Chapter 36
Chapter 36
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 36
Chapter Title: #7 Memories (4)
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The ones who discovered Tiria collapsed that day were the village elders who came rushing after hearing the news late.
It was Luton, who had watched the magic beast from afar, who had spread the word.
After that day, Tiria lay unconscious in her room for about three days, and because of it, Baron Weibin's temper was sharper than ever.
What Tiria remembered was the tense atmosphere of the mansion when she first opened her eyes, and the recent news the maids exchanged in low voices.
-Young Master Portman went missing too, but he was just found yesterday, right?
-Don't even get me started. The Baron was furious, saying he was going to confront the Portmans. He seemed convinced that the young lady had been kidnapped.
-The Portmans... well, they'll probably settle it with money. They're rich beyond comparison to our baron's family, after all.
-What's there to say? Considering the baron's spending habits, isn't all this commotion just to squeeze some money out of them?
At the time, she hadn't understood anything beyond the fact that Elric was safe, so she simply felt relieved.
But looking back, that was how it was.
Her father must have been glad to pin the blame for her battered state on the Portmans. After all, what father would want rumors spreading about him beating his own daughter?
On top of that coincidental incident, he'd even gained some money, which was icing on the cake.
Of course, that didn't guarantee Tiria's safety.
“Do you have any idea how disappointed your father is?! From today onward, you'll be under even stricter surveillance! Engrave deep in your heart that this is all because you've disappointed me!”
The dreamlike days came to an end.
Reality tormented Tiria more vividly and cruelly than the dream.
Going out was out of the question.
She could barely spend one or two hours in the garden under strict supervision, and the corporal punishment combined with her education was carried out far more harshly than before.
Only one thing had changed.
‘I'm not sorry.’
Only Tiria had changed.
Now she understood.
She had done nothing wrong, there was no reason for her to hurt like this, and no reason to be scolded by these people.
Elric had taught her that.
What he engraved in her heart was the feeling of loving herself a little more, and of loving others.
And also,
“To become an elegant lady, you must start over with your walking posture!”
“Yes.”
He had planted a dream in her.
Now Tiria no longer questioned why she had to become an excellent wife.
She wanted to grow into an excellent wife herself.
She could move forward using the dream of becoming his bride as a stepping stone.
How could walking endlessly through a cave without knowing the end be the same as passing through a path where you know what's at the end?
With the promised reward, she couldn't collapse.
She could muster more strength, and even if she stumbled, she could stand again.
It was the same even after she grew a bit more mature.
Even after realizing that marriage to Elric was an absurd notion, those memories lifted her up.
It was more than just a simple first love.
Those short memories with Elric had been the pillar that ultimately supported Tiria Weibin, allowing her never to give up on herself.
He taught her the sensation of being loved.
He shared his body heat with her.
Even in the coldest midst of winter, he let her know that spring would come someday.
For that reason, she endured and lived on,
“And you'll be marrying Portman.”
And he came to her as the name of spring.
Just like the miracle that had come to her in those young days.
*
Tiria slowly opened her eyes.
In her daze, the first thing she saw was the botanical encyclopedia sprawled out in a mess.
Had she fallen asleep while reading?
She had a good dream after a long time, and her body felt refreshed.
It wasn't just her imagination; the stuffy feeling had almost entirely dissipated.
That was the moment.
“Are you awake?”
Elric's voice rang out.
Tiria startled and lifted her head.
He stood by the window, looking at her.
His gentle smile was quite serene.
“I distinctly remember telling you to retire early, yet it seems you stayed up late. Why was that?”
Even though he put on a stern tone, his mischievous expression made him look anything but angry.
Suddenly, a sense of disconnect arose.
‘As expected...’
He had become quite composed compared to his childhood.
It was unfamiliar to Tiria.
If not for the occasional traces of his younger self, she might have forgotten that he was the same boy she had loved.
