Summer Is For Falling In Love
18. Drowning in Suffering

Miel was a little surprised when she met Esther in the living room of the Floral residence.

"Miss Esther, why are you here?" miel asked as she approached Esther.

Fortunately for her because Hanah is her lover, Miel can treat Esther casually as well.

Esther put down the cup of tea that the waiter had just served. They also quite liked Esther because of her gentle and friendly behavior, in contrast to the Floral mistress they served.

"Oh? Didn't Holland ask me to come?" asked Esther while slightly squinting both eyes.

"Mr Holland?"

"Yes, look," Esther replied, then took out a piece of paper from her dress pocket. It was a letter with the kind of paper that Holland always used when exchanging letters with Esther.

Although Miel was close to Holland, reading her master's letter was presumptuous.

"No need, Miss Esther. It won't be polite," replied Miel in doubt.

"However, Mr. Holland is not at the current residence, Miss Esther."

"Yes, I've heard it from the waiter as well. It's weird, isn't it? He asked me to come, but he instead attended a noble meeting. I don't want to, I'll wait."

"Mr will be out of the meeting at four in the afternoon, Miss Esther."

"Then I'll wait."

Miel looked down well. "All right, then. I have a job that Mr. Holland left behind, so I can't accompany you here."

"It's not a problem, Miel. Do your job so your salary doesn't get cut."

Miel chuckled small. Compared to cutting salaries, Miel always asked for a raise, and Holland strangely did not bother about it until his salary each month increased.

"Then I resign, Miss Esther."

"Yes." Yeah." Esther flashed a gentle smile at Miel who withdrew herself from the living room.

Esther was not too bored while waiting for Holland, as the servants at the residence were friendly to her, they chatted lightly. Esther also had no problem with the social status of the servants, until the pleasant conversation flowed. Now, the servants even liked Esther quickly and always said that Esther had to quickly marry Holland so they could serve Esther.

"If it ...." Esther had trouble finding words to answer the question. Esther also felt uncomfortable about the sensitive question.

"Well, look who's here?"

"Ah, Mrs Olivia." The servants gasped in shock and immediately straightened their posture, not wanting to be seen relaxing during work hours.

"Mrs Olivia," said Esther along with her who straightened her body, then approached Olivia. "It's been a long time since we met."

Olivia showed off her big smile. "Yes, Miss Esther. It's been a long time since we met. How are you?"

"My news is good, Mrs Olivia. Thanks for asking."

Olivia exchanged brief pleasantries with a wide smile on her face, even laughing occasionally. "Miss Esther is so interesting. What if we chat further? My husband will be late, so we have plenty of time to talk."

Esther did not like the idea that she and Olivia were talking alone, but refusing the offer of a noble, especially a noble who had a higher caste than her, was a disrespectful act.

"Alright, Mrs Olivia. I'm honored to spend time with Mrs Olivia."

"Good! Then let's go to my room! I'll brew my own tea in my room."

"All right, then."

Esther follows Olivia behind her, Esther's face showing that she is troubled if she has to be in a room alone with her lover's usurper. Fortunately, Olivia who walked in front of Esther could not see the expression displayed by the woman who owned the thick red strands.

Olivia then pointed to a room and opened the door. "Miss Esther, this is my room."

When Esther enters Olivia's room, it leaves a comfortable impression to live in. The decor of the room is luxurious, but the furniture in the room is a standard object. The walls are painted white, while the classic gold carvings are so attractive attention. Olivia's taste is not so bad.

"Beautiful room, Miss Olivia," praised Esther sincerely. A comfortable room is able to arouse Esther's desire to re-write her novel, even Esther will not hesitate if she will spend her day in this room.

"Thank you." Olivia smiled as she closed the door to her room. "Thank God that my room is a beautiful place for you, Miss Esther."

Esther twisted her body, about to send another heartfelt compliment, but instead felt a pain in her left chest. As she lowered her head, Esther saw a silver dagger stuck in her chest, with Olivia clutching the handle tightly.

Olivia pulled the dagger, making blood splash everywhere, even smearing Olivia's face, where the lips that should have been emitting a gentle smile turned into a crazy grin.

Esther's body staggered, then fell on the bed. "O-Olivia ..., why?"

Olivia approached Esther's body lying on the bed. His blood flowed profusely from his stab wound, soiling the white-spraised bed into red.

Olivia likes it when the color of blood and strands of hair belonging to Esther as if fused, giving the impression that Esther drowned in her soft strands.

Olivia grinned. "There's a last word, Esther?"

...***...

"Mr Holland, why are you late?" nagging Miel as Holland set foot inside the residence. "You said that the meeting would end at four, now it's almost five!"

