eaning against the wall, motionless. The blood in the girl''s veins, which had always flowed briskly and evenly, now surged and churned like the tempest outside.

A gentle tap seemed to echo on the window glass, blending with the rhythmic patter of raindrops, almost indistinguishable. In an instant, she sat up straight, holding her breath, listening intently.

"Edith? It''s me," a hoarse voice called from outside the window, its words nearly drowned in the cacophony of the storm.

But all at once, she recognised that voice.

She leaped to the window, but her trembling hand couldn''t push open the pane.

The person outside pounded heavily once more, "Allow me in, Edith! I don''t seek your forgiveness! Just let me see you one last time!"

Edith, overwhelmed with emotion, pushed open the window, allowing the raging wind and rain to unscrupulously rush in. She grasped his pleading arms and forcefully pulled him into the room, then the drenched figure fell into her embrace. She held him tightly, feeling his body burning hot, shivering in the scorching heat of July.

They didn''t exchange a word, only kissed each other''s lips with reckless abandon. In those few minutes, their kisses were more, deeper than all the kisses they had shared throughout the entire year.

"I''m sorry, Edith!" After the initial wave of passion subsided, he rested his feverish forehead against hers, but averted his gaze, refusing to meet her eyes. "I tried so hard, running around for Citizeness Saint-Clemont. But in the end, I failed to save her life