#2 Responsibilities and Duties (6)
It didn’t take long before dinner.
The time felt like that.
How should I apologize, how should I rush and what words should I apologize for?
Elric pondered over something he had never done before, but no answer came to his mind.
In the end, it must be something to know when you bump into it.
The dinner with Tyria, whom he met for the first time after returning to Wibin, started like that.
“Am I late?”
She appeared just as the appetizer was brought to the table.
The attire was different from daytime. Elric shook his head and replied.
“It was just about to begin. Please have a seat.”
I got up from my seat and greeted her, but I couldn’t guarantee whether it would fit the manners of a noble.
Because Elric was ignorant on this side. Not only that, it was the first time in Elric’s life to have a course meal like today.
In retrospect, isn’t it? When I was young, my father’s personality, which emphasized efficiency, ended dinner with one dish.
On the battlefield, there was no time to eat and talk for hours.
Please don’t bother me, but I was worried, and fortunately, Tyria didn’t seem to care too much.
“Sit down, too. It must be uncomfortable to stand.”
As Tyria sat down and spoke, Elric smiled and nodded.
“Let’s eat first.”
I heard tableware.
I’ve heard from Elbus Graham that it’s more than 10 items needed for a meal, but Weebin’s course didn’t.
spoon, fork and knife. It was a simple composition, and it made Elric feel much more comfortable.
After munching on a bite-sized piece of fresh grass, Elric looked at Tyria.
She was eating her meal gracefully, as usual, without even making a clatter.
‘Slowly… .’
No, wouldn’t it be sudden to bring up the main topic right from the start?
Let’s start with a casual conversation.
“How was your work today?”
“The wheat is in good condition. It seems that the yield will be very high.”
“exactly?”
“Yes, it is the biggest harvest since 7 years ago.”
“aha… .”
The word was cut off.
Elric broke into a cold sweat.
Was the conversation that difficult? Elric, struggling with a new thought, finally came to a realization.
Since I left home, I don’t remember much of a plausible conversation with anyone.
Elvus Graham, who had at least something like a conversation, was a man who himself set the tone for the conversation.
It was a lamentable moment that all he had was his sword skills.
“that… .”
Thinking that at least something should be continued, Elric raised the topic of conversation.
It was mainly about Yeongji.
One, if we categorize it, ‘Isn’t the weather really nice?’ It was the kind of question that would make it difficult to have a long conversation like that.
In the end, the awkward atmosphere did not disappear until the main dish was served.
Elric felt nervous at the helplessly passing time, and then let out a deep sigh.
‘What is this all about?’
I reprimanded myself.
For some reason, this act felt cowardly.
Calling in to apologize and wasting time with useless questions, isn’t that different from a child who is stretching out because he doesn’t want to be beaten?
No matter how much we continue our daily conversations, we cannot make an apology or contact point.
It was the same principle as not being able to cut an enemy unless you draw out your sword.
Dalgrak.
Elric put down the tableware.
I raised my head and looked at Tyria.
She, too, had her head raised by the noise.
I saw her face now.
There is a sense of indifference and bluntness somewhere, and there is a loftiness.
She looked like someone who would stand firm no matter what happened.
But in other words, it was.
Tyria Portman lived a life that should not collapse in the face of any hardship.
According to Elberse Graham’s words that humans are completed by the environment in which they grew up, she could say that she became such an adult because she endured alone in a life where no one took sides.
Elric was the one who made her lonely.
“Actually, I have a purpose for calling you here. That’s what I said in the wheat field during the day.”
“You said you have a conversation you want to have.”
“exactly.”
“Tell me.”
Tyria’s head dropped slightly.
Her eyes were on the table, and her hands were neatly gathered together on her lap.
For some reason, it cut Elric’s stomach.
Isn’t that the attitude of a scolded person?
Doesn’t it look like you’re hanging your head all the way over the guillotine?
Do you think that you will be punished for the Yubin family?
If not… .
‘Do you think they will kick you out?’
It’s a pity that the sign of resignation can’t be seen.
