ERTHMB Chapter 87

The Price of Crossing the Line

 

The sound of footsteps following beside me continued past Flam’s blacksmith shop until we reached the pump. The shadow tag game that had started three days ago seemed to reach its climax today.

 

Because of this, Helena stubbornly refused his help even as she struggled to carry the bucket filled with water. Naturally, her pace slowed, and occasional groans escaped her.

 

Ian cast a narrowed gaze at her as she moved like a turtle.

 

“If you keep being so standoffish like that, even those who were there will all leave.”

 

“That would be great. I’d appreciate it if you left first.”

 

“Hmm, I was actually thinking of leaving soon anyway.”

 

In an instant, Helena’s steps stopped. Due to inertia, some water from the bucket spilled over.

 

The coldness wetting her feet brought Helena to her senses. The spilled water seemed just like her momentarily turbulent heart.

 

‘To think my body would react first to such words…’

 

Helena looked up at Ian. His consistently handsome features immediately filled her vision. He tried to meet her eyes as if he had been waiting. Helena turned her head and quickened her pace again.

 

“You know there’s a difference between your face and your words as vast as heaven and earth, right?”

 

“Since when have you been so interested in me? I’m pleased.”

 

“I suppose you don’t think you’re incapable of lying.”

 

“Well, if that’s the case, I have no choice but to admit it.”

 

Helena’s arms hurt so much that she briefly set the bucket down. Ian bent his waist and snatched the bucket’s handle as if intercepting it.

 

Then, as he straightened his bent torso, he finally ensnared her with his light purple eyes.

 

“I become particularly honest only when I stand before someone.”

 

Helena hurried to follow behind him as he strode ahead. At that moment, Ian suddenly turned around.

 

“So, what did you say my honest face looked like?”

 

Helena, who had bumped her forehead against his chest, backed away with a displeased expression and answered.

 

“…Since it’s your own face, you would know it best.”

 

Then a playful voice returned.

 

“Unless my eyes are attached to my palms, I can’t see my own face, Helen.”

 

His tone was considerably laced with mischievous teasing. Ian suddenly thrust his face forward in front of the frowning Helena.

 

“I’m just curious what you saw that made you call it a lie.”

 

“You’d find it uncomfortable if you heard it.”

 

“You might find it more uncomfortable.”

 

Helena reached out and took the bucket back. Due to the sudden weight, her arm nearly dropped. However, she barely managed to hold on and pushed his face away with her other arm.

 

“I do care for you too, but let’s give up now. No matter how much you pull, I have no intention of completely crossing your line—”

 

Smooch.

 

That was when the mischievous sound occurred. Right on the palm that had been pushing him away.

 

“……”

 

As Helena stood there dazed, the sound from moments before came again. It wasn’t just a touch, but a definite kissing sound.

 

Ian leaned his face over Helena’s palm and asked.

 

“Like this?”

 

“What are you, what are you…!”

 

“If pulling doesn’t work, sometimes I have to push my way in. I’m the one who’s restless, so what can I do? I want to erase the line between us.”

 

Helena felt her face burning terribly. It was a face that could be seen even without eyes on her palm.

 

Even her tongue, which forms words, wouldn’t work properly, so she could only respond after stammering several times.

 

“Who, who gave you permission?”

 

“Your face and words seem quite different too.”

 

Ian took Helena’s hand that had frozen in mid-air and lowered it. Now what had been blocking between them had completely disappeared.

 

Ian came closer and closer. He was narrowing the distance to a point where it could no longer be called “closer.”

 

Helena unconsciously squeezed her eyes shut. She could feel his warm breath moistening her eyelashes. Just as beads of sweat were about to drop from the tightened air, their foreheads touched with a soft bump.

 

When Helena slowly opened her eyes, Ian smiled freshly.

 

“I told you that you’d be more uncomfortable, didn’t I?”

 

Then he returned to an upright posture as if nothing had happened. Helena felt proud of herself for not dropping the bucket all this time.

 

Her legs had no strength. The two supports that should have been functioning had pathetically melted into vanilla pudding.

 

Helena glared at him with a sharp gaze, then dipped her hand into the bucket. Hoping that the handful of water she scooped up would turn into holy water, she scattered it like exorcising an evil spirit. Fortunately, the wicked spirit shrank back momentarily.

 

Helena seized that opportunity to immediately turn around, open the nearest door, and go inside. As soon as she leaned her back against the firmly closed door, she slid down.

 

Ian wiped his wet face with his hand and slowly stepped away. The splashed water path remained clearly on the dirt ground as if telling him to follow.

 

There might be half left in the bucket. With a tickling chuckle, he shouted toward the closed door.

 

“I’ll pay the price for crossing the line tonight!”

