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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 73
Chapter Title: The Golden Egg
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"Yes, of course. If you make it yourself, it won't taste anything like this, right?"
This was true.
The secret ingredient was the honey itself.
It tasted like this because it was special honey Nanny had procured.
If you made it with regular honey from the market, it definitely wouldn't taste like this?
"Is that so?"
"Yes. So next time, don't get hurt and come visit walking properly on your own two feet."
"Is that... an invitation as a friend?"
Harrison asked very cautiously.
His gaze on me even looked tense.
'He must really have been craving a friend.'
I should be his friend too.
"Now we're close enough to call each other friends. No, let's do it!"
Harrison's eyes widened.
'Was switching straight to casual speech too abrupt?'
As I tilted my head, Harrison smiled back.
"I'm glad to be friends with you, Miss."
It was a subtle smile that seemed bright yet bittersweet.
'Is that not it?'
His ambiguous reaction left me puzzled.
Did he not care for it, and I just mistakenly thought he wanted to be friends?
I pondered for a moment but shook off the complications.
'I'm Espin who charges straight ahead! The sunshine heroine pushes through to the end!'
I raised my hand with just my index finger extended.
"That's not it."
I shook my index finger firmly from side to side.
"It's Espin."
Friends don't call each other 'Miss.'
Harrison was a polite-speech character to the end, so I didn't demand casual speech from him.
After gazing at me for a moment, Harrison said,
"Yes, Espin."
He softly called my name with a strangely shy smile.
Like he was happy to be friends with me.
It was a genuine smile, different from before.
Just as a swell of pride welled up in me.
'No, wait a minute!'
But is it really okay for us to become friends like this?
Harrison already harbored no other feelings for me beyond his quirky misunderstanding.
Nailing it down as "friends" like this felt wrong somehow...
Gazing at Harrison's smile, I belatedly sensed something off.
* * *
"You're here today."
"He's leaving, so I have to see him off."
Though busy, I deliberately stayed behind to see Harrison off.
As if realizing that, Harrison's face brightened.
"Thank you. See you next time."
"Take care. And don't forget our promise."
Harrison made a "promise?" face but soon seemed to recall last night's conversation and smiled gently.
"Yes. I won't get hurt."
With that, Harrison departed with a relieved expression.
Only after Harrison left did I realize I hadn't contacted Luciano for a while.
'Come to think of it, I've been so busy lately I didn't even think of going to see him.'
I only realized it after remembering I needed to tell him Harrison had fully recovered and returned.
It wasn't something to convey by letter, so I decided to set up a meeting with Luciano.
[Shall we meet?]
[I'm busy.]
[Very busy?]
[A little.]
[Okay, next time.]
[Yeah, next time.]
I took Luciano's refusal lightly.
I knew he was devoting more effort to training because of the attack incident, so I didn't find it strange at all.
'I can tell him later.'
Or Harrison might go see Luciano himself and find out.
'Too bad I won't witness that touching moment.'
I let that day pass without much thought.
Does solving one issue make everything fall into place?
Once Harrison's matter was settled, the concerns about Mabel eased up considerably.
Not enough to completely wash my hands of it, but Mei could handle most things now.
That brought Luciano back to mind.
[Free today?]
[No, busy.]
[Okay, later.]
Even when a refusal came in a letter a few days later, I shrugged it off.
[Can I come visit?]
[I'm out.]
[Okay.]
I understood even when the next letter brought another refusal.
[Busy today too?]
[Yeah. Even if you come, I won't have time to meet.]
Only after the fourth refusal.
'This feels off?'
Suspicion crept in.
It felt like the events from when I was eight were replaying...
I'd tried to show some manners since I'm older now.
I was wondering if I should just show up unannounced like before.
"Espin, are you there?"
Mother had come.
My mother, but she truly looks elegant and beautiful no matter when I see her.
"Yes, Mother. Come in."
"What have you been so busy with lately? It's harder to catch sight of you than your father."
I was flustered by Mother's hurt tone.
"Just this and that..."
"How can you never be home."
I had to hide the Mabel business, so I deliberately acted even busier.
Even at home, I pretended to sleep early so I could work secretly at night.
Inevitably, my time with my parents had dwindled sharply.
"Going out today too?"
"Yes— I mean, no."
Mother's expression changed the instant I said "yes," so I hurriedly corrected myself.
The usually delicate lady turned downright frightening.
"Yes or no?"
"No. I won't go out."
I could afford to rest for one day, so I answered quickly.
