My Wife Waited in the Wheat Fields

Chapter 32: Caregiving (3)

PR: Woober

Elric began to mumble as he looked at the documents.

Tyria watched him silently.

At a glance, it seemed to be documents related to this years year-end financial statements.

It was a document that was probably only a bit of an afterthought, but the importance of it was immediately known once one mentioned it.

Tyria was suddenly uneasy.

It wasnt that she didnt trust Elric, but if he were clumsy and made a mistake with the numbers, it would lead to a disaster.

He might even have to do it many times over again.

Tyrias body tilted more and more in Elrics direction with her rising anxiety.

It was at that moment.

U-Ugh! Ive got this!

Elric covered the papers with his arm.

He was like a child trying to hide side dishes on the dining table.

Why did he look like that, despite having the appearance of a burly adult male with a large build and distinct bodily lines?

I havent even taught you math yet.

Ive been learning, and Ill do it to the best of my ability!

Are you confident?

The scratchy tone of her voice was something Tyria often exhibited when teaching.

Though she didnt realize it, this tendency was imbued with a strange aura of intimidation.

A cold sweat trickled down Elrics forehead.

Tyria narrowed her eyes.

I dont mind if you put things off, I dont mind if youre slow, but I dont want you to make one mistake. That is an important document.

It is

I asked if you were sure.

Elric shook his head, unable to say yes.

It wasnt a gesture of complete abandonment, though.

But still, I cant have you working, Milady. Let me try it first, and Ill only ask about what I dont know. Milady needs to rest.

Tyria paused.

Once again

He had called her Milady.

All of this made her feel weak, and she couldnt bring herself to argue with Elric.

Tyria finally sighed and nodded.

Remember, anything you dont understand, you must ask for help.

Understood!

Elric nodded vigorously, his face full of confidence.

He then turned his attention to the papers,

May I ask you a question now?

He began.

There was so much she wanted to say, but she knew she needed to keep Elrics spirits up, so she held back.

However, after five minutes spent on answering one question and an hour of more questions, she had reached her limit.

Tyria finally asked.

If youre going to do this, why dont you just let me

Nuh-uh!

What could she do about his stubbornness?

Tyria thought to herself.

Despite the incident, Elric was slowly getting used to working alone.

For the next few days, all Tyria did was answer his increasingly infrequent questions and steal glances at him while pretending to look out the window.

She really had to.

Elric had forbidden her from doing anything else after all.

To recall a few memorable moments.

I want to read a book

You cant. I dont want your head to hurt from looking at words.

She had asked him because her hobby was reading, but he had refused.

Then embroidery

No. It will take up your concentration and make your head hurt.

Her favorite pastime, embroidery, was also forbidden to her.

Even a brief walk outside

Do you really wish for your cold to get worse?

Even that was forbidden, because who the hell thought a few minutes of air would make a cold worse?

There was something Tyria realized now.

Elric saw her as a piece of glass that would shatter if he touched her.

It was nice to be cared for, but she didnt like being seen as someone that needed to be taken care of.

It made her wonder why he was treating someone else as a child, when he himself was acting like one.

So many things went through her head about Elrics behavior, but when it came down to it, Tyria didnt say any of it aloud.

It wasnt all bad, after all.

Like now, for example.

Youre starting to lose your fever.

He had put his hand on her forehead.

A short distance away, he was smiling to himself.

Happiness washed over her as she realized that what she had once dismissed as a dream, what she had once dismissed as something that could never happen, was actually happening.

A thrill ran through her when she saw those brown eyes holding her own.

At times, Tyria had to truly fight to keep her expressions from breaking free.

She had to endure the whole ordeal while her hands were still tied, and yet she couldnt help but want to let out a bitter laugh at her own foolishness due to the duality of also wanting this situation to never end.

The prolongation of their time together was very satisfying.

How are you feeling?

I think I can work now.

You cant.

Im.

Rest.

Elrics smile deepened.

The words that came out of his mouth were sweet indeed.

Ive never been more aware of what youve been through than I am these days, and Im guilty of taking you for granted myself, so this is my way of apologizing.

