"My beloved, by the time I first met her, she was already dead."
The painter said, then took out a small wooden box from his pocket.
His movements were extremely careful and gentle, as if something rare and precious was stored inside.
Then, the wooden box was opened.
The painter took out a book from it, neither large nor thick. It seemed old but had been well preserved by its master.
With the dim light in the room, Kanoya and Tsurumi could barely make out the white book cover, adorned with a pure and lively edelweiss. The book was titled — "Lapis Lazuli".
The painter gently caressed the small book with his hand: "Lapis Lazuli, beautiful name, isn't it? It's the name of this book, and it was also her name. My Lapis Lazuli, this is how I came to know her."
