[Side Story] Wind Flower (3)
I must have lived a pretty intense life when I was young. This was the first impression of Glems, the chief of Toren Village.
Along with his long gray-brown hair, his graying beard and eyebrows give the appearance of a man who has already reached the end of his prime and is entering his twilight years.
However, the look in his eyes is still intelligent and lively, and although I don’t know how old he is, it seems to be saying that he has no intention of dying within the next ten years.
There are people who naturally exude dignity even without trying to show off or show off.
Glems, who represents the village, was that kind of person. He is moderately heavy, moderately generous, and is a big old man in the village who is respected by everyone.
“Thank you for your hard work in coming all the way. We have prepared a small accommodation near the village hall… “As it is a small village on the border of a pastoral area, I am sorry that it will not be a place to sleep that is worthy of your authority.”
From the perspective of Toren Village, it would have been a major incident just for a duke to come to such a remote area.
As soon as the carriage riding alongside Yenika entered the village, people were gathered together to watch.
Most of them were old people, and although there were occasional children or young people, they all seemed to be busy working on the ranch.
Still, I couldn’t resist my curiosity when I heard that a master from a noble family would appear, so I left my work and sat here and there in the square to watch…
“thank you.”
I answered briefly and glanced at the view of the village.
There is a shopping street centered around a small square. However, its scale is so small that it is embarrassing to even call it a shopping street.
In rural villages like this, one person often has to do multiple jobs.
There is one general store that sells all kinds of goods under the name of a ‘general store’, one place that sells groceries and a restaurant, all accommodations for outsiders seem to be provided at this village hall, and most of the rest are filled with ranches and farmhouses.
The scenery is beautiful. No matter where you look, it is a work of art. It reminds me of the pastoral land that stretches along the ridges of the Alps or Andes.
The clear sky contrasts well with the greenery, so just sitting anywhere and looking at it blankly makes me feel like all the old congestion in my mind is being swept away.
“Ed, are you staying here? “I think I’ll probably go to my parents’ house and unpack first.”
“Probably so. “There’s nothing urgent, so take your time.”
Yenica packed her belongings and came down from the carriage. At the same time, he sat huddled together in various places and looked sideways at the villagers, and he hesitated for no reason.
“Grandpa Glems. How have you been? “Are you okay with your back pain?”
When Yenika greeted the village chief warmly, Chief Glems hesitated to answer for a moment as if he was in trouble.
Yenika was momentarily taken aback by the sight of the village chief not greeting her as warmly as usual.
Considering the situation, I felt like I needed to say something here.
“You can do it as usual.”
I wonder if Chief Glems tends to be very picky about etiquette… He took a look at my eyes.
Well, Yenika, although she wears the title of baron, it doesn’t seem like she demands strict respect even in her hometown. On the contrary, the villagers seem to be well aware of the fact that Jenika will have a harder time if she behaves that way.
However, it is a different matter in front of me, who has the far-reaching title of dukedom.
In front of someone who has a different level of status, it is not polite to carelessly talk to someone who wears the title of baron and treat them comfortably.
On the contrary, it feels like the genealogy is getting twisted because Yenika is showing respect to Glems. This is because Yenica treats me comfortably.
So, in the end, I, as the highest-ranking person, had to say something to make things easier.
As this happens, the people of this village finally become aware of what kind of existence Yenika is.
“It’s not a public event, and we don’t go all the way to the outskirts and discuss every detail of etiquette.”
“Master Ed is merciful. “This is the first time in my life that I have been treated with respect by a master from a noble family.”
Glems bowed slightly and then spoke to Yenika.
“Thank you for your concern, Yenika.”
Then he speaks with an expression that says nothing is wrong.
“But, is it okay if we don’t share the same room? “It’s been a long time coming.”
*When I entered the room, I saw that everything was prepared for two people.
To begin with, the room itself is a double room. There are two beds and two simple daily necessities.
[I think I know why Yenika has a shy personality… ]
Merilda, who was sitting on the other side of the bed and waving her feet in the air, was giggling.
I unpacked my luggage and put it away, then took off the cloaks and coats that were getting in my way and put them away.
[I just walked around the carriage and listened to the whispering, but even though I heard it with my own ears, I couldn’t put it into words. ]
Yenika waved her arms and blushed as she heard the village chief’s words, and quickly ran back to her home.
It seems that the village people naturally thought that Jenica and I would sleep together in the same room.
[I got dumped by Yenika. ]
Merilda said this with a giggling laugh.
He looks at me subtly with a mischievous expression, but then he quickly turns his head away as if he’s not having fun and buries himself in the empty bed.
People say she was dumped by Jenica or something, but Merilda probably knows better than anyone else.
“… ”
[ … ]
Merilda, who was lying down on the bed and staring at the ceiling for a moment, let out a sigh.
[He probably can’t live without you. ]
“I know.”