She really wanted to ask.

Was it really just a regretful heart?

Or did he have any other feelings for her?

Why did he especially smile so warmly at her?

One by one, she made up scenarios in her mind, only then to erase them.

Instead of embarrassing herself, she said something a little harsh.

Then maybe you should let me read a book or something.

Mmm as long as its not too difficult of a book, Im fine with it. What would you like to read?

Theres a book with a brown cover on the second row from the top of the bookshelf. Please give it to me.

Elric pulled out the book.

Its an encyclopedia of plants.

Yes.

Tyria took the book and caressed the cover.

It had been in her hands for over eighteen years, and so it was covered in marks.

Mmm, dont be reading it for too long. Its almost bedtime.

True to his word, it was dark outside the window.

Tyria nodded in agreement.

You should go to your bed, Im going to read for a bit.

Of course. Then, Ill see you tomorrow.

Only after Elric had left the room did Tyria open the book.

There was no hesitation in her hands as she flipped through the pages.

If anyone asked her why she was reading something she had already read, she would only have one answer.

That it wasnt about memorizing the content, but about reliving the memory of the first time she had read it.

-If you dont know it, study it!

Gradually, she slipped into her memories.

It had been a life without a single good thing in it.

It was a life full of things she hated, even now, but eight-year-old Tyria had been living in such misery that she hadnt really known why she was alive.

Well, there was only one reason.

Her little world, Wyvern, had become so much more.

When she thought back to that time, there was only one thing that came to mind.

Smack!

I cant do this!

Punishment.

I explicitly told you to review this by today. So, Young Lady Wyvern, have you really tried your best?!

Tyria remembered being punished in Wyvern back in the day.

Tense your calves!

Yes.

Tyria had been taught etiquette from the time she could walk on her own.

Her teacher was a countess who was well known in the area, and her parents had paid a great deal of money to have her teach her. Thus, they had wanted it all to be worth it.

Her fathers words were still something she remembered.

As a noble, maintain your dignity. It is an absolute rule that you must never be seen holding a book if you intend to marry into a good household.

Tyria really hadnt known at the time why she needed to marry into a good family.

She didnt know why she shouldnt open her mouth when she ate, or why she should watch her steps, or why she shouldnt raise her voice.

She had just thought it was natural because she had been told that from a very young age.

It wasnt until she was an adult that she realized that it had been abuse, so it was no surprise what Tyria did at the time.

Im sorry

Tyria had lived a life apologizing.

She had to apologize for getting food on her lips, for running around, for being groggy in the morning, for not going straight to sleep at night.

That day was no different.

Tyria had failed to keep up with the Countess lessons in etiquette and was given the corporal punishment of a slap on the calves.

But, that hadnt been the thing that was out of the ordinary.

Your progress is slow today.

The Countess had complained to her parents that their young ladys progress in class was slower than her peers, and it had stung their pride.

They had been drunk, and their shallow sense of humanity had prevented them from saying a word to the Countess.

So, the incident had happened after the Countess had left.

You cant even do that much! Yet, weve invested so much in you!!!

Bam!

Tyria had only been eight years old when she was punched in the face for the first time. [1]

And it hadnt been isolated to a singular instance.

There were at least a dozen she could remember.

Why! Why dont you understand our hearts!

The punches had been vicious, their voices fierce, and their bodies intimidating.

Tyria had apologized, as always.

Im sorry!

But no amount of crying would stop their vicious punches.

Tyrias face had been puffed up like a steamed bun that day, and she had spent the night in pain and fear.

That must have been why.

That had been why she had snuck out of the mansion, breaking the rule that she was never allowed to leave the grounds.

Perhaps she had wanted to reach out to someone for help.

Hmm

With swollen calves from excessive slapping, Tyria had limped out of the mansion.

She had cried her way onto the street, her face red and bruised.

Elric had been the boy she had met with that day

Whats with this ugly kid?

In the present moment, she lived each day whilst crushing on him.

Wow A person can actually look like this?

But, in retrospect, Elrics first impression had been the worst.

[1.

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