ERTHMB Chapter 153

A Person Like Poetry

“Did the work go well?”

At noon the next day, Ian asked as he greeted Helena, who had returned with Dion.

Helena nodded in greeting to Dion, who naturally took her coat to put it away, then answered.

“Yes, I filed the complaint and found a good lawyer too.”

Once Dion closed the door and left, only the two of them remained in Ian’s study. As Helena accepted the warm teacup Ian offered to warm her hands, she subtly furrowed her brow.

“Are you okay? You didn’t seem to sleep last night.”

“—I’m fine.”

Ian replied curtly, cutting her off dismissively. Unusually coldly turning away, he stood before the window. Through the window frame neatly divided into navy blue sections, the sounds of sparring practice could be heard intermittently.

Last evening, Helena had returned to this villa with him and realized Ian’s knights were also present. She hadn’t seen much of Elai and Sakin since they frequently left their posts, but Eden, Samte, and Odyssey were still around.

Eden spent all day reading books, Samte could be found quietly meditating and occasionally munching on large chunks of bread. And as for Odyssey…

‘He got injured for some reason. They all just made up excuses about fooling around on slippery roads and tumbling.’

Whenever Ian saw the bandages wrapped around Odyssey’s arms and legs, he made an expression as if he were the one in pain. Even now, he must have turned away hastily to hide such an expression.

Even without trying to be aware of it, it was all too clear where his guilt was directed. Helena couldn’t know the exact reason, but she couldn’t bear to see him suffering even more.

Helena also approached the window to share Ian’s view. Beyond the window he was gazing through, there was Odyssey shouting spirited “kyaahs” and Samte silently receiving his attacks.

Despite having a splint on his left arm, Odyssey showed no sign of being discouraged as he wielded his wooden sword with his right arm.

“Look, he’s already running around excitedly like that.”

Helena placed her hand on Ian’s back to comfort him. But Ian only forced a smile.

Helena finally let out a small sigh and grabbed him, turning him around to face her.

“Why do you think Odyssey getting hurt is your fault?”

“I never thought that.”

“You’re doing it right now.”

When Ian awkwardly averted his eyes, Helena shook him, meaning for him to look at her properly.

Ian took a resigned breath, gave his face a dry rub, and looked at Helena.

“I’m really fine, Helen. Your matters are complicated enough, you don’t need to worry about me.”

Ian shook his captured arm to escape Helena’s hold, but Helena instead pulled his arm.

Ian, who had been loosely relaxing his strength, swayed slightly and bent his upper body. Helena tapped near Ian’s eyes and replied as if admonishing him.

“The only way I won’t worry is if you’re really okay. No matter how much you insist, the dark circles under your eyes are telling the whole truth.”

Ian clenched his jaw and let out a muffled grumble.

Nevertheless, he was thorough. He maintained a secretiveness and pettiness that didn’t reveal his innermost thoughts.

Ian used his captured arm to pull the glaring Helena toward the sofa.

“Then help me not have bad dreams tonight.”

Ian flopped his body down on the sofa. Helena, who had been holding on tightly in case he might escape, was naturally pulled down beside Ian.

Perhaps it was placed for taking breaks between work sessions—the sofa was large and plush. Large enough that even someone as big as Ian could lie down using her lap as a pillow.

“What do you think you’re doing right now?”

“I think I’m taking an ordinary nap.”

This time Helena grumbled. Helena lightly bounced her knees, shaking Ian. Ian didn’t yield and adjusted his head above her knees to find a more comfortable spot.

Then he pulled Helena’s hand and placed it on his head. Moving it back and forth a couple of times to mean ‘stroke me,’ he withdrew his hand and closed his eyes.

Helena raised her eyebrows as she scratched his scalp with her nails.

“An ordinary nap?”

“The ordinary is the most difficult, isn’t it? Where is there a more ordinary noon than this?”

Ian replied without fail even while groaning. He didn’t forget to shamelessly urge her on by shaking Helena’s wrist, meaning for her to continue.

Helena had no choice but to soften her raised nails and slowly stroke his head. She could feel the tension gradually leaving Ian’s body.

He must have been tired. Before long, Helena could hear his even breathing.

His settled body gently rose and fell with his slow breathing. Helena continued her gentle stroking as she gazed at Ian’s face.

Watching him sleep in such an unguarded state actually felt quite good. It felt even better thinking this peaceful face was created because of her. Helena indulged in the languid feeling, leaning back and closing her eyes as well.

When she opened her eyes again, her body felt a bit heavier. Looking at the clock, thirty minutes had passed. She had only meant to enjoy leisurely time, but apparently dozed off.

Ian was still sleeping soundly with soft breathing. Now he seemed to be having a pleasant dream—the small smile hanging on his lips was adorable.

