Chapter 142

“The taste of potatoes varies depending on who cooks them. Trust me. I’ll boil them really deliciously.”

Yurina was about to retort. But she was forced to keep her mouth shut due to the serious tone Raynard immediately added.

“I often cooked for myself when I was young. Our homegrown potatoes were much larger and tastier than other houses, so they were delicious even when simply boiled.”

A ten-year-old boy who lost his parents. There wouldn’t have been many foods that a child could cook in the not-so-rich household. At most, he could have boiled or roasted vegetables.

So, these boiled potatoes are the only dish that ten-year-old Tom could cook, not nineteen-year-old Raynard.

‘Maybe he wants to share his memories.’

Raynard, who was hesitant to come to his hometown due to his memories of living alone, found the courage to return after hearing Yurina’s offer to accompany him.

Perhaps he was trying to overlay good memories over the bad ones by spending time with her here.

Yurina imagined a young Tom cooking potatoes alone in the kitchen. Despite the hardship, his calm and resilient figure made her almost tear up.

Boiling potatoes, no matter how simple, is not a dish that a child can easily make. He must have been bustling around alone, having never cooked before his parents died.

However, she couldn’t feel sorry for him being excited about cooking for her. Yurina managed to control her emotions and spoke more gruffly on purpose.

“Just try and make it tasteless. If it tastes bad, I’m not going to eat anything you cook in the future.”

“Don’t worry. It will be delicious.”

Yurina, unaware of her own feelings, saw Raynard laughing innocently and looked around the kitchen.

The house was poor, the utensils and table all wretched, but thanks to the magic cleaning, the kitchen was clean. Reynard wrapped his arms around Yurina’s waist and sat her on the spotless table.

Despite the presence of chairs around the table, his choice to sit her on the table seemed a bit strange.

However, Reynard had already walked toward the fireplace with a basket of potatoes, so she didn’t dare to ask why.

Yurina watched him cook, swinging her legs back and forth a little.

‘Well, it’s hardly cooking.’

Even though it would be simple with magic, Reynard rolled up his sleeves and did everything by hand.

Washing the muddy potatoes, peeling them carefully with a knife, and even seasoning the pure white potatoes in a pot full of water.

Whether his claims of doing this often in his childhood were true, the whole process was as smooth as flowing water.

Her heart fluttered at his sturdy back. She thought young Tom must have sobbed alone here.

Maybe that’s why his broad back seemed somehow lonely. Yurina hopped off the table and hugged him from behind.

Reynard, who was lighting the firewood with magic, grabbed her hand on his belly without showing any surprise.

“Just wait a little longer. It cooks faster than you think.”

“Okay.”

“And I’ll melt the cheese when the potatoes are about cooked…”

He didn’t finish his sentence, but dropped his head. Tears dripped onto her hand that he held.

Yurina tried to check his face, but because Reynard didn’t let go of her hand, she couldn’t move.

Without looking at Yurina, he stayed still for a while, in the same position leaning on her. He seemed to be hiding his crying, but he couldn’t hide the hot tears falling onto her hand.

He had hidden his emotions and tears even in front of his parents’ graves that he visited after a long time. He probably wanted to show only his good side.

It wouldn’t have been easy to control his feelings, the tears he had been holding back since then, or even earlier.

The water began to boil. Reynard’s suppressed crying couldn’t be heard over the bubbling sound, but Yurina felt his back trembling against her and knew he was still crying.

Yurina didn’t cry often, but whenever she did, Reynard was restless, trying to stop her tears. He acted as if the world was falling apart when she cried.

But Yurina was different. She was relieved by Reynard’s crying. She thought that once he had a good cry, he wouldn’t be sad whenever he thought of the past.

It’s a joyful thing to be able to cry without hiding tears. To be able to comfort the one crying beside you, and to have someone to rely on, is a blessing.

The young Tom in the past had to swallow his tears alone in this place without anyone to share his sorrow. But now, he was standing in the same place with Yurina.

So, if he cries in the future, she will hold him in her arms without saying a word and comfort him.

She must stick to him like this, whether in joy or sorrow.

* * *

The boiled potatoes, which they thought they could eat soon, could only be eaten quite a while later. Because Reynard cried longer than Yurina thought.

Looking at Reynard cooling the steaming potatoes by blowing on them, Yurina giggled more.