Holland pushed Miel's body blocking his steps, then walked slowly. The meeting with the nobles has never been underestimated by Holland since he got the title of Duke. Because, on this occasion Holland is trying to raise his social status to be recognized by the people around him. Although meetings always end with the exhaustion of his soul and mind.

"Prepare warm water, Miel, I think my body is sticky" Holland said.

"Prepare for warm water?" Miel frowned. "Did you not forget something?"

"Forget what? I haven't forgotten anything."

Miel patted her forehead. Is it because of tight fatigue that Holland is senile?

"That's Miss Esther! You asked Miss Esther to come here, didn't you? How could you make a lady wait for you like this!"

Holland stopped his steps, making Miel stop as well.

"You remember, hm?"

"When did I invite Esther here?"

Holland's question triggered Miel's question mark. "Didn't you send a letter to Miss Esther asking her to come?"

"No," Holland replied, his tone a little panicked. "I didn't ask Esther to come. Then, where's Esther now?"

Miel also felt a little panicked, especially when the answer that slid from her lips made Holland immediately run as fast as possible, almost insanely, ignoring the fact that her body was tired after the noble meeting was held.

"Mrs Olivia was talking to Miss Esther in her room."

...***...

Holland felt his heart break when he opened the door to Olivia's room violently. Her hunting breath has proven that Holland ran uninterruptedly into Olivia's room on the third floor.

"Holland!"

Holland's eyes even widened when he saw patches of blood that dried on Olivia's face, giving the woman a creepy impression.

However, it was not only this that made Holland feel that his heartbeat had lost its beat, but when his pair of red manics swept through the room, he found a woman lying on the bed, drowning in his own blood.

Forcing his limp body, Holland approached the bed. Olivia did the same, even sitting next to Esther's body.

"It's amazing, isn't it, Holland?" kekeh Olivia's. "This woman was drowning in her own blood, as if her strands of hair that had the same color as her blood had attempted to entrap her to death."

Holland's fingers were vibrating up, trying to stroke the cheeks of blood that began to cool. When her palms came into contact with her delicate cheeks, Holland's heart sank, dark, the world felt hollow and empty.

Esther's body began to cool down, the life essence that used to feel warm was now completely gone. The pair of lanterns behind his two golden manic were also erased, leaving a noticeable blunder. Holland's eyeballs rolled, staring at the red strands that were so in tune with the dried blood, that Holland couldn't tell if it was his hair color whether it was a pool of blood.

Holland's fingers moved, touching the lips that Holland liked, where when a small kiss landed there, Esther's sweet red hue would spread across both cheeks, it makes the woman look like a charming angel.

Holland's look at Esther's beautiful face blurred. His eyelids were so heavy, and when he blinked, tears began to drip down profusely. Her drops wet Esther's fancy dress, a dress chosen specifically because Holland invited her here.

Both Holland's eyes widened. Right, invite Esther! Holland was not the one who sent the letter, so the answer was only one. He saw a woman sitting beside Esther's body, her dress and skin covered in blood from a loved one, making her look creepy with a crazy grin settled on her lips.

With a quick movement, Holland pulled Olivia's clothes roughly, almost suffocating her until Olivia's breath even sounded choked. However, even though the breath that was drawn was only short, Olivia tried to laugh.

"You! Olivia, you!" Holland wanted to say a lot to Olivia, but everything was stuck in her throat. Every sentence he was about to utter was swallowed back would be a pain that invaded.

Olivia smiled broadly even though the clothes drawn by Holland strangled her neck. Olivia's fingers trembled, but between them was tucked a letter.

A piece of paper that Holland used to send letters to Esther, each of her alphabets is almost identical to Holland's.

"It's pretty easy to copy your writing, Holland," Olivia said.

Holland pushed Olivia's body violently. Suddenly fed up with this woman, until a feeling of being swallowed, a voice whispered to her, a strong intention to eliminate Olivia and kill herself.

The corner of his eye could catch a dagger filled with blood, almost dried up, until the silver dagger no longer showed silver, but browned red.

He took the dagger that was coupled with Esther's body, grasped a dagger tightly even though his fingers trembled violently.

Olivia chuckled, as if she had been waiting for this situation for a long time. Her lips drawn in an open grin, "Kill me, Holland!"

Olivia's body was pushed violently onto the cold marble floor, and Holland prepared to stick a dagger in the woman's left chest.