[ … Wow, this looks like absolute trash… ]
“… ”
Since these words are just thrown out with contempt, they don’t feel sincere. To begin with, due to Merilda’s sly personality, she never speaks straight.
To change clothes, I quickly took off my shirt and threw it on the bag. Her scarred body is exposed, but Merilda lowers her gaze as she lies down on her bed, then turns her body over and lies down as if nothing is wrong.
[Yenika would know. Your sister is actively using the vacant position of your partner for political purposes. ]
Just like that, I sat down on my bed.
Merilda sighed from the bed across from her and quickly raised her upper body.
[Yenika is not a fool either. Just by listening to the information coming from the Baron’s residence, I know how much of an impact your position has on the current political landscape of the Cloel Empire. ]
“… ”
[He still wants to be by your side. ]
Merilda knows what she wants to say.
Even though they were aware of the rumors circulating in Toren Village, they did not provide any active explanation.
I thought that the fact that Jenica apologized with a deathly expression on her face meant that she was actually causing trouble to the Rosstaylor family, who were using the fact that my companion’s position was vacant for political purposes.
However, Yenika did not bother to explain in detail. The reason is obvious.
[It must be scary to check. I think in the end, Ed, you will push out Yenika because of the difference in position and status. That’s probably why I can’t take the last step. ]
The lively swishing of his feet also stopped. Merilda often lost her playful expression and there were times when she became quite serious.
[You know his personality. Just by being in this position, I am a blessed person. It’s okay to just stay next to him. I’ll just think like that and live satisfied with the present. As it has been until now. But I wish not. ]
“Suddenly saying something like this… Is it related to Tyr’kalax’s death? “I told you not to bother looking into Tyrkalax.”
As if she had hit the nail on the head, Merilda made a sound like “Ugh.”
The remains of Tyr’kalax, the highest-ranking wind spirit.
At one point, Merilda said that she would personally tell me the location and that she would wait for the right time.
I think he was very cooperative at the time, but lately he has been making disapproving looks.
[ Finding remains is not a task. However, I was asked not to study in detail how the spirit called Tyrkalax ended its life and was returned to nature. In fact, as long as you have the remains of a spirit, it is easy to practice spirit magic. ]
“My position then and my position now are completely different. I am a member of the undergraduate department who came here to handle research work. now.”
[That’s why I hesitated. ]
The high-ranking wind spirit who was smirking finally erased his smile and spoke in a low voice.
[Tirkalax loved humans. ]
Perhaps because the travel time was too long, the sun was already setting outside the window.
Merilda continued her story while lying down amidst the long shadows against the red sky.
[I also loved this Pulan girl from a farmhouse who had nothing. ]
“Looking at your expression, I guess it didn’t end well.”
[ huh. Well, it’s an obvious story, but two beings living in different time zones interact more than necessary… It’s quite dangerous. ]
I remember seeing Merilda one day walking on the lake in the North Forest and looking up blankly at the night sky.
If you look at the starry sky in your eyes, you will understand why this wind spirit always looks up at the sky.
The only things that don’t change are the stars and the moon high in the sky.
Everything on earth falls apart with time and rises again over and over again.
[I fell in love when I shouldn’t. And, after the girl passed away, he could not overcome her loneliness and ended her life himself. ]
“… ”
[ That is Tyr’kalax’s death. ]
I had a love that I shouldn’t have.
For beings who live close to eternal life, loneliness is a disease that can lead to death.
High-ranking spirits who have endured for a long time had to come up with their own ways to deal with the fatal disease.
The same would have been true of Tyrkalax, the highest-ranking spirit.
What were the circumstances that made even the highest-ranking spirit, who had gone through all the hardships, have to break his heart?
[Just because we appear in human form, you should not mistake us for being the same as humans. ]
“I know that much. “It’s nothing more than a mimicry created by imitating the person who was most special to you in the first place.”
[ huh. There are more relationships in the world that cannot be established than you might think. In fairy tales, there are many touching stories of overcoming forbidden walls and falling in love with each other… Now, Yenica knows it herself. ]
There is no Romeo and Juliet in the world.
[ Reality is harsher than you think, and you are not like the main character in a fairy tale. She probably knows it well as well as Jenica herself. ]
Merilda had a pensive expression on her face for no reason.
This wind spirit wishes for Yenika’s happiness more than anyone else. However, it does not mean that you cannot understand my position as well… You must be struggling in between.
[Tirkalax eventually met a tragic death. Because he loved something that was not allowed. ]
“… ”
[I was a bit worried about what Yenika would think after confirming the truth. ]
I am finally revealing my true feelings.
The reason Merilda was a little uncooperative was because she was worried about Jenica’s feelings.
[Well, Ed, I won’t ask too much of you. The Rosstaylor family’s prestige has risen a lot, but it’s not surprising that it’s overturned at any time because it’s a struggle for power among noble families. I understand that much. but… If things continue like this, I feel so sorry for Yenika. ]
Ultimately, you have to face it. What do I think of Yenica Failover?
