58 — Apples (2)

“But why have you been drinking so much lately? You’ve been living like this for 50 years, so it doesn’t seem like a new situation for you to suddenly start drowning in alcohol now.”

“Well… lately, she’s been very down. She insists on closing the shop. Since she started saying that, she’s been looking more and more haggard every day, and she won’t tell me the reason, so it’s frustrating and depressing.”

The more I listen to Mr. Benen’s story, the more I can’t help but think it’s incredible. It seems like he’s transcended the mere act of falling in love, being able to think of one person for so long.

Mr. Benen isn’t depressed because he wants to win her love. It’s just hard for him to see the woman he loves closing her shop and losing her strength because of it.

It was a noble love, if you could call it that. A love that doesn’t seek any return.

Another woman experiencing noble love.

Having just gone through the ordeal of Berna’s unfulfilled love, I didn’t want Mr. Benen to end up like Berna.

I felt a desire to help him, even though I’m no matchmaker.

“You always give me apples, so today I’ll have a drink with you. This is a fragrant drink, please try it.”

Let’s be a comforting romantic for now. So I poured whiskey into a glass.

“Thank you.”

Of course, I didn’t explain that it was expensive whiskey or anything. That’s not what’s important. It’s just a drink dedicated to this man who has devoted his heart for 50 years.

And the next day.

On my way to the market, I sought out Mrs. Rayne. She is well-connected in this city and is a source of various information. It’s best to go to her to get information about the city.

“Mrs. Rayne, do you know anything about a person named Mrs. Miel, who has a tailoring shop down the road?”

“What? Mrs. Miel?”

“Yes.”

When I asked directly, Mrs. Rayne tilted her head. But she still gave me an answer.

“She’s good at sewing, so I sometimes commission her for needlework. We’re friendly, but I don’t know her personal circumstances in detail.”

“Hmm, I see?”

“Why do you ask? Don’t you have someone to do needlework for you, El?”

“Haha, it’s not that I need needlework done.”

Why does Rurin come up again here?

Because I explained to this couple that I retired as a wizard and secluded myself in Greek City to be with someone I wanted to spend time with, they might misunderstand, but I can’t help it.

If I left needlework to Rurin, the clothes would end up more torn, like rags, rather than mended.

Anyway, I explained the situation. The main point was that Mrs. Miel was planning to close her shop and wouldn’t tell Mr. Benen why.

“Since you know so many people around here, I thought you might know something. What do you think?”

At that, Mrs. Rayne nodded with a very sympathetic expression.

“I did hear recently that she wasn’t taking on large orders. Is that why? Hmm, what should we do… Since I’m somewhat close to her, I’ll go and see if I can find out!”

“Really? I’d be grateful if you could do that.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll do my best. But if Mrs. Miel has no feelings for Mr. Benen and it’s just his one-sided love, I can’t get too involved. You can’t force someone’s heart, you know.”

“Of course. It’s not about bringing the two together, I just want to know why she’s closing the shop.”

“Got it!”

Mrs. Rayne nodded vigorously. Then she shouted towards the inside.

“Husband! Watch the store for a bit!”

“What? I’m on duty in the afternoon?”

“Screw the schedule, I have to go somewhere. It’s El’s request, are you going to refuse? You can’t ignore a benefactor, right?”

“What? This damned wife?”

Mr. Knoll popped out.

“What did you just say?”

When Mrs. Rayne raised her eyebrows, he feigned ignorance. I knew it. Why say things you can’t back up?

“Go ahead. Hahaha! If it’s for El, I can’t say no.”

Leaving behind Mr. Knoll, who almost went without a meal for his unnecessary rebellion, I arrived in front of Mrs. Miel’s shop with Mrs. Rayne.

Miel had trusted and followed Benen since childhood. Benen was two years older, took care of many things for her, and was the person who supported her the most when her mother passed away.

As a result, Benen naturally found a place in her heart.

However, Miel always felt that Benen thought of her as a younger sister. He often acted in ways that made her think he didn’t see her as a woman.

Like when their hands accidentally touched, he would pull away first and run off. Or his constant nagging.

She didn’t dislike it, but Miel always felt that Benen only saw her as a sister.

Then one day, her father brought up a marriage proposal to Miel when she was 28.

At first, she refused, but she thought that if Benen didn’t see her as a woman, she had to move on. So she decided to take a chance.

Her plan was to confess to Benen if he tried to stop the marriage proposal her father brought up. That was her gamble.

“Brother, my father is trying to marry me off. I think I’ll be leaving for another city at the end of this month.”

