episode_0098

Tia returned to Breezedon.

Her bag was full of dishes and glass bottles she had brought from the general store.

They were for restoring the items broken in the accident.

She was about to turn towards the outskirts to go straight up to the apothecary.

Suddenly, Uncle Marvin’s voice drifted on the winter wind.

“Where is Ritsu?”

She lifted her head.

The chattering voices were beyond the hill.

Tia stopped in her tracks.

Then she subtly changed direction and headed that way.

She hid behind the hut that was once the Village Chief’s house and looked down the hill.

For some reason, today, people weren’t out working but gathered around a bonfire.

Aunt Olivia answered, arms crossed.

“She said she was going to the lower village.”

“What about the medicine? Didn’t Ritsu say he would start making the medicine today?”

“Seems like there was some problem at the apothecary.”

“Hmm. I suppose it had been left unattended for a long time…”

“No. It’s not that kind of problem.”

Aunt Merid appeared from the opposite side.

“I just came from the apothecary, and there were glass shards in a sack. It seems there was some kind of accident this morning.”

“Well, he’s been bedridden for two months, so maybe he’s not used to it yet. And he’s not feeling well.”

Aunt Merid shook her head.

“I think it was Tia, not Ritsu.”

“…What?”

“Before, she skipped all village duties and holed herself up in the apothecary, saying she was making Ritsu’s recovery medicine.”

“Ah. That’s right. Tia is the only child who can read.”

“But just because she can read doesn’t mean she’s good at making medicine. And just this morning, Ritsu looked incredibly angry.”

“…”

The three people were silent for a moment.

Though their expressions weren’t visible from where she was hidden, an uncomfortable atmosphere emanated from the heavy silence.

Uncle Marvin summarized.

“So, Tia caused an accident, making Ritsu unable to make medicine?”

“Well. Something like that.”

“Haa… That girl again. Where is Tia now?”

“She also said she was going to the lower village and left.”

At Merid’s answer, Olivia asked, as if finding it strange.

“But isn’t Tia too strange these days? She’s been going down to the lower village constantly since the day before yesterday.”

“That’s the problem.”

Aunt Merid said in a serious voice.

“I’ve been letting her be, wondering how far she’ll go, but lately, that girl is really doing whatever she wants. She doesn’t say where she’s going. I don’t even know what she’s doing.”

“Right. I am worried. Yesterday she slept until noon, didn’t she?”

“And she suddenly borrowed perfume from me. She’s never done that before.”

As the women’s chatter showed signs of lengthening, Uncle Marvin sighed and cut in.

“She’s probably trying to look good for Ritsu.”

“Marvin. Even now, you need to say something to Tia. Tia isn’t a child anymore. Are you going to watch her act like this even after her baptism ceremony?”

“So I tried talking to Ritsu, but it’s no use. Ritsu-nim, who is to become the Village Chief, says there’s no problem, so what can I say?”

“I’m frustrated!”

Merid shouted.

“Ritsu naturally wouldn’t know! He’s just been lying in bed! You don’t know how hard it is for me, do you? Until summer, six of us cooked and prepared dinner. But Grandmother Madrina passed away, Sherry Unnie is taking care of Ritsu, Tia doesn’t show her face, saying she’s making recovery medicine, Marie ran off with her Oppa, and if even Oli drops out because she has to watch the baby, do you know I have to prepare everything by myself?!”

“Waaah-!!”

The baby sleeping in its mother’s arms burst into tears.

Marvin, letting out a deep sigh, gestured.

“Oli, go inside first.”

Olivia patted the baby soothingly and went into the house.

As soon as the door clunked shut, Merid shouted again.

“Whose fault is all of this? Isn’t it because of that girl, Tia?”

“I understand how you feel, Merid. I know it all. But as long as Ritsu is protecting Tia, all I can do is offer advice.”

“Ritsu is just a child!”

Aunt Merid snapped.

“He’s just a little kid, much younger than us! He’s just the Village Chief’s son, and since the Village Chief passed away suddenly, he became Chief without knowing anything. Do you believe such a child can make proper judgments?”

“…”

“See? You don’t believe it either!”

“…So, what do you want me to do?”

Merid was silent for a moment.

Then she said in a firm voice.

“We need to separate Tia from Ritsu.”

“You’re saying something dangerous.”

“The problem is Ritsu becomes overly protective whenever Tia’s name comes up. Last time, he said he saw Ruyef coming out of Tia’s house. Marvin, do you believe that?”

Marvin shook his head.

“…Honestly, I thought it made no sense.”

“He’s the kind of guy who would protect Tia even by lying! He shouldn’t have driven Ruyef away like that! Now everyone is ailing, and nothing in the village is functioning properly.”

“So, if we kick Tia out, Ritsu will come to his senses, and the village will return to normal?”

“Exactly.”

Tia, who had been eavesdropping, flinched.

She clutched her chest tightly and slumped down behind the hut.

“Alright. Let’s say we kick Tia out. Then we can’t handle the aftermath.”

Marvin sat on the fence and spoke in a serious voice.

“First off, Ritsu won’t accept it, and even if we unilaterally banish her, who can endure Ritsu’s wrath?”

“So, we have to make Tia leave on her own.”

