Chapter 28
Sophie was extremely flustered. He came through the bitter cold just because he missed her after meeting only once? How was she supposed to take this?
“…You came because you missed me?”
“……”
Was this… a confession? She began to feel conflicted.
How was she supposed to turn him down politely?
More importantly, she didn’t even know what he looked like. Sophie gave him a meaningful look.
[Yes! Since I haven’t even seen her face or received a letter in a month, I had to come see her in person!]
While both Rolf and Sophie were flustered, Hal continued to confidently blurt out Rolf’s inner thoughts.
Eventually, unable to read the room, Hal made Rolf cover his face in distress.
[W-Was that not right…?]
Hal finally started to notice Rolf’s discomfort. As his loyal spirit, he didn’t want to upset his master. I am my master’s pride.
It’s okay, Master. I’ll handle everything. Hal resolved himself, seeing how shaken Rolf was.
Then he declared again without hesitation:
[Be honored! I was so excited to come here that I couldn’t sleep last night.]
“…Phew.”
With a sigh, Rolf slumped onto the table. If he could disappear from this place right now, he surely would.
Unfortunately, the spirit was faithfully revealing every thought in Rolf’s heart.
[Since I can’t enter Keveris, the only option is to come like this every time!]
In the end, Rolf ordered the spirit to be quiet.
Master… did I do something wrong? Hal tugged on Rolf’s sleeve anxiously.
[You clueless lightning bolt,] murmured one of the earth spirits. Sophie strongly agreed with that sentiment.
“……”
“……”
The man who unintentionally confessed and the woman who unexpectedly received the confession both fell silent.
But Sophie knew she couldn’t let this awkward atmosphere linger.
She gently suggested,
“How about speaking with your real voice while you’re here?”
“……”
Honesty was good, but everyone needed their secrets.
More than anything, if this continued, Rolf’s remaining pride would be stripped away.
“Rolf, I heard from Prince Valentis that you injured your vocal cords. Is that true?”
Rolf gave a slow nod to Sophie’s question.
“Is it painful to talk, or does your throat swell if you speak too long?”
This time, Rolf shook his head.
It seemed he disliked his voice just as much as he disliked the burn scars on his face.
“Then how about speaking in your real voice here?”
“……”
Sophie encouraged him gently, careful not to hurt his feelings.
“I already know what your voice sounds like… and if there are too many people around, you can let Hal speak for you again.”
“……”
“Most of all, I don’t find your voice strange at all.”
She said cheerfully. One of her eyebrows arched in that familiar way that gave away her light teasing. Rolf recognized the expression.
It was the one Sophie always made when joking or trying to lighten someone’s mood.
“In fact, I sound just like that when I wake up in the morning. Every single day.”
…What?
As she continued talking, Sophie caught a glimpse of Rolf’s eyes through his robe.
His face was disfigured on one side due to burns.
One eye had lost all color and faded, while the other was a pale brown.
Those eyes… I feel like I’ve seen them before…
Just as Sophie tilted her head in thought, Rolf bowed it once again.
I should give him some time to think, right?
He wasn’t the type to speak unless it was urgent.
She had urged him to speak with his own voice, so now it was best to leave him be.
* * *
“Brr, it’s cold! Sophie, those tea leaves I bought last time were really good. Can I get more?”
“Did you enjoy them?”
A woman entered Sophie’s apothecary at that moment.
She was a regular customer, usually buying herbs but occasionally purchasing tea leaves as well.
“Yes! They tasted so luxurious. I felt like I’d become a noblewoman!”
“There’s actually not much difference from what the nobles drink.”
“And I don’t know why, but tea from your place makes me feel healthier, too.”
Well, the prince and the duke are drinking it too…
Sophie kept that thought to herself.
“I’ll enjoy it again this time. Thanks!”
“Sure, take care!”
Rolf carefully observed Sophie’s every move.
Since last night, he had been debating whether to come to her shop or not. She hadn’t visited Keveris for a month, so there didn’t seem to be a reason to see her.
But he had braved the awkwardness and came anyway—because he had missed her.
But I can’t even approach her.
From the beginning, Rolf had always been a man with many secrets.
How could someone who hid not only his face but also his whereabouts become close to another?
