ERTHMB Chapter 74

Often, Much

 

The breaking sound heard during the day was probably Gelda’s glasses. Lily would have exchanged all the pocket money she had saved to get new glasses to make up for her mistake.

 

Lily was hesitating, unable to lift her head. Helena crouched down in front of her to meet her eye level.

 

“It’s a gift you prepared, so the person who prepared it should give it directly.”

 

“It’s not a gift, I’m just paying her back… And it’s not even better than the original one.”

 

Helena pulled over her maple leaf-like hand and placed the leather case in it.

 

“Listen, Lily. Actually, expensive doesn’t always mean a good gift. The value of a gift is sometimes determined only when it reaches the hands of the recipient.”

 

“Value?”

 

“If you could choose, would you rather receive butter pudding or a history book, Lily?”

 

“Butter pudding!”

 

“Right? So this is like very, very delicious butter pudding to Gelda. She’ll be extremely happy.”

 

“Do you really think so?”

 

“She might even wear them to sleep.”

 

Helena tilted her head toward the drawing room, indicating for her to go in.

 

Lily left several more sweaty fingerprints on the case before turning around. The door opened and closed, leaving a brief streak of bright light.

 

Helena felt a warm, tickling sensation in a corner of her chest. She held it precious as she returned to her room.

 

The next morning, Gelda and Lily appeared in the dining room with puffy eyes.

 

Helena pretended not to notice and focused only on her meal.

 

And from that day on, Gelda visited Flam’s smithy every day. She was supposedly learning how to sharpen knives.

 

Flam came asking if she was some new breed of magical beast, saying she was sharpening her teeth too, claiming she would slice up some Bibi or whatever.

 

Well. Helena decided to pretend not to know about that as well.

 

****

 

Ian leaned against the outer wall of the lodging and let out a sigh. The pale wisps dissolved into the night air like cigarette smoke.

 

‘I made a mistake.’

 

Several dry face washes passed. His face was rough from not getting enough sleep.

 

For several nights, he had been tossing and turning, dwelling on that day that was like spilled ink.

 

What he couldn’t forget most was the expression that colored her face when he confessed.

 

The untouchable afterimage was lodged between the folds of his brain, delivering harsh self-flagellation.

 

‘I should have hidden it longer.’

 

Her face was definitely not the face of a woman who had received a confession. It was more like facing a magical beast.

 

He had never thought his confession would become a death sentence for someone.

 

But what was even more unbelievable was something else. Even at this moment, he only thought about wanting to see her. So desperately that his heart ached.

 

Ian no longer thought about Helena occasionally like before. He couldn’t think about her occasionally.

 

He thought about her often. Much.

 

So often and so much that sometimes he felt like he had become her.

 

That’s why he couldn’t chase after her, who hid in her burrow like a startled rabbit every time she saw him. Knowing how she must be feeling right now, he couldn’t force his way into her burrow.

 

But that didn’t make his longing subside either, so Ian felt like he was trapped in a maze with no exit. If only he could chew on loneliness, he would tear it apart and swallow it without leaving a trace.

 

While he was clutching his head and groaning, a cheerful humming sound passed in front of him.

 

“My lord? What are you doing here?”

 

When had it been since he entered the guild a few hours ago looking like the world had ended? Sakin approached with a very refreshed gait. Ian glanced at him briefly and muttered.

 

“Just thinking.”

 

“I think I saw you here earlier too. What are you thinking about all day?”

 

“…Actually, not thinking, but reflecting.”

 

“Did you do something wrong?”

 

“Seems like it.”

 

“Are you saying you did?”

 

“…Yes.”

 

As soon as Ian reluctantly agreed, Sakin boldly stepped forward with his assertion.

 

“Then you should untangle the knot before it’s too late! How can you forget after telling me about it?”

 

“Did you untangle yours well?”

 

Sakin vigorously nodded his head while raising his thumb as if to say what was there to talk about. Ian let out a brief, broken sigh.

 

“Gelda must have been merciful for once.”

 

“The price is offering ten Cerberus, though. Oh, the young lady said she’d help with two of them.”

 

“…Helena?”

 

“Yes! So we’re planning to go together on the next subjugation. Will you join us too, my lord?”

 

His dusty face shone purely bright. Ian’s brow furrowed slightly as he stared at him.

 

Why on earth was this fellow so overflowing with luck? He often encountered her outside when Ian could hardly see her face even with effort.

 

Moreover, Helena had been sticking to Sakin like a shield since the confession incident.

 

Of course, he knew there was no particular intention on his part. But he couldn’t help feeling annoyed at the sight.

 

Ian scolded him as if venting his frustration.

 

“Forget it. From now on, develop the habit of leaving word in advance when you’re going to be away. That way, whether I accompany you or send someone else, we can prevent accidents like today’s. Don’t you think you’ve become too lax just because we’re outside the palace, Sakin?”