Helena shielded her eyes with her hand to observe him, then carefully placed a cushion under his head and rose cautiously.

The slanted sunlight immediately poured onto Ian’s face. Though winter sunlight wasn’t harsh, it wasn’t light conducive to deep sleep either.

Helena first covered him with a thick blanket, then firmly drew the curtains to block the window. Then she tiptoed out of the room.

“It’s like I came to a resort.”

Aside from her own sound of stretching fully, the surroundings were quiet. Even the outside, which had been noisy with endless sparring, had become quiet at some point.

‘Where did everyone go?’

Helena stealthily descended the stairs like a child playing hide-and-seek and went out the front door.

She looked around while putting on her cloak, but there were no figures in sight. Still, it wasn’t difficult to find traces left by the knights.

Helena followed the trampled, hardened ground and tangled weeds. The knights, being strong, had left clearly imprinted footprints here and there, making them even easier to find.

Eventually reaching a place where she could no longer distinguish the traces, Helena raised her head. Her role as seeker had been excellent.

They were under a tree where sunlight warmly penetrated.

Eden was leaning against the tree reading a book, and Odyssey was sleeping beside him using the stack of books Eden had piled up as a pillow. Samte wasn’t visible, perhaps meditating in the secluded backyard.

Helena approached while minimizing her footsteps as much as possible. Surely he must have sensed her presence, but Eden showed no movement. She only knew he wasn’t asleep by the occasional hand turning pages.

Helena sat beside him, also using the tree as a backrest.

“Aren’t you cold?”

When she offered the blanket she’d brought just in case, he didn’t decline. Eden briefly set down his book and covered Odyssey’s body with the blanket.

During this time, Helena, who had been reading boring titles like [The Beginning of Magical Engineering], [Advanced Magic Mathematics], and [Basics of Healing Magic], quickly interjected before Eden could pick up his book again.

“I’m curious about something—when did you start accompanying Ian?”

“If I remember correctly, it was from when I turned seventy.”

The answer came back so quickly that it made her earlier hesitation seem almost ridiculous. However, Helena couldn’t digest it right away and hesitated.

“So you mean Eden is seventy…?”

“Having magical power pointlessly extends one’s lifespan.”

Of course, she had heard that mages lived longer lives than ordinary people. But encountering the statement of seventy with that face gave her a dazed sensation far removed from reality.

Helena froze with her mouth open at the disparity she couldn’t easily accept. Eden left her alone and picked up his book again. Silence continued for a while.

Too shocked, Helena had forgotten her question when Eden subtly tugged at the thread of conversation for her.

“You were probably really curious about the Master’s past.”

“Ah.”

Helena’s attention returned to reality. Needlessly adjusting the knot of her cloak, Helena looked up at the firmly curtained window among the row of windows.

‘I hope he doesn’t wake up and sleeps deeply.’

This wasn’t the first time she’d seen Ian blame himself. True to his confession that he feared loss, he couldn’t bear losing something.

Commonly, most cases involved people around him getting hurt.

Perhaps having read the general outline from her question and expression, Eden immediately threw out the main point.

“The Master witnessed his mother being murdered right before his eyes. Ever since then, whenever those close to him get hurt, he thinks it’s all his fault.”

“…When?”

“It must have been before he met you, Miss. I decided to become the Master’s sword much later, so I don’t know the details.”

The time in Helena’s mind rapidly rewound to settle on a certain childhood day.

Then it made sense why Ian, when they met in those days, had been cynical and extremely guarded, unlike now. He must have walked a heart-wrenching painful journey before being sold as a slave and locked in her house’s basement.

And Helena loved such a man. Just as he had thoroughly drenched her, she wanted to love him completely without gaps.

Helena asked further, as if seeking advice from a sage.

“Eden, have you ever loved anyone?”

Since they were beings who experienced lives beyond human scope, they might have a grasp on what the right way to love was. As expected, Eden gave an answer without pause this time as well.

“I think people are like poetry—they differ depending on how you read them. Even common words are read with different meanings depending on who holds them.”

The gray eyes that met hers beyond the glass lenses held a warmth quite close to spring breeze, unlike their achromatic color.

It was an odd answer, but Helena could sense what he meant just from the look he gave her.

“When people who read the same meaning meet, that would be fate.”

Adding this, Eden adjusted his glasses and turned his head with economical movements. His gaze dropping to his book was resolute, as if the conversation was over.

Helena watched his profile that fell precisely at restrained angles. She knew it was time to retreat, but it was too early to leave yet. There was one more thing that needed to be clarified.

“But… you know. Should I perhaps call you Grandfather?”

“—Eden.”

Call me whatever is comfortable—far from the expected answer, he was resolute.

“I’d prefer if you just called me Eden, like you do now.”