Surviving As A Cannon Fodder

CHAPTER 39

The funeral was held for a period of seven days. 

Countess Maria Ashford was buried in the family cemetery as per her will. She was laid to rest beside her husband the late Count Reginald Ashford.

Nobles and commoners alike from all parts of the country visited to pay their condolences to the late Countess. People were moving in and out of the residence like waves in the ocean. 

Everybody was dressed in black as a sign of mourning.

It was the last day of the service and the people who visited began to head back to their residences. 

Lorenz and Rosaline were busy handling the imperial envoys who came on behalf of the Emperor.

Maria's portrait was placed high on the wall, visible from every corner of the funeral hall. It was covered in a thin black veil. 

Clive was sitting in the second row staring at her portrait. He was dressed in a black suit.

"Where is Angelica?" Adelaide asked Clive. He was the only one left in the deserted hall after the service ended.

"Where do you think?" He replied with eyes still on Maria's portrait

"It's not easy on any of us. But it took the biggest toll on my little sister" He sighed.

"You should go see her Lady Norton. Try to bring her home" Clive said getting up on his feet. 

He strode towards the door leaving Adelaide behind. He turned around and looked back at her portrait one last time before walking out.

Adelaide watched Clive leave as she thought about her friend. 

The servants were dismantling the portrait and were starting to clean the hall. She walked towards the closest window and stood reaching her hands out. 

It was snowing outside. 

The garden outside the window was covered in a snow carpet.

A snowflake landed on the center of her palm. When she pulled her hand in to take a closer look, Adelaide remembered Angelica telling her that each snowflake has a distinct pattern. 

All unique from each other. So if one makes a wish while blowing a single snowflake, it will come true.

She also remembered how they used to make snowmen and have snowball fights when they were children. They used to hide between the snowmen and take turns scaring Clive, Adam, and Bryan. 

Adam was always the first to lose. Although the Howard twins were impenetrable. Between Angelica and the twins, there was always a cold war. There was often a need for the adults to mediate between the two sides.

"Here I go" she said, blowing the snowflake. She closed her eyes and made her wish.

'Don't lose your way' Adelaide watched as the snowflake slowly fly in the direction of the wind, till it disappeared from sight.

She turned around and walked out of the funeral hall.

On the farthest end of the Ashford residence, near the entrance of the forest, the Ashford family's cemetery was located. It took a thirty-minute walk to get there from the main residence.

Angelica was standing in front of Maria's grave. 

She was dressed in a black mourning gown and a mesh hat that covered half of her face holding a bouquet of red camellia flowers in her hand. 

Angelica clutched the flowers in her left hand tightly.

Chirpy was sitting next to her. His ears perked up at the sound of the crushing flowers. He gently nudged Angelica's leg and let out a small whine. He was getting worried since the duo has been in the same position for hours.

Angelica looked up at the sky taking in a deep breath and closed her eyes. A snow fake landed on her forehead.

Angelica opened her eyes, feeling a chilly breeze. 

It has been getting colder since the snow started. She gently touched her forehead and removed the snowflake. She placed it in the palm of her hand and blew it away.

"Haaaah" She let out a sigh.

Angelica placed the flowers on the grave and kneeled down next to Chirpy.

"Did you know that the people you meet in life are just like footprints on a beach" She started talking,

"You just walk, leaving footprints on the sand with the people you love. Creating memories of happiness and sadness and whatnot......"

"Then you turn around and they're just .......gone. Just like how the footprints disappear underneath the waves" Angelica hugged Chirpy. 

He leaned in on her trying his best to comfort her. There was a moment of silence between the two. Only the sound of the rustling trees could be heard in the distance. Chirpy gently licked her cheek causing Angelica to let out a small laugh.

"Never thought I would live to see that day I would hear philosophical lines from the infamous trouble maker" Adelaide stated, walking towards the two. 

She was holding her gown up with both hands since the floor was slippery from all the snow.

"Ha ha, Addie" Angelica stood up. 

She helped Adelaide balance her feet who kept stumbling. She let go of Adelaide after making sure she won't fall down.

"Who did you hear it from again?" Adelaide asked in a skeptical tone.

"I don't know" Angelica said covering her face with her hands. Her eyes felt heavy from the lack of sleep.

"I can't remember. I've been meeting all sorts of weird people throughout the week"