Chapter 36
Memories (4)
The ones who discovered Tiria lying unconscious that day were the village elders, who had rushed over after hearing the news late.
Lytton, who had watched the monster’s appearance from a distance, had spread the word.
For about three days after that, Tiria lay in her room unconscious, and because of that, Baron Wibin’s temper was sharper than ever.
What Tiria remembered was the tense atmosphere of the mansion she felt the moment she opened her eyes, and the news the maids whispered to each other in low voices.
“I heard the young master of the Portman family was missing too and was just found yesterday?”
“Don’t even start. The Baron was absolutely furious, saying he was going to the Portman house to demand an explanation. It seems he’s concluded that the young lady was kidnapped.”
“Portman, well… they’ll probably try to settle it with money. Honestly, aren’t they rich beyond comparison to our barony?”
“You can say that again. Considering the Baron’s spending habits, wouldn’t he have caused all this fuss just to squeeze some money out of them?”
At the time, she understood nothing except the fact that Elric was safe, so she simply felt relieved.
But thinking back on it now, that was how it was.
Her father must have felt fortunate that he could blame her battered body on the Portmans. After all, it wouldn’t do any good for rumors to spread about a family head who laid hands on his own daughter.
Furthermore, getting money out of that coincidence must have been the icing on the cake.
Of course, that didn’t mean Tiria was safe.
“Do you have any idea how disappointed this father is?! From today on, I will place you under even stricter surveillance! Keep it deep in your heart that this is all because you let your father down!”
The dream-like days had finally ended.
Reality tormented Tiria more vividly and cruelly than any dream.
Going out was out of the question.
Even going into the garden was barely permitted for an hour or two under heavy supervision, and the education—accompanied by corporal punishment—was carried out with a severity incomparable to before.
Only one thing had changed.
‘I’m not sorry.’
Only Tiria had changed.
Now Tiria knew.
She had done nothing wrong, she had no reason to be in this much pain, and she had no reason to be rebuked by these people.
Elric had taught her that.
What he had engraved in her heart was a spirit of loving herself a little more, and a heart that could love others.
Also,
“To become an elegant lady, start over from your walking posture!”
“Yes.”
He had planted a dream in her.
Now, Tiria no longer questioned why she had to become a fine lady.
She came to desire for herself to grow into an excellent woman.
She was able to move forward using the dream of wanting to be his bride as a stepping stone.
How could walking through an endless cave be the same as traveling a path where one knows what lies at the end?
Because there was a promised reward, she could not collapse.
She could find more strength, and even if she stumbled, she could stand up again.
It was the same even after she had grown older.
Even after realizing that marriage to Elric was an impossible notion, those memories held Tiria up.
It was more than just a simple first love.
That brief memory with Elric had existed as the pillar of support that ultimately allowed the woman named Tiria Wibin to keep from giving up on herself.
He taught her the sensation of being loved.
He shared his warmth.
He let her know that even in the middle of a freezing winter, spring would eventually come.
She lived on for those reasons,
“You are to be married to the Portmans.”
And he arrived in the name of spring.
Just like the miracle that had visited her on that childhood day.
Tiria slowly opened her eyes.
In her daze, the first thing she saw was the encyclopedia of plants spread out in a mess.
Had she fallen asleep while reading?
She felt refreshed because she had a good dream for the first time in a while.
It wasn’t just her imagination; the stiffness in her body had almost entirely vanished.
It was at that moment.
“Are you awake?”
She heard Elric’s voice.
Startled, Tiria lifted her head.
He was standing by the window, looking at her.
His gentle smile was quite peaceful.
“I recall telling you to go to sleep early, but it seems you stayed up late. Why did you do that?”
Though he spoke with a mock-stern voice, he didn’t look angry at all because of his mischievous expression.
A sudden sense of disparity arose.
‘As I thought…’
Unlike when he was young, he had become quite refined.
It was a side of him Tiria wasn’t used to.
In fact, if not for the traces of his younger days that appeared from time to time, she might have forgotten that he was the same person as the boy she had loved.
She didn’t know how he had lived for the past ten years, but that wild-colt-like temperament of his was certainly suppressed.
“Wife?”
“…Ah.”