"Just, you can't kill yourself" Olivia replied as she gently stroked Holland's cheek. "For your loved ones have cursed you, Holland." Pause because Olivia laughed out loud. "Woman******that condemns you with a crushing, a curse that you will never forget for the rest of your life, which is 'live'. The woman*******was asking you to live in her last moments! Even thinking of you on the sidelines of his death, thinking whether you will live tomorrow or choose to follow him! Therefore, he asked you to live!"

Olivia laughed so hard that her body shook.

Meanwhile, Holland's fingers clenched tightly around the dagger. His hand still in the air shook violently, but Holland was unable to lift a puncture. Holland didn't have the courage to do it. Holland is a coward.

Olivia used the opportunity to sneak around Holland's fingers, take the dagger out of her husband's hands, and straighten her up.

"Holland, husband. Don't you wonder why I killed this woman?" asked Olivia with a smile on her lips.

Holland was unable to move, his every muscle giving up to fight. Just by seeing a woman he loved had been lying helplessly with her soul gone, so much as to hit Holland's heart hard. Moreover, just this first time Holland cried sobbing until the breath drawn felt tight, the chest felt dead, even his hearing faded.

Olivia approached Esther's body, stroked the woman's arm, and stabbed Esther's chest with a dagger in her hand. The blood that should have been frozen back splashed, soiling Olivia's face again.

Holland shouted, but his voice choked, almost gone. Despite seeing that Olivia stabbed Esther, Holland's body was immobile, stiff, almost due to despair and a pain that dominated her.

"If I can't have you, then he can't have you either!" esther shouted as she landed a stab. "If Demian cannot be your successor, then the child of ***** this will also not be able to!"

Holland tried not to shake his body and pulled Olivia's body with a single blow. A loud slap was fired by Holland on Olivia. His loud voice echoed, even the corner of the lady's lips was hurt.

"Stop, Olivia," sobbed Holland, his eyes unable to stop shedding tears. Making a man with a cold personality apparently still keeps a conscience in the lover. "Why are you so obsessed with my emotions? Wh why? Wh why? Why?! Did my words never enter your brain?! Where's that line you don't understand, Olivia?! I don't like you! Isn't that a sentence you can understand?!"

Holland's voice was choked by the sobbing that escaped his lips. He gripped both of Olivia's shoulders tightly, then showed the most desperate look he had ever made.

"Why do you keep ruining my life?" holland continued, his body shaking violently. "Would you be satisfied if I disappeared?"

...***...

As a well-known writer, Astoria contributed a lot of literature and language knowledge in the academy, so Astoria's services are countless. Moreover, Astoria's pen name has made many people drown in her novels that contain the meaning of life, romance, and strong friendship.

Astoria's sudden death made the whole of Teratia mourn. Apparently, even though Olivia had done something sinister about the murder, Riquetti was still covering up the reality and just spreading rumors that Esther died of severe illness.

Riquetti had such a strong influence in the Teratia Kingdom that no one would oppose anything Riquetti said. Even if it is a deceiving lie.

"Aren't you going to visit Descartez, Mr Holland?" miel asked, her servant uniform has been replaced with plain black clothes, indicating that she was grieving.

Holland was wearing the same clothes. A more modest suit compared to his daily clothes, with a black color that is so contrasted with the owner's golden hair.

"No," Holland muttered in an empty tone. A pair of dark red beads just stared at one point through his study window, not taking his eyes off for a second.

"Why, Mr Holland?" Miel stepped closer. "If you just stay here, maybe Miss Esther will be sad because you weren't there in her last moment."

Holland's breath is blocked. All of a sudden, his vision blurred again and the teardrops shed on their own.

"Miel's." Even Holland's voice was heard breaking. "What should I do next?"

"Mr Holland, you must live."

Miel flinched as Holland turned to look at her. The tears dripping down his master's cheek felt so foreign. Holland, whom Miel recognizes as a strong figure, for the first time showed his weak side. Even when Holland had to undergo a rigorous education at a young age, Holland never showed weakness. But here, the man's cry felt a freeze of time, making chest pain unthinkable.

"Miel, is it okay if I live?"

Miel could not bear to hear the shaky tone that broke in Holland's voice.

"Didn't I snatch Esther's chance to live? If I hadn't pursued her love, Esther would have stayed alive, she wouldn't have faced such a poor destiny."

Miel approached Holland, then hugged him. Miel patted Holland on the back, allowing her master, no, her friend from childhood to let go of the emotions that were hurting her.

"If I hadn't met him, neither I nor Esther would have suffered so much. Esther deserves to live. He's too sweet to be crouching in a coffin. I've taken Esther's life, I've ruined it."

Miel listened to every word swallowed in the poignant sobbing intently, not missing a single letter. Her partner is grieving so much, Miel feels guilty for letting Esther get stuck with Olivia.

