MTDL 34

Chapter 34

“Here we go!”

“Put a little more strength into it!”

Duke Garment’s soldiers easily lifted the storage containers that had not yet been brought over and carried them into place, then set up a new tent for the waiting line.

Since they had removed the intimidating armor and weapons, no one felt threatened by their presence anymore.

Meanwhile, the people who had come from the Ministry of Economy took charge of each stage of the tasting event and did an excellent job promoting my red beet business.

“I’ll explain the difference between Miss Arinell’s red beets and other existing fruit desserts.”

“This is a nutritional information chart for red beets.”

They seemed like the Empire’s finest elites, overflowing with intelligence, so I felt a little sorry making them do this kind of work.

‘In any case, I absolutely have to thank Uncle Armus for this.’

“……”

Then I felt someone’s gaze and glanced at Mas beside me.

I could have sworn I heard a quiet chuckle.

“Are you laughing at me?”

When I poked him in the side, Mas turned to look at me.

Sure enough, his eyes looked amused.

Mas then went back to making the paper funnels he had been working on.

Sigh. Today had been a little eventful, but in any case, my tasting event seemed to be proceeding smoothly.

“It’s really delicious!”

“Wow, I definitely have to buy this later!”

“It’s sweet, crunchy, and even slightly sour… So that’s why everyone has been going on about red beets lately.”

Excited voices from the people tasting the samples could be heard from all around us.

The long day finally came to an end!

Every last sample of the red beet we had prepared for the tasting event was gone.

According to Adam, an even more enormous crowd would probably come on the official opening day.

My business… Could I really look forward to it?

“……”

After finishing work, Mas and I lay on the roof of the marquis’s residence, looking up at the stars.

The twinkling, beautiful stars seemed almost as if they were watching over us.

“Thanks for today. I didn’t expect you to come help me… But having you by my side gave me strength.”

At my words, Mas shrugged.

As though it were only natural.

“It feels like everything is happening in such a whirlwind… But I think I’m accomplishing my goals one by one. I’m studying spirits, learning more about my father, and even starting the red beet business to prepare for the famine and rebuild the marquisate…”

“……”

“I probably wouldn’t have been able to do it without the support of the people who care about me. Adam and Lady Allens, for example… And you too, Mas. Thank you.”

I smiled warmly at Mas.

For some reason, his eyes seemed to tremble slightly.

“Oh, right!”

As I looked at Mas, I remembered something I had noticed earlier. I reached out and took his hand.

“……”

Unlike usual, Mas’s hand was covered in scratches. I frowned as I lifted it.

“What happened to this?”

Mas looked away and tried to pull his hand from mine, but I held on tightly and asked again.

My eyes clearly said that I wouldn’t let go unless he told me.

“Why is your hand such a mess, Mas? Did something happen?”

In the end, Mas hesitated for a moment as though considering what to say. Then he took my hand and wrote something on my palm.

It wasn’t an answer to my question, but it made my heart sink.

I think I’ll have to go somewhere far away for a while.

My eyes widened in surprise, and I hurriedly asked,

“What do you mean? Did something really happen?”

Mas wrote on my palm again.

No, it’s just that…

His eyes behind the mask looked somewhat subdued.

I think I’ve been neglecting what I’m supposed to do and wasting my time.

I looked into Mas’s eyes.

I couldn’t understand what he meant.

“I don’t understand. Explain it so I can understand…”

Mas wrote again.

It’ll take a long time, but I’ll come back.

I didn’t know what had changed Mas’s mind, but his determination seemed firm.

“…Mas.”

I wanted to stop him, but when I saw the strong resolve in his eyes, I didn’t know what to say.

In the end, I asked Mas sadly,

“When are you leaving? Where are you going?”

The boy’s stiff shoulders seemed even more rigid today.

I can’t tell you the details.

I could see the complicated emotions in Mas’s black eyes behind his white mask.

“You really… have to go, don’t you?”

I asked Mas one last time.

Mas quietly nodded, as though confirming his resolve.

“But… you’ll come back, right?”

Instead of answering, Mas gave me a faint smile with his eyes.

Then he slowly nodded.

Very slowly, making my heart sink.

Even though the boy had promised to return, rather than relief, I felt a deep emptiness at the thought of him leaving.

“…Mas.”

I clenched my fists and stared into the distance for a long time.

