It didn’t take long until evening.
That’s how I felt about the time.
How should I apologize, how should I preface it, and what words should I use to apologize?
Elric continued to think about something he had never done before, but no clear answer came to mind.
In the end, it’s something you have to face to find out.
That was how the first dinner with Tyria after returning to Wibin began.
“Am I late?”
She appeared just as the appetizers were being placed on the table.
The clothing was different from during the day. Elric shook his head in response.
“It was just about to begin. Please sit down.”
He stood up and greeted her, but it was impossible to guarantee whether it would be in accordance with the etiquette of a nobleman.
This is because Elric was ignorant about this. Not only that, it was the first time in Elric’s life that he had a multi-course meal like today.
Looking back, isn’t that true? During my childhood, due to my father’s personality of focusing on efficiency, dinner ended with just one dish.
On the battlefield, there was no time to talk for hours, even during meal breaks.
It shouldn’t be a nuisance, but I was worried, and fortunately, Tyria didn’t seem to mind too much.
“Please sit down too. “It must be uncomfortable to stand.”
Elric smiled slightly and nodded as Tyria spoke while sitting on a chair.
“Let’s eat first.”
I picked up the dishes.
I heard from Elber Graham that more than 10 utensils are needed for a meal, but that wasn’t the case with Wibin’s course.
Spoon, fork and knife. It was a simple composition, and it put Elric’s mind at ease.
Elric chewed a bite-sized piece of fresh grass and looked at Tyria.
She was eating elegantly, as usual, without even making a rattling sound.
‘Slowly… .’
No, wouldn’t it be abrupt to get to the point right from the start?
Let’s start with an everyday conversation.
“How was your day today?”
“The wheat is in good condition. “It looks like the yield will be relatively high.”
“exactly?”
“Yes, this is the biggest harvest since seven years ago.”
“aha… .”
I stopped speaking.
Elric broke into a cold sweat.
Was conversation this difficult? Elric, who was struggling with a new thought, finally came to a realization.
I don’t remember having many meaningful conversations with others since I left home.
Elvers Graham, who had at least some conversation, was a man who set the tone for the conversation.
It was a deplorable moment when all I had was knife skills.
“that… .”
Thinking that he should continue talking at any cost, Elric kept raising topics.
It was mainly a story about territory.
First, let’s classify it: ‘Isn’t the weather really nice?’ It was the type of question that was difficult to sustain a long conversation.
In the end, the awkward atmosphere did not disappear until the main dish was served.
Elric felt anxious as time passed by helplessly, and then he sighed.
‘What is all this doing?’
I reprimanded myself.
For some reason, this act felt cowardly.
If you call someone to apologize and waste time asking useless questions, isn’t that no different from a child stretching out because he doesn’t want to be spanked?
No matter how much we continue our daily conversations, we cannot make contact with an apology.
It was the same principle as not being able to cut down an enemy without drawing a sword.
Rattling.
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Elric put down his silverware.
I raised my head and looked at Tyria.
She also raised her head at the noise.
Now I could see her face.
There is a certain indifference and bluntness, and there is also a nobleness.
She seemed like someone who would firmly maintain her position no matter what happened.
But in other words, it was.
Tyria Portman lived a life that should not collapse in the face of any hardship.
According to Elber Graham’s saying that humans are perfected by the environment in which they grow up, she could be said to have become this kind of adult because she endured alone in a life where no one was on her side.
Elric was the one who made her lonely.
“Actually, there is a purpose for calling me here. “This is the business we talked about in the wheat field during the day.”
“You said there was a conversation you wanted to share.”
“exactly.”
“Please tell me.”
Tyria’s head fell slightly.
Her eyes were on the table, her hands were neatly gathered and on her knees.
For some reason, it made Elric feel sad.
Isn’t this exactly the attitude of someone who gets scolded?
Doesn’t it look like he’s sticking his neck out over the guillotine?
Do you think that you will be scolded for what happened to the Yubin family?
If not… .
‘Do you think they will kick you out?’
It’s sad to see such a sign of resignation.
