#3 Harvest Festival (5)
I ended up working through the afternoon.
Even in the middle, Tyria finished the work alone while being chased by the deadline.
Elric was amazed at the speed of her work.
It took less than 10 seconds to read all the papers in the world, and it was hard to believe how my head could spin so quickly even after seeing it with my own eyes.
Anyway, after going through that process, I was about to get on the wagon and go downtown.
“I guess the sun hasn’t set yet.”
As the sunset began to set, the sky was more blue than red.
Perhaps all the people of Yubin had been driven to the plaza, and the quiet land was roaring, and smiles were blooming on their faces.
It was peace.
Even though they lived at the same time, a different tranquility from the West was soaking the whole land here.
It is unavoidable that a smile comes out, and it is also unavoidable that I wish that the hometown I truly loved would be as peaceful as it is.
Feeling excited, Elric said to Tyria.
“I have a little time left, would you like to look around?”
“Are you okay?”
Elric chuckled as Tyria’s gaze turned to her knees.
“It doesn’t matter much, as long as it’s not a radical movement.”
In the first place, since he was supporting his body with mana, he could run short distances if he wanted to. Moving with a cane was the reason to focus on recovery by reducing the strain on the joints as much as possible.
Tyria stared at her knees as if in agony, then nodded slightly.
Elric held out his hand.
“Let’s go.”
At that moment, Tyria’s shoulders trembled.
Elric raised an ‘Oops’ mind.
‘this… Did I pretend to be too friendly?’
It was an act I instinctively committed because I thought it was only right to be an escort, but now that I think about it, escorting with a cane is also ridiculous.
It would be more appropriate to say that she escorts him.
Elric hurriedly tried to withdraw his hand,
“… Let’s go.”
Tyria’s hand reached out faster than that.
Elric’s body also stopped. It was an instantaneous reaction that he could not help himself.
Her fingers, so delicate that they would break if squeezed tightly, and the texture of her soft skin were becoming unfamiliar.
His hands were a little cold, probably because of the cool weather.
“house owner?”
“ah… yes i have to go Where would you like to go?”
He made up his mind and asked, but Elric’s mind was a little confused.
“… A close friend of the restaurant asked me to stop by. How are you there?”
“Good. Let’s go.”
That’s right, I took a stick.
Start walking the square at a slow pace.
It was less than 300 steps to the restaurant, but the moment felt so long.
It was because of the joined hands.
No, can I say I got this right?
Neither Tyria nor Elric himself had strength in their hands.
Rather than tying each other tightly, it was a form of hanging bent hands like hooks.
It was a loose restraint that anyone could release with just a little bit of strength.
It is a hand that seldom falls apart, and its subtlety creates a ripple in the inside.
I get fancy for nothing.
Rather than hoping that this moment will end quickly because of the awkwardness, I try to slow down my steps a little more thinking that it will be regrettable if I take my hand off.
I tried to reprimand myself to see if that heart was selfish, but it doesn’t really touch me.
Naturally, attention is drawn to her.
Wouldn’t it be uncomfortable walking hand in hand like this? What are the emotions hidden behind her expressionless expression?
Or, what was accepted… .
“The store is crowded.”
Startle-
the accident was over
Elric’s gaze turned to Bart’s restaurant.
Certainly, as Tyria said, he looked very busy. There is even a line in front of the entrance, so you will have to wait for quite a long time to eat.
Elric felt regret and relief at the same time.
“Um, would you like to go somewhere else?”
“Are you all right?”
“Today is not the only day. next time… .”
next? Do you have the following?
A thought suddenly comes to my mind and my thoughts stop for a moment.
Fortunately, it was just an instant.
Elric answered, trying to avoid unnecessary thoughts.
“… I’ll have to come see you next time.”
“If so.”
Tyria’s gaze scanned the square.
The side view looked like a painting.
No, it’s quite a sense of difference to be a painting.
In the landscape of a rural city, only she had a foreign nobility.
All the elements that make up her are extremely aristocratic and understated.
She was more suitable for a banquet hall than a messy festival.
Being immersed in such thoughts, Tyria eventually pointed to the stall and said.
“Would you like to try something over there?”
It is street food.
“Are you okay?”
“Is there any reason not to be okay?”
“It’s just that I’m a little surprised.”
