16. The Storm Approaches
As dawn barely broke, I opened my eyes.
Ugh… my head hurts a little.
The alcohol tolerance of this body seems quite poor… Monsters of the Abyss are so weak. Not only do they fall after one drink, but they also get their period.
This is not what was promised!
It seems like I blacked out. What did I do last night?
I shook my head vigorously, trying to recall those fragmented pieces.
Hmm… there seemed to be a fight… Aria came to chat with me… pre-wedding jitters… then I went to the bathroom, and what then?
"It's really… what should I say."
Suddenly, that familiar voice echoed in my mind, and I opened my eyes wide in shock!
Last night, I met the bearded swordsman!!
Instantly, cold sweat broke out.
What happened!?
I frantically felt around my body… my head is still here, arms and legs are all fine.
I'm still alive! Why didn't he kill me? And how did I get back?
He… seemed to have said something to me, what was it?
I can't remember.
Creak, the door to the room was pushed open.
"Little Sil, you're up already, breakfast will be ready soon."
Grandma's voice came from outside the door.
"…Oh."
I looked preoccupied during breakfast.
"Little Sil, what are you thinking about? You're almost eating your nose."
"Grandma. Last night, how did I, get home?"
"We wanted to ask you that, you scared us to death, you know!" Aria, who had been silent at the table, suddenly slammed her hand down, "Why did you run so far just to go to the bathroom? I waited until the party was almost over and you didn't come back! Everyone was so worried, looking for you everywhere!! They said… they said you might have been carried off by a wild wolf…"
The girl's tone was unusually stern, and her eyes reddened towards the end.
"I'm sorry."
Seeing Aria with deep-seated fear in her eyes, I couldn't say anything more and immediately apologized.
"It's not your fault, it's mine. I was drunk too, I let you go to the bathroom alone…"
Her tone shifted from stern to quite self-reproachful.
"Sil, you can't drink anymore."
Barry's face was swollen, and he frowned as he spoke with a nasal voice.
"Barry, your face?"
"…You don't remember?"
I shook my head.
"…Never mind, it's nothing, just got into a fight." Barry's eyes darted away, quickly changing the subject, "Sister Sil, I couldn't stop you yesterday, you're a girl, you can't do that."
…You're the girl.
"Where did you, find me?"
"We didn't find you, grandma did. You were curled up like a cat, asleep at the door."
"I, came back, myself?"
What about the bearded swordsman, didn't anyone see him?
"Yes! You probably just walked back yourself after drinking too much, don't you remember anything?"
"I, don't remember…"
"Alright, let's not talk about this anymore, it's most important that you came back safely. Come on, little Sil, open your mouth." Grandma scooped up a spoonful of vegetable soup, blew on it twice, and brought it to my mouth, "Last night I happened to go out to collect the laundry, otherwise I wouldn't have known you were sleeping at the door, what if you caught a cold… that rascal Ryan, I'll have Doug teach him a lesson."
The warm soup settled in my stomach, dispelling the lingering alcohol.
At the simple dining table, a warmth called home wrapped around my heart.
Sometimes, it's hard to tell if someone is lying to you, but you can always spot a sincere heart at first glance.
"I won't do it again."
After I promised several times, the matter was dropped.
After breakfast, I took some copper coins from Grandma and ran to Uncle Doyle's to get some meat.
I encountered many kind greetings along the way.
"Hey, little Sil, you're alright."
"Little Sil, you really worried little Barry yesterday, haha."
"Little Sil, if you're naughty again, grandma will spank you~"
"Little Sil, come with uncle to watch wrestling."
…Just ignore the last one.
"Little Sil, I'm sorry about yesterday, I drank too much horse piss and became stupid." I met Uncle Doyle, who scratched his head somewhat embarrassedly, "It's really good that nothing happened in the end, otherwise I wouldn't know how to explain to Granny Claire."
"Uncle, I'm fine."
I smiled at him sweetly, making him feel even more ashamed.
"Come, this is the front leg meat of a wild boar we just slaughtered yesterday, look at it! The meat is fresh and still warm, haha! Here, take it!"
Uncle Doyle lifted a large boar leg and handed it over to me.
"Uncle, my money, it's not enough."
"Don't worry about it, this is a small gift from me, consider it a little token. You have no idea how much I got scolded by your aunt when you came home yesterday! If you don't accept it, I might get scolded again tonight when I go back."
"Really, it's not necessary…"
"Take it!" Uncle Doyle saw me trying to refuse and stuffed the boar leg into my arms, "That thing, isn't little Aria getting married soon? I don't have much to give, so consider this an early blessing for her! Allen is a good lad, his father and I are life-and-death friends, so little Sil, don't be polite anymore!"
