Ch#42
By the time they disembarked from the train, the shadows of night had already completely draped over the sky.
If there was one thing that set this place apart from Wibin, it was the streetlights.
In Wibin, it was common practice for no one to venture out after dark because the world became pitch black; here, however, people were still out and about thanks to the streetlights illuminating the streets at regular intervals.
To Elric, it was a truly welcome sight.
Having spent most of his time in the West, the sight of such streetlights was not unfamiliar to him, so a sense of comfort settled over him alongside the novelty.
“I have arranged for a carriage immediately. This way, please.”
Aldio, who had disembarked a moment later, guided Elric and Tiria.
Sure enough, once they stepped out of the station, rows of carriages were lined up out front, waiting for passengers.
Elric helped Tiria into the carriage Aldio pointed out, keeping a close eye on her complexion.
Now that her feet were back on solid ground, she seemed to be returning to the version of herself Elric knew.
“Are you alright?”
“I am a bit tired.”
Was she thinking about what happened on the train?
Elric could sense a hint of embarrassment in Tiria’s voice.
After a brief, chuckling response, the carriage set off and rattled through the royal capital.
“Does my lady visit this place every year?”
“Yes. I came with the former Head of the Family whenever there was a New Year’s banquet.”
“Then it shouldn’t be too unfamiliar to you.”
“I’ve learned the geography to some extent. However, it is still so different from Wibin that it feels awkward.”
They chatted idly like that for about twenty minutes until they arrived at the residence in question.
Elric let out a dry laugh.
‘It’s exactly that man’s taste.’
The residence was small.
It was a two-story brick house that prioritized neatness over splendor; from the outside, it looked more like the home of a wealthy commoner than a noble’s townhouse.
The interior was much the same.
The first floor consisted of a spacious living room with a dining room and kitchen to the side. On the second floor, there were two bedrooms, two dressing rooms, and a single study. That was it.
“Let’s unpack first. My lady, I shall see you at dinner.”
“Yes.”
Since the timing had been awkward, they hadn’t managed to eat dinner on the train.
For that reason, they were to have a simple meal at the residence, and Elric kept that in mind as he entered his room.
Click. It was the moment he opened the door.
“……It seems this was my father’s bedroom.”
“Yes. This house doesn’t happen to have any other spare rooms.”
Aldio spoke as if feeling apologetic.
Elric gave a bitter smile.
He had thought he’d finally cleared away all emotions regarding the man, but the moment he saw his father’s traces like this, his heart stirred with a gentle ripple.
“I can tell just by looking. Ah, so this is Father’s room, I thought.”
A single bed, a small bookshelf, and a coat rack.
Despite the room being reasonably sized, those were the only items filling it.
Even the interior decor was sparse.
The furniture was made of dark hardwood.
His father had been fond of such clean, simple items, and whenever Elric used to enter his room, the thick scent of wood would always greet him.
“I contacted them in advance, so the cleaning should be finished. You should have no trouble using it immediately.”
“I see. I’d like to change my clothes first, so would you mind stepping out for a moment?”
“……Yes. I shall wait in the dining room.”
Aldio left the room.
Elric looked around the room for a moment before opening the window to air it out.
He took off his overcoat and hung it haphazardly on the rack.
Only after loosening his necktie did he finally feel like he could breathe.
‘I hope the smell of wood fades a bit.’
The old memories were making him feel anything but pleased.
‘Get out. I have no time to play with you.’
He felt as if he could hear those words.
The layout of the room, the scent, and the bleak structure brought up unwanted sentiments.
Elric moved his feet toward the bookshelf.
‘The books are still the same.’
Several classics his father had enjoyed were shelved in the exact order Elric remembered.
He recalled how the man had a strange obsession with such things and was quite strict about it.
Elric leafed through the bookshelf for a bit, but soon stopped.
‘There’s no diary or anything.’
He had a question.
Why had his father given him the inheritance, which consisted of all his liquidated businesses?
“You knew I wouldn’t return, didn’t you?”
Muttering to himself, Elric looked at the bookshelf with a hint of resentment.
To call it his own delusion would be to ignore what the structure of this house was telling him.
If his father had known he would return someday, he would have bought a larger house.
Even if he hadn’t, he would have set aside a room specifically for him.
He truly hated the man, yet because they were of the same blood, there was something he knew.
Just as Elric himself was stubborn, so was his father.
It was clear that he hadn’t harbored any expectation that Elric would return.
“Just making a person’s heart heavy for no reason.”
He could have just as easily left the entire inheritance to Tiria, who had suffered by his side.
Elric fingered the blunt dagger in his breast pocket.
Only then was he able to calm his mind.
‘It’s just as well.’
Since he had come to the capital, he needed to look further into the disposal of the inheritance.
Under the laws of the kingdom, an inheritance is fully vested in the designated heir, so changing that heir required several legal procedures.