Tiria touched the ends of her hair and answered cautiously.
“I must have fallen asleep early. I don’t remember reading the book for very long.”
“I really can’t do anything with you.”
“I’m sorr—”
Tiria’s words stopped abruptly.
Instead, a faint smile formed on her lips.
‘Don’t apologize if you didn’t do anything wrong. You dummy. If you apologize first, they’ll look down on you.’
Why did those words come to mind first?
Tiria composed her expression and wiped away the trace of a smile.
Then she promptly closed the plant encyclopedia.
Elric was drawing the curtains.
The winter morning sunlight poured in brilliantly, lighting up the room.
“The weather is nice today. It’s a bit dazzling. Likely because of the fallen snow.”
“Is that so?”
“Of course, no need to even ask.”
Elric wiped away the frost on the window with his hand.
A deep smile was etched on his lips.
“Isn’t this town like that? It’s full of things that sparkle all year round. In spring the seedlings are green, and in summer they grow lush and vivid. Autumn is entirely golden, and winter shines purely again.”
Immediately after speaking, Elric twitched his lips briefly and continued.
“I think I missed this quite a bit. While I was away.”
Then he turned his head to look at Tiria.
Was it a shameful thing that, even as he showed such a sentimental side, her first worry was whether she had sleep in her eyes?
A brief moment of concern flickered through her.
Of course, Elric, who had no way of knowing her thoughts, continued with a slightly playful smile.
“So, I had a thought last night.”
“What is it?”
“The scenery of Wibin has tranquil colors, but isn’t it too monotonous? Moreover, it’s even worse inside the mansion. This mansion is far too desolate.”
Tap, tap.
Elric tapped on the window.
“So, how about you try planting some flowers in the mansion garden, Wife? When spring comes.”
“Flowers… you say?”
“You like it, don’t you? Gardening.”
Tiria’s eyes widened.
Her mouth also parted slightly in surprise.
A pleasant tightness that squeezed her heart spread through her entire body.
Tiria hesitated before asking.
“…Did you know?”
“Hmm? About the gardening? I recall hearing about it when we got married. Or did I get it wrong?”
What was this, digging into her heart so suddenly and unfairly again.
Tiria gripped the blanket for no reason and shook her head slightly.
Then Elric chuckled.
“That’s a relief. I’m glad I remembered correctly.”
Correctly, my foot.
“…Thank you.”
What was so correct about it, when he didn’t remember a single thing from back then?
But it couldn’t be helped; he wouldn’t be able to recall everything about that day.
There were rumors that when he returned after going missing, he had forgotten everything about that day, and because of that, it was very difficult to properly understand the incident.
“No need for thanks.”
“It is a matter to be thankful for, that you remembered.”
“Enough of that.”
It was quite a pity that the events of that day had become a memory she held alone.
Still, it was fine.
It might be a selfish heart, but beneath his earlobe remained the trace of that day that his mind could not remember.
It was quite embarrassing that she felt both a sense of apology at the thought of the scar caused by her, and a sense of satisfaction.
But what could she do? This was the kind of person she was.
Meanwhile, at Tiria’s gaze, Elric tilted his head.
“Why are you staring so… Ah, you mean this scar.”
Elric rubbed his neck.
“It’s a scar from when I was young. I played quite roughly, so I got hurt often.”
The way he looked embarrassed made her want to laugh, so Tiria composed her expression even further.
After doing so, she nodded.
“Yes, I have heard stories as well.”
“…For some reason, I don’t think they were good stories.”
“I don’t mind. More importantly, I would like to change my clothes now, so could you step out for a moment?”
“Ah, right. Your fever seems to have gone down quite a bit. I’ll be back in a while.”
Elric left the room, leaning on his cane.
Only after the door clicked shut did Tiria place her hand over her chest.
Thump— Thump—
Her heart was beating loudly.
The thought suddenly occurred to her that she might have already achieved half of her dream.
The moment she opened her eyes, she saw his smile first.
So much time had passed, but in the end, it had happened.
She was living her day within such sweetness.
“Madam, I’ve brought water for you to wash.”
“…Yes, come in.”
…Her face had become shamelessly hot.
She needed cold water.
The Wife Who Waited in the Wheat Field (Serial)