"However, Holland," called Miel softly, calling the man's name like their relationship was a good friend, and not an employer and servant. "Miss Esther asked you to stay alive. With that request alone, it's clear that you didn't take Miss Esther's life. Miss Esther must be sincere about her destiny, with the thread of fate leading her to you, making Miss Esther feel an incomparable happiness. So, there is nothing to regret. You deserve to live."

Miel waited for Holland until the man calmed down, then took off a hug. Miel did not forget to hand her handkerchief over to Holland so that the man could wipe away the dripping tears.

"Then, let's go see Miss Esther."

Holland finally visited Descartez's dark residence. Sobs rang out at every corner, condolences were spoken everywhere.

Holland paid no heed to the other mourning nobles, but his steps only led him to a white-painted coffin shortly after Holland set foot on the grounds of Descartez's residence.

Inside an expensive velvet coffin, a beautiful woman fell asleep. His blood-red hair was so glowing, but the two eyelids that displayed golden lanterns were no longer open. The exhaled breath is now gone, the essence of life is released, even the feeling of freezing when the skin is touched has awakened Holland that the woman he loves has passed away.

Holland cried again. Faced with a woman he loved, but under different circumstances, Holland's heart aches beyond measure.

With a vibrating fingers, behind her pale smooth cheeks. "My Esther, the woman I love, why are you asking me to live? Why do you curse me in such a way? Isn't it with me that follows you there, a good idea?" Holland's voice faltered because of his sobbing, making each word sound less clear.

"Esther, honey, I love you" Holland said. "Although your presence is no longer by my side, I will keep you in my memory. Thank you for standing next to me. I'm sorry I couldn't keep a promise to get together. I love you so much that it's painful, like I'm drowning in suffering."

Holland wept bitterly in front of the coffin, unable to stop shedding tears as the coffin was about to be buried, leaving a marble headstone engraved with a beautiful name.

Rest in peace, please,

Esther Viseria Descartez

...***...

"Happy birthday, Young Master Demian."

Demian smiled. "Thank you very much. However, the atmosphere is not suitable for celebrating birthdays."

The servants were also saddened to hear the news of Esther's return. Didn't they just get along, so why did God pull Esther's soul so quickly?

"I'm sorry, Young Master. We've already planned a birthday party."

Demian patted her black suit, then smiled slightly. "It's okay, next year there's still my birthday, today let's grieve."

...***...

Although it felt so heavy in living a life without Esther in between seconds, Holland persisted. Esther asks Holland to live, so Holland will fulfill the request.

For the past month, Holland has been trying to focus his mind on work, keeping his mind occupied so that his mind is not taken over by a sad memory, until after work time has ended, Holland returns to his room, only to be greeted by the silence.

So quiet. His empty mind was again filled with a woman who was so stunning with a smile that reassured the heart. Holland seemed to see a charming angel, making Holland captive. His laughter echoed so softly, his special eyes never curled up in memory.

Holland was frustrated, he could not continue to drown inside the same lake, the lake that attracted him to suffer, an endless suffering. However, even if you refuse a thousand times, the same memory will continue to approach.

In the end, Holland focused his life on alcohol so that the man could fall asleep and survive.

Holland picked up the alcohol bottle in the glass cabinet and took a glass, and poured the wine into the glass. When the intoxicating liquid was gulped, Holland could feel a slight calm. But a little is not enough. Hollan continued to pour a lot of alcohol and gulped it down quickly.

Two bottles of alcohol had been gulped down, but his mind could still clearly print the figure even though his gaze had been twitching.

"It sucks" Holland murmured as he ruffled his golden hair violently. He gulped down another alcohol and fell asleep on the table.

***

When he woke up, his vision was not clear, and his head was still throbbing pain from the influence of alcohol, but he could feel his arms being gently touched.

Holland straightened his body and tried to focus his gaze on the figure hugging his body. However, willing to narrow his eyes repeatedly, the figure of the woman was not clear in his vision.

"Holland? Are you awake?"

Even his voice sounded faint, but it gave a real warm impression.

"Esther?"

Unknowingly, his lips muttered a name he missed.

A short pause before the warm sound re-echoed. "Yes, Holland. I'm Esther."

Holland jumped in happiness and hugged the woman's body. "You are Esther! Tell me you're not a dream."

The woman in Holland's arms drowned her face in Holland's chest. "I'm not a dream, I'm a reality."

Overwhelmed by joy, Holland lifted his angel's chin and kissed his lips with a hint of wildness. Holland pressed the woman down until only a light sigh could be heard.