After she told him this, the two of them started to drift apart. Benen said nothing. The day before she was supposed to leave for the neighboring city, when she was almost ready to give up and was biting her lips in frustration, Benen came to her.

He said they should meet at night. He had something to tell her.

Miel was overjoyed. She thought this must mean he was going to stop her from leaving.

But Benen wasn’t at the meeting place. Miel was devastated.

With a feeling of utter despair, she left for the neighboring city, but she didn’t want to marry a complete stranger.

She broke the engagement off and wandered around the Empire for a few years, doing all sorts of odd jobs. Fortunately, she was skilled with her hands, so she never went hungry, and just when she thought she had finally forgotten Benen, she returned to Greek City.

It was the tenth year since she had left.

It was a bit difficult to hear the story from Mrs. Miel, but thanks to Mrs. Rayne’s help, I was able to get the gist of it.

When Mrs. Miel heard that Mr. Benen had recently harmed his health by drinking, she jumped up, and Mrs. Rayne gave a meaningful smile.

“He didn’t… show up at that place. So… I…”

“Wait a minute. As far as I know, Mr. Benen went to the meeting place, but he said you didn’t show up, Mrs. Miel.”

“What?”

Yes, that’s what Mr. Benen said yesterday. When I pointed that strange part out, both Mrs. Rayne and Mrs. Miel frowned and shook their heads.

“That… can’t be true…”

Did these people misunderstand each other for over 20 years because of the wrong meeting place? Shouldn’t they have been a couple by now?

“It’s true that Mr. Benen has health problems these days. But why are you doing this, Mrs. Miel? I want to know the reason you’re closing the shop… Are you not feeling well too?”

“It’s a personal matter, so I’m sorry, but I can’t tell you.”

“Is that so? But nothing will be resolved this way. I’ll keep it a secret, so please consult with us. We’ll help in any way we can.”

Mrs. Miel’s expression darkened rapidly. Then, as if she had no choice, she sighed and began to speak.

“Can you really promise not to tell him?”

“Yes, I promise.”

When I nodded firmly, Mrs. Miel hesitated for a while longer but eventually began to speak.

“The truth is, as I get older, my eyes are getting worse, and I can’t see small things well anymore. So I can’t do needlework…”

Even as she spoke, Mrs. Miel continued to hesitate. It seemed she didn’t want Mr. Benen to know she was aging like this. Was it a girlish shyness?

“Is that the reason? There’s a solution to that.”

I nodded toward Mrs. Miel and Mrs. Rayne.

A magnifying glass helps with detailed work when your vision is poor. It might cause some fatigue, but it shouldn’t be a problem for taking on small tasks.

“Did you hear? Miel is reopening her shop! Her face looks much better! I don’t know what happened… but hahaha!”

In the evening, Mr. Benen came barging in and started laughing as he said that.

“Maybe her health issues were resolved? There’s actually a good clinic called Elena’s Clinic near Mrs. Miel’s shop.”

“Is that true? Was she sick?”

Mr. Benen looked like his world was falling apart. I shook my head.

“It’s not a serious illness. But there’s something more important. Please, have a seat.”

“Alright…”

Mr. Benen placed the apples he brought on the table and sat down. He seemed to be in a good mood, so it felt like he had brought more apples than usual.

Then, a small dragon’s hand wriggled towards the apple basket.

“Mr. Benen, do you know? Let me tell you just one thing.”

I poured whiskey in front of Mr. Benen and began to speak.

“What is it?”

“Mrs. Miel said she also went to the meeting place 25 years ago.”

“What?”

Mr. Benen, who was drinking whiskey, stood up abruptly with a look that said, ‘What on earth are you talking about?’

“No… That can’t be. I waited for her until morning.”

“Well, maybe there’s been a big misunderstanding. The truth of that day that you both have been ignoring all this time, you need to talk it out directly to resolve it.”

“Is that really true? She really came?”

“That’s all I know for now.”

I shrugged.

Ultimately, it’s a problem the two of them need to solve. This is as much as an outsider can do.

After hearing my words, Mr. Benen ran out of the restaurant.

And he didn’t come back that day.

As for the aftermath, Mr. Benen sold me his cherished orchard plot and bought a house in the middle of Greek City with that money.

Thanks to that, the dragon was buried in a mountain of apples.

Even if I wanted to clear the orchard, I had to deal with all the apples that had grown. It would be a waste to throw them away, so I fed them to the water buffalo, the dragon, and the people around me.

“You! I’m sick of this! Why is every meal apples?”

“Apples are supposed to be excellent for breakfast.”

“It’s not morning right now!”

“You just woke up, so it’s morning for you.”

I handed an apple to the pouting dragon.