Chapter 18

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 18

Chapter Title: Up to There

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“Father seems to want to marry me off.”

Erna, who had been chattering away about recent events as they strolled along the riverbank, suddenly changed the subject.

“He seems to think it's the way to finally act like a parent, even if it's belated. But I have no intention of doing that.”

She furrowed her brow slightly, but her expression wasn't all that serious.

Pavel let out a silent sigh and stopped walking. Erna halted alongside him, facing him with an innocent look. Her eyes sparkled like the river surface reflecting the afternoon sun, deepening Pavel's troubled thoughts even further.

By now, it was obvious what Viscount Hardy's purpose was in taking Erna in. He'd bought the daughter who came to visit House Baden's estate on the condition of her visit, only to sell her off for an even higher price. It was as clear as day from the way he was parading her around to this man and that, like displaying merchandise for sale.

“Erna, wouldn't it be better to just go back to House Baden now?”

Pavel couldn't bring himself to say outright that the man had no interest whatsoever in playing parent and was just trying to sell her off, so he conveyed his warning in a roundabout way.

“I want to, but I promised to stay in Schwerin for a year. Once that time is up, of course I'll return to House Baden.”

“Your father's intentions might be different.”

“Even so, my decision won't change. I did receive help from Father, but my family is Grandmother.”

Unlike her smiling face, there was a stubborn glint in Erna's eyes. She looked endlessly fragile, but she had a stronger sense of pride and resilience than anyone—every bit the young lady of House Baden that Pavel had known for so many years.

What, exactly, was the best thing for this girl?

No matter how much he pondered, Pavel couldn't find a clear answer.

Even if Erna decided to return to Verford, Viscount Hardy wouldn't let his daughter go so easily. He'd use whatever means necessary to sell her off to the man who offered the highest price. Knowing that full well, yet being powerless to do anything about it right now, left Pavel feeling utterly helpless.

'That's far enough, Pavel.'

His father had brought up the unexpected comment last winter, one afternoon while Pavel was helping at the lumberyard.

'I'm talking about going in and out of the Barony of Baden. It's time to stop. You're no longer a child, nor is that girl from that family.'

His father, pipe clenched between his teeth, gazed at the distant sky as he continued. His tone was gruff, but his eyes held genuine concern.

'You don't need to come down here starting next vacation. If you want to make it as an artist, you shouldn't waste time in this backwater—you need to focus on your work.'

With that blunt advice, his father left the spot.

Pavel removed his gloves dusted with wood shavings and quietly stared at the sky his father had been looking at. The pale, sharp winter sunlight stung his eyes.

Only when his eyes began to water from the brightness did Pavel finally turn away. He left his hometown five days later.

He had accepted his father's advice because he felt the same way himself. To him, Erna was like a little sister, but he knew the world saw them differently. The son of a lumberyard owner and the granddaughter of a fallen noble house. He was well aware that rumors about them were starting to circulate one by one. For each other's sake, it was time to part ways.

To keep that promise, Pavel hadn't visited Verford once in over a year. He'd also drastically reduced the number of letters he exchanged with Erna. So he'd thought everything was settled. He never dreamed he'd run into her here, like this.

“Erna, if you ever need help, come find me right away.”

Pavel emphasized earnestly. It was the best he could come up with without undermining the distance he'd deliberately created.

“Okay. Thanks, Pavel.”

Erna smiled happily and started walking along the riverbank again. Each time the breeze blew, the frills on her parasol's edge fluttered, along with the flowers and ribbons on her wide-brimmed hat, and the lace of her voluminous dress. Pavel couldn't help but chuckle at the sight, like a giant flower blossom, his tension melting away.

As Erna resumed sharing updates about herself, she posed an unexpected question toward the end of their walk.

“By the way, Pavel. Do you know of any way to sell artificial flowers in this city?”

“Artificial flowers? You're still doing that here?”

Pavel asked in surprise. No matter how much House Hardy's fortunes were declining, they wouldn't have their debutante daughter doing something like that. And the pittance earned from it wouldn't make much difference to the family anyway.

“It's not work or anything—I just make them whenever I'm bored. I thought it would be nice if I could sell them here like in Verford. That way, I could send the money to Grandmother.”

She said it casually, but Erna looked quite earnest about it.

“I'll look into it.”

Pavel nodded readily. It wasn't hard to guess the state of House Baden's finances, without the living expenses Erna had supplemented by selling her flowers.

“I sold a painting to the owner of Soldau Department Store once. I'll ask if they can take deliveries of them.”

“A department store? Thank you! Really, thank you, Pavel!”

