Chapter 304

Rumble!

The carriage shook greatly once, perhaps because it stepped on a stone embedded in the road.

“Ugh!”

“Kyah!”

The inside of the carriage, full of four people and luggage, became noisy for a moment.

“Ah, hey! Go easy on the carriage!”

A man who got soaked while trying to drink water complained loudly to the coachman.

Avane Rophili, who had fallen asleep leaning against the wall of the carriage and woke up from a rattle of the carriage, fixed her glasses and asked the other side.

“Shan, are you okay?”

“…Yes?”

Shan, who was staring blankly out the window, responded to the call one beat later.

Then she looked around at the flowerpot she cherished in her arms and answered with a nod.

“Oh, it’s okay. The leaves weren’t damaged.”

What she asked was not the condition of the plant, but the condition of Shan.

Avane thought to ask again, but she soon shook her head.

Until now, leaving the village of the Chara tribe and finally reaching Lombardi.

During their journey together, the two became very close and learned a lot about each other.

However, there were still some corners that made Avane tilt her head when looking at Shan.

It’s obvious that it’s the first time Shan has been out of the forest, but she know a lot of things as if she has lived for several years already, or that she didn’t take the flowerpot from the village away from her arms no matter what.

‘Is it because of that ability?’

For ordinary people who can’t see the future, such Shan was just a miracle.

Avane said, tapping on Shan’s knee, which was close enough to reach with a little movement.

“That flowerpot. You said it’s Bomnia, right? It must be heavy, but I’ll hold it for you. Even for a moment, make yourself comfortable, Shan.”

The passenger carriage, which was shared with people with the same destination, was narrow and crowded.

In the midst of that, it was very nerve-wracking and hard to travel for several days with cherished flowerpot.

“Hmm.”

Shan thought for a moment at Avane’s suggestion, but then shook her head.

“No. We’re almost in Lombardi. I can hold on. Thanks for asking, teacher Avane.”

Shan, who answered with a smile, fixed the flowerpot once, hugged it, and looked out the window again. (TN: Thinking how the destiny of this flower make my heart aching. From Perez who cherished this flower, and it end up as the important ingredient medicine of Tlenbrew’s disease.)

‘What are you looking at like that?’

Although it was a bright day, the carriage was running on a field with nothing but farmland around it.

However, Shan’s eyes moved as if they were looking at something above the field.

Avane, unable to hold back her questions like a scholar, tapped Shan’s knee again and asked in a very low voice.

“What are you looking at like that, Shan?”

“Hmm. I don’t know either.”

Shan replied with a shy smile.

“I just see a big building over there. It’s a building with a lot of people.”

However, the place where Shan was pointing was just a vast wheat field.

“It was the same the last time when I passed Chesail.”

Chesail was just a small town passing through when crossing from the South to the Center.

There was nothing to see except the large river flowing nearby, so even when everyone in the carriage fell asleep while snoring, Shan could not take her eyes off the scenery outside the window.

“Ah, that’s…”

It was when the bashful smiling Shan was about to say something.

“Wo, woo—.”

The carriage stopped slowly with the sound of a coachman soothing the horse outside.

“Why does the carriage stop, teacher Avane?”

They said it still takes a little longer to get to Lombardi.

“Maybe it’s because of the people who lined up to go inside. We’ll have to go inside by the time the sun goes down.”

“D- does it take that long?”

“It is the most prosperous city in the empire. If you’re curious, get off and take a look, Shan.”

Avane added, ‘We won’t even move for a while anyway’.

“Then… I’ll see you for a moment.”

Shan carefully opened the carriage door and came out.

It was the land she stepped on in a few hours, but there was no time to worry about such things.

“Wow.”

It was spectacular to see all kinds of carriages and people lined up in a long line.

And at the end was a very large city.

It was not possible to see everything at a glance because of the high and strong walls, but that was enough.

The city was exuding tremendous pressure just by standing there.

“There, Lombardi.”

Shan muttered, almost stumbling backwards without realizing it.

The most prosperous city in the empire.

At the same time, the light wind blowing from Lombardi shook the leaves of Bomnia and gave a shallow goosebumps to Shan’s arms.

Suddenly, she missed her hometown unbearably.

She wanted to turn around and go back to the familiar place.

But Shan clenched her fists and repeated the name, giving her courage.

“…Gallahan.”

He was in that massive city.

Shan hugged the Bomnia flowerpot, which was now starting to bear seeds.

“Don’t be afraid, Shan.”

After pushing herself, she looked a little more at Lombardi and quietly got into the carriage.

***

The restaurant and inn ‘Blue Wave’ located in Lombardi was known to the locals as its own gourmet restaurant.

The representative menu was none other than ‘home-style breakfast’, and from early morning to lunchtime was the busiest time with customers.

“Shan! Can you bring this bread to the table over there?”

When Marge, the owner of the restaurant, held out a basket full of bread and shouted, Shan, with her red hair tied together, quickly accepted it and answered.

“Yes, ma’am!”

‘Blue Wave’ was the first hostel where Shan, who arrived in Lombardi a month ago, stayed.

After Avane, who spent about a week with her, left Lombardi, Shan, who was left alone, tried to find a place and job to stay.

And Marge, who heard the story, gladly offered a job that provided room and meals.

Although the inn was hectic from waking up in the morning until the afternoon, Shan was very satisfied.

It happened at dawn because it was a habit cultivated in the village, and she enjoyed working in the ‘Blue Wave’ where she could meet many people.

