Chapter 61
After several attempts, Enya finally managed to sit down.
After pausing briefly to regain her composure, she shouted at the old mercenary.
“Renzo! What grounds do you have for saying something so outrageous?”
She leaned against the table and panted.
Renzo tilted his head slightly, then took a tobacco pouch from his coat and filled his pipe.
He did it with remarkable ease.
Renzo said,
“…Your friend told me before he left, miss.”
“What? Taal?”
Enya’s eyes widened in surprise.
Without thinking, she glanced out the window, toward where Tarmin might be.
She had let the prince see the two of them clinging to each other.
Could that Tarmin really have said something so embarrassing? No, surely not…
Renzo chuckled and said,
“I was lying.”
“What?”
“Would that young man say something so embarrassing? He only said he was stepping out for a bit.”
“What? Hey, Renzo!”
Enya snapped, but Renzo still wore an easygoing expression.
“If a young man and woman go off alone, that’s a honeymoon, isn’t it? Or is it an affair?”
“Neither! Tarmin had business to take care of, and I just went along!”
“Then why did you go along on his business?”
“…Urgh.”
Enya let out a groan, momentarily at a loss for words.
She couldn’t exactly tell a third party about the threat lurking in the city.
But it was hard to explain without bringing that up.
If she just said Tarmin had taken her along because he was worried about her, she’d be teased to death.
The more Enya’s gaze wavered, the more Renzo’s eyes crinkled with amusement.
At last, the words were squeezed out of Enya, who felt she’d been caught out.
“B-Because we’re friends?”
Her face heated at having said something so obvious and childish.
Renzo shrugged and said,
“That again?”
“What? What do you mean, again?”
“I remember hearing that before. Want to make a bet?”
“I don’t mind, but Renzo, are you going to tell a story about Tarmin again?”
“Of course.”
“…Please, can you stop talking about Tarmin, even for a little while? I’m tired.”
“What? All right, then.”
At Enya’s plea, Renzo readily stopped teasing and closed his mouth.
He might be sly, but he knew when to stop.
Enya silently glared at Renzo as he puffed on his pipe for a moment, then finally enjoyed the rest she’d been looking forward to.
She was resting her cheek on the table, utterly undignified.
That was how tired she was.
A little while later, Sigona entered the hall alone.
She looked at Enya, sprawled out, in surprise, then asked cautiously,
“Sis? Are you okay?”
Still lying face down, Enya raised one hand in greeting.
“Sigona, it’s been a while. How are you feeling? Has the priest been treating you well?”
“What’s with your face? Did you fight with your brother again?”
“…Sigona, please!”
Enya shrieked, and Sigona looked even more flustered.
Renzo laughed with his pipe in his mouth, inhaled some smoke, then coughed painfully for a long while.
**
It was nearing sunset.
The dark red sky gradually turned navy, and people who had returned to their homes began lighting them one by one.
Tarmin returned from work and knocked on the door next door, rubbing his tired eyes.
Knock, knock, knock, knock.
“Enya, are you there?”
There was no answer.
Tarmin looked around briefly.
It looked as if the sun would set soon.
There was still plenty of time to drop off the souvenir, so why hadn’t she come back yet?
Still, there was no answer.
The tiredness gradually faded from Tarmin’s face, replaced by unease.
“Enya, I’m coming in, okay?”
Just as Tarmin took out the spare key, he heard footsteps beyond the door.
A moment later, the door opened with a clatter.
Only a little—just enough to peek outside.
A pair of bright red eyes watched him through the gap.
“…Why?”
For some reason, Enya seemed to be on her guard.
Tarmin let out a brief sigh of relief, then snapped at her.
“What do you mean, ‘why’? If you’re here, answer when I call! I was worried! I was regretting sending you off alone.”
Tarmin rubbed his face, looking tired.
Once he confirmed Enya was safe, the fatigue he’d briefly forgotten came rushing back.
Winter was a busy season for hunters.
And starting tomorrow, Tarmin would have to return to being a hunter.
He still hadn’t finished getting ready.
Just reporting his return to the administrator and visiting acquaintances he’d entrusted with various errands had taken up the whole day.
He still had to stop by the workshop and get some arrows suited to his bow.
On top of that, Miss Eleonora had summoned him for tomorrow.
“Whew. Anyway, I’m glad you’re home safe. Get some rest.”
“…Huh?”
“Huh? I said to get some rest. Don’t you understand?”
“N-no, aren’t you coming in?”