It was because I thought she would accept it with a resolute attitude even if something like that actually happened.
She is someone who should not be treated like that at all.
Elric clenched his fists.
And I spoke carefully.
“… “I’m sorry.”
Tyria’s eyebrows narrowed.
Immediately after, she looked up and her eyes were filled with puzzlement.
Elric laughed bitterly.
“I’m sorry. “I invited you here because I wanted to apologize to you.”
“What are you apologizing for?”
It would be right to receive an apology for anything, so why?
Elric spoke straight away.
“Everything.” “I want to apologize for leaving 10 years ago, for returning only now, and for not looking for you in the process.”
It was that moment.
For the first time, Elric could clearly see the emotions on her face.
No, isn’t this the first time? It was her day back in her weevin when I bumped into her sticking out among her wheat fields. She reacted the same way back then as she does now.
The green eyes hidden beneath the long eyelashes are clearly revealed. The eyebrows that had been straight and strong were gently curved, and the red lips were slightly parted.
The strength in the shoulders decreases and the flowing neckline becomes more prominent.
It was a surprised face.
Elric added.
“I know this will sound like an excuse. Nevertheless, to add to the idea that I should give a reason, I was too young at the time. “What happened that day was an impulsive decision.”
At first, it was because Tyria had to prevent a sad marriage, but in the end, the reason she ran away from home was because of her father’s words.
-Pay back the value of raising you.
The verbal dagger was still stuck in Elric’s chest.
“The reason I couldn’t return was hatred at first, then urgency, and hesitation at the end. 10 years ago, I hated my father so much that I left this country. I didn’t know it was so hard on you. I thought you had already returned home… .”
… No, that’s an excuse.
Considering that this marriage was an arranged marriage that started with a contract, the likelihood of such a thing happening was low.
If you had thought a little more deeply about Wibin’s work, you would have figured it out right away.
Nevertheless, the reason I couldn’t remember it until the end is because I inadvertently avoided that fact.
Elric kept his mouth shut. And she bowed her head briefly.
“I’m sorry. I’m not trying to end my apology with words. I will pay… .”
“Wasn’t it me?”
“… hmm?”
When I looked up, Tyria was covering her mouth with her hand.
It was like ‘oops’.
“… sorry. “I stopped talking.”
That’s what caught it.
It was her behavior.
Elric shook his head.
“It’s okay. And no. “You weren’t the reason I left.”
You’re just unluckily caught between me and my father’s affairs.
Elric said so.
I didn’t dare ask for forgiveness.
To tarnish someone else’s time and end it with a mere apology was more shameless than not apologizing.
Elric had to pay what he could.
Fortunately, I had something to hand her.
‘Legacy.’
There is a legacy from my father.
It was everything that her father had built his entire life, and it was the wealth that Tyria had helped build with her own hands.
It was her rightful share in the first place.
Aside from that, this domain and family were also justifiable to her who had upheld her responsibilities and duties.
Elric has been running away from it his whole life.
Since responsibility has already reached a point where it cannot be taken care of, the only thing that can be done is to fulfill one’s duty.
There was no other way.
It might have been 10 years ago, but so many things have changed now.
The young boy became a war mercenary who committed murder. The girl who cried alone in her sorrow eventually became a woman who only knew how to endure alone.
It had to have been 10 years ago to change anything.
I couldn’t have started the day like that even if I had to sit here on my butt. If she intervenes now, she will only end up as a plunderer taking away what she has built.
It was only then that Elric made up his mind that it was right for a relationship to grow apart for the sake of each other.
‘Let’s leave.’
She handed over everything she deserved.
Also, the day when all injuries on this leg heal.
To ensure that her years were not in vain, all Portman has to do is give her everything she has worked for and leave.
“Could you please accept my apology?”
Elric asked politely.
Tyria, whose complexion has suddenly recovered,
“… There is no reason to apologize. “She never complained.”
She answered like she did.
And then we continued eating as if nothing had happened.
There was a clattering sound for a moment, but it soon stopped.
It was puzzling, but I didn’t bother to delve into his intentions.
My decision was already strong.
romance, fantasy,