Are you looking at her rationally? Is she thinking of taking her as her companion and starting her own family together?
“Don’t you fully understand why I’m being so vague?”
[ … ]
Just because you say everything you want to say doesn’t mean it will work. I tried to speak so confidently.
In fact, if Jenica wants, I don’t mind giving up the political benefits that come from leaving my companion position vacant.
Yenica Palover is a good person. Not only is she good enough to be a companion, but she will live devotedly for me until she dies. I absolutely cannot deny the fact that I also feel a great attraction for Yenika, rationally.
However, Yenika also fully understands the political practicality of having to give up the entire Rosstaylor family in order to have one person as a companion.
Yenica Palover is a girl who once collapsed under the burden of other people’s favor and love.
If she pushes ahead like this, ignoring all background circumstances, she will live with that sense of debt for the rest of her life.
A person named Yenica Palover is like that. She never considers anything that someone has given or sacrificed for her to be in vain.
She will have to live under that pressure for the rest of her life, wondering if the relationship established on that sense of debt is really meaningful, and will even have to go to the bloody political front as the daughter of Duke Rosstaylor. This is Jenica Palover, a simple girl who has lived in the countryside all her life.
Will it make her life happy or rather unhappy?
[I knew you would say that. ]
Merilda was lost in thought for a moment, and then suddenly smiled angrily again, as if asking when she had ever been serious.
[Kahaha. In the end, you’re just worried about Yenika, right? Rather, I feel at ease. ]
“Isn’t this a situation where we should be more worried? “I don’t think Yenika’s life will be that smooth when she gets involved with someone like me.”
[I think it’s actually good. You know, Ed. The way I see it, it seems like you just have to make up your mind. If all else fails, you just have to make up your mind and make a sacrifice, right? ]
“Resolution? What are you prepared for? “What is sacrifice?”
Merilda laughed and spoke in a playful voice.
[ Prepare to become trash. ]
“… ”
I was about to ask, “What do you mean by that again?”
From the sight of Merilda smiling with the corners of her mouth curled up as if she was interested, I could guess to some extent what that meant.
I was looking at her with half-moon eyes open, but Merilda was just giggling and wondering what was so good about it.
*”that… Hello, Ed.”
It was about an hour later when Yenika came to the room with a lot of luggage.
Yenika, who had said she would go to her parents’ house and unpack her luggage, somehow came to my lodging with all her luggage.
“I got kicked out of the house… ”
“… what?”
I couldn’t help but tilt my head when I saw Yenika’s scared face through the gap in the open door.
As of now, it was already getting late in the night with the moon high in the sky.
I wondered if it made sense to kick a woman out of the house at a time like this…
“Why did you decide to sleep at home when I prepared accommodation for two? My mom said… I kicked them out… ”
“… ”
Sayla Failover… One can’t help but stick out one’s tongue at the determination of that strong woman.
“You’re too much… I closed the door and took all the sheets off the bed… They told me not to think too much here today… ”
“… ”
“So, I thought I would take care of it at an acquaintance’s house or a friend’s house… Anyway, there are rumors like that… It’s a bit strange to go to someone else’s house and be indebted to them… ”
Even so, Yenica Palover is a rare genius spiritist and the mistress of Baron Palover.
I wiped the corners of my eyes at the sight of him being so intimidated that his status was insignificant.
“Okay, come in first… Let’s sleep together today… ”
Since I couldn’t answer the door here, I let Jenica into the room.
As soon as Jenica entered the room, she put down her overloaded bag in the corner.
I took advantage of that opportunity to organize the books on elemental science that were spread out on the small table and sat down on the bed.
Yenika came in hesitantly and sat on the bed across from me, lowering her head and blushing.
“that… ”
“… ”
“The situation… This is what happened… ”
It’s late at night when only the sound of insects can be heard outside the window.
In this room, where the only source of light was the light of a lamp, shadows were dancing together, guided by the gently swaying candlelight.
“I’m sorry for bothering you so much… Ed… Lately, I’ve been going through a lot of trouble because of myself… ”
“You don’t need to worry so much. I always say this, but there are a lot of things I am indebted to, so you don’t have to feel too burdened. First of all… You must have sweated a little while walking around all day… ”
Well, it doesn’t have that much meaning, but I said it as naturally as possible.
“Wash, first.”
“… ”
“… ”
“… ”
“Did I say something strange?”
“no! no! at all! “What the hell!”
Yenika quickly raised her head, said that she understood, and quickly gathered her things and headed toward the bathroom.
After Yenika left, I sat alone on the bed, sighed, and wiped the corners of my mouth.
therefore… She slowly lowered her head and fell into deep thought.
What Merilda said lingers in my mind.
Prepare to become trash.
Garbage… … … .. Determined to become… … … … … … … … … … .
