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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 72
Chapter Title: Busy Days and Harrison's Farewell
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I didn't realize from the start that Luciano was avoiding me.
After returning from the imperial palace that day, there was a lot to take care of.
For several days, I was busy tending to Harrison.
Even though his wounds had been fully healed with holy power, his physical condition wasn't back to normal yet.
It would take time for his stamina to recover.
I didn't need to nurse him around the clock, but I did have to meet with him and spend time together.
After all, he was a guest staying at our house.
I couldn't just leave him shut up alone in his room, so I visited every day and chatted about this and that.
"It feels a bit off for me to be alone with you like this."
"Pardon?"
"People around you might not like it."
Harrison muttered glumly.
"Hahaha, no, it's a misunderstanding. It's fine. Really. Even Nanny cleared it up now."
I comforted Harrison, who had been emotionally hurt.
"How are you feeling today?"
"I seem to be back to normal. I moved around a bit during the day, and there were no issues."
"You already moved around?"
"The wounds have all healed, so it's time to start training again."
A man who had a hole in his stomach was already talking about starting training.
"Isn't that a bit too soon?"
I found myself trying to stop him.
Harrison gave a wry smile.
"To avoid getting hurt in a similar situation again, I need to get stronger."
"Ah...."
'He's still carrying that day's events in his heart too.'
Of course, it wasn't something you could just forget entirely.
Still, being trapped by those past memories wouldn't be good for him.
"Don't rush it. Nothing's going to happen right away."
"But...."
"And I heard that training is a battle with oneself."
"There is that aspect."
"It won't do any good if your mind wavers. Take it calmly and do what you can."
"...."
"Nothing is accomplished in a short time. Steady effort will bring satisfying results."
"....Yes. I'll do what I can."
I comforted the depressed Harrison like this.
"Ow, you scared me! Harrison, what are you doing up at night instead of sleeping?"
"I can't sleep."
Harrison scratched his head sheepishly.
Even so, he couldn't wander the halls at night.
With his size, if he roamed around, the people in our estate would freak out.
"Come here. I'll make you some special honey milk."
Before I knew it, time flew by as I put the big, wandering nighttime Harrison child to bed.
In the midst of all that, I also had to look after Mabel.
The nobles' unity was formidable, and Marygold collapsed faster than expected.
At first, it was just fewer noble customers.
But Pam couldn't endure the situation at all.
Unable to accept her decline, she caused a scene everywhere every day.
'No employees would stick around dealing with such unreasonable antics from the boss.'
In the end, the staff left even faster, and without anyone to run it, the large shop couldn't be maintained.
Not long ago, Marygold's doors were closed, so I asked Delia about it, and she said they had sold the place entirely.
'Unable to bear the humiliation, Pam fled the capital like she was escaping, and naturally, the wedding was off too?'
Bell, who had heard all the news, gave a slightly bitter smile.
-It doesn't feel entirely refreshing.
She was showing some sympathy.
Unlike me, Bell was a really kind person.
I had laughed heartily, feeling triumphant.
'Bell seems more like the heroine than me.'
Anyway, with the capital's top dessert shop gone, Mabel rose even more rapidly.
Customers tend to attract more customers, so Mabel was swamped.
'Problems were bound to arise naturally.'
We still weren't fully in sync with the staff, yet we needed to hire more.
With the sudden influx of customers, we had to renegotiate supply terms with our ingredient vendors.
Mabel couldn't handle the operations alone, so I had to pitch in too.
And in between, I met with Lady Ophelia.
We didn't do much—just ate desserts together at Mabel.
Being so busy, I lost track of time, and I had no chance to play around with Luciano.
* * *
When I came to my senses, a week had passed since the attack incident.
Even after working at Mabel during the day, I had to review documents back at the estate at night.
'They're sales reports, so just looking at them makes me happy.'
A grin naturally crept onto my lips.
"Are you busy?"
Harrison came to see me.
"I just finished right on time. Come in."
I tidied the documents and invited him in.
Harrison sat across from me with an awkward demeanor.
"How's your body feeling?"
Before he could get to the point, I checked on his health first.
Harrison let out a low chuckle.
"Do you know what?"
"What?"
"Your greeting to me is always 'How's your body feeling?'"
"Have I been doing that?"
"Yes. You have."
