Chapter 16
In the end, he worked straight through the afternoon.
Even then, Tiria finished the latter half of the work alone, driven by a looming deadline.
Elric watched her processing speed with utter astonishment.
To think it took her less than ten seconds to review a single document—it was at a level where he couldn’t believe his own eyes, wondering how a mind could possibly work that sharply.
Regardless, through that process, they had finally made it out to the town center by carriage.
“The sun hasn’t set yet.”
It was the time when the sunset was just beginning to bleed in, though the sky still held more blue than red.
The usually quiet land was bustling as if every soul in Wibin had gathered in the square, and their faces were blooming with smiles.
It was peace.
Though they lived in the same era, this place alone was soaked in a tranquility far removed from the West.
He couldn’t help but smile; he couldn’t help but wish for his beloved hometown to remain this peaceful forever.
Feeling a bit lighthearted, Elric spoke to Tiria.
“There is a little time left. Shall we look around?”
“Will you be alright?”
Elric chuckled as Tiria’s gaze fell toward his knees.
“As long as there are no violent movements, it does not matter much.”
In the first place, he was supporting his body with mana, so if he set his mind to it, he could even run short distances. The reason he moved with a cane was simply to focus on recovery by minimizing the strain on his joints as much as possible.
Tiria stared at his knees as if contemplating, then eventually gave a small nod.
Elric reached out his hand.
“Let us go.”
In that moment, Tiria’s shoulders gave a slight flinch.
A sense of ‘ah, oops’ rose in Elric’s mind.
‘Damn… was I acting too familiar?’
He had acted on instinct, thinking it was only right to escort her, but come to think of it, it was a bit ridiculous to offer an escort while hobbling on a cane.
It would look more natural for her to be the one escorting him.
Elric tried to withdraw his hand in a hurry, but—
“……Let us.”
Tiria’s hand reached out faster than he could move.
Elric’s body froze. It was a momentary reaction he couldn’t control.
The slender fingers that felt like they might break if gripped too hard, and the soft texture of her skin, felt strangely vivid.
Perhaps due to the cool weather, her hand was a bit chilly.
“Head of the family?”
“Ah…… right, we should go. Where would you like to visit first?”
He asked after pulling himself together, but Elric’s mind was a bit scattered.
“……Your friend at the restaurant asked us to stop by. How about there?”
“Good. Let’s go there once.”
Tap. He planted his cane.
They began to walk through the square at a slow pace.
It was a distance of less than three hundred steps to the restaurant, yet the moment felt incredibly long.
It was because of their joined hands.
No, could this even be called holding hands?
Neither Tiria nor Elric himself had any strength in their grip.
Rather than binding each other, their curved fingers were merely hooked together like latches.
It was a loose restraint that either of them could break with just a little effort.
Yet, because their hands did not pull away, the subtlety of it sent ripples through his heart.
He felt awkwardly self-conscious for no reason.
In his awkwardness, he tried wishing for this moment to end quickly, but then he would slow his pace even more, thinking he might regret it the moment their hands parted.
He reproached himself, wondering if such thoughts were selfish, but the guilt didn’t quite stick.
Naturally, his attention drifted toward her.
Was she uncomfortable walking hand-in-hand like this? What emotions were hidden behind her expressionless face?
Perhaps, the reason she accepted was…….
“The shop is crowded.”
Startle—
His train of thought was severed.
Elric’s gaze turned toward Bart’s restaurant.
Just as Tiria said, it looked incredibly busy. There was even a line in front of the entrance, so they would likely have to wait a long time to eat.
Elric felt a mix of regret and relief.
“Hmm, shall we go somewhere else?”
“Would that be alright with you?”
“Today isn’t the only day. Next time……”
Next time? Is there a next time?
The thought suddenly occurred to him, making his mind stall for a moment.
Fortunately, it was only for an instant.
Elric answered while trying to ignore the unnecessary thought.
“……I can just come to meet him separately next time.”
“If you say so.”
Tiria’s gaze swept over the square.
Her profile was like a painting.
No, calling it a painting felt like a mismatch.
Amidst the scenery of a rural town, she alone possessed an alien nobility.
Every element that made her up was profoundly aristocratic and restrained.
She was someone who suited a banquet hall better than a cluttered festival.
While lost in those thoughts, Tiria eventually pointed to a stall and spoke.
“Would you like to try something from over there?”
It was street food.
“Would you be alright with that?”
“Is there any reason I would not be?”
“Just, it is a bit unexpected.”
Elric gave a small laugh.
