Mobile Legends Anthology

Lavender's Scent(Granger|Guinevere)

"A letter addressed to you, sweetheart!" Guinevere called out the attention of her husband.

The letter was sealed with the dark red signature of the Paxley household. Somehow, just by looking at it made Guinevere feel uneasy for no particular reason.

Before she knew it, Granger appeared behind her and hugged her before planting a kiss on her cheek.

"Were you expecting this letter from that household?" she asked him as he took the letter from her hold. He simply answered with a nod before heading to his office. With her curiosity tailing her, she followed him and asked what it was about.

"The abyssal demons are getting stronger and if this matter is ignored, they might break through the borders. So, it is no surprise why the Paxley wants me to aid the troops," he replied.

The war between the warriors of Land of Dawn against the abyssal demons was getting longer than expected. And now that Granger was to be dispatched on the frontlines, Guinevere doesn't like that idea at all. There were mostly two outcomes if he did go join in that war; first, he'd stay there until the war ends. The second one was the outcome that Guinevere feared the most—death. There may be a chance that he'll come back even before the war ends, however, the chance was very slim.

She approached her husband and sat on his lap as she wrapped her arms around him. That simple gesture was enough for Granger to know what his wife wanted to say.

"Don't worry, I'll be back before you know it," he said before kissing her on the forehead. His words were assuring but Guinevere was still unsettled.

"Just stay here by my side, won't you? I'll let you accept any kind of mission just please, don't go to the frontlines," she begged.

It was already a crucial time for her and losing him would be a total nightmare. It wouldn't just be for her but the same goes for the little one inside her belly.

Intertwining their hands together, Granger tightened his grip on her and flashed a smile.

"You know very well that I needed to go there, right?" he said. It may be hard to part ways but it was also his duty to protect their homeland from invaders. "Just this once, sweetheart, believe in my words."

Despite the desperate plea of Guinevere, she wasn't able to convince Granger to reject the offer of having a position on the battlefield's frontlines. She couldn't do anything else but hope. A hope that she would once again see him smiling and feel the warmth she had always sought.

On the day of Granger's departure, Guinevere couldn't stop crying her heart out. There was still a small part of her hoping that if she cried, Granger might change his mind. But still, his decision was firm.

"Smile for me, sweetheart. I want to remember your smiling, pretty face as I go to war," he said as he cupped her cheeks.

Holding onto his hands, Guinevere tightened her clutch as if she had no plan in letting go. If only it was possible, she could go with him and in that way, she wouldn't die out of worry. But alas, such an idea wasn't a good one for she bears his child.

"Then, please, come back home," she stated, "I will be here waiting for your return."

Before he left, the couple shared a passionate kiss as if it was their last. And with a heavy heart, Guinevere waved goodbye with tears still staining her cheeks.

Every sunset and sunrise, she'd be sitting on the swing just outside their house. Her eyes would stare at the horizon, waiting for her husband's return. Even when the rain poured, she'd still look at the landscape, hoping and praying that at any minute, Granger would appear.

Days of waiting turned into weeks. And weeks turned into months. No news of him arrived at her doorstep. Their little one had already opened his eyes to the world, accompanying Guinevere in each passing day.

"Calm down, sweety," Guinevere hummed to her baby whose eyes were the same as Granger's. "Your hardworking father will come home soon."

"Guin."

Hearing that voice, Guinevere opened the door, and just before she stood Gusion, the fourth son of the Paxley household. He had been visiting her frequently after giving birth and he was very helpful in taking care of her baby and herself as well.

He was also the one that gave her updates on what was going on in the war.

"Guin, leaving you here alone worries me a lot. In the meantime, why don't you stay at my place?" Gusion offered.

Though he meant well, Guinevere declined because she wanted to wait for her husband's return right to their house. She didn't like the idea that once Granger comes home, he finds no one at their home.

When Guinevere went out to the market one day with Gusion taking care of her child in a while, she was called out by a messenger.

"I don't know what's going on but this letter kept on returning at our office," he said as he handed her a letter.

She bit her lower lip when she could smell a faint scent of lavender, her favorite flower. As she headed home, she opened it and came to a sudden stop.

*"I hope that this letter would reach you, sweetheart. I have been gone for half a year now, I'm sorry if it took me this long to write a letter. There was no prior notice from the Paxley about my team being assigned to a mission where returning is impossible. Thus, I am afraid that this letter will be the last one you'll receive from me. I know that an apology wouldn't be enough to soothe your heart but I am truly sorry for I couldn't keep my promise. How I wish to see you again and our little one. It may be selfish of me to say this but please, sweetheart, continue living."*

Guinevere couldn't stop her tears from overflowing. Her heart felt like it was being wrenched as she clutched at the letter.

For six months, the letter she needed to receive didn't reach her doorstep. Only one person was responsible for the return of the letter back to the office. She ran back home as fast as possible.

The moment she opened the door, Gusion came to greet her but instead of a warm smile, she slapped him right on the face.

"How could you?! Have you been visiting all this time to make sure that my husband's letter wouldn't be opened?!" she yelled with her eyes full of rage.

"Guin, I can explain," Gusion said with a calm voice but once again, he received yet another slap.

"Tell me the truth, Gusion, were you the one behind the dispatch of my husband in that damn mission he mentioned?" she asked with gritted teeth.

His silence proved her theory. Guinevere fell on the floor as her heart sank and her tears once again flooded her eyes.

"I only did it because I love you, Guin," Gusion said. He had long been in love with her but she chose Granger over him and the only way to separate them was to send Granger away and make sure that he wouldn't return. But the moment he saw Guinevere's state, he felt guilty and regretful for the careless action he did.

"If you truly love me," Guinevere sobbed, "then, you should have let my husband return."