Episode 24 – Why Doesn’t It Work for Me?

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I said it had been 20 years since Ed died, but that was just counting by years.

If you count the exact dates, he was resurrected after only 19 years and two months.

19 years and two months ago.

After hearing about Ed’s death, Mella was going through terrible days.

After returning to the capital,

Mella ignored the king’s order to call her to give her an award, and the church’s instructions to act as a Saintess, and instead cried every day, screamed every day, blamed herself every day, and tore at her own body with her fingernails.

The room, where she had nailed the wooden double doors of the windows and the front door to prevent people or even sunlight from entering, was full of mold and dust.

Mella locked herself in a prison where she could do nothing but miss Ed forever, waiting only to die.

When Lara, worried about her, forcibly tore open the locked door and entered, she would cover her head with a blanket like a vampire avoiding the light, scream at her to leave, and then fall asleep exhausted.

When she opened her eyes, she tried to sleep again, and if she couldn’t sleep, she drank until she lost consciousness, and if she had the energy, she screamed.

Lara wanted Mella to overcome Ed’s death and be happy.

Lara herself was very distressed by the fact that Ed had died, but Mella was clearly dying, beyond just being distressed.

Mella, who had been faithful to the teachings of the church enough to rise to the position of Saintess, did not attempt suicide, but to Lara, she looked like she was waiting to starve to death.

When Lara or Robin tried to force her to eat something, Mella couldn’t even say ‘I don’t want to’ and writhed, emitting animal-like howls.

The only human words that came out of Mella’s mouth at that time were Ed’s name, apologies for being sorry, and pleas to be killed.

It was because Lara had seen Mella in that state that she couldn’t bring herself to tell her the truth when she realized the whole story of Ed’s death several years later.

The memory of her father’s evil deeds read by her daughter, Lily.

When Lara heard the terrible truth that Robin had killed Ed, she was as distressed as Mella in the past.

She stopped eating and drinking and lay in bed every day, tormented by nightmares. She considered telling Mella the truth many times as she comforted and nursed Lara without knowing why, but in the end, she didn’t say anything.

If Mella, who had barely recovered and married Robin, found out this truth that even Lara found hard to bear, she would surely go crazy.

Because of the emptiness of losing Ed, she had even given up her position as a Saintess, and this time she might really take her own life.

But it was also painful to see Mella smiling brightly without knowing anything, and to see Robin’s detestable face, so Lara eventually left the mansion silently a year later.

And 15 years later, Lara faced Mella.

‘That’s right, it’s already been 15 years.’

Lara looked at Mella.

Fortunately, thanks to the hood she was wearing, she didn’t recognize Lara.

Seeing how much she had changed over time, I realize once again that my old friend was human.

Since Ed was the first companion Lara reunited with after leaving the city, she hadn’t really felt the passage of time.

The 15 years spent commemorating and regretting Ed were certainly long, but for an elf, it wasn’t that long when looking back.

Fortunately, judging by her smooth skin and rosy cheeks, her complexion looks good.

Even though she has become a middle-aged woman, her still large breasts still seem to have not lost their elasticity and softness,

Honestly, her face has lost its youthful appearance, but she was still beautiful.

Her brilliantly burning orange hair had become even brighter and shone beautifully.

She looked like she was in her 30s, or even her mid to late 20s.

The only part of her that looked her age was her benevolent and relaxed smile.

As Lara had hoped, she seemed to have overcome Ed’s death and was doing well.

Lara suddenly thought of her own appearance in the mirror a little while ago.

A skinny, emaciated body, with a physique that seemed to have lean muscles and no softness at all.

Dry skin and hair from not having eaten properly for days.

A face covered in ridicule and self-deprecation.

It’s like Mella back then.

Lara chuckled at the situation where her and her circumstances seemed to have switched.

“Excuse me, is Baron Salvier-nim here?”

“He’s not here.”

“Ah, do you happen to know where he went?”

“…Far away.”

Lara became curt without realizing it.

A feeling of injustice crept up from inside her heart.

I gave up Ed because of you,

You were supposed to protect Ed.

Why am I so miserable,

Why are you so lucky?

So many people helped you when you were having a hard time,

Why is there no one for me?

Why do I have to be so miserable?

Ah, it’s because I hid the truth from Mella.

Because I didn’t want to see Mella suffer.

But, that didn’t mean I wanted to be miserable.

Lara looked at her again.

Yes, she certainly looks beautiful.

I know that Ed suffered when he met her.

Does Ed still have feelings for her?

He told me that he wouldn’t be able to love again, but is that true?

Is his heart still only for Mella?

Is it really impossible for me?

Why is Mella so special?

She was also defiled by Robin.

She was even Ed’s lover.

Shouldn’t it be even more wrong if she was Ed’s lover?

If I had been Ed’s lover, if Ed had accepted me,

I would never vulgarly spread my legs for another man.

Never, even if I had to live a thousand years longing for Ed for the rest of my life,

But still, is it just me that can’t?

Why?

Why? Why, why- why?!

Why doesn’t it work for me?

Lara glared at Mella from inside her hood.

She hated her.

Mella, who still occupied one side of his heart even though Lara, who was with Ed, couldn’t be with him, was mean and dirty.

Lara hesitated.

Should I tell her?

