3.2

“Ouch!”

“Red! This guy, you’re spacing out again. Get out!”

“I’m sorry.”

Red shook his hand that was hit by the hammer and stepped back. The forge colleagues filled the empty space with curses, and a young errand boy wrapped his fingers with cloth.

“Red. Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. …Oh, maybe not? There’s some blood.”

“I’ll get the disinfectant!”

While the errand boy ran to the corner room, Red stared blankly at his retreating figure.

‘Look at that guy’s hair. ‘My wife ties it up neatly.’

When the bellows made a whoosh sound, red sparks flew. 

Ah, the color of the candle flame flickering in Delphinel’s eyes was just like that. The sound of the wind was just like Delphinel’s breathing…….

“Bro! Wrap the towel again, it’s falling off!”

“Oh, ah!”

The forge colleagues couldn’t even curse anymore and just stared at Red. The guy who was doing well even when pushed into tough work had been spacing out for days now. Someone whispered,

“Did he finally get abandoned by his wife?”

Trying to speak quietly, but having spent a lifetime in a loud forge, the voice easily reached Red’s ears. Red couldn’t refute it. Not right now, but they might separate someday.

The day after he had his first night with Delphine, she couldn’t even get out of bed. She said she was sore from her neck to her toes. Red wanted to take care of her all day. Caring for someone sick is a human duty, and above all, they are a couple.

…But somehow, it felt strange from the beginning. Just looking at her face lying in bed made his lower part react. Even the slight blush on her cheeks kept bringing back memories of the previous night.

“Red?”

The syllable he’d heard all his life sent blood rushing to his lower body. Because he remembered her panting and calling his name. 

She said her whole body was sore, especially her lower body, so he wanted to massage her legs. But when he saw her slender ankle slightly peeking out from the blanket, he remembered the moment it wrapped around his waist, and again…….

He was completely messed up.

In the end, all Red could do was cover her with a blanket dried in the sunlight, bring her porridge, and prepare a basin of warm water with a towel.

‘As a husband, all I can do is bring things, my wife must be angry with me!’

The angel-like Madame didn’t say anything to Red. She started walking more comfortably in the afternoon and, with a slightly reddened face, thanked Red saying, “Last night… …you worked hard.” And from the next day, she returned to her usual self.

On the surface, it seemed that way. But every time Red saw her face, his heart shook.

‘Since I finished inside a lot, is she pregnant? Then will we live without ever mixing bodies again?’

His wife wouldn’t want such a foolish and poor husband. Her professor’s income would pile up quickly, and she would feed herself and the child alone and find a house. Then, Red might come begging, ‘Please let me stay at home’…….

“…Bro, Red bro!”

“Oh, uh!”

Red looked down at his hand, wondering if he had caused another accident. But nothing had changed. He was still pressing the cloth tightly against his finger wound.

When he belatedly turned his head toward the errand boy’s voice, he doubted his eyes.

“…Madame?”

“Hello, Red.”

Standing at the entrance of the forge was indeed his legal wife, Delphinel Redermoon.

“Ma-Madame! What brings you here?”

Red hurriedly ran out. This was the second time she had specifically sought him out at the forge. The first was when she proposed to him. So the second time…

‘Could it be that she’s here to inform me of a divorce because she’s pregnant?’

“Red? Why the face? You look like a cow being led to the slaughterhouse.”

“Well, you don’t doesn’t usually come to the forge unless it’s something significant…”

“That’s my fault then. I’m sorry.”

Red was even more terrified as he looked at his wife.

‘Did she say sorry? This proud woman?’

“Red. Is your work finished?”

“Uh, today’s work is done! I was just helping someone else!”

“Then shall we leave together? …I’m not going to sell you off to some laboratory, so please relax.”

“Ah, I understand! I’ll be right out!”

After leaving Delphinel at the forge entrance, Red hurriedly removed his protective gear and fussed with his hair in front of a dirty mirror. Soon, sweat trapped between his hair started to drip down. The smell of heated metal lingered. His face flushed red.

‘I don’t look cool at all… What should I do? Is it okay for someone like me to walk beside Madame?’

