What Remains in the Damaged Place - Side Story 1 (4)

At the same time, Valderion had expected his work to wrap up quickly, but one task after another kept cropping up, causing delays. His brain felt like it was about to overheat from the relentless problem-solving.

He paused for a moment, lit a cigar, and moved toward the window.

A pleasant breeze blew in from the open window.

Valderion had never thought that weather could affect his mood so much, but today, it seemed to. A chuckle escaped him as a thought crossed his mind.

It wasn’t the weather affecting his emotions, but rather the romantic notion of being on a honeymoon that seemed to stir his feelings.

‘Not bad for someone who claims to be indifferent to romance.’

With a self-deprecating smile, he was about to take another puff of his cigar when two figures caught his eye. One of them, moving slowly through the garden, was Lirette.

Ah, that’s right. She mentioned learning to ride.

Valderion took a sharp breath, smirking.

Somehow, he had a feeling.

His hand, holding the cigar, brushed across his chest. Even during work, his heart had been fluttering unpredictably, a sensation he couldn’t quite place.

Sitting in his office wasn’t exactly a reason for anxiety, so that wasn’t it. It had to be the raw emotion stemming from Lirette’s first attempt at something new. No matter how many times he experienced it, this feeling was hard to get used to.

As he watched his wife, who looked more like she was being carried by the horse than riding it, a smile occasionally played on his lips.

‘Is that the instructor?’

His eyes, which had been calm like a field bathed in twilight, shifted toward the man beside her.

He had thought Roziela would be teaching her directly, but it seemed someone had been called in for the task.

Even from a distance, it was clear that the young man had a gentle demeanor. Unlike Valderion’s usual cold and distant expression, this man radiated a calm, warm energy, much like the afternoon sun in Pellini.

An image of someone popped into his mind. A carefree soul deeply connected to nature, who had always stood by Lirette’s side without hesitation, smiling at her just like that.

Valderion’s brow furrowed momentarily.

Just as Lirette was trying to straighten her posture, she stumbled and grabbed the instructor for support.

The man, clearly experienced with such occurrences, skillfully steadied her, murmuring something in a low voice. The soft breeze that brushed Valderion’s ears carried the sound of the man’s voice.

Was it really the wind affecting his mood?

Suddenly, his spirits plummeted.

He watched the scene for a long time, smoking his cigar.

Under the blazing sun, the two of them painted a rather cozy picture. As he watched them, a hot lump seemed to rise in his throat.

Especially when Lirette smiled at the man like a dandelion fluff and the man smiled back.

Their hands, clasped in midair, showed no sign of letting go.

And that wasn’t all.

The man’s hands touched various parts of Lirette’s body—her shoulder, the small of her back, her knees, her wrists—all with the appropriate and professional intention of adjusting her posture. Lirette’s expression showed no sign of discomfort at the contact.

He understood.

He knew well that there was nothing wrong with the situation.

Yet…

Before he could finish his cigar, Valderion turned away. But the slight irritation that had settled in his chest clung to him like a shadow, refusing to let go.

***

Riding turned out to be more fun than Lirette had expected.

Though she hadn’t yet reached Roziela’s level of pulling the reins with confidence and galloping across the garden, the sensation of floating in midair with only the horse beneath her lifted her spirits immensely.

After washing up and changing, still feeling elated, she realized that the afternoon had passed in the blink of an eye.

‘Is he still working?’

She decided to knock on his office door to suggest they have dinner a bit earlier today.

“Valderion.”

The room inside was silent.

Worried that he might be resting due to exhaustion, Lirette was relieved to find Valderion still seated at his desk when she entered.

Sensing her presence, he looked up.

“Have you finished your work?”

“There’s still a bit left to go over.”

As he said, the desk looked no different from when she had left earlier. It pained her a little to see him unable to let go of his work even on their rare break.

“Should I bring you a snack?”

“No, I’m fine.”

Lirette, who had been gently brushing back his hair, suddenly hesitated.

What’s this?

Despite her unease, Valderion’s demeanor remained as calm as ever.

Or… was it?

Lirette quickly pushed aside her doubt and spoke.

