Side Story: The Green Fairy (3)

When Liam went to the real estate agent, he signed documents entrusting the sale of the house. Since he and Yvonne were only staying in Valence for two days, it was unlikely the house would sell during that time. Having completed the delegation, Liam stepped outside to return.

Tick, tick. Tock, tock, tock.

A small yet clear melody caught his attention. The steady rhythm of the tune instantly captivated him.

‘An organ’s sound?’

It was a mysterious yet sweet sound. Liam looked around to find its source. Soon, his eyes were drawn to a shop display across the street.

Feeling inexplicably drawn, he approached and saw an organ through the transparent glass window.

On top of the organ was a sculpture of a young girl with brown hair and angel wings, smiling brightly. Despite being a statue, her vivid and pure expression made her seem alive.

Liam opened the shop door and stepped inside. It was an unconscious action on his part.

The bell attached to the door jingled, emitting a clear sound. The shop was tidy but gave off the impression of being packed with various odds and ends.

“Welcome, Sir.”

A woman with short auburn hair greeted Liam with a smile. Only then did Liam realize he had entered a shop.

However, he was more surprised by the woman’s subsequent words than by the fact that he was in a shop.

“This is Eris Witch’s Alchemy Workshop.”

“Are you saying you’re Eris Witch?”

“Judging by your reaction, it seems you’ve heard of my reputation.”

The woman chuckled deeply.

Liam couldn’t immediately believe her words. Though her hairstyle was a bit unconventional and the small mole near her lips drew attention, that was all. Her appearance was too ordinary for someone as famous as Eris Witch.

Moreover, he had just heard about her from Valerie moments ago. For a shop that supposedly moved on its own to appear before him like fate? It seemed more realistic to believe she was a fraud.

“I heard your shop changes locations frequently.”

“That’s correct. And only customers chosen by the crystal ball can enter. Ah, this is my crystal ball.”

Eris gestured toward a large violet crystal ball in the center of the shop. It was enormous, seemingly requiring several grown men to lift it.

“Congratulations on being chosen by my crystal ball.”

“Chosen…?”

“Could you tell me the item that drew you into the shop? Was it the jar that makes you younger? The gloves that turn anything you touch into gold? Or perhaps…”

“I heard there’s a time-reversing hourglass.”

“Hmm?”

Eris tilted her head with an enigmatic smile.

“So you’ve heard of it. Unfortunately, it’s not an item I can offer to you.”

“So it does exist.”

Liam’s voice trembled with excitement. No matter how much he tried to suppress it, he couldn’t hide the anticipation and thrill bubbling up within him.

“I don’t care how much it costs. I’ll pay anything you ask…”

“Unfortunately, I’m not interested in money.”

“Then what do you want?”

“Well…”

Eris crossed her arms and stared intently at Liam’s face. Her gaze gradually softened, becoming hazy. Liam instinctively sensed danger. He couldn’t mistake it; it was the same look women gave when they tried to seduce him.

“Apologies, but I don’t play with fire. I have a wife.”

“Wow…”

Eris’s gaze immediately returned to normal at Liam’s firm rejection. She let out a slightly exasperated laugh before speaking.

“Handsome customer, confidence suits you, but don’t you think you’re being a bit rude? I was merely observing, like admiring a well-drawn painting.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes! Besides, I’m already married to someone far more handsome than you. So why would I desire you?”

Eris’s tone, slow and deliberate at first, suddenly quickened with excitement.

“Moreover, I know that men with flashy exteriors tend to live up to their appearances. Of course, just because a man is unattractive doesn’t mean he’s automatically kind, so don’t misunderstand.”

Her words poured out like pent-up frustration. After taking a deep breath, she shrugged lightly and looked at Liam.

“They act like they’re worth something despite being worthless! If I have to pay a price, I’d rather pay for looks! Don’t you agree?”

“I understand your perspective. So what must I do for you to sell me the hourglass?”

“Ah… I seem to have confused you. My apologies. That item has already been sold.”

“Sold…?”

“Don’t be too disappointed. It was never yours to begin with. My shop only sells items that the crystal ball chooses for the customer.”

“Couldn’t you… make another one?”

“Sorry, but I don’t recreate the same item. That’s my principle.”

“Then something similar… Anything similar, please. Just two years. If it can turn back time by two years…”

Liam pleaded desperately with Eris. However, her response was unyielding.

“As I said earlier, my shop only sells items the crystal ball selects for the customer. Now, could you tell me the item that brought you here? That’s the item the crystal ball wants to sell to you.”

“….”

“If you don’t want it, you can leave.”

Eris pointed to the shop door. Liam’s gaze followed her finger blankly before returning to her.

