Chapter 49

Every word from Costance resonated deeply within her.

“Vivi.”

He didn’t miss the opportunity. Realizing her heart had weakened, he called her name with earnestness. His eyes waited only for her answer.

“I… love you very much, Vivi.”

“…”

“I love you very, very much, Vivi.”

He regretted not being able to fully express this love.

Instead, Costance conveyed his love with his voice. She could feel his pitch, his tremor, and even his suppressed breath.

Even if I couldn’t envision a future with Costance, couldn’t I at least enjoy the present for a moment? 

As she thought this, she suddenly pulled her hand away from his grasp. At that moment, Costance’s eyes wavered helplessly.

“…I’m sorry.”

The more one reaches out, the more desperate it becomes.

It was the same when she first spoke with her father. When her relationship with her father improved, she thought she would be by his side for a long time.

But when she witnessed her father’s death in the laboratory explosion.

She regretted it.

She wished she hadn’t talked to him. She wished she hadn’t liked him. She wished she hadn’t visited him every day…

“I’m sorry, Costance.”

“Why…”

“I’m sorry.”

If only she could clearly explain the reason for rejecting Costance… Then there would be no lingering regrets. Both she and Costance were left with answers full of regrets.

She didn’t have the confidence to talk with Costance any longer. She hugged Irini, who was on the floor, and glanced at Costance’s vacant eyes.

“I’ll be going now.”

She ran away again. Irini, who had to part with another owner without understanding why, cried incessantly. She had to keep apologizing to Irini, holding her tightly.

Costance did not follow.

* * *

A dark house where not a single ray of sunlight entered. The curtains drawn three days ago remained unchanged. A damp smell emanated from the old logs. Even the sound of crawling bugs was acutely audible.

She sat with her knees together and lowered her head. Tears, like a faucet, poured out. Startled by her sobs, Irini approached and licked her feet.

Whatever she thought about, Costance intruded. The sadness of rejecting him was greater than losing the world.

“…”

She wanted to erase her memories. She truly wished to erase them all.

If only these memories didn’t exist… if only they didn’t!

She quietly lifted her head. 

Had Sir Costance left?

He wouldn’t come back, right? 

She couldn’t forget the look in his eyes when he last saw her. His empty eyes and wounded face showed how exhausted he was.

After crying for a while, she snapped back to reality at Irini’s cries. She opened a can and fed Irini, then collapsed onto the bed. Her tired body soon fell asleep.

She dreamed of Costance.

* * *

The next day, the Madame who lived under the elm tree came to visit. She was subtly curious about yesterday’s events but didn’t ask directly. After the Madame’s persuasion, she composed herself and went to the knitting workshop.

As soon as she arrived in town, her eyes turned to the café. There was only one employee in the empty café. After staring at the café, she turned her head and headed to the workshop.

As soon as she entered the workshop, Irini roamed freely. She sat at her designated spot and quietly began to knit. Using two needles, she tried to knit as she had learned, but her hands kept getting pricked.

She had to unravel and start over several times due to mistakes. As this process repeated, the women around her began to glance at her. They whispered about her, possibly having heard about yesterday from the Madame.

“Oh, speaking of which, about that Sampio person.”

Someone changed the subject. The familiar name made her lift her head.

“It seems he suddenly came into a lot of money and went to indulge in entertainment?”

At the woman’s words, others paid attention.

“What? Where did he get the money from?”

“…Gambling, perhaps?”

“I’m not sure, but they say he’s so engrossed in the nightlife that he hasn’t been home. And this fact, well, the Madame living next to me caught her husband cheating and saw it.”

The women continued to share countless stories. She hadn’t realized it when it was quiet, but this place was like an old social circle. Numerous gossip and stories from the small village circulated here. If she hadn’t come to the workshop today, surely her story would have been discussed.

“But Miss, who are you making that for?”

A woman asked as she watched her focus on knitting. Then all eyes turned to her.

“I’m not learning to give it to anyone in particular.”

“Really?”

The women seemed quite disappointed by her response.

“It would be nice to make clothes for Irini. Though I’m not skilled enough yet.”

“Hmm…”

That was the end of the conversation. The women didn’t force questions on her as she concentrated. She pretended to be unaffected, but she was quite uncomfortable. She feared Costance might be mentioned by them.