It would be best to find someone to help.
It felt too guilt-inducing to leave it to Aldio or the other servants, as it would mean conveying his intention to leave them again.
Elric stood up, leaning on his cane.
The moment he opened the door, he ran into Tiria, who was just leaving her room.
She had a shawl draped over her thin dress.
Her frame appeared more fragile than usual, making Elric feel a bit awkward about where to look.
It wasn’t the first time he’d seen her like this, but perhaps because of the setting, everything felt unfamiliar.
“……You’re here. Let’s go.”
“Yes.”
When they headed to the dining room, bread, soup, eggs, and water were laid out.
It was an extremely simple meal, perfect for finishing quickly.
After taking a bite of bread, Elric asked Tiria.
“What is the schedule for tomorrow?”
“The banquet is in three days, so I plan to prepare until then. We must buy clothes first.”
“Clothes?”
“Yes. You do not have any clothes to wear to a banquet, do you, Head of the Family?”
Ah, now that she mentioned it, she was right.
All Elric had in his wardrobe were ready-made suits he wore when wandering around the neighborhood.
They certainly wouldn’t be appropriate for a banquet.
At the Imperial banquet he had attended once, even that Elbus Graham had been sensitive about his attire.
‘A gathering of nobles is a den of people dying to find something to nitpick. It’s best not to give them any fuel for gossip.’
Indeed, if he didn’t want to embarrass Tiria, it seemed wise to pay attention to his attire.
“Very well. I happen to have some discernment when it comes to formal wear. I shall ensure I do not look shameful.”
“I will choose them for you.”
“Hmm?”
“I will be the one choosing.”
She suddenly displayed a firm resolve.
Her gaze remained fixed on her food. Her stance clearly showed a stubbornness that wouldn’t even allow room for negotiation.
Elric, wondering why she was being like this, finally recalled the past.
The outfit he had worn on their first outing after his return to Wibin. The reaction of her and Aldio at the time.
‘……I wouldn’t do that now.’
Elric also knew now that such an outfit was something only a clown would wear.
But what use would such an excuse be?
Trying to explain himself felt pathetic in the first place.
Elric quietly signaled his compliance.
“……I’ll leave it to you.”
The conversation didn’t go any further.
The meal ended quickly, and Elric went straight back to his room to prepare for bed.
He’d have to move busily again starting tomorrow.
Elric felt a bit restless at the thought of doing work that didn’t suit his temperament at all.
As soon as the banquet was over, he would return to Wibin immediately.
With that thought, the moment he flopped down onto the bed—
Crash!
“Ugh!”
The bed collapsed.
Elric, having rolled onto the floor, stared at the bed with a look of utter bewilderment.
At that moment, Aldio came rushing in and threw open the door.
“Yo-Young Master! What on earth happened……!”
“……The bed leg was broken.”
Elric pointed to the bed leg.
The damage that had been hidden by the blankets was now clearly visible.
There were traces of the snapped leg being tied together with string to hold it up.
Aldio’s face turned a mottled red.
“Wh-Why, these people……!”
Hadn’t he said he hired an outside firm for the cleaning?
“I shall go and give them a piece of my mind first thing tomorrow! To think they did such a shoddy job and took all that expensive money!”
Elric gave an awkward laugh.
It had been a long time since he’d seen Aldio this angry.
“Right, but could you help me clear this away first? I can’t exactly sleep on a collapsed bed.”
As he spoke, Tiria appeared behind the door.
Her brow was furrowed.
“……The bed broke.”
“Ah, don’t mind it. Since it’s come to this, I’ll have to buy a new bed tomorrow as well.”
“Then where do you plan to sleep tonight?”
“What else? I’ll have to sleep on the floor.”
“On the floor?”
She looked at Elric as if she couldn’t understand.
Only then did Elric realize his mistake.
From her perspective as a noble by birth, it was a perfectly natural reaction.
“Well, I’ve done it many times during my years of wandering. So there is no need to worry too much…….”
“That was during your wandering.”
Tiria let out a deep sigh.
She looked extremely displeased.
“Butler, stop by my room before you go to the firm tomorrow. I shall write a letter myself for you to take.”
“……Yes, Milady.”
Aldio swallowed hard.
Elric was the same.
It was the first time he’d seen her angry, and the aura she gave off was quite imposing.
“And, Head of the Family.”
“Y-Yes, speak.”
His eyes met Tiria’s.
Her lips parted slightly for a moment.
A hesitation that lasted only a split second, and then, slowly:
“……Please sleep in my room tonight.”
“……?”
Elric’s face went blank at those words.
Tiria turned around.
“Please come.”
Elric looked at Aldio. Aldio looked at Elric.
“?”
“?”
The two of them tilted their heads at the same time.
Both of them had equally stupid expressions on their faces.
The Wife Waited in the Wheat Field (Serial)
