Last Minute Translations

While Anna was wondering about Bertram’s identity, her mother, Karla, was having similar thoughts, only from a different angle.

 

“What do you think of this? It’s that guy’s shirt.” Karla held out a shirt to her friend, Colly, who had come to visit.

 

Colly reached out to take it, then widened her eyes at the feel of the fabric.

 

“Oh my… what is this?”

 

“What? Why?”

 

“It’s amazing that you’re calling this a rag.”

 

“Oh, don’t startle me like that.”

 

“No, you should be more startled.”

 

Smiling faintly, Colly unfolded the shirt.

 

Though the fabric faded to an ivory color, the shirt was filled with traces of careful craftsmanship. At first glance, it looked like something a beggar would wear: worn thin with age.

 

But Colly pointed to the stitching. “See the embroidery here?”

 

“Embroidery? There’s something left?”

 

“Yes. This shirt most likely  was carefully made by someone with money. It’s just that it's been worn for a very long time. If it had been some roughly made shirt, it would’ve fallen apart ages ago.”

 

“Hah… ridiculous.” Karla clicked her tongue loudly.

 

“And that fur cloak of his doesn’t look ordinary either. Anna scrubbed it against stones in the stream and covered it in soap to get rid of the vomit stains, and it wasn’t damaged at all. It dried quickly, too. At this rate, he could probably wear it again tomorrow.”

 

Colly seemed to notice Karla’s unease. Rolling the shirt back up and handing it over, she asked, “You’re worried some strange man might latch onto your daughter?”

 

“Of course, I am. After the war, plenty of drifters who couldn’t go home wandered around. But this one.. there’s no telling what he’s thinking…”

 

“For someone like that, he’s surprisingly still at your diner. With the way he carried your sick daughter back in a panic, could a man with rotten intentions do that?”

 

“Don’t be ridiculous. He’s a beggar who stands out in the village. If he causes trouble, I’ll cut him down with a blade immediately.”

 

“Hm. But what kind of trouble? Judging by his clothes, he might actually be a nobility.”

 

“Then I’ll kill him before he causes trouble.” Karla’s eyes flashed. “I will never allow some noble bastard to seduce a country girl, get her pregnant, and run off.”

 

“When you bring out the blade, call me too. Anna’s practically my daughter.”

 

“You think my daughter would like your son?”

 

“Do you know how hard Dieter tries to impress Anna? Just you wait, I’ll make her my daughter-in-law.”

 

Colly burst out laughing as she left. Karla let out a small sigh.

 

“His mother’s that bold and smooth-talking. Why is Dieter such a spineless brat?”

 

If only Dieter had a little more backbone, she might have married Anna off already.

 

Meanwhile, Anna had no idea her mother was fretting and was busy in the kitchen, tears and snot streaming down her face as she organized the seasonings.

 

“Cough, cough! Ugh…”

 

“Miss Anna, please step outside and just give instructions verbally. I will organize everything.”

 

“But if I leave it to you, who knows how long it’ll take?”

 

She had told Bertram to chop the spicy ingredients: the onions, peppers, and others. The problem was that he still didn’t know how to store them properly.

 

“Watch and learn! Put the minced ones over there. The sliced ones go into water.”

 

“I remember.”

 

“And the minced… ah…”

 

Tears streamed down her face. They were practically dripping into the spice jar. Before she could stop them, Bertram reached out, his hand covered in chopped peppers.

 

Anna jumped up in alarm.

 

“Ahh! Are you trying to kill me?! If that touches me, I’ll really go blind!”

 

“Ah. My apologies. I will wash my hands.”

 

“And don’t touch me after that!”

 

“For how long should I refrain from touching you?”

 

“At least four hours—… No! Just don’t touch me at all! What am I even saying?!” Anna scolded herself.

 

Being around this man made her say nonsense.

 

No matter what she said, he responded with that expressionless face, never quite reacting in a way that felt human.

 

Does he not realize how scary that blank face can be?

 

Suddenly curious, Anna asked, “Do you ever look in a mirror?”

 

“Every day, for shaving. Once I didn’t, I was mistaken for a wild beast.”

 

“Hahaha! I can see that. You’re surprisingly good at listening to people, though. But talking to you feels like talking to a wall.”

 

“I practiced a lot. I used to find conversations like this difficult.”

 

“Used to?”

 

Bertram hesitated slightly.  “…When I was on the battlefield.”