“Your eyes are swollen like a pufferfish.”

Because he used magic to reduce the swelling, there was no sign on his face that he had cried. So, this was just to tease him.

Feeling a bit embarrassed, Reynard laughed and handed her a sufficiently cooled potato. Yurina, surprised by the large potato size comparable to her two fists, took a small bite from the edge with her front teeth.

The crumbly new potato was flavorful enough on its own without anything else. The sweetness from the potato and the right amount of salt blended well in her mouth.

Just as Yurina was giving a thumbs-up, Reynard, who was anxiously watching her eat the potato, laughed out loud.

“Didn’t I tell you I boil potatoes incredibly well?”

“It’s probably more about the taste of Aunt Marie’s potatoes. If the potatoes themselves are delicious, they will be delicious no matter who cooks them.”

“I’m telling you it won’t taste the same if someone else cooks it.”

Yurina, watching him childishly insist, laughed and took another big bite of the potato. Reynard then rolled the melted cheese with a fork and popped it into her mouth.

“The harmony of oily cheese and savory potatoes tasted better than any feast at Carthia.”

No, perhaps it was the warm and peaceful atmosphere created by Reynard that was even better.

‘I’ve been on edge all this time.’

It’s been about 7 years since becoming ‘Yurina Carthia.’ At first, it was difficult and lonely among the unfamiliar environment and people, but after meeting Reynard and starting to acknowledge my new life as her real life, Yurina had many moments to laugh and many happy times.

But she couldn’t fully enjoy the happiness because of the fear of possibly dying and the contents of the original story that she remembered from time to time.

It was the same after Marquis De Flon was executed. Even though everything was over, Yurina couldn’t fully rest these days due to the lingering anxiety and Reynard’s past that she hadn’t fully considered.

But here she is, sitting side by side with Reynard in this quiet countryside village where you can hear the sound of a flock of cows and sheep, eating potatoes.

Feeling a peaceful daily life, Yurina felt confident that she could now be happy without any worries.

‘Would Reynard feel the same?’

Yurina glanced at Reynard’s side face after finishing a big potato. He, who was eating his third potato while she was eating first, turned his head as he felt her gaze.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“How is it?”

“What is?”

“Do you still feel lonely when you think of your hometown?”

“No.”

“Then what?”

He chuckled while stuffing the remaining potato into his mouth. His cheeks bulged out like a hamster with a mouthful of food, but his smile looked utterly happy rather than ridiculous.

“I think I’m happy.”

“Really?”

“Yes. There are more memories in this house than you think. Plus, now when I think of this house, I’ll think of you.”

He pulled Yurina’s hand to his cheek.

“So, I have something I want to show you.”

“Something you want to show me?”

“Yes. There’s actually something I haven’t shown you in our house yet.”

Was there such a thing? Yurina reflexively turned her head to look inside the house.

Earlier, when Reynard was cleaning the house with magic, Yurina followed him closely, observing the house with him.

The kitchen, living room, big room, and one small room. Reynard surely said that was all.

Perhaps noticing Yurina’s puzzled heart, Reynard took her hand, stood up, and gestured towards the window.

“I told you our house was a farm. There’s a big field outside. Let’s go out. I’ll show you.”

The field would just be an empty piece of land right now, wouldn’t it? It seemed like there wouldn’t be much to see, but due to Reynard’s excited face, Yurina got up from her seat brushing off the potato crumbs on her dress.

There was a door leading to the field in one corner of the living room. Reynard reached for the doorknob but stopped and looked back at Yurina. He, who was surely dressed in black just a moment ago, was now wearing a white suit.

The moment he swept Yurina’s hair back from her face, her black dress also turned white.

The subtly glowing white dress, as if it was dusted with pearl powder, resembled Reynard’s suit.

From that point, Yurina started to feel a bit strange. Suddenly her stomach churned and her heart started to beat fast.

It would have been better if she hadn’t noticed…

“Shall we go then?”

Before Yurina could answer, Reynard opened the door and went outside. As she was being led by him, she took a step out and gasped at the scene before her.

“Wow.”

The world was all gold.

In the sky, the sunset was tinting the horizon red, and on the ground, a field dyed in yellow stretched out before her. A field of yellow flowers, just like the one she and Reynard had visited in the Crohn Kingdom, was right in front of her eyes.

