Chapter 22

Chapter 22

Wanda, who gazed at Min-ha with affectionate eyes, touched the crooked flowers she had embroidered a while ago, and said in a voice wet with emotion.

“Thank you. Thanks to Madam, I embroidered like this for the first time in a long time.”

“Really?”

“Yes. When the late Madam was alive, I used to make handkerchiefs embroidered like this with her.”

“To give as a present? Or, to sell it like me?”

When Min-ha asked her about the story she had heard for the first time, Wanda answered with an expression that seemed to be longing, as if she was recalling some of her memories.

“Of course, she was talented enough that what she made could be sold at a high price, but other than her husband, the late Madam also had sons. So, she made handkerchiefs for them.”

“…Ah.”

“She hoped that his son, who was wandering around the battlefield as a mercenary, would come back alive, safely. And, also received victory under the protection of God Athena and Ares… So, even though she was ill, the late Madam always made handkerchiefs and presented them as a gift with such a desperate heart that she would never forget to embroider.”

“…I see.”

“Then, after losing her husband in the war, she collapsed in shock. Then, after giving birth to Noah, she became so weak that she could not even lift a needle. In the end, she didn’t even make it through the year…”

“Such a thing…”

“It’s now called the North Annex. It was at that time that the former main building of the Persen family was in ruins. For a while, the Duke was afraid that the traces of his mother would disappear. So, Noah’s residence was also moved… No matter how much I tried to stop him, it was to no avail.”

​​

In the next story, Min-ha was choked up without realizing it, and felt her nose stinging.

Because she fell into an unfamiliar world that she couldn’t return to, it always sounded like someone else’s business when talking about parents or family.

However, this was different, even more so because it was Noah’s story.

‘…How heartbreaking it must have been at such a young age.’

Unknowingly, her tears welled up, and she rubbed her eyes. Wanda held out the handkerchief, which she had embroidered a while ago, toward her Min-ha.

Moments later, she opened her mouth with an affectionate gaze.

“Since then, whenever the Duke goes to the battlefield, he always carries the handkerchief that the late Madam made for the last time, like a guardian stone… until it all wears out.”

“….”

“So, every time I saw that, I prayed for the Duke’s safe return and waited for someone to make a handkerchief.”

‘…But, it was Minase Persen whom he married.’

At that, Min-ha felt like she had to apologize for nothing at Wanda’s gaze on herself, so she said in a low voice without realizing it.

​​

“No wonder… I’m very sorry. I’m sorry, Wanda…”

“No. Looking at the Madam completely changed your appearance recently, it seems that the wishes I had at the time have come true a little.”

“…Wanda.”

“Thank you for being so kind to Noah, who always missed her mother’s affection. It’s a story I’ve always wanted to tell, but now, I’ve finally got the chance to tell you.”

Min-ha was moved so much that it made her heart flutter at the sight, but she felt embarrassed because she wanted to receive such gratitude for something that was not a big deal.

So, she hurriedly waved her hand and raised Wanda, who had her head bowed down, and said.

“Oh, no! Thank you. I did it because I liked it.”

“…Madam.”

​​

“By the way, then that person… Has he not received the embroidered handkerchief since his mother died?”

Then, a thought suddenly came to her mind.

When Min-ha asked carefully, Wanda answered with a bitter smile.

“…Because you have turned a blind eye to the Duke in the past.”

“…It must have been so.”

Where would Minase Persen have turned a blind eye away from her personality? She obviously must have done all the insults that you can curse, ridicule, and ignore… Wanda tried to speak in a good way, though for Min-ha, she could guess the situation without even having to listen.

“Whoo…”

Sighing briefly, she thought as she stroked something like a flower she had embroidered.

Then, with a sudden thought, Min-ha asked impulsively.

​​

“…Well, even if I say I’ll make it for him now, that person… he won’t like it, right?”

“Yes?! It couldn’t be!”

​​

“…Huh?”

Although Wanda’s reply was full of excitement that didn’t usually go well with her.

‘It was just something I asked impulsively…’

When Min-ha raised her head in surprise at Wanda’s voice, she stared at Min-ha and spoke as if affirming.

“Never, he will never hate it! I can assure you!”

“…Yes? But, when I see that person, he only makes sarcastic comments whenever he sees me. Besides, if I make it with such clumsy skills like this, he would definitely throw it away in front of my eyes while saying, ‘You did something useless’.”