Mother's face immediately brightened.
"Then, shall we spend some time together after so long?"
Come to think of it, I'd been neglecting my parents lately?
I decided to have some fun time with Mother.
"Yes!"
"Good. Let's go shopping with Mom after so long. Lots of pretty clothes have come out lately."
"Great!"
Just like that, an outing was suddenly decided.
Our first stop was the dress shop.
"Oh my, Espin. It suits you so well. Shall we try this one too?"
"Yes!"
"Espin, try this one too."
"Yes."
"Espin. This one too..."
"Yees..."
I kept changing clothes there until Mother was satisfied.
We ended up leaving with shopping bags filling both hands.
'I'm exhausted now.'
"Espin, you must have felt stuffy, right?"
"Yes. A little..."
"Shall we get some fresh air before heading back?"
"Please!"
My throat felt scratchy from changing so many outfits inside.
Our second date spot was the park.
A famous dating spot known for its walkways lined with pretty flower paths.
Perhaps because of that, lots of young couples were strolling about.
"Spending time with our Espin makes Mom so happy."
Mother was delighted in a truly girlish way.
Seeing her bright face, I felt truly sorry for not paying attention lately.
"I love spending time with you too, Mother."
"Our daughter is so sweet; it makes Mom happy."
"I'm happy thanks to you, Mother."
We were strolling hand in hand with Mother like that.
'Huh, what's that?'
I spotted something that made my eyes light up.
At first, I thought it was a trick of the eye and blinked several times.
It was something that absolutely shouldn't be in a place like this.
But no matter how many times I blinked, it stayed put, so my eyes gleamed as I dashed toward it.
"Espin! Where are you going now!"
Mother panicked as I bolted off.
But I panicked even more that someone might snatch it first and ran.
I seized the object sitting under a park tree.
No matter how I turned it, it was unmistakable.
'It's real. It's real!'
"Oh my, what's that?"
Mother arrived late, her voice full of surprise as I stomped my feet in excitement.
Unable to contain my thrill, I showed Mother what I held.
"M-Mother! It's a gold nugget! I picked up gold!"
It was a flat oval gold nugget, a size a bit cumbersome to hold with both hands!
Oh my gosh!
Jackpot!
They say even if a heroine trips, she picks up a gold nugget!
I just went for a walk and found gold!
"Real gold? Just lying on the ground like that?"
That's what's so amazing about it.
It was right in the middle of the park, and yet no one had picked it up until now!
No luck like this luck—I was extremely excited.
"Mother, look how it sparkles! It has to be gold! Trust me, I've collected gold coins before!"
"Y-Yes. Our Espin does have a good eye for gold."
Mother awkwardly agreed.
A gold nugget like this—how much money is it worth?
Amid my near-blissful happiness, a question arose.
What's the rule here for found lost items?
"Mother, since I picked it up, I can keep it, right?"
"Well, can we just take something like this? The shape looks like an egg—seems crafted. Doesn't it have an owner?"
Come to think of it, it wasn't a natural shape.
Just like Mother said, it looked like an egg?
"Then I can't keep it?"
I picked it up.
I found it.
Seeing my face dripping with reluctance, Mother looked pitying.
"We have to report it to the guards. It might be something precious to someone."
"Yes..."
So we went to the nearest guard post and reported it.
"I picked this up. Any lost item reports?"
I gazed at the guard with regret dripping from my expression at the thought of parting with the golden egg.
"No. Nothing... but..."
"Really?"
Mother! No reports!
Can't I keep it?
But Mother shook her head firmly.
"The owner might not even know it's lost yet, so no. I'll report it."
She warned me and asked the guard to process the lost item report.
"U-uh, then I'll help with filing the report."
The guard glanced at me warily as he filled out the forms.
The world felt like it was crumbling around me.
How could I pick up gold and have to give it back?
My heart ached because my mother was too conscientious.
'From now on, I need to live more selfishly.'
My family is so good-hearted; I have to grab the gains myself.
In the meantime, the paperwork was finished.
"Report completed."
At the guard's declaration, I felt tears about to spill.
With the report done, it was time to let go of the golden egg I'd been cradling so carefully.
I exchanged final goodbyes with the golden egg.
"Sob, my golden egg. It was so nice to meet you; I was thrilled. Forgive me for not being able to keep you."
"Ahem, Espin!"
Only after seeing Mother's flushed face did I realize.
"Did I say that out loud?"
......Yes.
Mother's resigned reply reached me.
The guard was biting his lower lip and trembling.