She wished time would pass quickly.

“Mother!”

Just then, a boy who had finished school called out to the Madame. That signaled the end of the workshop time. Others also packed up their knitting.

“Did you come, son?”

“Yes. Hi, Irini!”

The boy hugged Irini. She quickly put the yarn in the basket and stood up. She left the workshop with the Madame and walked through the town. Irini, now in the boy’s arms, yawned widely.

The Madame was pondering what to make for dinner tonight.

“Oh my. Miss.”

The Madame grabbed her arm. At the end of her gaze was Sir Costance, sitting in the café, drinking coffee. 

He… hadn’t left yet.

“He looks like that handsome man from yesterday.”

“…”

“It seems he came to see you, Miss.”

The Madame remarked, admiring Costance’s beauty. Sensing her gaze, Costance looked up. Her eyes met his.

“I don’t know him.”

“What? Oh, Miss…!”

She ignored his gaze and turned her back.

* * *

Costance continued to wander around the village.

If he wasn’t seen at the café, he was in front of the market, and on other days, he sat on a bench reading a newspaper. Yet, he didn’t approach her.

He was waiting for her to come to him first. Vivi became stubborn and continued to ignore him. This standoff lasted for several days.

“You know that handsome man? The Madame saw him too.”

“Judging by his attire, he seems wealthy… Where is he from?”

Eventually, rumors about Costance spread among the village women. Once, they speculated about Vivi’s relationship with him and got caught by her.

“That man seems to like you a lot, Noona.”

The boy who came to play with Irini commented. She pretended not to hear and didn’t respond. The boy, who was having fun with Irini, noticed the darkened sky outside and stood up.

“I’ll walk you home.”

He hurried to put on his coat. The boy was about to say it was okay but nodded at the unexpectedly dark outside.

The boy, who went out first, smiled brightly, enjoying the cool breeze. She followed him, holding Irini.

“Thank you for playing with Irini. Thanks to you, Irini doesn’t seem bored.”

“I like Irini too! And mom told me to be nice to you.”

Did she really say that? 

She thought of the Madame who always took care of her. She was one of the few good people in the village.

Walking with the boy, she suddenly stopped.

‘Someone is watching.’

The gaze she hadn’t felt recently returned to her back. Goosebumps rose, stiffening her arms. The boy looked at her in confusion.

“Noona?”

“…Someone is coming.”

A staggering black figure soon appeared. A bright red face and unfocused eyes visible even at night.

“It’s that scary man…! Mr. Sampio.”

The boy recognized the man and clutched her clothes.

“We should hurry home.”

“Should we run?”

She nodded. The boy and she held hands and ran with all their might. Despite being drunk, Sampio staggered after them. Even in his drunken state, Sampio ran very fast.

“Stop! I said stop!”

Sampio shouted loudly. There wasn’t a house nearby, and no one could help them.

She spotted the elm tree in the distance. 

Could the boy and I reach it without stopping?

“I’m scared.”

The boy burst into tears from fear. Both of them were reaching their physical limits. Meanwhile, the large-framed Sampio was closing in on them with terrifying momentum.

“Stop! Just you!”

Sampio reached out toward her. She swatted his hand away and shielded the boy. The boy hiding behind her trembled in fear.

“Stay here. Give me Irini.”

She whispered to the boy.

“But what about you, Noona…”

“Run quickly and call the Madame.”

“…”

“Hurry!”

“Okay.”

The boy put down Irini and quickly ran home. Irini bared her teeth at the man.

“That damn cat again!”

“Why are you calling me?”

“I’m out of money.”

Sampio glared at her as he spoke. 

What did he mean…

“So call him quickly! Call him!”

What was he talking about? 

She heard he had been indulging in nightlife for days, and indeed, Sampio wasn’t in his right mind. An angry Irini bit Sampio’s pants.

“Damn it!”

“Irini!”

Sampio raised his foot high. Irini, who had fallen to the ground, got up and charged at him. Sampio, as if he wouldn’t be caught twice, raised his arm high.

But his arm didn’t come down; it was caught.

“…W-what is this.”

“You bastard.”

An extremely angry Costance punched Sampio without hesitation.