Chapter 16: The Storm Is Approaching

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Just as dawn was breaking, I opened my eyes.

Ugh… my head hurts a bit.

This body’s alcohol tolerance seems quite poor… the Abyssal monsters are so weak. Not only do they pass out after one drink, but they also get periods.

This isn’t what I was told!

I seem to have blacked out, what did I do last night?

I shook my head hard, trying to recall those scattered fragments.

Hmm… seems like someone got into a fight… Elia came to chat with me… pre-wedding anxiety… then I went to the bathroom, and then?

“Really… what should I say.”

That familiar voice suddenly rang in my head, and my eyes shot wide open!

Last night, I met the bearded swordsman!!

Cold sweat immediately broke out.

What happened!?

I frantically patted myself all over… head’s still there, arms and legs all intact.

I’m still alive! Why didn’t he kill me? And how did I get back?

He… seems to have said something to me, what did he say?

Can’t remember.

With a “creak”, the room’s door was pushed open.

“Little Syl, you’re already up, breakfast will be ready soon.”

Grandma’s voice came from outside the door.

“…Oh.”

During meals, I appeared deeply lost in thought.

“Little Syl, what are you thinking about, you’re almost eating into your nose.”

“Grandma. Last night, how did I, get home?”

“We were going to ask you that, you scared us to death last night, you know!” Elia, who had been silent at the dining table, suddenly slammed the table upon hearing this, “Why did you go so far just to use the bathroom, I waited until the party was almost over and you still hadn’t come back! Everyone was worried sick, searching everywhere for you!! They said… they said you might have been carried off by wolves…”

The girl’s tone was unusually stern, and by the end of her words, her eyes had even turned red.

“I’m sorry.”

Seeing the fear deeply hidden in Elia’s 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 stern tone turned to quite self-reproachful whispers.

“Sister Sylvia, you can’t drink anymore in the future.”

Barry had a swollen spot on his face, and now frowned with a somewhat nasal voice.

“Barry, your face?”

“…You don’t remember at all?”

I shook my head.

“…Never mind, it’s nothing, just got into a fight.” Barry’s eyes dodged, quickly changing the subject, “Sister Sylvia, I couldn’t stop you yesterday, you’re a girl, you can’t be like this.”

…You’re the girl.

“Where, did you, find me?”

“We didn’t find you, Grandma discovered you. You were curled up like a cat, sleeping at the doorway.”

“I, came back, myself?”

What about the bearded swordsman, didn’t anyone see him?

“Yes! You probably walked back by yourself after drinking too much, you really don’t remember anything?”

“I, don’t remember…”

“Alright alright, let’s not talk about this anymore, coming back safely is what matters most. Come, Little Syl, open your mouth.” Grandma scooped up a spoon of vegetable soup, blew on it twice and brought it to my mouth, “I happened to go out to collect laundry last night, otherwise Grandma wouldn’t have known you were sleeping at the doorway, what if you had gotten sick… That rascal Leyn, I’ll have Doug teach him a good lesson.”

The warm soup went down, dispelling the lingering alcohol.

At this humble dining table, there was a warmth called home encircling my heart.

Sometimes, you might find it hard to judge if someone is lying to you, but you can always recognize a sincere heart at a glance.

“It won’t happen, again.”

After repeatedly promising, this matter was put to rest.

After breakfast, I got some copper coins from Grandma and went to Uncle Dor’s place to buy meat.

Along the way, I encountered many kind greetings.

“Hey, Little Syl, you’re alright.”

“Little Syl, you really worried little Barry yesterday, haha.”

“Little Syl, be naughty again and Grandma will spank you~”

“Little Syl, come here uncle will take you to watch wrestling.”

…Just ignore the last one.

“Little Syl, uncle is sorry about yesterday, drank too much horse piss, acted foolishly.” Upon seeing Uncle Dor, he scratched his head somewhat embarrassedly, “It’s really good that nothing happened in the end, otherwise uncle wouldn’t know how to face Grandma Claire.”

“Uncle, I’m fine.”

I gave him a sweet smile, making him feel even more ashamed.

“Here, this is wild boar front leg meat from yesterday’s kill, look! The meat quality is excellent, still warm too, haha! For you!”

Uncle Dor held up a large pig leg and handed it over.

“Uncle, I don’t have, enough money.”

“No need, this is uncle’s gift to you, consider it a small gesture. You don’t know how badly your auntie scolded me when I got home yesterday! If you don’t accept it, uncle might get scolded again tonight.”

“Really, no need…”

“Take it!” Uncle Dor saw I was still trying to decline, and shoved the pig leg into my arms, “Well, isn’t little Elia getting married soon, uncle doesn’t have anything else to give, consider this an early blessing for her! Allen is a good kid, his father and I are close as brothers, Little Syl don’t be so polite anymore!”

In the end, I couldn’t resist the uncle’s persistence.