Elric gave a small laugh.
“I guess you like that too.”
“I don’t hate it.”
“Okay. Let’s go eat.”
So Elric watched the festival under the leadership of Tyria.
The food at home was delicious, there was not much to see, but it was enjoyable, and the tranquility was extremely satisfying.
The loosely clasped hands did not loosen until the sun went down and the speech began.
Neither of them untied their hands.
I didn’t know what she was thinking, but Elric’s thoughts were so clear that I was surprised even to myself.
It was because of the thought that if I let go of this hand, I would never be able to hold it again.
*
The sun has gone down.
Tyria was on top of a platform in the middle of the square, and Elric was listening to her speech with Aldio from a seat a little further away.
“This year, the harvest has ended safely… .”
It was a very quiet voice, but it was not difficult to understand because of her distinctive clear pronunciation.
That must have been the reason why everyone except her was silent even though there were so many people gathered.
I don’t know if it’s a leap, but even the blowing wind feels like a messenger to spread her voice.
“I think it suits you.”
Elric said nonchalantly.
“I think you’re a very suitable person to be on the podium.”
“Yes, I feel that way once in a while. If the madam was a man, the Weibin family would not be as poor as they are now.”
It was certainly plausible.
She was not arrogant even though she was dignified, and she was not flashy even though she was dignified.
Elric knew only one person who held such restrained authority.
His close friend, Elbus Graham, did.
If I could get rid of the frivolity and emptiness from him, there would be someone like her.
but,
“Well, I think a man would hate it a little.”
It was just the feeling.
Elric giggled and said more.
“No luck. I guess I couldn’t be a friend.”
From noble mtl dot com
Even if that was the case, he wasn’t happy about it.
Tyria Weebin… No, Tyria Portman liked being a woman like that.
Even as a woman, she was a wonderful person.
Elric thought so.
“Bocchan too… .”
Aldio laughed lightly.
Elric raised a question, but no answer came back.
He lowered his head and said.
“I’ll go to the side of the wagon first.”
“Derrin didn’t come with you?”
“Isn’t it a festival? We made an appointment to eat together.”
“Ah, please.”
Derrin, the coachman, had been Portman’s driver for over 20 years since his father was born.
Elric knew very well that the two of them were close friends because they were similar in age to Aldio, so there was no reason to question him further.
“Then have a good time.”
“What a good time.”
Aldio left with a smile on his face for some reason.
At that point, Tyria’s speech was over.
“Then let’s start the ignition ceremony.”
As she raised her hand, several men came out with large perches.
In the middle of the plaza, next to the platform was a pile of firewood the size of a building.
Let’s put a perch on the straw beneath it, rumbling! Firewood burned.
“Waaaaa!!!”
Shouts resound.
The sound of drum drums resounds.
The gathered people hold each other’s hands one by one and start dancing.
Someone raises a glass and recites a toast.
The last fireworks of the festival were kindled.
Elric looked away from the scene and looked at Tyria.
She was approaching at a pace that was neither slow nor fast, with her back straight.
The closer and clearer the facial features caught the eye.
Perhaps because of the blazing fire, her face, which looked a little red, was particularly lively.
Elric said to the woman who had approached right in front of him.
“Good work.”
“How was the speech?”
“I guess I can’t do it like you.”
“We are here to help.”
Puffy, lips tingle.
Saying that it is not necessary is swallowed again.
It was for a different reason than before.
Is it because of the burning flames, the sound of people laughing, or because of the strange feeling I felt today?
“I think what you do is more appropriate. I will watch it again.”
You make a promise to yourself that you do not have the confidence to keep.
Her gaze turned to the dancing people.
“… yes.”
Elric also moved his gaze to the spot she was looking at.
There was an old couple.
Children unknowingly followed the old couple, and somewhere in the corner, a shy young man and woman were holding hands.
There may be small differences in the emotions each of them had, but the emotion drawn by the big picture was happiness.
Elric suddenly said so, not knowing what kind of spirit he was just staring at it.
“Would you like to dance?”
I turned my head and looked at Tyria.
Her gaze moved slowly to Elric.
Elric gripped his staff tighter.
It must also be because of the burning flames.
The reason why her face looks redder than usual, and the reason why her eyes are shaking.
It must be like that.