, it'll get tiring. Your younger brother was pushed into a boarding school, right? It doesn't look like he'd have much fun there, so I think it's better to take the direction of saying that he'll grow up the way you did and become free from home if he puts effort into his studies. But if we write about you praising yourself too much, it'll get boring, so let's be moderate. All the more if you want to receive a reply."

She would picture it in her head.

"Well, then, on from where we stopped."

There was a beginning and an end to melodies. How they could differ from being remarkable or otherwise gently cheerful depended on the song she was playing, but from the start to the middle, things would gradually become more exciting.

The typewriter's noise was the piano. The rustling of the fountain pen was the violin. Lastly, the clatter of the cymbal would ensue, bringing it to an end.

"How's that?"

The finished letter turned into a living being. Each sound of each word danced about, and human vitality could be felt in the smell of ink. The letter had become a story.

Cattleya Baudelaire performed her ghostwriting in that fashion.

Auto-Memories Dolls and their customers were world-building cooperators that created the tales, music and images called "letters". The more time they spent together and the richer the contents of the letters were, the closer their hearts would be to one another. However, there were people who would reach that level at once, even within an unusually short span.

"Would you... accept going out with me?"

Such as that client.

Cattleya Baudelaire

As of late, a certain establishment was popular in Leiden, the capital of Leidenschaftlich.

The owner of the building that used to be a reception hall had reformed it into a space where people could enjoy sweets and music - "Café Magnolia". The citizens of Leiden admired the place, in which one was only finally allowed to enter through waiting for a month after having made a reservation. It was a desired spot where people would have their eyes watering at the decorations of the marvelous interior and could bask in the music of pianists whom remained there constantly.

The players changed depending on the day and hour. Perhaps because a place where young musicians performed was also a place for seeking patrons, the age range of the visitors was wide.

As they let out emotional sighs, it would seem that Cattleya and the one sitting with her were the youngest in the shop. Just as the rumors had it, the prices in the menu handed to them were high, but as they saw the dishes brought over, they understood the worthiness of the investment. Money could hardly purchase the emotion instigated by a three-level cake stand.