“If you’re thinking of threatening me to steal the item, I’d advise against it. I have plenty of ways to defend myself.”

“That wasn’t my intention…”

“Good. So will you buy the item meant for you, or will you leave?”

“…I’ll buy it.”

“Excellent. Very good.”

Eris clapped her hands together with a bright smile.

“Then let me ask again. What was the item that brought you to this shop?”

“That would be…”

Liam’s voice trailed off. In his conversation with Eris, he had forgotten what had drawn him into the shop in the first place.

What did I see before entering? I heard a melody…

As Liam retraced his thoughts, he suddenly heard the sound of a winding spring.

Tick, tick. Tock, tock.

The sound was vivid, as if it were right beside him. Then, the organ in the corner of the shop began to play.

Tock, tock, tock.

The sculpture of the angel-winged girl rotated as the beautiful melody filled the shop.

“That organ…”

“That’s the one.”

Eris walked over to the table where the organ was placed. Meanwhile, Liam frowned.

That organ—wasn’t it displayed in the shop window, visible from outside? Why is it over there now?

While Liam pondered this question, Eris picked up the organ and examined it.

“Let’s see. Its name is… La Fée Verte? Ah, I remember now. I understand why the crystal ball wants me to sell this to you.”

“What does that mean…?”

Liam expressed his confusion, but Eris focused on packaging the organ. She placed it inside a hexagonal dome-shaped box and tied the top neatly with a ribbon.

Once she finished wrapping, she handed the box containing the organ to Liam.

“Here you go. The price will be… one Gold Mina.”

“The price of an organ is one Gold Mina? That’s far too expensive.”

“It’s not just any ordinary organ. Besides, one Gold Mina is pocket change for you, isn’t it? The kind of money you carry around and toss aside carelessly.”

“You…”

Liam’s face twisted in displeasure. The way the woman spoke, as if she knew his past, was deeply unsettling.

“What do you know to be saying such things?”

“Oh, I know plenty. My crystal ball loves these kinds of things. Don’t be too upset. You’ll ruin your handsome face. People need to keep a kind heart to age gracefully, you know.”

Eris replied playfully, though Liam’s furrowed brow showed no sign of relaxing. It did, however, ease slightly at her next words.

“You asked earlier for something similar to the hourglass, didn’t you? This organ has a similar function.”

“Don’t tell me it can reverse time…”

“No.”

Her words dashed Liam’s hopes instantly.

“But it does show you the time you wish to return to. It’s all an illusion, but isn’t it better to have a sweet dream than none at all?”

“A mere dream…”

“Once you’ve experienced it, you might feel differently. Perhaps it’ll help you let go of lingering regrets. We often think about it, don’t we? What would have happened if we’d acted differently or made different choices back then?”

“….”

“This organ will show you that. But don’t get too immersed—it’s just a dream in the end.”

Eris extended her hand.

“Now, will you pay the price?”

Liam took out a gold coin from his pocket and handed it to her. Only then did Eris smile contentedly and place the organ in his hands.

“Thank you for your patronage. I hope the item brings you satisfaction.”

Though he wasn’t entirely convinced, Liam found himself unable to put the organ down.

“But is it truly impossible to purchase the hourglass?”

“Don’t hold onto it too much. That item is more of a curse or punishment, really.”

“A curse? What do you mean by that…”

“This is as much as I can tell you.”

Eris issued her dismissal.

“Now, please leave. I need to prepare for the next customer.”

Though Liam was curious about the nature of the curse, he could no longer remain in the shop. Someone shoved him out from behind. The strength of the push was considerable.

And it was certainly not Eris who did it. Just before he was forced out, Liam turned around in haste and saw Eris waving at him from afar, as if bidding him farewell.

So then, who?

Before he could dwell on the question, the shop door opened on its own.

Ding-ding, the sound of the bell rang out one last time as Liam was pushed into the street. Fortunately, he didn’t fall, but he was left utterly bewildered.

Annoyed by the fact that he had been forcibly ejected, Liam angrily reopened the shop door. The bell rang again. But the sound was oddly different from before.

“Welcome! This is Ambité.”

The shopkeeper who greeted him, along with the interior, was completely different. The shop was filled entirely with flowers, unmistakably a florist.

Suddenly, Valerie’s words came to mind.

“But after buying the belt and leaving the shop, I turned around, and there was a completely different shop in its place.”

“Eris Witch sold the item only to me and then vanished.”

Liam glanced alternately between the box containing the organ in his hand and the flower shop before muttering weakly to himself.

“This is absurd…”

Truly, it felt as if he had encountered a witch and been enchanted.