When I returned home carrying the large pig leg, Grandma was discussing the upcoming wedding with Elia.

“…I don’t know if Father Merlin can make time. He’s so busy, how can we trouble him… Ah! Little Syl, where did you get that wild boar leg!”

Elia’s eyes lit up when she saw the meat I was carrying.

“Uncle Dor, gave it.”

“Uncle Dor is so nice!”

“Little Syl, put the pig leg away first.” Grandma glanced at me, then pointed at Elia saying, “Don’t change the subject my little darling, what kind of wedding doesn’t have a priest’s blessing. Tomorrow I’ll go to town to find the priest, this old face still carries some weight.”

“Don’t, Grandma, Allen’s father has already arranged with the church, they’ll send a monk to officiate, that’s fine!”

“Between a monk and a priest, who’s closer to God? If possible, Grandma would even want to invite the Bishop.”

“Grandma! What are you running around at your age for!”

“What do you mean running around, how dare you talk like that, young lady, you don’t even care about your own wedding!”

“Isn’t Allen taking care of it? Just leave it to him.”

Elia pouted.

“Grandma, tomorrow, I’ll go.”

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 butting in? That’s that, no more discussion.”

Saying this, Grandma took out a water-blue dress.

Blue in this world represents fidelity. The dress style was quite simple, very ordinary compared to the elaborate and complex dresses of modern society, but it was hand-sewn by Grandma over this period, carefully prepared as Elia’s wedding dress.

“Elia, try this on.”

“Eh~ so beautiful, thank you Grandma!”

Elia happily hugged the dress and went into the room.

“Little Syl, how’s the hymn practice going, don’t push yourself too hard.”

I had mentioned to Grandma that I would lead the wedding hymn for Elia, and for this I’ve been practicing every night recently. But because of my pronunciation issues, the process has been extremely difficult, though I can finally sing it completely now. When the time comes, everyone in the church will sing along, so any problems shouldn’t be noticeable.

“Mm! I can do it.”

“Little Syl, such a good child.”

Grandma patted my head, and I immediately closed my eyes and buried myself in her embrace, nuzzling vigorously.

No matter what happens, even if I don’t do well, Grandma never scolds me, always giving me her best first.

This must be what it feels like to be loved.

“Grandma! Little Syl! Come look, how is it~”

Elia, changed into the dress, bounced over and stood before us, lifted her skirt and did a light spin, her graceful figure overflowing with joy.

“Elia, beautiful.”

Actually, it was far from beautiful, but such simple and plain happiness was more heart-stirring than pure beauty.

“Hehe.” Elia happily hugged me, “Not as beautiful as our Little Syl!”

“Elia, no more, worries?”

I recalled the fragments Elia told me last night.

“Geez, Little Syl still remembers what I said… I was just drunk, I actually really like Allen…”

Elia showed a rare shy expression.

“…Isn’t the shoulder a bit wide? Stand still, let me check the measurements, I’ll adjust it more these two days.”

“Grandma~ won’t you compliment me first!”

“Beautiful beautiful, of course my Elia is beautiful~”

“Thank you Grandma~” Elia gave Grandma a big kiss on the cheek.

“Elia, this, for you.”

I took out a blue ribbon tied with a butterfly knot from the small room and handed it to Elia.

“This was made by Little Syl, pricked her hands several times, such a little fool.”

“Really? Thank you, Little Syl.”

Elia also gave me a big kiss on the cheek.

“Elia, be happy.”

“Mm, definitely.”

…………

There were 2 days left until the wedding.

Grandma Claire went to the neighboring town early in the morning, while Elia went to Allen’s house.

“Sister Sylvia, do you think Elia will like this hairband?”

Barry kept turning the hairband over in his hands. He specially went to the neighboring village yesterday to have someone make this hairband, planning to put it on Elia himself on the wedding day.

“She will. You’ve asked, 8 times.”

I looked at Barry quite impatiently.

“…Alright. Even if she doesn’t like it, she can’t say so. Otherwise I’ll never speak to her again.”

“Weren’t you going, to find, Elia?”

“Oh right, there’s so much to prepare, I need to hurry over to help. Sister Sylvia, aren’t you going?”

“I, need to, pick flowers.”

These two days I need to pick enough flowers in the forest to make bouquets to decorate the church.

This task is quite labor-intensive.

I plan to make the most beautiful flower crown, to put on Elia on her wedding day, making her the most beautiful bride in the village.

“Oh, then be careful. I’m off!”

Barry left.

I carried my bamboo basket, humming a tune as I walked towards the forest.

At noon, both sunlight and breeze were gentle, bathing the quiet little village.

I walked on the muddy path.

Just as I was approaching the forest, I gradually slowed my steps, looking somewhat puzzled towards the distant ravine.

There, I sensed a presence.

A very familiar presence that made me feel close.

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