“I had a good time riding.”

“Good to hear.”

“It was a bit scary at first, but… it was more fun than I expected.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, the instructor Roziela introduced taught me well. Oh, and…”

Like a child excited to share their day after playing with friends, Lirette was about to continue, but her words trailed off. Valderion, while responding to her, was also scribbling something on a document, his lack of engagement in their conversation painfully clear.

So it wasn’t just her imagination.

He was oddly curt.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

“Why are you upset?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“You’re mad at me right now.”

“I’m not.”

“You’re lying.”

Lirette stepped back, widening the space between them. She saw a sharp glint flicker in Valderion’s eyes as he noticed her retreat.

“I said I’m not.”

“…”

“Why are you jumping to conclusions about my feelings when I told you I’m not upset?”

“Because I know you’re lying!”

In truth, she had sensed something was off even before entering the office. After changing her clothes earlier, a strange discomfort crept through her fingers as she fastened her buttons, an inexplicable tension building.

What was it?

Once she exchanged a few words with him, it became clear that the strange tension she felt was his. They were so in tune with each other’s emotions that she could read him like an open book.

Lirette mentally replayed her day, but she couldn’t figure out why he would be upset. Nothing had happened that would explain his mood.

She calmed herself, trying not to get dragged down by his sour demeanor, and asked, “Did something happen?”

“…”

“Or… are you upset because I spent the day without you?”

Valderion twisted his lips as if amused by the thought.

“So you really think I’m that childish.”

“Then what is it? You were fine this morning…”

She recalled their playful morning together, laughing and brushing noses under the blanket, a memory that now felt like a mirage. The frosty atmosphere between them now was rapidly suffocating that warm memory.

Lirette started to speak again but then clamped her mouth shut as if she’d changed her mind.

“…Maybe it’s better if we don’t talk about this anymore.”

She knew how these situations often escalated—into bickering that twisted their emotions and left them both feeling bruised. Not wanting to go down that road again, she chose to take a step back.

“I agree.”

His willingness to comply without any further argument irritated her even more. Lirette, feeling all her remaining resolve slip away, took another step back. The lightness she had felt earlier in her steps was now weighed down, as if her feet were shackled with heavy chains.

“It seems you’re busy, so I’ll go spend time with Roziela. We planned to have dinner together.”

Valderion loosened his grip on his quill.

Is that riding instructor going to be there, too?

Suppressing the biting remark that threatened to rise to his lips, he set the quill down. His mouth felt dry.

“I don’t have much of an appetite, so the two of you can go ahead without me.”

That was the only way he could express his dissatisfaction—by emphasizing “the two of you.”

As Lirette left the office, her steps grew heavier and more forceful. The excitement from her first horseback riding experience had evaporated in an instant, leaving her feeling deflated, with a twinge of embarrassment creeping in.

She couldn’t help but contrast her own exuberance—like a child gleefully bouncing around after trying something new—with Valderion’s calm, almost dismissive attitude. It made her feel self-conscious.

But still…

She knew Valderion was the kind of man who would enthusiastically support her in whatever she wanted to do, even wading into the ocean with her when she asked. He was someone who cared enough to roll up his sleeves for her sake. She had expected the same this time. She thought he’d draw her close, listen attentively, and respond warmly as he always did. The fact that he didn’t made her feel even more disheartened.

‘Did something really happen?’

As she replayed the unexpected shift in his behavior, the more a suspicion began to surface. She had been so focused on his odd demeanor that she hadn’t even asked him what might be bothering him.

With that realization, she felt foolish for reacting emotionally. It could have been solved with a simple, calm conversation—so why had she responded so dramatically?

‘Then again…’

When hadn’t their relationship been full of emotional moments?

Before they grew closer, they had often clashed, trading sharp words and heightened emotions. While things had improved recently, there was a time when this kind of conflict was normal for them.

Of course, not everything was the same as before.

In the past, they might have raised their voices pointlessly, turning the situation even more hostile. But now, they had both chosen to take a step back, giving each other space.

Lirette didn’t know about Valderion, but for her, that retreat felt necessary.