 

“……”

 

“I’ll wait in front of the bell tower!”

 

With that bold declaration, the sound of departing footsteps could be heard. Helena remained breathless until the shadow visible through the crack under the door completely disappeared. She didn’t even realize she was holding her breath.

 

“Haah…”

 

How had she ended up like a rabbit diving into a burrow over something like this?

 

Helena finally deflated her chest that had been tightly swollen once the hunter disappeared. Only then did she realize another shadow was cast in front of her.

 

Lifting her head slightly, she saw legs with cloth patches sewn to the hem of pants, tied with string. Following those considerably wide legs, she slowly raised her gaze upward.

 

“Was the game of tag enjoyable?”

 

Flam was grinning with a knowing face. If he hadn’t asked her to fetch water in the first place, this situation wouldn’t have occurred. Looking at his slyly drooping eyes, he had definitely done it on purpose.

 

Helena jumped up and set the bucket down on Flam’s feet. Though Flam made a pained sound, she ignored it and turned to open the door.

 

Just as she was about to leave, he casually asked.

 

“But are you going to the festival like that? It’s a rare date with your boyfriend.”

 

Helena immediately denied it. Though she didn’t even attach a subject to clarify what she was denying, Flam nodded his head with a pleased expression.

 

“Right, right.”

 

****

 

Helena had emerged from the bustling main street onto the path leading to Partren.

 

She had been on her way back after paying the remaining balance for something she had ordered a few days ago. Her excited mood from the morning became even more stirred seeing the streets colored with the festival atmosphere.

 

Wanting to calm herself down, she deliberately chose a quiet path to walk, when she saw a man on horseback in the distance.

 

“Eugene…?”

 

She couldn’t be certain with only the small figure from behind. Judging by the direction, it was the route leaving Dairon.

 

If it really was Eugene, was he now returning to Evergale?

 

‘…Still looking for me?’

 

Dairon was the closest town to the Black Tailed Clock Tower where they had met last time, excluding Hyer.

 

She could easily deduce his whereabouts. Though that wouldn’t necessarily be a reason for him to look for her.

 

Helena quickened her pace, trying to calm her insides that had become not just stirred but increasingly unsettled.

 

****

 

Eugene spurred his horse’s flanks to increase speed.

 

He had at least confirmed that Helena was safe in Dairon. So for now, he needed to grasp the knots that had to be cut first. If he didn’t do this, he felt he might end up holding not knots but a sword.

 

The horse that had galloped for half a day stopped in front of a villa located in the Borneux region.

 

It had been a week since the Empress’s official announcement that she would host a hunting competition to raise funds for famine relief.

 

Christine had hurriedly moved to have a few words of conversation with the Empress. Borneux was where she was staying as part of activities to build that reputation.

 

Eugene ground his molars in displeasure even at that. His mother should have at least stayed outside his sphere. That way, she could have bought some time to cool the anger that was about to strike.

 

Of course, even if she had crossed the continent, he wouldn’t have felt that way. However, his current anger was great enough to require even such meaningless actions.

 

‘Mother. Mother.’

 

Eugene summoned even primordial strength to suppress the fury that wanted to burst his head. He put a trace of affection on the tip of his tongue and charged through the main gate.

 

A sharp-eyed footman who had spotted him from afar had hurriedly opened the door. Otherwise, he would have broken it down and charged in.

 

Eugene, who had jumped down from his horse with the momentum to crash to the ground, immediately sought out Christine. At the news of his unexpected visit, Christine unusually appeared with quick steps.

 

Before she could ask what on earth was the matter, Eugene dropped his business.

 

“I came to tell you there’s no longer any need to stay at Evergale.”

 

“…What?”

 

“I could have sent it as an official notice, but I came in person as a minimum filial duty.”

 

Deep wrinkles formed on Christine’s brow. She had some idea of what this might be about. She had anticipated such a situation from the time that parasite had indulged in vanity far beyond her station.

 

Though Eugene’s anger was greater than she had calculated, Christine tried to ask calmly.

 

“What did that cunning thing tell you?”

 

“Whatever Natasha said has nothing to do with you, Mother.”

 

“You seem to have some misunderstanding, Eugene.”

 

“Whether I’ve misunderstood or not. I told you the result is the same. Grand Bleu is no longer your residence.”

 

“…!”

 

The composure finally disappeared from Christine’s complexion. Facing her face clearly colored with panic, Eugene spoke ruthlessly.

 

“I’ve already instructed that your belongings be moved to your family home. It will be completely empty within at least three days, so it would be good for you to empty your heart within that time as well.”

 

Throughout Eugene’s words, Christine felt as if the ground she stood on was crumbling away.

 

Eugene was completely uprooting the roots she had planted over more than a decade and throwing them to stray dogs passing by.