In the end, I couldn't resist Uncle Doyle's insistence.
When I returned home with the big boar leg, Grandma and Aria were discussing the upcoming wedding.
"…I wonder if Father Merlin can make time to come. He's so busy, it would be rude to trouble him… Ah! Little Sil, where did you get that wild boar leg!"
Aria's eyes lit up when she saw the meat I was holding.
"Uncle Doyle, gave it."
"Uncle Doyle is such a nice man!"
"Little Sil, put the leg away for now." Grandma glanced at me and then pointed at Aria, "Don't change the subject, my dear. A wedding without a priest's blessing, what kind of wedding is that? Tomorrow I'll go to town and find the priest, this old face still has some influence."
"No, Grandma, Allen's father has already spoken to the church, it's fine to have a monk officiate!"
"A monk and a priest, who is closer to God? If possible, grandma would even like to invite the bishop."
"Grandma! You're too old to be running around like that!"
"What do you mean running around, young lady, how do you speak? You're getting married and you don't care at all!"
"It's not like Allen isn't there, just leave it to him."
Aria pouted.
"Grandma, I'll go tomorrow."
I put the meat in the kitchen and interjected.
"You've never been to town, you don't even know where the church door is, why are you meddling? That's it, no more discussion."
With that, Grandma took out a water-blue dress.
Blue is the color of loyalty in this world. The style of the dress is quite simple, very ordinary compared to the intricate dresses of modern society, but it was carefully hand-sewn by Grandma for Aria's wedding.
"Aria, try this on."
"Eh~ It's so pretty, thank you, Grandma!"
Aria happily hugged the dress and went into her room.
"Little Sil, how's the hymn coming along? Don't push yourself too hard."
I had told Grandma that I would lead the wedding hymn for Aria's wedding, so I've been practicing every night recently. But because of my pronunciation issues, it's been incredibly difficult, though I can finally sing it completely. Everyone in the church will sing along, so it shouldn't be too noticeable.
"Yeah! I can do it."
"Little Sil, you're such a good girl."
Grandma patted my head, and I immediately closed my eyes and snuggled into her embrace.
No matter what happens, even if I don't do well, Grandma never scolds me, always giving me the best first.
This must be what it feels like to be loved.
"Grandma! Little Sil! Look at me, how do I look~"
Aria, dressed in her new clothes, ran up to us, lifted her skirt, and twirled, her light figure brimming with joy.
"Aria, beautiful."
Actually, it's far from beautiful, but such simple, plain happiness is more heart-stirring than pure beauty.
"Hehe." Aria hugged me tightly, "No one is as pretty as our little Sil!"
"Aria, aren't you, worried anymore?"
I remembered the bits and pieces Aria told me last night.
"Annoying, little Sil, you still remember what I said… I was just drunk, I really do like Allen…"
Aria showed a rare shy expression.
"…Is the shoulder a bit too wide? Stand still, let me measure it, I'll make some quick alterations these next few days."
"Grandma~ Can't you just compliment me first?"
"Beautiful, beautiful, my Aria is of course beautiful~"
"Thank you, Grandma~" Aria kissed Grandma on the cheek.
"Aria, this is for you."
I pulled out a blue ribbon with a butterfly knot from the small room and handed it to Aria.
"This, little Sil made it, pricking her fingers several times, such a silly girl."
"Really? Thank you, little Sil."
Aria kissed me on the cheek as well.
"Aria, be happy."
"Yes, I will."
…
There are two days left until the wedding.
Grandma Claire left early in the morning for the neighboring town, while Aria went to Allen's house.
"Sil, do you think Aria will like this headband?"
Barry examined the headband he held, turning it over and over. He had made a special trip to the next village yesterday to commission this headband, planning to personally place it on Aria's head on the wedding day.
"She will. You've asked, eight times."
My gaze towards Barry was quite impatient.
"…Alright. Anyway, even if she doesn't like it, she can't say it. Otherwise, I'll ignore her for the rest of my life."
"Aren't you, going to find, Aria?"
"Right, there's so much to prepare, I need to hurry over and help. Aren't you going, Sil?"
"I'm going, to pick, fresh flowers."
I had to gather enough fresh flowers from the forest these two days to make bouquets to decorate the church.
It's a heavy task.
I planned to make the most beautiful flower crown and place it on Aria on the wedding day, making her the prettiest bride in the village.
"Oh, then be careful. I'm off!"
Barry left.
I took my basket and hummed a tune on my way to the forest.
At noon, both the sunlight and the breeze were gentle, bathing the tranquil village.
I walked on the muddy path.
As I neared the forest, I gradually slowed down, looking doubtfully towards a nearby ravine.
There, I felt a presence.
A very familiar, comforting presence.
Death flags have been raised
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