It was because she thought that even if such a thing actually happened, she would accept it with a resolute attitude.
She probably shouldn’t have been treated like that in the slightest.
Elric clenched his fists.
And he spoke carefully.
“… I’m sorry.”
Tyria’s eyebrows narrowed.
Right after that, she raised her head, her eyes embracing doubt.
Elric laughed bitterly.
“I’m sorry. I invited you here to apologize to you.”
“What are you apologizing for?”
It would be right to apologize for anything, but why?
Elric said straight away.
“Everything. I want to apologize for leaving 10 years ago, for coming back now, and for not looking for you along the way.”
That was the moment.
For the first time, Elric could clearly see the emotion portrayed in her expression.
No, isn’t it the first time? On the day I came back to Weebin, I ran into her who came out from among the wheat fields. She reacted the same way she does now.
The green eyes that had been hanging under the long eyelashes were clearly exposed. The eyebrows, which had been straight and strong, curled softly, and the red lips parted slightly.
The shoulders lose strength and the elegant neckline stands out even more.
It was a surprised face.
Elric added.
“I know that sounds like an excuse. Still, to add to the idea of giving a reason, I was too young at the time. It was an impulsive decision that day.”
It started with the reason that Tyria had to stop a marriage that would make her sad, but the reason she even ventured to run away was her father’s words.
– Pay the price you raised.
The verbal dagger was stuck in Elric’s chest to this day.
“The reason for not coming back was hatred at first, urgency later, and hesitation at the end. I left this land 10 years ago because I hated my father so much. I didn’t know that it bothered you so much. I thought you had already returned to your hometown… .”
… no, it’s an excuse
Considering that this marriage was an arranged marriage that began with a contract, such a thing was unlikely to happen.
If he had thought about Wibin’s work a little more deeply, he would have known right away.
Even so, the reason I couldn’t recall it to the end is because I inadvertently avoided the fact.
Elric kept his mouth shut. And briefly bowed his head.
“I’m sorry. I’m not trying to end my apology with words. I will pay… .”
“Was it not me?”
“… hmm?”
Looking up, Tyria was covering her mouth with her hand.
It was an ‘oops’ expression.
“… sorry. to stop talking.”
That’s what it took.
It was her behavior.
Elric shook his head.
“It’s okay. And no. You were not the reason I left.”
You were just unluckily caught between me and my father’s business.
Elric said so.
I didn’t dare to ask for forgiveness.
It was more shameless than not to apologize to tarnish the years of others and end with a mere apology.
Elric had to pay the price he could.
From noble mtl dot com
Fortunately, I had something to hand to her.
‘Legacy.’
There is a father’s legacy.
It was everything her father had worked on throughout her life, and the wealth Tyria had built up with a helping hand.
It was her fair share in the first place.
Aside from that, this territory and family were also rightful for her as she kept her responsibilities and duties.
Elric has been running from it all his life.
Responsibility has already become unbearable, so the only thing you can do is fulfill your duty.
There was no other way.
I wouldn’t have known it 10 years ago, but now a lot of things have changed.
A young boy became a murderous war mercenary. The girl who cried alone in sorrow eventually became a woman who only knew how to endure alone.
It had to be 10 years ago to change anything.
I couldn’t start like that day if I had to sit on my butt here. If you intervene now, you will only become a plunderer who steals what she cultivated.
It was only then that Elric made up his mind, as it was the right relationship for them to be apart if they were for each other.
‘Let’s leave.’
She gives her everything she deserves.
Also the day all of these leg injuries heal.
All she had to do was to give her everything Portman had built so that her years would not be in vain.
“Could you please accept my apology?”
Elric asked politely.
Tyria, who has recovered her complexion,
“… There is no reason to apologize. I have never been resentful.”
answered like her.
Then he continued eating as if nothing had happened.
A clatter, the sound stood for a moment, but then it stopped.
It was embarrassing, but I didn’t bother to dig into his intentions.
The decision was already firm.
Bros leaving again stop him tyria😭