Holland grabbed the woman until he could feel the warm body temperature from her, fusing with Holland. Holland's embrace was so tight, it seemed to imply that the man would never let Esther go again for the rest of his life. Even if Esther ran away from his side, Holland would chase after the woman until the two could finally live happily.

The intense kisses of the two continued, showing their respective passions, even reciprocating enthusiastically.

Esther's body was lifted in one fell swoop by Holland, and she carried a woman— whom Holland could not even see clearly on her face, where Esther only admitted that she was the one whom Holland loved, towards his bed.

Another kiss Holland gave the woman, with affection and tenderness, signified how great a burning love was on her chest, but also how big a gaping hole was due to a severe wound.

Once again, Olivia won another night with Holland.

***

Ten months have passed since the incident of a night in which Holland mistakenly recognizes Olivia as Esther. His desperation led Holland to a real mistake.

Now, Olivia has vanished from Holland's life completely after leaving behind a princess who has an identical face to her.

Olivia died after birth from severe bleeding. The doctor can no longer save Olivia's life and ends in death. However, behind a returning soul, a new soul is present in a life.

With his dark black hair and when he opened his eyes, a slightly bright blood-red bead lay there. So beautiful, so charming, but so torturous for Holland.

The man had been abandoned by the woman he loved, then vented his despair on the wife he did not love. The wife who had tricked him died, leaving behind two little demons who would ensnare Holland tightly. Leaving behind a big responsibility where he needs to be a father to children he doesn't expect to see.

"Mr Duke, who will this Young Miss be named?" ask the waiter who is now in charge of being the foster mother of the one-month-old baby.

Holland who was being held in the hallway by a waiter just clucked. "Anything" he said, then passed through the servant's body.

His co-worker just sighed. "This is why we should look for a husband who is kind and loves us. Otherwise, our fate would be as unfortunate as that of the late Mrs Floral."

The servant holding the princess from Floral shook his head. "Dragon's talking here, if Master Duke hears it, you can get fired."

After sighing, the two maids finally returned to the room that had been prepared for their young miss.

"When we've been waiting for Master Duke in the hallway for days to ask the name of Young Miss" the servant complained.

The waiter who was holding her young lady just held the baby so as not to wake up and cry.

"Can't we name Young Miss? It's a gift!"

"You're right! Young Miss's name will be eternal, and we're the ones who give it a name!"

After taking a long time, the two maids finally decided on a name for young miss Floral.

Helia Scarlett Floral's.

When the servant saw Helia's red eyeballs, it made them remember the rising sun. The meaning of the name Helia is the sun. The name was given in the hope that Helia would continue to bring a new day with a bright sun, a new happiness.

...***...

Holland stopped his steps after entering the Floral residence even deeper. Not much is known about the portrait on display in the corner of the Floral residence. A portrait of a beautiful angel, with a charming smile that makes anyone feel amazed.

A portrait was painted nearly seven years ago in a summer when Holland for the first time experienced the pleasurable feelings that made her addicted.

Over the past ten months, Holland has gained considerable influence as a Floral Duke, until it is time to break away from Riquetti. At the same time, Olivia dies, so Holland doesn't have to bother divorcing Olivia.

However, Holland has confirmed that his power has been crushed by Riquetti. Holland does not want to destroy the Riquetti household that has helped him, but the family has destroyed his life, even covering up the truth of Esther's death. Therefore, Holland completely destroyed Riquetti so that no one would hesitate to pronounce the family name, even the name has disappeared, the part of his power is withdrawn by the kingdom, he said, and Riquetti's name never seemed to be the most influential force in Teratia Kingdom.

Holland once again immersed himself in a pair of gold lantern-like beads in a painted canvas.

"Esther, if I don't pursue your love, will you still curse me like this?" murmured Holland while stroking the painted canvas that captured the figure of Esther there. "If only we hadn't met ...." Pause. "No, I don't regret loving you, Esther. Loving you is fun, but an opiate that hurts so much."

Holland smiled faintly as he stared fixedly at the portrait of the angel he had loved.

Holland's love for Esther was so painful that Holland often thought he was no longer able to live life. However, an eternal curse will continue to haunt him, whispering word for word asking Holland to live.

The curse of pain that will always ask Holland to continue to live in order to feel tormented, so that the shadow of the past tragedy will never disappear, intending to settle behind Holland's memory for the man to suffer.

...EXPIRE...

Luna here, thank you for spending your precious time with the end of Summer is for Falling in Love! I'm glad readers enjoy this story. If you don't mind, please follow my account, and explore my other stories to drown with Luna. See you in the next work ''Subscribe