Besides, he carried a secret that Sophie didn’t know.
If she recognized him, she might be disappointed or even take a step back.
That fear lingered—of growing distant forever.
Still, he wanted to see her face again.
He was glad to see the child he had once known again, all grown up.
“Sophie, I think you really like sweets,” Sophie said, smiling at him.
Unlike Rolf, Sophie was a bright and radiant person. So unlike him, who hid in darkness.
And she was strong enough to mingle with princes and dukes without being pushed around. She had a firm and resolute spirit.
She was everything he was not.
“Do you like sweet chestnuts?”
She asked, just as the smell of candied chestnuts drifted from the apothecary. A warm, nutty aroma mixed with a hint of honey.
The smell was so tempting that spirits had gathered near the kitchen.
“I made some this morning and there’s still a lot left. I saved them to share with the spirits. Would you like some?”
How should he respond?
Even now, Rolf still felt shy and awkward around Sophie.
Because his closest companion, Hal, had blurted out everything without any tact.
[I really want those candied chestnuts. Two, please.]
Hal suddenly spoke up, holding up two fingers and even using polite speech for once.
Seems like he needed sweets next to his grim master.
Sophie chuckled at the request.
“Okay, I’ll give you three, Hal.”
The spirit beamed, despite his master sitting right beside him.
“What about you, Rolf? Would you like some too?”
Rolf nodded quietly.
“Then I’ll bring some tea as well. It’s a quiet time without customers.”
Wait, why am I talking like a tea shop owner? Sophie muttered to herself.
Rolf silently laughed at that.
Apparently, ever since Prince Valentis and Duke Arthur barged into Sophie’s apothecary, she had unintentionally started running it like a tea shop.
She hasn’t changed.
Even when she was ten, Sophie would complain when she had to give up something—but she was inherently a kind child.
It had pained Rolf to see her forced to grow up early.
But seeing her again now made him truly happy.
And yet, he still couldn’t bring himself to reveal his face.
Even Rolf disliked his own face. He worried Sophie would be startled if she saw it.
“Please enjoy. I’m sure it’ll be delicious.”
Sophie brought out the candied chestnuts for Rolf and Hal.
She tried to lighten the mood by being cheerful.
“I picked these myself and got pricked by the shells. That’s how serious I was.”
She proudly shared.
Rolf enjoyed this rare personal conversation. Though he sometimes talked with Valentis and Arthur, they never had this kind of small talk.
Ever since his accident, he had stopped loving jokes.
Even the joy of conversation had disappeared.
But seeing this girl again after so long warmed his heart.
He felt like he was his old self again, before the accident.
“…Yeah, it’s good.”
Rolf said, eating the candied chestnuts and sipping tea.
The warm tea flowing down his throat made him feel momentarily healed.
“Doesn’t my voice sound strange to you?”
Rolf asked.
Everyone else hated his voice. It sounded like something out of a nightmare, like the voice of a dark spirit. Nothing like a flash of lightning.
“I think you’re a good person.”
Sophie responded with something completely unexpected.
“Usually bad people don’t ask questions like that.”
“……”
“And like I said before, not even once did I find your voice strange.”
She said calmly, and it didn’t sound like a lie.
In the background, the fire crackled in the stove with the pot on it.
And in the corner, the spirits argued over the chestnuts.
It was a peaceful and calm moment. Sophie’s voice flowed gently, like the warmth of the hearth.
“So I hope you’ll speak without worrying.”
She said.
“You’re not saying that out of pity?”
“Hmm, well… I just like polite people.”
Ah, this is good. Sophie muttered as she drank her tea.
“You’re polite, Rolf. So I think I like you.”
Sophie said this with ease, and Rolf’s face started to feel hot.
He had suffered major scars to his face and voice the moment he turned eighteen. Since then, Rolf’s relationships had always been unusual.
No one showed him affection—those who came close only wanted his power.
He was always alone.
“So come by often. I think I’ll always be happy to see you.”
Thinking of Arthur, Valentis, and Arabelle, Sophie added that she really meant it.
“…You think you’ll really be happy to see me?”
“Yes.”
“So come for tea. I’ll always serve you something delicious.”
Of course, I’ll charge you. Sophie winked as she said it.
