Mell and Nellie

The First Door

1603

"The mansion had an alluring air of beauty about it in that era; it was almost like something out of a fairy tale."

This period of history could perhaps be described as a symphony of destruction, as cumbersome principles of old came crashing down.

Freed from the day-to-day oppression of these antiquated precepts, the people seemed to hark back to the more poetic, expressive ways of old.

They took these newly blossoming emotions in hand, and with them they wrote literature, painted portraits, composed theatre, and found love.

Even the Church, which had maintained authority throughout the Middle Ages, embraced the changing times, adopting the culture's flowering sense of aesthetic.

War would break out not twenty years from then, plucking the ripened era from the tree of history-but that is of no concern to us now.

At the time, it was still what people refer to as the Golden Age, a period of furor for all who were there.

Now, let us take a slight detour.

No, we will not be changing locations—this is a tale about the mansion, from beginning to end. We will, however, be moving through time. Say... about eight years into the past.

A very wealthy family lived in the house then.

The mother and father, brother and sister all had distinctive, beautiful flaxen hair.

I was always enamored by their hair. By contrast, mine is the color of a wet crow.

See? There I am, standing around, looking rather a fool.

I was happy back then. And what reason did I have not to be, afforded the opportunity to attend to such a beautiful home?

So I poured my heart into serving that family.

...Listen closely, if you would. That soft, fleeting sound that could only be a young girl singing- can you hear it?

???: Lalalaa, lalaalalaa...

The girl you see, cheerfully picking crimson roses and singing like a songbird, was called Nellie.

Though young, she sang with elegance.

Nellie was deeply fond of the house's garden, and she would often spend her afternoons there.

Gorgeous roses gathered from all across the world bloomed in the garden.

They were given the utmost care, and even had their thorns removed—

so young Nellie would not hurt herself, naturally.

The light-brown-haired girl carefully plucked petals from the roses, gathering them up as she sang.

Her voice was like music played by faeries—nay, the sight of her was like an angel descended from Heaven.

Oh dear. Please don't look at me like that. I admit I was being rather fanciful...

but what is a woman if not fanciful? Hehe...

Nellie: Little bird, little bird, singing night and day. For your little birdy heart, sing your woes away. Pretty flowers all around, all around the little birds.

Nellie: And even when the sun comes up…Umm...

Nellie: Oh, dearest Mell! I've forgotten what comes next. Are you listening?

Mell: ………..

Nellie was, as a matter of fact, not the only visitor to the rose garden that day. She always came with her older brother, Mell.

The young siblings were inseparable. Mell adored his little sister, who in turn pined for his attention.

The sight of the two innocent children cuddling together—not yet shackled by fear for the future—was truly heartwarming.

That day, Mell was sitting in the shade of a tree reading a book. As I am sure you are aware, in their time, books could not yet be mass produced.

What he was reading had been copied by a scribe. I presume he had borrowed it from the church.

The book, having passed through many hands over many years, was visibly worn—but I suppose that just speaks to its importance.

It was, in fact, a Latin grammar textbook he was reading.

Mell was a clever boy. He had attended church from a very young age, where a priest would instruct him in Latin grammar.

So at that time, I believe he was capable of reading even advanced texts.

Nellie: Oh, dearest Mell, please...

Nellie: ………

The young girl approached her brother, who was consumed by the text. In her hands, she carried a large pile of rose petals.

Mell: ……….

Though his sister's shadow overlapped with the tree's, the boy still did not notice.

So Nellie puffed her cheeks, thrust out her slender arms, and let the petals fall.

Mell: Ahh!

Nellie: Hehe. Look, your head is covered in roses, Mell!

Mell: Oh, Nellie... You got petals on the book. This isn't mine. I can't afford to let it get dirty.

Nellie: It's your fault, dearest Mell I tried to get your attention.

Nellie: And besides, flowers won't get a book dirty!

Mell: I must raise the white flag. When did my little lady find herself such a sharp wit?

Nellie: While waiting for you, dearest Mell.

Nellie: I waited, and I waited, and you didn't so much as glance at me. I'll be an adult by the time you're done reading that book.

Mell: Wow, that soon?

Nellie: That soon. Mother says girls grow up fast.

Mell: Haha, she may be right.

Mell: In that case, we should do something together before you're all grown up. Surely you won't play with me any longer when you become an adult.

Nellie: That's not true! I'll still play with you, even when I'm grown up!

Mell: But grown-ups don't play, Nellie.

Nellie: F-Fine! I'll stay a child forever, then!

Mell: Didn't you just say you were about to grow up?

Nellie: Nnh…

Nellie: You're so mean, Mell...

Nell: Aha... I'm sorry. Please don't pout, my little lady. How about this? To make it up to you, I'll play whatever you want today.

Nellie: Really? Do you mean it? I want to play make-believe!

Nell: Make-believe?

Nellie: Make-believe. I will be a princess taken captive by an evil kingdom, and you, dearest Mell, will be my valiant knight.

Nellie: And then you turn into a prince when you rescue me.

Mell: A knight can become a prince?Impressive.

Nellie: They can! Knights and princes both have to be charming, so of course they can!

Nellie: Which is why... Which is why it must be you, dearest Mell. No one else can be my prince—or my knight.

While he may have appeared outwardly embarrassed as his rose-cheeked sister proclaimed prattlingly, I am certain he was smiling on the inside.

After a few moments, he meekly knelt, bringing himself to eye level with Nellie and gently stroking her soft hair.

Mell: All right, then. You're my princess, Nellie.

Nellie: And not just anyone's princess, dearest Mell, but yours alone!

Nellie: So um... don't be anyone else's prince but mine, okay?

Mell: Jeez, my princess is quite the fawner.

Nellie: Is that... bad? Does that make you dislike me?

Mell: Not at all. I'm proud to have you as my sister, Nellie.

Mell: You mean more to me than anything in the world, my dear princess.

Nellie: Hehe!

Nellie: I love you, dearest Mell! You'll always be my prince, forever and ever!

Her mood quite improved, Nellie began humming the melody of the song she had forgotten the lyrics to.

Holding the skirt of her dress out from her body, the young girl pranced about the rose garden. Mell, his eyes on her back, gave a little shrug.

Mell: Oh, Nellie... Don't come crying to me if you trip running like that.

But Mell was not entirely disapproving of his sister's excitement.

He carefully brushed aside the petals on his book, set it in the shade of the tree, and began chasing after Nellie.

They were picturesque siblings, brimming with hope. And at this time in their lives, there was nothing to jeopardize that hope.

Would it not be wonderful if children could stay children forever, Master?

As I see it, though, the pleasant, gentle times in our lives have value because they come to an end.

Wouldn't you agree?

Time continues to flow, impartial and without exception. And as such, everyone's childhood comes to an end.

Be that as it may... does time also flow at the same speed for each individual?

...Hehehe. Now, let us take a trip down the river of time.

I would be very much delighted if we could remain at this point in time, but unfortunately, we cannot.

Please, do not let go of my hand, Master.