He knew the saying that men look cool when focused on their work. But does that apply to blacksmiths too?

‘I can’t exactly carry an anvil while leaving work.’

Even after fiddling with his hair and shirt for a while, the reflection in the mirror didn’t make him look any cooler. Feeling awkward, he messed up his hair again and ran towards Delphinel.

“Madame!”

“Oh, Red. You’re out. You worked hard today.”

“…Thank you! Madame, you were a wonderful professor today, right?”

“Yes.”

Ah, even her casual response is charming.

Red looked down at Delphinel with sparkling eyes.

Her hair neatly tied up in a bun, her firmly set lips, the bridge of her nose not hidden even by glasses, and attire that screamed professor—neat and tidy. Wherever she went, she probably never felt embarrassed about herself. She was cool and beautiful.

‘But why did she come here?’

Wasn’t she here to discuss something important?

Even as they walked for a while, Delphinel occasionally parted her lips, causing Red’s heart to drop, but she didn’t actually say what she intended.

Eventually, Red spoke first.

“Madame. You came here on purpose because you have something to say, right?”

“…Yes.”

Red’s heart dropped.

But he couldn’t back down now. He trembled as he spoke.

“Wh-Wh-What did you come to talk about?”

“I wanted to ask you a favor. It might be embarrassing since we’re about to pass through a crowded market…”

“Yes?”

“Even if you refuse… I won’t blame you.”

Embarrassing? I might refuse? What on earth was she going to say?

‘Could it be that she wants to do that…?’

Their footsteps had just entered the market. People were bustling everywhere.

As his mind was engulfed in all sorts of thoughts, Delphinel spoke with a face flushed red.

“Red. Would you hold hands with me…?”

Red couldn’t believe his ears.

Hold what?

“Hands?”

“Yes. You heard correctly. Did I say something I shouldn’t have?”

Her tone was sharp, but Delphinel’s ears were also red.

“I’m asking if you’ll hold my hand and walk with me.”

“H-H-Here? In the market with so many people?”

“Yes.”

The blush spread quickly. Red looked around with a red face. He already stood a head taller than most, making him noticeable, and with his face turning red, he was like a warning sign set up for people to see.

Even standing still drew attention, and now to hold hands with a woman!

“Ma-Madame. If you suddenly do that, people will think we’re in some sort of relationship!”

“You call me Madame but don’t know what you’re saying?”

“Well, that’s true!”

There’s nothing strange about a couple holding hands or carrying each other.

The problem was that Red and Delphinel, the two of them, hadn’t even formed a normal marital relationship, let alone a friendship.

Even before holding hands, Red’s steps became awkward. The pretty little creature moving beside him was even burdensome.

“…Madame. Why are you doing this all of a sudden?”

“There are people doubting that we are a couple. They ask why we act like strangers outside the house.”

“Oh.”

“Before the suspicion grows, let’s try this much. Can you do it?”

“Of course, I can! I can do it!”

“Hold it quietly. Don’t advertise it!”

Delphinel sighed, but the corners of her mouth slightly lifted. Why was that? Was it because Red’s consistent responses amused her? Was she mocking him? In either case, as long as she didn’t hate it, it was fine.

Red reached out and took Delphinel’s hand.

…And almost dropped it immediately.

It was too small and light.

It seemed like it was made of flower petals and delicate branches of spring days.

His heart pounded. He worried he might drop it if he wasn’t careful, and feared it might break if he held it too tightly.

Red was at a loss, but his teasing Madame pointedly asked.

“Red. Is there something on my hand? Why are you holding it with just your thumb and index finger?”

“I’ve never held a woman’s hand before…”

“Neither have I— …No. Then just stay still.”

Delphinel swallowed the words ‘I’ve never held a man’s hand either.’ Red believed she was knowledgeable about everything.

But holding hands shouldn’t be difficult. Delphinel observed a young couple walking ahead as a reference.

‘At almost thirty, I’m imitating kids half my age.’

“Red, relax your grip.”

“Yes… Uh.”

“Don’t be startled by everything.”