“…”

Marvin looked back at Merid.

“Aren’t you being too harsh on the children, Merid?”

“I don’t want to do this either. Truly. But if we don’t, I will leave Breezedon.”

“Merid.”

“I’m still here because you are.”

“…”

Marvin, who had stood up, made a grave decision.

“No matter what, banishment is too difficult. Instead, let’s do this.”

“…How?”

“We postpone Tia’s baptism ceremony.”

He explained.

“Tia committed a serious offense and hasn’t yet received punishment for it. If we present this as a substitute for that punishment, the elders and Ritsu will be able to accept it. And we’ll set a condition that Tia can have her baptism ceremony anytime she comes to her senses. Then Ritsu and Tia will also realize something.”

What he meant was clear.

Only by undergoing the baptism ceremony could one be recognized as a member of Breezedon.

Even if Tia wanted to go somewhere right now, the reason she had to report to people first and get permission to move was because she was not yet ‘a person of Breezedon.’

Although she had traveled to Deseo, a distant port city in the east that took a fortnight to reach on foot.

The reason she couldn’t cross the Dragonnez border, which was practically right on their doorstep, was also because of this.

She couldn’t participate in village meetings and had to simply follow the elders’ decisions.

It was also why she had to ask Ruyef to prevent the general store from being withdrawn.

Finally, whether it was her own house or Ritsu’s house.

The reason she couldn’t spend time with the person she loved until night was also because Tia was still a ‘girl’ who hadn’t had her baptism ceremony.

So she had waited.

She had longed for her baptism ceremony, thinking only of the day she would marry Ritsu.

But now, the baptism ceremony…

had become something only I could not do.

“First, we’ll gauge the atmosphere and then inform Ritsu. His condition doesn’t look good right now. So wait until then, Merid.”

“Understood.”

The two people disappeared.

Tia sat behind the hut for a long time.

She stared blankly up at the sky, and her eyes welled up.

A deep sense of powerlessness weighed down on her shoulders.

She already knew she was disliked.

However, she had only been able to infer it from the heavy, suffocating air and atmosphere.

But when she heard Aunt Merid’s voice, filled with anger directed at her.

She felt a pain like being cut by a knife.

Tia buried her face in her arms.

“…”

Before long, the sun began to set.

Tia, who had been sitting for a long time, got up and slung her bag over her shoulder.

She barely managed to compose herself and went down to the apothecary.

She planned to restock the broken items and, finally, make one more recovery medicine for Ritsu, whose condition was worsening.

Just as she started to approach the apothecary.

“Cough, cough!”

A coughing sound was heard.

It was Ritsu’s cough.

Startled, Tia scrambled up the hill.

Just then, Ritsu was coming out of the apothecary, covering his mouth.

“…Ritsu?”

When he removed the hand covering his mouth, bright red blood stained his palm.

“Ah! Blood on your hand… Are you coughing again?”

“Don’t worry about it. I just need some rest.”

His condition was clearly serious at a glance, but Ritsu waved his hand, saying he was fine.

First, she put her hand on her hip, intending to give him something to wipe with.

…But what she fumbled for was empty air.

She realized belatedly.

That she hadn’t had occasion to wear her belt since returning to the village.

Ritsu spoke.

“…More importantly, Tia. I’d like you to take over ‘warehouse management’ from now on.”

“Warehouse management?”

At the sudden, out-of-the-blue remark, Tia’s eyes widened.

“But Ruyef was….”

“He’s not here anymore. I’ve told people you’ll be doing it. Cough! Cough! If there’s anything you don’t know, ask the elders.”

“Is that… Ritsu’s decision?”

“Yes.”

Tia couldn’t understand.

Warehouse management in the village is a very, very important job, so wouldn’t people dislike it if I took it on?

They might even perceive it as me taking over warehouse management after driving Ruyef away…

“Why do I have to do that?”

“I’m sure you’ll do well.”

“I… haven’t said anything yet?”

Ritsu’s expression darkened instantly.

Even though it was still far from full night, a deep shadow seemed to fall between his furrowed brows.

Ritsu asked gruffly.

“Tia. Then what are you going to do?”

“…Huh?”

“What are you doing right now? Why are you at the apothecary?”

Tia fiddled with the herb bag she was carrying.

“A recovery medicine for Ritsu…”

“I told you I’d do that-!!!”

A thunderous sound struck her ears.

While she was too shocked to breathe.

“Cough, cough…”

Ritsu coughed again, curling his body.

That painful coughing sound was like a sharp, bitter accusation.

Asking if she was happy to have left him in this state. If she was satisfied.

Tia couldn’t say anything due to guilt.

“Tia. We’re not children anymore. We’re… adults now.”

“…”

Yet, my own baptism ceremony was postponed.

She couldn’t say that either.

“You can do it, right? I’m entrusting you with this because I believe you’ll do well.”

“…Yes. I’ll do it.”

“From now on, if the aunts ask for help, go with them. You’ll be able to learn a lot.”

“Understood. I’m sorry, Ritsu…”

She bowed her head.

She turned around and slowly went down the hill.

The coughing sound continued to echo in her ears.

“Cough! Cough!”

Lastly.

A spitting sound was heard.

“Ptui.”