#14 Crossroads (1)
Was it fatigue?
Falling asleep right in the seat was something that would make anyone laugh.
Elric stared blankly at Tyria, who placed her hand on his shoulder.
A smile began to form on his lips as he slowly regained consciousness.
The words came out in a hushed voice.
“… I must have fallen asleep.”
“You must have been very tired. A lot of guests came and went in one day.”
“I am sorry, Mrs. None of them were my guests.”
“The guest of the family is my guest.”
After saying that, Tyria, who had pursed her lips, suddenly asked.
“… However, it seems that there are a lot of people who have had a relationship.”
It was quite difficult to know what to answer.
I couldn’t say that all of them met as enemies or allies on the battlefield.
As her lips moved, Tyria opened her mouth first.
“It’s not about being watched. As I said before, please tell me someday when you can. I’ll wait.”
Is it awesome here?
It was a thank you.
Now even Elric knew something.
Even though she feels something strange, she thinks of herself and doesn’t ask anything.
Elric couldn’t do that.
It was clear that he must have felt betrayed by himself, frustrated, or did something stupid in one way or another.
It wasn’t easy to express my gratitude when I knew how hard she was going through.
So what it does in the end is a playful word.
“Why don’t you want to hear it?”
Hwaaak!
Tyria’s face turned red.
My eyelashes trembled, and the corners of my eyes became a little pale.
It must have reminded me of the day’s work.
Elric chuckled.
“house owner… !”
“Sorry, sorry.”
He waved his hand and apologized, but Tyria’s mood didn’t seem to get any better.
It felt so cute. This person is also a person who feels ashamed.
When the impression comes to mind, it tickles my stomach for no reason.
“I was just curious about your new look. You seldom show emotion.”
“Nobles… .”
“I don’t know. He was born as a commoner who used to play on the dirt floor.”
“It is a bad habit to humble yourself like that.”
“Not mind.”
Tyria’s eyes stung even more.
Eventually, she let out a deep sigh and rose from her seat.
“Now go to bed. Sleeping in a place like this will have a bad effect on your body.”
For some reason, it became a scolding atmosphere.
Elric replied scratching his cheek.
“Okay. Have a good night.”
“Yes, the head of the family does the same.”
When Tyria said that, swish! I turned around and walked out of the living room with quick steps.
For some reason, his steps were smeared with anger.
No, is it a shame?
Whatever it was, it was clear that it was a fun look.
*
A few more days passed.
The land of Wibin was living in peace again, as if it had become turbulent.
Now that winter is coming to an end, the residents of the territory have begun to be active, and the mansion is also busy with the start of farming for the year.
And Elric was feeling distraught, one step away from those things.
– The empire will split.
It was because of what the prince had said.
The war will become more intense.
The war will not end in the west, but will rage on in the east as well.
It was a word that made me think a lot.
Normally, he would have said he would leave for the battlefield.
My knee is almost healed now, so I can walk enough without a cane, so there’s nothing to be afraid of.
Why can’t I leave anyway?
“house owner.”
It was because Tyria was here.
Elric has now admitted it.
“Why are you calling me?”
“Today we have to go out together.”
“hmm?”
“You must also learn to look after the fields. It is the most important routine in starting farming.”
As if she had never shivered in shame, Tyria was showing her usual bluntness.
Her face blushes again when she mentions what happened that day, but since Elric is also avoiding the frequent bullying, it was rare to see such an expression.
Anyway, it’s a field.
“Okay. egg plant.”
Elric stood up without a cane.
When the object I had been holding for about half a year was gone, I felt empty, but I also felt refreshed.
Now, the manor has left the fur cloak behind.
The gentle breeze of the approaching spring passes by my body.
The smell of earth and manure melts into the air and makes you feel at ease.
Get wet with those things and learn from Tyria.
If you are immersed in the quiet voice, your worries about the battlefield will fade away at some point, and it feels like something far away.
It was her magic.
The addiction of this comfort was growing hesitation in Elric day by day.