“I did not know you liked such things.”
“I do not dislike them.”
“Understood. Let’s go eat.”
And so, Elric toured the festival under Tiria’s lead.
The local food was delicious, the sights weren’t numerous but were enjoyable enough, and the tranquility brought a profound sense of satisfaction.
The loosely joined hands did not break until the sun set and the speeches began.
Neither of them let go.
Though he didn’t know her mind, Elric’s own heart was clear enough to surprise him.
It was because of the nagging thought that if he let go of this hand, he might never be able to hold it again.
The sun had fully set.
Tiria stood atop a platform prepared in the center of the square, while Elric listened to her speech from a slight distance away with Aldio.
“As the harvest has ended safely again this year……”
Her voice was very quiet and calm, yet her distinct, clear pronunciation made it easy to understand every word.
That was likely why everything except her remained silent despite the large crowd.
It might be an exaggeration, but it felt as though even the blowing wind was a messenger sent to spread her voice.
“It suits her.”
Elric spoke without thinking.
“Standing there on the platform like that, she seems to be someone who truly belongs there.”
“Yes, I think that from time to time. Had the Madam been a man, the Portman family would not be as poor as it is now.”
It certainly sounded plausible.
She was dignified yet not arrogant, and elegant yet not flashy.
Elric knew exactly one person who possessed such restrained authority.
His friend Elbus Graham was like that.
If one were to strip away the flippancy or the emptiness from him, a person exactly like her would likely emerge.
However,
“Well, if she were a man, I think I would dislike it a bit.”
That was just how he felt.
Elric added with a chuckle.
“Wouldn’t it be annoying? I don’t think we could have been friends.”
Even if it was just a ‘what if,’ the thought wasn’t pleasant.
Tiria Wibin…… no, he liked Tiria Portman being the woman she was.
She was a person more than wonderful enough as a woman.
That was what Elric thought.
“Oh, young master……”
Aldio laughed softly.
Elric looked at him with curiosity, but no answer came.
He bowed his head and said,
“I shall head to where the carriage is first.”
“Did Derin not come out with you?”
“It is a festival, after all. We made a promise to grab a meal together.”
“Ah, I see. Go ahead.”
The coachman, Derin, was a man who had served as the Portman coachman for over twenty years, since his father’s time.
Since he and Aldio were of similar age and were close friends, Elric knew this well and saw no reason to press further.
“Then, have a pleasant time.”
“What pleasant time?”
Aldio walked away wearing a smile that, for some reason, felt a bit lingering.
Around then, Tiria’s speech came to an end.
“Now, we shall begin the lighting ceremony.”
As she raised her hand, several men carrying large torches stepped forward.
Beside the platform in the center of the square stood a pile of firewood stacked as high as a building.
When the torches touched the straw at the base, whoosh! The wood erupted into flames.
“Waaaaaaah!!!”
Cheers erupted.
The thumping of drums echoed.
One by one, the gathered people began to hold hands and dance.
Some raised their cups high and shouted toasts.
The final spark of the festival had been lit.
Elric looked away from the spectacle and toward Tiria.
She was approaching with a back as straight as an arrow, walking at a pace that was neither slow nor fast.
As she drew closer, her features became clearer, capturing his gaze.
Perhaps because of the flickering flames, her face looked slightly flushed, possessing a unique sense of vitality.
As she finally stood right before him, Elric spoke.
“Well done.”
“How was the speech?”
“I do not think I could do it like you.”
“I will help you.”
His lips parted, then closed.
The words saying there was no need were swallowed back down.
It was for a different reason than before.
Whether it was because of the roaring fire, the sound of people’s laughter, or perhaps the strange sentiments he had felt throughout the day.
“I think it suits you better to be the one doing it. And I shall be the one watching.”
He found himself making a promise he wasn’t sure he could keep.
Tiria’s gaze turned toward the dancing people.
“……Yes.”
Elric also shifted his gaze to where she was looking.
There was an elderly couple.
Young children were clumsily mimicking the old pair, and in some corner, a shy young man and woman were holding hands.
There might be slight differences in the emotions each of them held, but the emotion the grand picture painted was happiness.
As he watched them quietly, Elric suddenly spoke, not knowing what had possessed him.
“Would you…… like to dance?”
He turned his head to look at Tiria.
Her gaze moved slowly to meet Elric’s.
Elric gripped his cane tighter.
It must be because of the burning flames.
The reason her face looked redder than usual, and the reason her eyes were wavering.
It must surely be because of that.
The Wife Waited in the Wheat Field (Serial)