 

“…Mr. Bertram. What exactly did you do? Are you a deserter?”

 

“No. Anyone can be anything where they are allowed. Right now, I am simply someone who cuts vegetables.”

 

“And after you’re done cutting?”

 

“I will return home.”

 

“Where is home?”

 

“The capital.”

 

“…It’s not like you can’t return, is it?”

 

“My close family are all dead. My uncle who survived finds me uncomfortable.”

 

The conversation faltered.

 

Seeing Anna struggle for words, Bertram spoke first.

 

“You were not rude. Please do not apologize. I have no emotions.”

 

“…But you would still feel something if someone were rude to you.”

 

“If I have no emotions, then there is nothing to feel.”

 

An odd chill hung between them.

 

When he said “uncomfortable,” it didn’t sound like a feeling, but more like a fact.

 

He calmly finished organizing the last of the spices.

 

Anna sighed. What was she supposed to say to someone like this?

 

Just then, a village man entered as a customer. Anna rushed out brightly.

 

“Welcome! What would you like?”

 

“Oh? It is the first time I’ve seen you greet me like that. Just give me something for lunch. And that’s the fellow from last night, isn’t it?” He glanced toward the kitchen and smirked.

 

“What did you two do last night?”

 

“H-he was starving, so I gave him onion porridge! I always do that! What’s strange about it?!”

 

“He’s handsome, isn’t he?”

 

“…Is he?”

 

Anna turned to look.

 

Without the cloak, his sharp jawline and broad shoulders were more visible. Then she realized a problem.

 

“That man… doesn’t show much expression.”

 

“Hahaha! Sorry, sorry. I was just teasing. Since you’ve got a handsome one around, you might as well enjoy it.”

 

“How do you ‘enjoy’ a tree trunk?!”

 

“And marry someone steady like Dieter.”

 

“What?”

 

“When you’re young, you can play around with handsome faces. In the end, someone from your hometown is best.”

 

The joking tone had disappeared from the man’s face.

 

Anna forced a smile and took the order.

 

Honestly, she would rather awkwardly stay in the kitchen with Bertram than hear another word about marriage.

 

She turned back—

 

And froze.

 

Bertram had changed shirts.

 

Karla must have given him the carefully embroidered one.

 

Under the thin fabric, his well-built muscles moved clearly with every motion.

 

Anna felt her face grow hot—

 

And then she saw it.

 

At the center of his chest, something blue gleamed.

 

Like a jewel holding the sea within it. Sometimes, a reddish glow flickered beneath it like lava.

 

Just then, Bertram’s head popped up through the shirt. Anna quickly pretended to be fascinated by the kitchen ceiling.

 

Bertram turned out to be an excellent worker.

 

He learned immediately, handled fire skillfully, and never complained. Even Karla seemed to consider hiring him officially.

 

That night, Karla allowed Bertram to sleep in the diner by the still-warm hearth, with a thick blanket as his bed.

 

It was the greatest hospitality one could offer to an uninvited guest.

 

Of course, it was also a precaution. If he tried to steal anything, the soot on his shoes would make him easy to track.

 

Karla, who had prayed nothing would happen, fell asleep first.

 

As soon as Anna confirmed her mother was asleep, she quietly crept out.

 

Is Mr. Bertram sleeping?

 

He seemed almost less human, like a stone golem or an automaton. She wouldn’t have been surprised if he slept with his eyes open.

 

She quietly opened the diner door.

 

He’s sleeping… like a person.

 

Bertram lay on his back, asleep.

 

Now that she could look at him without fear of him noticing—

 

The village man’s words echoed.

 

He really is handsome.

 

Moonlight shimmered across his dark hair like waves on a night sea. Beneath it, his skin was pale as sand. His closed eyelids framed delicate lashes that contrasted with his sharp nose. With his mouth relaxed, there was nothing to detract from his appearance. He just needs to gain a little weight.

 

Her gaze drifted downward.

 

Through the slightly loosened collar of the shirt—

 

Below his collarbone, about half a hand’s length down, the blue jewel glowed.

 

So I wasn’t imagining it earlier.

 

But it looked embedded into his flesh. There was no chain. It was half-buried in his chest.

 

Just as Anna reached out to touch it—

 

Suddenly, Bertram grabbed her wrist.

 

“—!”

 

His grip was incredibly strong. If he crushed her, he could break her bones as easily as he had kicked that wolf. But with his eyes still closed and his brow slightly furrowed, words she never expected slipped from his lips…