“No! Even though the Duke has spent more than half of his life on the battlefield, he was not accustomed to revealing his personal feelings, but he was deeply affectionate. Especially, he was not the one who ignores the kindness that comes to him in the first place and puts it out coldly!”

​​

“…I, is that so?”

“Yes! I know because I’ve seen him since he was a kid. He has a sharp attitude because he was hurt by the actions of the Madam’s previous action. Nevertheless, in my opinion, he will not reject what the current Madam has made.”

“…But—”

“I beg you! Would you please trust me and make it?”

In response to Wanda’s confident words and the earnest request that followed, Min-ha answered with a bewildered voice. She glanced down once more at the clumsy embroidery she had just finished.

​​

‘…I don’t really think that’s not true. If I give it to him for no reason, he will be throwing it away with a lot of ridicule and complaints…?’

However, Wanda’s eyes looking at her were too enthusiastic to say this. The gaze alone shook her mind, but in fact, Noah’s past which she just heard a while ago, also kept Min-ha hesitant.

‘…What should I do? Should I do it or not?’

​​

Deeply troubled, she alternates her gaze between her embroidery and Wanda’s.

As she continued to worry, finally, as her head was throbbing, she sighed heavily.

​​

“Then, I’ll just make one for practice… It’s not like I’m going to give it to him.”

“Oh, my gosh! Thank you! I’m sure the Duke will be very pleased!”

“…Well, it’s just for practice. And, I think I’d be lucky if he didn’t laugh at it…”

At the reaction of Wanda, who was noticeably delighted, her gaze slowly fell. She got off and answered like that.

‘Yes, well, it’ll be just for practice. If he doesn’t like the way it’s made, he can just secretly remove it… Whether the man is happy or not, this is all because of Wanda’s request and for my satisfaction.’

Yes, let’s think about it that way.

Gathering her thoughts that way, she pulled out a white cloth on the table and drew a design with chalk.

One week after Noah’s birthday.

After completing all preparations, the knights under the Duke of Persen decided to set out. For the expedition, the servants helped the knights pack their military gear from a few days ago, prepared the supplies they would take with them, and maintained the armor.

On the day of departure, everyone in the Persen Castle was lined up in front of the gate to meet the knights on their expedition.

And, of course, the people who stood closest to the gate among the crowds were Min-ha and Noah.

She was standing next to Noah, who was crying more than usual, and was talking to him.

“Noah.”

“…Yes, sister-in-law”

​​

There was no strength in Noah’s voice as he answered. Min-ha pondered what to say to him, though she couldn’t come up with good words to cheer him up.

No matter how strong a knight is, there is no way that he would not be seriously injured or killed on the battlefield. This little child was well aware of that fact…

Sighing heavily, she stroked the small back with drooping shoulders. She thought that Noah would be very worried, but Min-ha didn’t expect him to be down to this point.

‘If I had known this would happen, I would have looked at Noah a little more at the time of embroidering.’

It was an item that she may not be able to deliver, but after putting her hand into her arms and failing several times, Min-ha finally grasped the handkerchief that she had finished all night yesterday.

Woowong—

That moment, the sound of a horn, loud enough to make the whole city, resound. At the same time, hundreds of knights in black cloaks approached the gates on horseback.

The knights rushed, with the sound of their hooves slamming the ground and stopping at the place where Min-ha, Noah, and the mansion’s servants stood.

She stared at Seth as he got off the horse and strode towards her and Noah.

“Brother!”

Noah quickly clung to the feet of Seth, who approached him. Looking at the little boy like that, Seth took off his helmet, bent over, and hugged him lightly.

Noah said in a weeping voice, hanging from his neck.

“…Brother, are you going out again?”

“Yes.”

“When are you coming back?”

“I can’t say for sure when, but I’ll come back as soon as possible as soon as the work is done.”

“…You’re not going to be hurt like the last time, are you? Can’t you take me and me with you?”

Seth tried to push the small body of the child down a bit to meet the eyes of Noah, who was weeping. However, the more he did, the more Noah cried and clung to his arms.

Eventually, he let out a small sigh. Seth pushed the little boy with a little more force, and spoke in a firm voice.

“You can’t do that.”

“…Brother.”

​​

“Do you know enough about what kind of place I am going to?”

“But…”

Seth’s voice, which separates Noah from crying for him to take him too, was very cold. Though that also showed how nice he was.

────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────