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Glancing at her, she was fully focused.
She is putting her heart and soul into her work to the point where she feels sorry for thinking about something else.
“Gazoo, are you listening?”
“I was listening. It is not about soil quality.”
“… Please focus.”
Elric laughed awkwardly.
I’m not focused because of you.
It was really embarrassing to say.
“Okay, let’s go next.”
and she comes holding hands.
Warmth spreads from where it touches.
A feeling of tenderness different from mine wrapped around my body.
“… Okay, let’s go.”
Elric stood up.
The weighing continued in the midst of this.
Will you leave for the battlefield or will you stay here?
While I was lost in thought, I suddenly
“Come to think of it, let’s go.”
Tyria said.
“There is one more thing to do before farming begins.”
Those were the words that forced Elric to make a choice as he hesitated.
“You must officially ascend to the position of lord. Gradually, the family head’s body and stomach became stable.”
Time, at least, didn’t seem to be on Elric’s side.
“We prepare for the inauguration ceremony.”
*
Actually, there was nothing surprising.
It was Elric alone who made up his mind to leave, and since he had never discussed it with anyone else, in the eyes of others, he would have no choice but to judge that he would stay in Wee Bin forever.
He didn’t even bother to deny it.
Until now, no one would have mentioned it because of the inconvenience of the legs, but it is a scheduled procedure to come and hold the inauguration ceremony now that even such a disability has disappeared.
Elric himself was the only problem.
“Like the last harvest festival, the inauguration ceremony will be held in the town square. This part has been collected from the butler and other vassals. I heard that there are many territories who want to see the head of the household take office as lord.”
“… Did you?”
“Because you were famous from a young age.”
Elric looked at Tyria.
She was oddly excited.
No, it wasn’t just her.
From the moment the word about the inauguration ceremony started to come out, the atmosphere of Wibin was very excited.
Starting the farming of the year, looking forward to his inauguration ceremony, and also welcoming the warmth of spring, Yubin is having a really fun time right now.
“At the inauguration ceremony, other nobles should also be invited. Please leave this part to me, and the head of household, together with the butler, prepare for the ceremony. Ah, the knights… .”
her voice fades away
I stop at the fork in the road in front of me, just looking at his face.
leave or stay
A bitter laugh bloomed.
‘You’re so close.’
It would have been something that wasn’t even worth worrying about, but it’s not like that anymore.
If I knew it would be like this, I would rather be harsh and close the door to my heart.
Don’t try to find out about her.
“… house owner?”
Why are you stepping on my eyes and holding on to my steps?
Why did you take such a big place in my heart?
“Are you feeling unwell?”
If you see a face every day, how come it’s new every time you see it?
Why do you get so anxious if you don’t see me even for a day?
Why, when my heart is agitated, I look for you more than the dagger in my arms.
I kept thinking about that question.
And just turned away, Elric already knew the answer.
“no. I just thought it was heavy.”
“You will do well.”
“Because I have a wife.”
“… yes?”
“I need your help, Mrs. I am.”
said without thinking.
In other words, it was sincere.
“Can you do that?”
The moment she spoke, Tyria’s expression softened.
It was a small smile.
“You speak plainly. I must be the wife of the head of the household.”
The moment a languid voice pierces your ears,
‘ah.’
come to realize
You don’t want to leave this smile.
I want to see that by my side all the time, so I guess that kind of selfishness caused me to worry.
‘Stupidly… .’
He had a crush on her.
Acknowledging that made me feel at ease and uncomfortable.
The feeling of having a thorn stuck in my throat, which had never left me since I came to Wibin, grew bigger than ever.
“… Time has already been like this. Let’s go eat.”
“Okay.”
Elric struggled to laugh.
I felt like I was drowning in an abyss.
It was the next morning that the feeling deepened.
『Cheonk, give in to the situation.
Situation El Hadak Mahir entered the war.
It took only three days from his participation in the war to the conquest of Disha.
During the battle of the capital, Cheonik saved the royal family by submitting to the situation.』
Something was going wrong.