 

It was a tone with bite that even a child could understand, as he returned to being a strict monarch after a while. Sakin humbly repented, saying he would keep it in mind, but soon tilted his head slightly with his face full of questions.

 

“However, my lord… Haven’t you never been curious about where I go usually?”

 

At that moment, as if he had gained some special insight, Sakin struck his palm with his fist.

 

“Oh, could this be jealousy? I’m sorry! I didn’t realize you cared for me this much, my lord!”

 

“How does it come to that?”

 

“My second younger brother always acted like this when I only played with my youngest brother. It must be because I haven’t been able to spend time with you lately, my lord!”

 

“No-“

 

“But please understand. The young lady seems to be in a bad mood lately, so I feel like I should at least stay by her side.”

 

“That’s why-“

 

“I’ll be careful from now on!”

 

Sakin bowed his head deeply. The blue ponytail that swayed with him slapped Ian’s chest with a thwack.

 

How refreshingly sobering. Ian pushed off from the wall he was leaning against and turned to leave.

 

“Right, I should be careful with my words in front of you from now on too.”

 

****

 

Futuo, where shipbuilding and maritime trade were mainly developed, didn’t have many bookstores. The residents of Futuo preferred stories told directly by the rough sea breeze over knowledge scribbled on a few sheets of paper.

 

Therefore, Eden Levittus was able to find a bookstore to his liking only after wandering around for a whole month.

 

The library shelves arranged in shaded areas to prevent books from being damaged, the paper smell emanating from aged ancient books, and even the plush rocking chair placed behind the desk.

 

Most of all, the fact that the owner was an old man who lacked the energy to tend the store all day. That was the most satisfying aspect. Eden gladly volunteered as a benevolent volunteer and settled into the bookstore.

 

[You’d work without receiving pay?]

 

[It’s enough to let me read books freely during idle time.]

 

[What a rare, decent young man. I’m already grateful that you caught the calculation error during the last transaction. I would have suffered a loss if not for you.]

 

There was no reason to refuse an honest young man offering such exceptional conditions.

 

Additionally, his appearance, which looked like a respectable high-ranking official from the capital, contributed to high trustworthiness. The owner readily entrusted him with the keys.

 

Thanks to this, Eden came in early in the morning, unlocking the door as if it were his own store. He even held a cup of black tea brewed from the attic as he settled into the rocking chair.

 

When he opened the book he had selected the night before, typeface like blue fields spread out.

 

Eden prepared to dive deep into it. There were no noisy assistants, no troublesome colleagues. These days were the best respite he could have.

 

Ding-.

 

If only the customer who just entered hadn’t come, it really would have been.

 

‘It’s the first time someone’s come at this hour.’

 

Eden checked the uninvited guest without lowering the book cover that half-covered his face. His gaze through the lenses narrowed.

 

‘A man like that wouldn’t have come all the way to this cramped place to buy books…’

 

The man swept back his black hair once. An impatience that couldn’t be completely hidden showed on his cold face. By the looks of it, was he looking for a person rather than books?

 

His prediction was correct. After looking around inside, the man came straight to Eden.

 

“I have something to ask.”

 

“What’s the description?”

 

It was a question that came out before he even stated his business. Eugene’s eyes subtly changed shape.

 

Eden lowered the leg he had crossed over the desk and said.

 

“You have the expression of someone looking for a person. The only faces I’ve seen for the past few months have been like that. I can’t help but read it.”

 

The book with a bookmark snapped shut. Eden placed his clasped hands on the thick book cover and looked up.

 

“So, who are you looking for, sir?”

 

Before taking out Helena’s portrait from his breast, Eugene maintained the deeply connected gaze for a moment.

 

The irises that held a rather sharp energy were out of place for a leisurely bookstore owner. Someone this perceptive would find it easier to remember people too.

 

A strange sense of anticipation colored his complexion. Eugene unfolded the folded portrait and held it out over the desk.

 

“I’m looking for my wife. I heard she stayed at an inn in this area with a silver-haired man.”

 

Eden picked up the picture and brought it closer.

 

A strange sense of déjà vu arose in his expression. The expressionless woman in the picture had red hair and blue eyes. A beauty so striking that once encountered, it would be hard to forget. He had never seen her.

 

Yet, why did she seem so familiar?

 

She was exactly like ‘that woman’ he had heard about countless times from his lord.

 

If she were to be rendered in lines and colors, wouldn’t she look exactly like this?

 

Eden followed his undeniable intuition and asked.

 

“By any chance, her name…?”

 

“Helena.”

 

Ah. Helena.

 

Eden took off his glasses and rubbed his brow as if pondering deeply. It was to hide his shaken expression.

 

A woman named Helena who had run away. And a silver-haired man. A noble lord claiming she was his wife.

 

The connecting lines that had branched out in various directions in his mind finally came together as one.