Chapter 12
Dinner ended without any further discussion about what had happened.
An apology alone was not enough to instantly repair a relationship.
The two of them were still strangers. And since they knew so little about each other, there was hardly anything they could talk about.
In the end, the atmosphere turned awkward again, and after finishing the meal, they went to sleep and morning came.
“Good morning, young master. Did you sleep well?”
“I’m up.”
Elric rose from bed, feeling the air growing slightly colder.
After washing his face and shaking off the remnants of sleep, memories of the previous night drifted through his mind.
A faint, bitter smile appeared on his lips.
Now that he had finally decided on a destination, there was a strange sense of clarity.
Groan…
He pushed himself up, supporting his injured leg.
He had decided he would leave once the leg healed, but it was clear that would not be soon.
At least he would have to spend the winter here. If he allowed more time, it was likely he would still be here in spring.
Whatever the case, during that time he would need to help Tiria.
There was not much he could do in his condition, but doing nothing would feel even more uncomfortable.
“I will come in.”
Aludio opened the door.
Behind him, a maid carried a basin filled with cold water.
“Wash water, sir.”
“Thank you. You may go.”
Even now, Elric was still not used to people preparing everything for him the moment he opened his eyes.
He waved the maid away and washed his face.
The cold water fully awakened him. After quickly washing his hair, shaking off the moisture, and changing his clothes, he was finally ready to go out.
“Let’s go.”
“Yes. Her ladyship is waiting.”
“She must be busy.”
“Isn’t it the family rule that meals are taken together? The master’s iron principle.”
Elric gave a small laugh.
That was right. His father had insisted that at least breakfast must always be eaten together as a family. A man obsessively strict about schedules, he had even punished Elric by making him skip meals all day if he missed breakfast.
That tradition still remained in the estate.
“Then let’s go down. We’ll be late otherwise.”
Elric leaned on his cane and left the room.
When he arrived at the dining hall, Tiria gave a slight nod.
“Good morning.”
“Good morning.”
For a moment, their eyes met.
Tiria blinked. Elric gave an awkward smile.
After everything that had happened the day before, it was hard to act normally, yet acting differently would also feel strange.
“Let’s sit and eat. You must have work to do.”
“Yes.”
Breakfast, as always, consisted of bacon, bread, and eggs.
Simple, filling, and in a way, perfect for easing awkward silence.
They began eating with soft clinks of cutlery.
Elric thought he would finish quickly and then look into the matter of inheritance succession changes.
But then—
“…Harvest season will begin soon.”
Tiria spoke.
“It seems it will take about a week to complete.”
“Oh, is that so?”
“Yes.”
He was slightly surprised that she had initiated a topic.
When he looked up, she was quietly nibbling her food.
A strange pressure settled over Elric.
What am I supposed to say here?
Because she had started the conversation, he felt obligated to respond.
If he let it drop, it would feel like he was being rude.
Cold sweat formed slightly on his back.
“Hmm…”
Harvest, huh.
The word pulled something from his memory.
“…It reminds me of the past.”
“What do you mean?”
“During harvest season, all the adults gather in the wheat fields to work, right? So the kids are left on their own. We used to play pranks we couldn’t normally do under adult supervision.”
He called them pranks, but they had often been dangerous.
Exploring monster-infested hills.
Sneaking outside the territory to play war games.
Now that he thought about it, it was impressive no one had died.
“So you were quite the troublemaker.”
Elric flinched inwardly.
Those troublemakers…!
He suddenly remembered the shopkeeper who used to give them snacks every time they visited, shouting at them like that.
He lowered his gaze slightly, focusing on eating faster.
Meanwhile, Tiria seemed hesitant.
Or at least, she looked hesitant—she kept glancing at her plate while lightly pushing her food around.
“…Do you have something to say?”
“Ah.”
Her fingers tightened slightly around her knife.
Then she hesitated, before speaking.
“…May I ask you for a favor?”
“A favor?”
What could make her speak so carefully?
Elric nodded.
“Speak. I will help as much as I can.”
“It is about the Harvest Festival.”
“The Harvest Festival…”
He remembered it.
Wibin’s Harvest Festival was a four-day celebration held after the wheat harvest ended.
Wine and grain were distributed throughout the territory to honor the people who had worked hard through the year.
It had been organized by his father.
And honestly, Elric did not have particularly fond memories of it.
To him, the Harvest Festival was a time when his father became even more distant.
“Is there a problem with the festival?”
“Not exactly a problem. The Wibin Harvest Festival is still overseen by Portman. On the final night, the head of the house is expected to give a speech.”
“I remember something like that.”
“Last year, since the former head passed away, I delivered it in his place. But this year…”
Only then did Elric understand.
“You want me to give the speech?”
“…Yes.”
Tiria’s hands had completely stopped moving.
Elric thought for a moment.
He had already decided to leave—was it really right for him to take the role of head of the house? Shouldn’t it be her responsibility instead?
But at the same time, refusing her request did not feel right either.
“Hmm…”
There might be a compromise.
“I have an idea.”
“Yes?”
“I am not confident in giving speeches. But it would also be strange for the head of Portman not to appear. So how about this—you give the speech, and I stand beside you.”
That seemed reasonable.
It would show that Tiria held real authority, while still respecting her request.
The only concern was whether she would agree…
“…If that is what you wish, then at least for this year.”
Fortunately, she accepted.
“The condition of ‘for this year’ is fine. That will be enough.”
“Then let us proceed. If you need anything regarding the festival, tell Aludio. He knows more than I do.”
“Yes.”
Tiria nodded.
* * *
Something was different.
Strange.
Tiria had been thinking about this constantly.
She had no choice.
Aside from the fact that he still seemed displeased at their first reunion and still considered her part of the Wibin family, Elric’s behavior had been unexpectedly gentle.
So gentle that it gave her hope.
Especially his apology for the past ten years.
The sincerity in his words—how he regretted leaving, how he said it was not her fault—had shocked her more than she cared to admit.
Her heart still thudded when she remembered it.
Her face grew warm.
Whether he truly meant it or not, she could not tell.
And yet she still wanted to believe it.
Maybe… maybe he did not hate her after all.
That thought would not leave her.
Even asking for help with the Harvest Festival had been part of that hope.
Officially, it was because the head of Portman needed to appear.
But she could not deny her personal desire.
And what she kept thinking about was the event after the speech.
…The Night Festival.
On that day, a massive bonfire would burn in the village square.
People would dance around it.
She had watched it since childhood.
And at some point, she had begun imagining Elric beside her.
Maybe… she could finally fulfill that wish.
If he did not dislike it.
Of course, he would not be able to dance with his injured leg. She did not expect that much.
She only wanted to be there together.
As she thought about it, her face grew hotter again.
She pressed her hand lightly against her cheek.
Thankfully, she was alone in her office.
If she had been outside, she would have struggled to hide her emotions.
Haa…
She exhaled to calm herself.
Knock knock.
“Lady, may I come in?”
Aludio’s voice.
Tiria’s expression immediately returned to neutrality.
“…Come in.”
Her tone also returned to its usual calm.
She was a woman who never showed her emotions to others.
