My Wife Waited in the Wheat Fields

PR: Badman

By the time they got off the train, the shadows of night had already covered the sky.

Yet, the only thing that was really different from Yubin were the streetlights.

The darkness was one of the things that kept people from going out after dusk in Wiven, but here, thanks to the streetlights that lit up the streets at intervals, there were still people out and about.

It was a welcome sight for Elric.

He was no stranger to streetlights due to experiences in the West, and so it was both new and familiar to him at the same time.

“I’ve got a carriage waiting for you, so let us depart immediately.”

Aldio dismounted and led Elric and Tyria out.

As they exited the station, sure enough, they found a carriage lined up in front of the station, waiting for them.

Elric looked at Tyria’s complexion as they climbed into the carriage Aldio had led them to.

As soon as she had stepped on bare ground, she had once again become the woman he knew.

“Are you all right?”

“I’m just a little tired.”

He wondered if she was still reliving her memories of what happened on the train.

There was definitely uncertainty hidden in Tyria’s voice.

But, before he could respond with a chuckle, the carriage had started moving, and they were on their way.

“Is this where you come back, year after year, Milady?”

“Yes, I have come with the Former Lord every time there has been a New Year’s Banquet.”

“Then, I suppose you are not so unfamiliar with it.”

“I’ve gotten the hang of the geography to a certain extent, but it’s still very different from Yubin, so there’s some awkwardness.”

They rode for twenty minutes, making small talk like that.

A bitter smile forced its way onto Elric’s face.

“That’s exactly his taste.”

The mansion was small.

It was a two-story brick house that emphasized simplicity over opulence, and from the outside, it looked more like a wealthy commoner’s home than a nobleman’s mansion.

The interior was no different.

The first floor had a spacious living room, flanked by a dining room and kitchen, whilst the second floor had two bedrooms, two dressing rooms, and a study.

“Let’s unpack first. Milady, I’ll see you at dinner.”

“Sure.”

Due to the sudden attack, dinner hadn’t been served on the train.

For that reason, a simple meal would have to do at the manor, and with that in mind, Elric entered his room.

He pushed open the door.

“…This must have been my father’s bedroom.”

“Yes. It’s a house that doesn’t have any empty rooms after all.”

Aldio said ruefully.

Elric smiled bitterly.

He’d thought that he’d gotten rid of his feelings for him, but the sight of his father’s traces made his heart twitch.

“I could tell at a glance. Ah, it’s my father’s room, I suppose.”

A bed, a small bookcase, and a coat rack.

It wasn’t much more than a small room, and that was all it contained.

Even the decor was simple.

And it was all made of black wood.

His father had loved such neatness, and whenever he walked into his room, whether it was here or at home, he would catch the scent of the wood.

“I called ahead to have it cleaned. You shouldn’t have any problems using the room right away.”

“I see. But first, I’d like to change my clothes, so would you excuse me?”

“…Yes, Milord. I’ll wait for you in the dining room.”

Aldio left the room.

Elric looked around the room for a moment, then opened the window to air out the room.

He took off his coat and hung it roughly on the coat rack.

He loosened his tie and finally let out an eased sigh.

‘I wish the smell of the wood would go away.’

It reminded him too much of the old days.

-”Get out. I have no time to play.”

He could almost hear those words.

The layout of the room, the smell, and the way it was constructed, all reminded him of his unnecessary sentimentality.

Elric stepped to the bookcase.

‘Books.’

Several of his father’s favorite classics were lined up in the order he remembered them.

He remembered that his father had had an unexpected obsession and used to be quite meticulous about these things.

Elric flipped through the books, then stopped.

‘You don’t have a diary, do you?’

He was curious.

Why had his father’s will given him everything?

“Didn’t he know I wasn’t coming back?”

Muttering, Elric stared at the bookshelf resentfully.

It wasn’t just his own delusions, the layout of this house told it all to him.

If his father had known he would return one day, he would have gotten a bigger house.

And even if he hadn’t thought so, he would have kept an extra room for him.

He hated it, but there was something in his blood that knew.

As stubborn as Elric himself was, so was his father.

It was clear that he hadn’t expected Elric to return.

Without a reason, he had continued bothering Elric’s psyche.

Even if he gave Tyria the entire fortune for suffering by his father’s side, it still wouldn’t relieve him of all resentment.

Elric gripped the dull dagger in his arms.

Only then could he calm himself.

‘It’s fortunate timing though.’

Now that he was in the capital, he just needed to find out more about how inheritances were handled.