And most of all, there were many things she got to know while huddling among people.

“Did you hear that story? Mark’s daughter Helen became a Lombardi scholarship student.”

“Is that true? That smart kids go to the academy so they can study without money?”

Thanks to this, Shan, a foreigner, who has only been in Lombardi for a month and has learned a lot about the city and the Lombardi family.

At that time, the table where two young women, who seemed to be friends, sat facing each other suddenly became noisy.

“Eat now, hurry up!”

“Stop urging me! If I eat faster, I will bite my tongue!”

“I mean, I saw that man by the river earlier! Before he leaves, we have to go take a look!”

“I see, I get it! Ugh, let’s go!”

Eventually, the woman who couldn’t overcome her friend’s torch got up from her seat with half of the food left.

Shan sighed quietly, taking the money and bowls left on the table.

It was because of a new fact that she had recently learned.

“What’s pretty in my eyes is pretty in others’ eyes, too.”

That is, Gallahan is quite famous among young women in the city of Lombardi.

Of course, people did not know that he was the son of Lombardi.

It seems that the fact that ‘A very, extremely handsome man sometimes appears in the city and paints’ has touched the hearts of many women.

“That’s understandable.”

Shan sighed once again, recalling the appearance of Gallahan in her memory.

Gallahan was handsome and pretty.

His white skin seemed to glisten, and his drooping eyebrows were very gentle.

Most of all, Gallahan was small and cute.

In her dream, he was a cute man like a soft puppy or a squirrel rubbing his face.

“Everyone has a good eye.”

Shan muttered with a pouting mouth.

That man is mine.

It was when she was thinking that way.

The innkeeper, Marge, patted Shan on the shoulder.

“Shan, your busy work is over, so go and rest.”

“Is that time already? Then I’ll go out and come back, ma’am!”

“Okay, don’t fall over!”

Shan put the apron she was wearing on one side and walked slowly, enjoying the cool spring breeze.

As she felt through her skin that spring had arrived, her heart was pounding.

“We’ll be able to meet soon.”

Shan walked towards the square every day when it was time for a break.

It was to make sure that flowers bloomed on the flower tree, as seen in the dream.

A few days ago, she asked madam Marge slightly, and she said that the tree blooms a little later than others.

So she’ll still have to wait a few more days.

By the way.

“Huh…?”

When Shan arrived under the tree on the way to the square, her eyes widened.

“Has the flower… bloomed?”

Obviously, only yesterday, only flower buds had come up.

Saa—.

When the wind blew, the petals fell like rain.

It’s been a while since she was mesmerized by the spectacular view that unfolded overnight.

Shan slowly lowered her head and looked straight ahead.

It was a gaze toward the fountain in the middle of the square.

“Oh, here it is!”

Although far away, the person sitting at the fountain drawing something was definitely Gallahan.

“Today… this is it.”

Today was the day she saw it again and again in her dream.

Thump, thump.

Her heart began to beat uncontrollably.

“Whoa.”

Shan took a deep breath.

“I shouldn’t be embarrassed. I have to make a good first impression, so stay calm…”

Shan suddenly shut her mouth.

It was because she felt the gaze, or because she suddenly made eye contact with Gallahan, who raised his head.

Thump, thump.

The wind blew once again through the sound of the heart beating in her ears.

Even amidst the scattered petals, Shan did not move her gaze toward Gallahan.

And it was the same for Gallahan.

Stopping his hand while drawing, he stared still at Shan.

It was a time that seemed to exist only the two of them in the crowd of people gathered in the square.

Shan approached him one step at a time with a desire to run away as well as run away.

And finally stood in front of him.

“Hi”.

Fortunately, her voice was not shaking.

“……”

However, Gallahan did not answer.

He just looking up at Shan who was approaching.

Then Shan became anxious.

Was it because I suddenly talked to him?

She was suddenly scared.

But she took the courage to ask one more time.

“What’s your name?”

“…Gallahan.”

Startle.

Shan’s shoulder flinched slightly at the lower voice than expected.

“I’m Gallahan.”

“Ah… I, I’m Shan.”

“…Shan.”

Gallahan muttered her name.

Thump, thump, thump.

Now Shan’s heart was beating enough to hurt.

At the same time, she became impatient.

I need to say something more.

Shan hurriedly asked a question that came to mind.

“Hmm. Do you like drawing?”

“…Yes. Well… I’m not good at drawing.”

Gallahan replied, touching the edge of the paper with his finger.

“I think you can draw well. If it’s okay with you, can you show it to me… Ugh!”

She was going to look at the picture.

She was so nervous that her toes were caught and staggered. (TN: Why cliche at this moment? LoL)

In that brief moment, all sorts of thoughts ran through her head.

What do you mean good impression?

I think I’ll remain a funny woman who tripped over my feet.

Shan closed her eyes tightly.

She thought the only thing left was the pain and embarrassment of bumping her knees on the stone floor.

Tuk!

She thought her waist was wrapped around with something hard, but what she saw in front of her was Gallahan’s chest.

“Are you okay?”

She was surprised and looked up at the place where she heard the voice.

However, her gaze continued to rise more than expected.

His head was also bent for a while.

“Are you hurt?”

Shan’s heart pounded loudly.

If you look at gentle eyes and fair skin, it’s Gallahan.

It’s ‘My Gallahan’ that she wanted to hug and sit on his knees and hug because he was cute.

Gulp.

Shan swallowed her saliva without realizing it.

“…Shan?”

It seemed like it would be difficult for this tall man supporting her with one arm.