When he lowered his hand, Enya was looking at him with a flustered expression.
The door was wide open, and Enya was wearing the thin dress she’d worn once before.
Tarmin asked, puzzled,
“Come in? Why all of a sudden?”
“You said you were going to use my bath, didn’t you?”
“What? What are you talking about… Oh.”
Tarmin belatedly recalled the conversation they’d had before parting and shook his head.
“I did say that, but you said no and turned me down.”
“But…”
“Enya, it’s not urgent, and you can wash up at my place. If you feel bad because you turned me down, don’t worry about it.”
Enya seemed to be choosing her words for a moment.
She looked somewhat cautious, practically clinging to her own door.
After a moment, Enya gave him a coy look and said,
“…Still, I already got the bath ready, so you can use it if you want.”
“Oh? Really?”
“Yeah.”
She’d prepared the bath for his return? That was thoughtful of her, but…
Tarmin considered it for a moment.
He’d originally planned to make sure she was safe, go home, and get a good night’s sleep, but it felt wrong to ignore her kindness.
There was no harm in washing up, was there?
Tarmin made up his mind and nodded.
“Then can I impose on you like last time? I’ll gladly use it. Thanks.”
“Go ahead.”
Tarmin approached the open door.
It wasn’t exactly a compliment, but he figured he could at least reach out and pat her head.
“…Urgh!”
Enya suddenly flinched and dodged his hand.
Then she went inside ahead of him.
Tarmin scratched his face, confused.
“…What’s with her?”
**
Enya’s kind and thoughtful actions didn’t end with heating the bath.
After washing up and changing into fresh clothes, Tarmin sat neatly at the table.
A generous meal, including soup and chicken, was laid out in front of him.
Tarmin’s eyes widened as he looked at Enya.
“Did you prepare all this?”
“Do you think I have a talent for cooking?”
“No, not at all.”
Enya shot him a glare.
“…I got it from the market.”
“I figured. Still, good job. How thoughtful. I’ll dig in.”
Tarmin had planned to eat the food he’d packed for the caravan ride home for dinner.
But when the unexpectedly warm soup slid down his throat, he felt his fatigue begin to melt away.
Feeling his weary body relax, Tarmin let out a contented sigh.
“Whew.”
While Tarmin happily polished off the food, Enya didn’t eat with him.
She kept moving, deboning the meat for him, scurrying to the kitchen to get water, and refilling his bowl of soup.
She looked just like she was waiting on him hand and foot.
Tarmin asked with a bright smile,
“Enya, why are you being so cute? Aren’t you going to eat?”
“…I-I’m fine.”
For some reason, Enya’s face was flushed.
She’d been sitting across from Tarmin, but at some point she’d moved to the seat beside him.
As the meal came to an end, Enya even brought out wine, set a glass in front of Tarmin, and poured it.
Then she sat beside him, sneaking glances at him.
Tarmin naturally picked up the glass in front of him, and Enya’s eyes sparkled.
He raised it to his lips, then lowered it again as if remembering something.
“Oh, right. Sorry, after you went to the trouble of pouring it. I shouldn’t drink.”
Enya asked in surprise,
“What? Why? You liked this.”
“It’s not that I don’t like wine. I’m busy tomorrow. I have to get up before sunrise.”
“W-what?”
As Enya visibly flustered, Tarmin rubbed his belly and stood up.
“Man, I never thought I’d be treated this well by a friend. Thanks. That was delicious.”
Tarmin smiled contentedly and started to walk out.
Enya cried out in a panic,
“Hey! Where are you going?”
“Where do you think? Home, obviously.”
“You’re just leaving after all this?”
“After all this what… Oh.”
Tarmin’s gaze briefly shifted to the table, crowded with empty dishes.
His expression turned understanding, and he started pleading with Enya.
“You want me to clean up before I go? Enya, since you’re already waiting on me, can’t you see it through? I’m really busy tomorrow. I’ll treat you later, too. Okay? Sounds good?”
“No, that’s not it.”
“That’s not it? Then what is it?”
Enya couldn’t say anything for a while.
She bit her lip and fidgeted, only looking at Tarmin.
Tarmin waited for her answer, then shrugged and turned around.
Just then, Enya squeezed her eyes shut and threw herself at him.
She wrapped both arms around Tarmin’s arm.
“Enya?”
Tarmin looked at her in surprise.
With her eyes shut, Enya trembled and cried out,
“W-work, or me?”
*****