How to Tame That Gentle Hero - Chapter 8.11

As Alken turned his gaze toward Resena, who had been still for a while, she slowly opened her eyes.

The answer hasn’t been decided yet. But someday, I’ll have to make a choice.

“Shall we return to the banquet hall now?”

Resena smiled at Alken’s words.

“Yes. Let’s go back.”

Soft moonlight shone above their heads. As they entered the banquet hall where the orchestra’s melody continued, Resena recalled the fallen comet.

And today’s cluster of stars that shone brightly.

Alken’s words too…

The choice that must be made someday…

‘Today seems like a day I won’t forget.’

Feeling this way, Resena walked toward the crowd of people on her own.

***

On a shaded bench within the canal dock, a rather large man in a robe was carving a piece of wood.

He showed no reaction, seemingly oblivious or perhaps indifferent to the sharp gazes from people watching him. Only the children around him seemed to notice the stares, occasionally glancing back with awkward looks.

“Are you Vernas?”

A man who appeared to be a knight with a fairly large build approached the bench. The man didn’t respond, but the children whispered among themselves and then stood blocking the large adult.

“Don’t do anything bad to our big brother!”

“He’s busy carving, don’t bother him!”

Faced with the children’s resistance, the man scratched his cheek awkwardly and called behind him.

“Count Turso. What should I do?”

“Why are you asking me and making a fuss! Just move them aside somehow!”

“But they’re little children…”

“Haa. Karman! Can’t you do anything right?”

Hearing his name called, the man made an embarrassed expression and rolled up his sleeves. Seeing his forearms, each as big as a child’s head, the children became frightened and huddled close to Vernas. Only then did the carving man raise his emotionless gaze.

“As you asked, I am Vernas. What is the matter?”

When he stood up, his height was evident, a head taller than Karman. Moreover, beneath his linen shirt visible inside the robe were solid, muscular arms that made Karman gulp.

“Well, it’s nothing special… I want to buy your sculptures, but they haven’t been sold at auction houses lately. If it’s alright, I’ll pay any amount, so would you sell me your sculptures?”

“Ah. What? So you’re a buyer…”

“We thought you were trying to kidnap our brother.”

“Kidnap… Strictly speaking, it could be considered kidnapping.”

The children’s gazes sharpened.

A couple of them clung to Vernas’s arm, saying, “Brother, don’t deal with them,” which made Karman laugh awkwardly.

Then a sharp voice flew in from behind.

“Karman! If you say it like that, they’ll misunderstand! I’m only trying to provide a workshop for sculpting!”

“Ah… Right. That’s right. We came to offer a workshop. You can comfortably carve there, and we’ll buy them at high prices, so please…”

“I refuse.”

At the words that came out without any hesitation, Karman became even more intimidated. Then Count Turso, who had been watching from behind, gritted his teeth and walked briskly to stand in front of Vernas.

‘He’s incredibly tall.’

It was a newly tense feeling, but Count Turso cleared his throat and lowered his voice. Then he continued in the gentlest tone possible.

“You shouldn’t expect to continue carving at the canal dock indefinitely. Currently, only children surround you… However, when more buyers arrive seeking your sculptures—having learned your location from parents of buyers like myself—it will inevitably disrupt your work.”

Vernas’s indifferent blue eyes slowly scanned Count Turso from head to toe. Somehow feeling like he was being assessed by those dispassionate eyes, Count Turso waited silently for his response.

“Thank you for your concern.”

Though there was a hint of warmth in his voice, Vernas continued.

“However, I’ve already found another place in case this one becomes unusable, so I find it difficult to accept your offer. That place is sufficient for carving as well.”

“Hmm… Isn’t there any way? Or at least sell me one of your sculptures. There’s no place I haven’t gone looking for your sculptures, but I’m always just left looking at them as the Arnasus family buys them all at the auction houses.”

“…The Arnasus family always buys my sculptures?”

When Vernas asked quietly, Count Turso stroked his mustache and said.

“You didn’t know? The Arnasus family has been monopolizing your sculptures for quite some time. Well, I suppose you just give your sculptures to children or auction house agents, so you might not know about this whole process…”

“I see…”

Vernas closed his lips, then soon quietly said.

“Thank you for the offer, but I must decline. Farewell.”

“…Ah, really, isn’t there any way? I can give you as much money as you want. Besides, you won’t have to pay auction house fees, so it’s beneficial for you too, isn’t it?”

Vernas’s eyes grew cold.

At this, Count Turso took a step back out of some inexplicable fear. The intimidating presence emanating from Vernas’s large frame didn’t seem like that of a mere commoner, and Count Turso gulped.

“I’m sorry.”

“….”

“Then, goodbye.”

Vernas went back among the children and sat on the bench. As he silently began carving again, the children watching him started chattering noisily.

But Vernas, Eldis’s inner thoughts were quite different. He newly realized that Resena was sincere toward him as Vernas, as she had sent Arnasus’ family agents to purchase his sculptures even during her absence.

“…Resena.”

Pausing his chisel for a moment, Vernas brushed his lips with the tip of his thumb. The sensation of kissing Resena was still vivid, so he unconsciously found himself brushing his lips with his thumb. He was momentarily speechless, thrilled by how Resena, who was the very image of an elegant noble lady when he was Eldis, approached him passionately when he was Vernas.

“Haa…”

Resena had told Vernas she would see him in 4 weeks, but the delegation’s mission had ended a week ago, and she had already returned to the mansion. This meant that instead of having their first meeting in 1 week on Wednesday, they could meet on Wednesday or Thursday in between.

‘She could come to see me as early as this evening.’

He had already seen her as Eldis. But Resena hadn’t asked him on a date. While that made him feel a bit disappointed, he was also happy thinking that a date request would come to him as Vernas.

And his prediction soon became reality.

“Hmm…”

It was when Count Turso, who had been unable to speak in front of him and was looking at him with troubled eyes, suddenly turned around. His eyes widened, and the Count staggered sideways. Vernas glanced at him, wondering why he was acting that way, but when he soon faced forward, his eyes widened.

“Vernas.”

Resena, beautifully dressed, approached him elegantly. Vernas felt his throat go dry and stopped his hands. Dressed as if attending a summer ball with a dress that revealed her shoulders, wearing white pearls in her ears, she had half of her hair braided up with flowers densely placed and half down, creating a lovely atmosphere.

Resena, all dressed up like that, seemingly unconcerned about anyone nearby, asked kindly.

“May I sit beside you?”

“Yes, Resena.”