Watching Erna beam with excitement, Pavel let out a somewhat hollow laugh.

Erna was still Erna.

That fact brought him both joy and worry in equal measure.

It was Erna.

The moment Prince Biern caught sight of the woman beyond the carriage window, he knew it for certain. The distance wasn't all that close, but there was no room for doubt. The woman walking across the bridge was unmistakably Erna Hardy—the impudent thief who had stolen his trophy.

Biern narrowed his eyes, observing the unexpected scene. He only noticed the young man beside her after their distance had closed a bit more.

Pavel Roer.

The moment the name he hadn't thought of in ages came to mind, the carriage passed by the pair walking side by side. Biern quickly withdrew his gaze from the window, but the afterimage of the woman smiling like the sparkling Arbit River in the afternoon sun lingered vividly.

A naughty lady scouting for a husband in high society while secretly enjoying an affair with an art academy painter. Indeed, worthy of being Princess Gladys Hartford's successor.

“They're all playing around.”

As the carriage entered the bustling district, Biern arrived at a clear conclusion. Along with it came pity for the countless fools being toyed with by that woman behind her innocent facade.

Whatever the case, thanks to this woman who had suddenly appeared and stirred up society, this season wouldn't be boring. It would be quite entertaining to watch who became the pitiful prey of that deer. For him, it was simply a matter of enjoying the commotion—more fun than any play—and then walking away with the stakes.

As he slipped his gloves back on, the passing scenery came to a stop. Biern brushed aside the meaningless memory and descended from the carriage with light steps.

The Freyr Bank building, located at the heart of the financial district, had a grand, temple-like appearance. Eight massive columns supported the stone structure, topped with beautiful reliefs. Freyr—the god of war and wisdom from Lechen's founding myth. It was also the name of the ship commanded personally by King Philip II during his expedition.

Biern strode confidently toward the golden hall blessed by the royal ancestor's deity.

The two agreed to meet again at the same time and place the following week before parting ways.

Pavel offered to see her off, but Erna stubbornly refused. Her face shone with innocent pride as she insisted she now knew how to take the stagecoach, having learned from the maid.

Pavel stood at the end of the bridge, watching Erna's receding figure. Over that silhouette floated a hazy memory of the day he first met her.

It was a late spring afternoon when heavy rain had left puddles everywhere along the country roads. Pavel, returning from an errand for his father on a mule-drawn cart, spotted a little girl trudging along covered in mud.

He only realized she was the granddaughter of Baron Baden when he got close enough to make out her face.

“Want a ride?”

Instead of ignoring her as usual, he spoke first on impulse. Erna froze in surprise. It looked like she'd tried to jump over a large puddle and fallen in.

“I'm heading that way, so hop on.”

Pavel offered again. After hesitating for a while, the girl surprisingly climbed aboard readily enough. The rumors of her being a haughty noble miss who wouldn't associate with village kids must have been nonsense.

The entire ride, the girl didn't say a word. She just stared sullenly at her ruined shoes. Pavel regretted his impulsive action but couldn't very well kick her off now, so he silently drove the mule onward.

“Um...”

Erna finally spoke after the cart stopped. He'd thought she was an ill-mannered noble miss for jumping off without a greeting, but she was hesitating as she held something out to him.

Pavel accepted it in bewilderment. It was a bitter licorice candy, the kind you'd give to a coughing grandmother.

While Pavel sat there stunned, unsure how to react, Erna reached into the basket on her arm and offered something else. This time, it was a cookie wrapped in paper.

“Thanks. I'll enjoy it.”

Before she could empty her entire basket, Pavel gave a suitable response. Erna, who had been fidgeting and glancing at him nervously, finally relaxed and broke into a wide smile. In that moment, Pavel understood why she'd kept her mouth shut the whole time. She was missing a front tooth.

Embarrassed at being found out, she quickly pursed her lips and scampered off toward the Baden estate like a bouncing rabbit. Then she suddenly turned back, called out “Thank you!” belatedly, and gave a small wave.

“Pavel!”

Erna, who had been walking away, suddenly turned and called his name. Pavel gazed quietly at the current Erna standing where the memory of the past had faded.

“Thank you!”

She greeted him just like the girl from that day. Still waving her hand so awkwardly.

That's far enough, Pavel.

He could almost hear his father's conflicted voice echoing in his ears. Even now, Pavel readily admitted the man was right. She was just a little sister, nothing more. Their relationship couldn't progress beyond that.

Pavel waved back in greeting. Smiling at the current Erna, just like the boy from that day.

Up to there.

The proper boundary still held.