With every gust of wind, the flowers swayed, creating waves. The wind carried a sweet flower scent to her nose.

The flower scent that Reynard had loved, saying it was a good smell and was the fragrance from her body.

Reynard held Yurina’s hand and walked to the middle of the flower field.

“Do you remember the old times?”

The old times must be the time in the Crohn Kingdom. Yurina nodded her head. Even though it happened 2 years ago, she could recall that day as if it was yesterday.

The excitement of seeing him after a long time and the awkwardness of seeing him matured into a handsome man.

If there was a difference between now and then, it would be that instead of awkwardness, her heart was now filled with affection.

Raynard released Yurina’s hand and picked a flower, then another, from their surroundings. With deft movements of his fingers, he quickly crafted a wreath.

Facing Yurina, he carefully placed the wreath on her head.

Ever since Yurina realized her feelings for him and his for her, being alone with him was no longer awkward. But strangely, at this moment, she felt an unfamiliar awkwardness that she had forgotten for a while.

In an attempt to shake off this embarrassment, she murmured:

“I still have the wreath you made for me before.”

“Really?” He replied joyfully.

“Yeah. Didn’t I show you? It’s in my room.”

“Why haven’t I seen it? Well, then I should make something else besides a wreath for you.”

He picked another flower. Unlike when he made the wreath and picked a lot of flowers, this time he picked only two.

Yurina blankly watched his fingers moving. After a while, he finished making a small ring.

“Can you give me your hand?”

There seemed to be magic in his voice. Like someone spellbound, Yurina extended her right hand to him.

Suddenly, she saw the ring he had given her before on her little finger. A ruby ring that was invisible to others, but visible to the two of them.

Raynard, looking at the ring on her pale little finger, put the flower ring on her ring finger.

“I know you were worried when I asked you to wait for a moment for me to talk about us. I wanted to tell you the reason, but I didn’t dare to, because I wanted to surprise you.”

A white light began to seep from the ring that had reached her fingertip.

“I wanted to tell you before telling others.”

As his words ended, the appearance of the yellow flower ring changed. Just when she felt the cold sensation of metal on her finger, a ruby ring was already on her ring finger.

The ring on her little finger was a simple one, but the one on her ring finger was so flashy that anyone would know it was an engagement ring.

Unable to find what to say, Yurina stared blankly at the ring before lifting her head. The red eyes of the same color as the ring filled her vision.

Raynard was kneeling in front of her, looking straight into her eyes. The red sunset dyed his golden hair as red as his eyes.

“Yurina.”

He smiled with ruby-like sparkling red eyes.

“Will you stay by my side from now on?”

Tears streamed down her cheeks at his words before she even realized she was crying.

Raynard, who used to be flustered when she cried, didn’t panic this time. Instead, he stared into her eyes more intensely and smiled brightly, as if doing so would mesmerize her into giving the answer he wanted.

Yurina murmured quietly, embarrassed that she had shed tears in this happy moment.

“Who puts a ring on before hearing the answer?”

Raynard shrugged playfully.

“To prevent you from refusing.”

But despite his words, he couldn’t hide his tension. He was smiling, but his facial muscles were somewhat stiff.

This time, she laughed. Yurina, who chuckled, held Raynard’s hand, waiting for her answer, and pulled him up.

“Of course…”

Before her answer was finished, he kissed her. Yurina, surprised, opened her eyes wide, then wrapped her arms around his neck and closed her eyes.

“I love you, Yurina. I love you so much.”

He murmured with his lips still on hers.

I love you too, so much. Yurina’s response was swallowed up by Raynard’s deep kiss.

When Yurina opened her eyes as a ten-year-old, she constantly resented a god whose existence was even uncertain.

Rather than letting me die, why did they make me lose everyone I love and open my eyes in this strange world?

As if that’s not enough, why am I, Yurina Carthia, the one destined to die?

She tried resenting, pleading to the empty sky to return her to her family’s arms.

Even after she decided to survive somehow and found Reynard, that question still lingered.

Why, out of so many people, was it me?

But now, the question that was left in Yurina’s heart has been answered.

It was to meet this child smiling in front of me.

So that this tender child who suffers greatly from loneliness won’t be hurt anymore.

( Main Story: THE END )

Tl/n: So we finished the main story, but wait, we also have more than 40 chapters to translate, including epilogue chapters, side stories and special side stories!