Should I tell her how Ed died?

Should I tell her that Ed has come back to life,

That he has returned to punish you, no, us?

“Um… then, do you know when he will be back?”

“…Hoo,”

You crazy bitch,

What am I being unfair about?

Why am I deluding myself that I’m better than Mella?

I decided to be satisfied just being able to be by Ed’s side, but am I already full of myself?

Lara shuddered at her own disgust and mocked herself.

Besides, what did she do wrong?

I’m the one who has the information, and I’m the one who decided not to reveal it,

Why am I taking it out on her, who couldn’t have known anything?

Tell Mella about Ed’s resurrection?

Haha, go ahead and try.

I can’t bear it if Ed leaves me and goes to Mella,

Knowing full well that Ed would never choose me.

Lara recalled the Flavis festival where Ed rejected her confession.

So,

It’s because I’m that kind of person that Ed doesn’t choose me.

Get a grip, Lara.

Do what you have to do.

Do something that will help Ed.

“He will probably be back in a few days. I will definitely tell the Baron-nim that Mella-nim was looking for him.”

Like a machine, Lara, who ignored all her emotions and thoughts and decided to only help Ed, answered Mella.

However, Mella’s reaction was puzzled.

“… Excuse me?”

“What’s wrong?”

“Um, did I say my name?”

Ah,

Lara lamented her scattered attention due to being lost in self-deprecation and hurriedly said.

“I… the Baron-nim told me about Mella-nim after returning from the funeral. I apologize if I was rude.”

“Ah… no, not at all, you don’t have to worry about it.”

When Lara bowed her head and apologized, Mella hurriedly waved her hand and stopped her.

Lara asked her with as much courtesy as possible.

“May I ask what you need him for?”

“Ah, we’re having a small party at our mansion soon, and I was wondering if you would like to attend.”

“What kind of party…?”

“It’s our youngest daughter, Dena’s, 8th birthday party.”

“If you tell me the date, I will pass it on to the Baron-nim.”

“Ah, yes, thank you.”

After giving me the date, Mella left the hotel.

Lara looked at the date.

It was the same day she was supposed to meet the Princess.

“The timing is just great,”

It was a date she had carefully chosen after much deliberation for Ed’s rest, but it looked like it would be a busy day instead.

Lara stood blankly and punched herself hard in the face.

“Let’s get a grip, for Ed.”

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The next day,

Today, 9 days after Ed left, in the afternoon after lunch,

Ed finally returned to the capital.

And in a very flamboyant way.

Dozens of super-large cargo wagons, twice the height of a typical large cargo wagon, were lined up in front of the gates of Siorand.

The merchants inspecting the wagons nearby, and the soldiers guarding the walls, had never seen wagons of that size before.

And they had never seen a procession of that many wagons before either.

“Hello? It’s a good day.”

Baron Salvier, well known as a guest of the Hero’s family, greeted the soldiers while sitting in the driver’s seat of the first wagon in the procession.

The rumor that he was an incredibly wealthy man was already well known,

But the soldiers were curious about what kind of goods he had loaded that he had brought dozens of such large wagons.

Normally, Baron Salvier, a guest of Count Boldiras, should have been allowed to pass without question,

But the captain of the guard approached the wagon and asked, as there was a possibility that the Baron, who had brought so much luggage, might unknowingly be bringing in prohibited items.

“Welcome, Baron-nim. You have a lot of cargo wagons, may I ask what kind of goods they are?”

“Haha, don’t ask, just open them and see. All the wagons have the same items, so open this wagon I’m riding in.”

“Thank you for your cooperation.”

The captain of the guard approached the cargo hold of the wagon.

Judging from the way the wagon was shaking, it was clear that the inside was full of cargo.

The same items in every wagon,

No matter how rare the item is, if this much is released into the city at once, the price will quickly drop.

The captain of the guard thought that the Baron had a lot of money but lacked business sense, and opened the door of the cargo hold.

Chwareureureureuk

“What!”

As soon as the door opened, something sparkling poured out of the wagon like a huge wave.

The captain of the guard was startled and quickly dodged, then realized what the object that had poured out of the wagon was and was shocked.

“Oh my, it’s going to be hard to pick all that up, so I’ll just give what fell to the guard.”

“Yes… yes? All of this?”

“Take the soldiers and have a company dinner at a delicious restaurant for once.”

“Ah… ah… oh…”

The captain of the guard gaped like a flounder caught on a fishing hook and pulled out of the water.

Everything that poured out of the wagon was gold coins.

“Baron-nim… you said that all the wagons have the same items.”

“Yes. That’s right. You’ve confirmed that it’s not a dangerous item, right?”

“Good heavens…”

The captain of the guard slowly closed the door of the wagon, afraid that even one more coin would fall out.

There were already more than 500 gold coins on the floor.

This was a little more than the combined annual salary of 8 soldiers.

However, the Baron abandoned such a large sum of money as if giving pocket money and passed through the gates.

Behind the Baron, dozens of super-large cargo wagons, twice the size of a typical large cargo wagon, were rumbling into the city, filled with gold coins.

The rumors quickly spread throughout the city.

The crazy rich man who appeared in the White Glass Tower is Baron Salvier.

Baron Salvier has come to support the Hero-nim’s family.

They were ridiculous bullshit.

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