Wait, it's not over yet; there's still one mystery to be solved!

-


I had taken up Mel's regular duties, I noticed. Right now, I was kneeling in the dirt, planting moonflower bulbs in her mother's garden. Affairs of state prevented Mel and the marquis from visiting, and I knew that Mel was a little sad that she would not be able to watch the garden as it bloomed. Still, if Mel's face and actions were any indications, she was giddy from happiness with Shevraeth and I could tell that the two of them loved each other very much. I still hadn't believed Mel when she told me how it happened. It sounds like something out of a romance novel, I had told her and she laughed. Love suited Mel, I thought.

I grabbed another bulb and dug my spade into the ground. Even the expressionless marquis, I discovered, smiled much more now and whenever he looked at her, there was a softness in his eyes. It reminded me of the way my husband Jerrol looks at me.

I don't know if it was Mel's influence or the general mood of the kingdom, but the people of Tlanth and I were greeted warmly by the courtiers when we arrived. I think Kidra even found a flirt in Geral Kedarec, a quiet young lord who loves music as much as she does. I think there, in the palace, nobility and commoners finally found a common ground; we were both there to celebrate the marriage of two people we loved.

I dug another hole with my spade, but this time, instead of the soil giving away, it retaliated with a dull thunk. Curious, I dug deeper and found something flat and thin. Pulling it out, I brushed off the dirt to find a book, very worn and tattered and dirty with the remains of a very fine green binding clinging to its cover.

… I shall keep this in a safe place.

And she had. But now, I had found it and my fingers itched to open the diary once again.

My hand stopped.

Did I really want to read it? I hovered over the diary, filled with indecision.

I bit my lip, then let out a short laugh.

-

What Meliara wanted to stay buried, would remain buried.

-

I laid it back into the hole carefully, then covered the top of it with dirt.

-

Then, I planted a moonflower bulb over it, filled the hole in with dirt, and moved on.

-

I shall not force thy hand, good reader but I should greatly appreciate it if thou woulds't click yon review button.