Chapter 193

“I was thinking that the day will come when your child will wear this tiny crucifix you so loved about her neck, in memory of me. Without ever knowing who it came from…” “And I wonder whether you will give her… my name…” Alissa says that she wants Jerome to have the amethyst crucifix, a token of their memories together. She says that if Jerome ever gets married and has a daughter, she wants him to pass it on to her. That she wants him to name the child Alissa. Filled with the purity of an angel. Jerome becomes angry, asking why she’s thinking about him marrying another woman and having children, and Alissa hugs him and begs him to change his mind. But even as Alissa keeps her sorrow hidden, she coolly declares: “Oh, don’t let’s dredge up the past. “The page has already been turned.” “Good-bye, beloved friend. Now—I begin ‘that which is superior.’ ” What was the thing Alissa believed was superior even to love? What sort of life did Juliette’s daughter, who received Alissa’s name, go on to lead? I was hesitating over whether or not to call Fumiharu because I thought he might be with you. Unable to sleep, I sat in bed with the little violet bottle Takumi had given me resting on my palm. I was staring at it when Tohko came in, rubbing her eyes, from the room next to mine where she’d been sleeping. “Mommy… I want something to eat.” “It’s not time to eat yet; you know that. Let’s get you back in bed.” “Mmm… what’s that, Mommy?” I realized Tohko was looking at the bottle and my heart skipped. “This is the sleeping powder of Ole Lukøje. But not the big brother. This is the little brother’s. You know the story of Ole Lukøje, don’t you, Tohko? That the little Ole Lukøje is Death who rides on a horse. So if you touch even a little bit of this powder, he’ll make you get on his horse and take you away to the land of dreams, and you won’t be able to come back. So you absolutely cannot touch this, Tohko.” Tohko had been trying to touch the heart-shaped bottle, but she quickly pulled her hand back. She looked like she was half-asleep, so I’m sure she’ll forget all about this bottle in the morning. Once I took her to bed and kissed her on her cheeks and her eyelids, Tohko fell right asleep. Beside her, Ryu was snoring. The two of them are like angels. I’m truly glad I have Tohko. I can’t say how happy I am. I’ll hide the key to my jewelry box in the very top drawer. A child won’t be able to reach it there.