Suddenly, I remembered the scenery of the plaza we had visited together.

The sandwiches Mas had made, the fireflies we had watched together in Galnem, and even the fireworks here.

During the time since I had come from Galnem to the capital, Mas had always been present in my happiest memories.

My tightly clenched fists trembled.

“…Have a safe trip.”

Only after a long while did a farewell escape my lips.

“I’ll always be cheering for you. And remember what I told you before. A great famine is coming soon.”

Mas was my precious friend.

“I’m always ready to help you, so you can come back earlier than you planned. Of course, you’ll probably manage perfectly well there without my help…”

And then—

“……”

Mas pulled me toward him and covered my eyes with his hand.

Then I heard the faint rustle of his mask being lifted.

“……”

A soft touch of lips against my forehead.

When I opened my eyes a moment later, Mas was nowhere to be seen.

My chest felt completely empty.

Britton stood with his back against the wall of an alley near the marquisate, his cheeks flushed red.

His silver hair, having returned to its original color, rustled softly in the wind.

The sound of his heartbeat seemed like a drumbeat, and in his hand he held a white mask.

“……”

He slowly raised his hand to his lips.

Then he gently pressed his index finger against them.

Arinell’s warm forehead had touched this spot.

Arinell…

When she said goodbye, Arinell had clearly lowered her brows in sadness.

She seemed to be trying her best not to let him see how she truly felt.

I want to stay by your side every day, but now I’m going to treasure even that time.

Even after coming to the capital, he had continued wearing the mask so he could meet Arinell often…

Because I need the strength to protect you.

Britton’s deep eyes trembled.

It’s disappointing that I can’t stay by your side as your friend like before.

A blue moon illuminated his figure.

But this is probably the right path, both for me and for you.

Rain began to fall.

So please understand, just a little.

His lips twisted bitterly.

The dry leaves on the ground slowly became damp beneath the night rain.

“Oh my goodness. What happened to you, Arinell?”

Lady Allens was horrified when she saw my swollen face the next morning.

I awkwardly avoided her gaze.

“Don’t tell me… You got your heart broken?!”

Lady Allens’s words struck straight at the sore spot in my heart.

“A broken heart? That’s ridiculous!”

“But I can tell just by looking at your eyes. They’re filled with longing and regret…”

Lady Allens gently caressed my swollen cheek with sympathy.

“Heartbreaking love is also a precious experience during youth.”

Then she clapped her hands and called for a maid.

She declared that the thing a heartbroken girl needed most was some sweet red beet sorbet.

Before long, the maids brought out red beet sorbet.

“Mmm! See? I told you!”

I scooped up a spoonful of sorbet with a silver spoon and put it into my mouth.

My face had been sore from crying so much the previous night, but it did seem to calm down a little.

The sweet flavor spreading through my mouth also seemed to lift my spirits.

“Every girl experiences a love like a flame at some point. But not everyone is honest with their own feelings…”

Lady Allens spoke dreamily.

“Sometimes, it is only after that moment has passed that you realize it was a storm of affection. But even when love ends, it doesn’t mean everything is over.”

Love? That was ridiculous.

Mas was… my precious friend.

We watched fireworks together, sometimes held hands while taking walks at night, and even now, I really wanted to see him…

That was why I was sad that Mas had left.

“Because just like a rainbow appears after the rain, a new love can begin before you even realize it.”

The moment Lady Allens stopped speaking, Adam knocked on the door.

Before long, he stood before us and delivered some news.

“I heard that His Highness the Crown Prince is ill.”

Britton… was sick?

Lady Allens gave a little laugh.

“They said a cold was going around, so I suppose he caught it badly. I heard that he had a fever and a severe cough since yesterday. Poor thing.”

The image of Britton protecting me at the masquerade came to mind, and my heart gave a sudden pang.

I jumped to my feet.

“I should see what medicinal herbs we have. And…”

I spoke to Adam, who was smiling at me.

“I should go visit him.”

Actually, it had been bothering me that I hadn’t properly said goodbye to him.

After all, Britton had almost gone through something terrible with me.

“That sounds like a good idea, Arinell.”

Lady Allens encouraged me after setting down her cup of sorbet.

Then, as though she had suddenly remembered something, she said,

“Arinell, come to think of it, I brought a gift for you. Would you like to see it?”