She didn't know how he had lived the past ten years, but that coltish temperament was certainly gone.
“Lady?”
“...Ah.”
Tiria carefully stroked the top of her head with her hand and replied.
“I must have fallen asleep early. I don't remember reading the book for long.”
“You're truly incorrigible.”
“I'm sor...”
She paused, her words cutting off.
Instead, a faint smile formed.
-Don't apologize without a reason, you idiot. Apologizing first makes you look weak.
Why did those words come to mind first?
Tiria composed her expression, wiping away the smile.
And she closed the botanical encyclopedia.
Elric was drawing back the curtains.
The winter morning sunlight poured in dazzlingly, brightly illuminating the room.
“The weather's nice today. A bit blinding. Probably because of the piled-up snow.”
“Is that so?”
“Of course, what else?”
With a swipe, Elric wiped away the frost on the window.
A deep smile played on his lips.
“Isn't this place like that? Everything sparkles throughout the year. Green seedlings in spring, lush and glaring in summer. Golden all over in autumn, and pure white in winter.”
Right after speaking, Elric's lips twitched briefly, and he continued.
“I missed this kind of thing. While I was away.”
Then he turned his head to look at Tiria.
Was it rude to worry first if he had any sleep in his eyes while showing such sentimentality?
A brief dilemma passed through her mind.
Of course, Elric, unaware of her thoughts, continued with a slightly playful smile.
“So, I had an idea last night.”
“What is it?”
“Weibin's scenery has a serene hue, but isn't it too monotonous? And the mansion is even more so. This place is just too barren.”
Tap, tap.
Elric knocked on the window.
“So, how about you plant some flowers in the mansion's garden, Lady? When spring comes.”
“Flowers... you mean?”
“You like gardening, don't you?”
Tiria’s eyes widened.
Her mouth opened slightly in surprise.
A pleasant tightness gripped her heart, spreading through her body.
Tiria hesitated before asking.
“...Did you know?”
“Hm? About gardening? I remember hearing about it around the time of our marriage talks. Am I wrong?”
What was this cowardly, sudden intrusion?
Tiria gripped the blanket unnecessarily and shook her head slightly.
Elric grinned broadly.
“Good. I remembered correctly.”
Correctly, my foot.
“...Thank you.”
He claimed not to remember anything from that time, so what was “correctly” about it?
But there was no helping it; he probably couldn't recall that day fully.
It was said that upon returning from his disappearance, he had forgotten everything from that day, making it very difficult to properly grasp the incident.
“What's there to thank?”
“It's something to be grateful for, that you remembered.”
“Enough.”
It was regrettable that the events of that day had become a memory only for her.
But it was okay.
It might be selfish, but beneath his earlobe remained a trace of that day he couldn't remember with his head.
The thought that the scar was from her made her feel sorry yet satisfied—a shameful thing.
But what could she do? That's how he was.
In the midst of it, Elric tilted his head at Tiria's gaze.
“What are you staring at so intently... Ah, this scar.”
Elric touched his neck.
“It's from when I was young. I got hurt a lot playing rough.”
His sheepish look tickled a smile out of her, so Tiria composed her expression further.
And nodded.
“Yes, I've heard something like that.”
“...Somehow, it doesn't sound like good news.”
“Don't worry about it. More importantly, I'd like to change clothes now. Could you step out for a moment?”
“Ah, right. Your fever seems to have gone down quite a bit. I'll be back shortly.”
Elric leaned on his cane and left the room.
Click, the door closed, and only then did Tiria place her hand on her chest.
Thump— thump—
Her heart was pounding hard.
Suddenly, the thought came that she might have already fulfilled half her dream.
Since the moment she opened her eyes, she had seen his smile first.
Even after so much time had passed, it had turned out that way.
She was living the day in such sweetness.
-Madam, I've brought the washing water.
“...Yes, come in.”
...Her face heated up embarrassingly.
She needed cold water.