Under the kingdom’s legal code, an inheritance was tied to a designated heir, and changing that heir required a number of legal formalities.

So, it was a good idea to get someone to help him.

He couldn’t leave it to Aldio or the other servants, or he’d feel bad telling them he was leaving again.

Elric leaned on his cane and rose from his seat.

As he opened the door, he ran into Tyria, who had just left the room.

She wore a shawl over a thin dress.

It showed more of her body than usual, and Elric wasn’t sure where to look.

It wasn’t the first time he’d seen her like this, but it felt strange in this space.

“…There you are. Let’s go.”

“Alright.”

They headed to the dining room, where bread, soup, eggs, and water awaited.

It was a simple, quick meal.

After taking a bite of bread, Elric turned to Tyria.

“What’s the schedule for tomorrow?”

“The banquet is in three days, so I’ll just be preparing before then, but first, I need to buy some clothes.”

“Clothes?”

“Yes, Milord. You don’t have any clothes to wear to the banquet.”

Ah, come to think of it, she was right.

The only thing in Elric’s closet was a ready-to-wear suit that he wore when he was out and about in the town.

It was clear that it would not be appropriate for a banquet.

The one Imperial Banquet he’d ever been to, even Elvus Grayman had dressed up.

-“All these people, who can find fault with anything, are gathering at the nobles’ party. It’s better not to be the target of unnecessary gossip.”

Certainly, it would be wise to dress appropriately, so as not to embarrass Tyria.

“Very well. I have quite the taste in banquet attire, so I’ll appear in a manner that won’t be embarrassing to you.”

“I’ll pick it out for you.”

“Hmm?”

“I said I’ll pick it out.”

There was a sudden stubbornness in her voice.

Her gaze remained fixed on the food, and so it was clear she wasn’t going to leave any room for negotiation.

Wondering what was wrong with her, Elric suddenly remembered the past.

The outfit he’d worn on his first night out with her back in Wyvern. Her and Aldio’s reaction then.

‘…I don’t think they trust me now.’

Elric knew now that that outfit should have been worn by a clown.

But there was no use in making excuses.

He had been the ugly one to begin with.

Elric meekly nodded in agreement.

“…Please.”

No more words were spoken.

The meal was quickly over, and Elric headed back to his room to get ready for bed.

Tomorrow would be another busy day.

Elric felt a twinge in his stomach at the thought of doing something so unpleasant.

As soon as the banquet was over, he’d go back to Yubin.

He thought to himself, as he flopped down on his bed.

Crash!

“Keugh!”

The bed had collapsed.

Elric rolled over and looked at the bed in dismay.

At that moment, Aldio rushed over and opened the door.

“M-Milord! What on earth is this…!”

“…The legs of the bed were broken.”

Elric pointed his finger at the legs of the bed.

They were right there, unhidden by the mattress now.

There were traces of straps holding the broken legs together.

Aldio’s face contorted.

“T-This…!”

After all, he had said that he had hired an outside company to clean it up.

“I will go and confront them first thing tomorrow morning! Doing such a shoddy cleaning job whilst taking all that money…!”

Elric chuckled awkwardly.

It had been a long time since he’d seen Aldio this angry.

“Well, would you mind cleaning this up first, I can’t sleep on a fallen bed.”

As he spoke, Tyria appeared from behind the door.

Her brows narrowed.

“…The bed is broken.”

“Oh, never mind it. I’ll just have to buy a new bed tomorrow.”

“Then how are you going to sleep tonight?”

“Well, I’ll sleep on the floor.”

“On the floor?”

She looked at Elric as if she couldn’t understand.

Suddenly, Elric had a realization.

It was an understandable reaction for a noble by birth after all.

“Well, I’ve done it many times in my travels, so I wouldn’t worry about it too much…”

“That’s a travelling thing.”

Tyria sighed heavily.

She looked very uncomfortable.

“Butler, before you go to the contractor, stop by and see me. I’m going to write a letter and send it off myself.”

“…Yes, Milady.”

Aldio swallowed hard.

Elric did the same.

He’d never seen her so angry before, and her presence was quite commanding.

“And you.”

“Wh-What?”

Tyria’s eyes locked with his.

Her lips curled up for a moment.

There was a moment of hesitation, then slowly,

“…You will sleep with me in my room tonight.”

“…?”

Elric was dumbfounded by what he heard.

Tyria turned around.

“Come quickly.”

Elric looked at Aldio.

Aldio looked at Elric.

“?”

“?”

Their heads tilted at the same time.

They both looked dumbfounded.