He had been badly injured, so checking on him first made sense.
But hearing it pointed out like this, it felt like I'd been treating him perfunctorily, and I felt a bit sorry.
"You were hurt so badly."
"I'm not blaming you. It just made me think I'd miss it."
"Miss it? Why.... Are you leaving?"
Mid-question, I figured out the answer.
Harrison smiled calmly at my puzzlement.
"Yes. I heard you'd be leaving again tomorrow morning, so even though it's late, I came. I felt like I should at least say goodbye before departing."
He phrased it so politely, saying it was hard to see me lately because I'd been busy.
In fact, Harrison had his own estate nearby.
But he'd been so severely injured, and at Luciano's request, I'd asked him to stay until he was fully recovered.
Harrison had refused, saying he didn't want to impose more, but he accepted after I insisted.
'I feel bad for neglecting him despite that.'
"I'm sorry. I've just been out of it lately."
"No. I'm grateful just for the care you've given me so far."
As expected, he was so considerate.
"You're really fully recovered now?"
"Yes, the priest confirmed it. He said I can start training again."
Harrison's smiling face was bright.
With his body healthy again, his mind seemed solid too.
"Congratulations."
"It's embarrassing to be congratulated."
Harrison scratched the back of his head.
"Don't get hurt again."
"Yes, I'll do my best."
Maybe because we'd talked so much while he stayed at our estate?
Harrison's attitude had changed a lot.
He'd always been friendly toward me, but lately, he seemed even more warm and approachable.
His green eyes were filled with such trust that it felt burdensome.
"You're heading back tomorrow?"
"Yes. It's about time I returned home."
There was no reason to stop someone whose body had recovered from going back to his own place.
"Then, I should make special honey milk one last time. Let's go to the kitchen together."
"Is that okay? What if Nanny catches us?"
"It's your last night here, so even if she does, it'll be fine. This much of a send-off is allowed, right?"
I deliberately winked playfully.
"Then, I'll gratefully accept. I've been missing it since I'd be going home."
Harrison laughed deeply at my words.
The nighttime honey milk was our little secret.
Not long after Harrison started staying at our estate.
He got caught wandering the halls at night by me.
I thought my heart would stop.
A huge figure moving in the darkness looked straight out of a horror movie.
When I asked what he was doing, he said he couldn't sleep after lying in bed all day.
I thought if the estate staff saw him, they might faint.
So I told him to stop wandering and took him to the kitchen to make special honey milk.
It was Nanny's surefire secret recipe that she made for me whenever I had trouble sleeping.
The problem was, going to the kitchen at night was dangerous, and I'd get scolded for it.
Nanny hated me going there in the dark because accidents could happen.
-This is a secret, okay? If we get caught, Nanny will scold me big time. So you absolutely can't tell anyone I made it for you. Got it?
-If it's like that, I won't drink it.
-Come on, you said you can't sleep. Special honey milk will make you drowsy right away. You have to drink it.
-Is it that effective?
-That's why I'm making it secretly like this. Anyway, it's absolutely, positively a secret.
-Yes, I won't tell anyone.
After drilling it into him, I made the special honey milk.
After that, Harrison would often come to me on sleepless nights for some.
Of course, always in secret from others.
'Ah, is that why he feels closer to me?'
People naturally feel more comfortable with someone who shares a secret....
We tiptoed to the kitchen.
As expected for the late hour, it was empty.
I familiarly warmed up the honey milk and we each took a cup.
"To Harrison's full recovery."
I raised my cup, but Harrison just blinked slowly, not getting the meaning.
'You seem quick on the uptake, but sometimes not.'
"You have to clink cups."
"L-like this?"
Clink!
"Congratulations on your recovery!"
As I toasted again, Harrison's eyes went wide.
"Isn't this something you do with alcohol?"
Such an innocent expression over this.
And who says toasts are only for alcohol?
"It's just to get in the mood. Feels like you've become an adult already, right?"
As I giggled, Harrison's round eyes softened into a smile.
"You're right. I feel a bit more grown-up."
Seeing him so happy over something this small, Harrison must not have many friends either.
I decided to be generous.
"If you want special honey milk again, come visit anytime."
"Would that be okay?"
Joy lit up Harrison's face.
I Thought I Was the Protagonist
