Chapter 23
Emilyna arrived at the market and sought out one of the many fruit stalls.
Stepping under the shaded awning, she saw that the fruits were neatly arranged by color, looking fresh and appetizing.
She lingered for a moment, admiring the display, before peeking her head inside the shop.
Before long, a burly middle-aged man appeared, his booming voice carrying across the space.
“Welcome─! Huh? Young lady, what brings you here? Madam Klein just left a little while ago.”
It was Denka, the owner of the shop.
Tilting his head curiously, Denka walked over to Emilyna.
Emilyna gave him a brief nod of greeting before getting straight to the point.
“I came to pick up something my mother left behind.”
“Ah, right. My memory’s failing me. Madam did leave this behind, and I was wondering what to do with it.”
Denka rummaged through a stack of boxes beside the display and pulled out a bag.
“Here you go. But… is Madam feeling unwell by any chance?”
“Huh? Why do you suddenly ask that?”
The unexpected question startled Emilyna.
Denka quickly waved his hand dismissively and added,
“Nothing serious. It just reminded me of something I overheard between Madam and Rodin. Thought I’d ask, that’s all.”
“What were they talking about?”
“Something about needing medicine? They were talking outside the shop, so I only caught a bit of it. I don’t know the details.”
Denka rubbed his chin, recalling the scene.
Not long before, Madam Klein had passed by the shop and greeted him warmly.
She had asked him to pick out some fresh fruit for her, then stepped away for a moment.
While he was away packing, she returned with Rodin at her side.
Denka handed her the wrapped fruit and exchanged pleasantries with Rodin as well.
It seemed like that would be the end of it, but as soon as Denka turned to help another customer, the two carried on with their conversation.
Even after Denka had finished with the customer, they were still talking, the air between them serious.
Rather than interrupt, Denka quietly minded his shop.
That was when he overheard Madam Klein mention she needed some medicine.
After some time, the pair finally noticed Denka awkwardly standing nearby and wrapped up their discussion.
But in her distraction, Madam left her bag behind.
“If you don’t know anything about it, then maybe it’s not something serious,” Denka said now. “Surely, if Madam were really sick, you—her daughter—would’ve been the first to notice.”
He nodded to himself as he spoke.
But Emilyna couldn’t brush it off so easily.
Why would Mother need medicine?
Was she really unwell?
But she hadn’t noticed any signs.
When they had just seen each other earlier, her mother hadn’t looked pale or weak.
It was true that recently she often seemed tired, but Emilyna had assumed it was simply from being busy.
No… it could be a sign of some chronic illness.
Emilyna couldn’t shake the troubling thought.
Especially since today, her mother had made such an uncharacteristic mistake.
Of course, no one was perfect all the time—but this was Katie, who always held herself to the strictest standards.
It was enough to raise suspicion.
Seeing Emilyna’s face gradually drain of color, Denka stepped in to calm her.
“Young lady, what’s going through your head? You’re looking pale as a corpse. Take a breath.”
“Ah…”
Snapping out of her thoughts, Emilyna looked up at him.
Scratching the back of his head, Denka continued,
“Seems I spoke out of turn. I only asked on the off chance. Don’t let it trouble you too much.”
“How can I not worry?” Emilyna replied, her voice tinged with concern.
Denka gave her a sheepish smile.
“I mean, you can’t be sure Madam is ill just because of that. You don’t need to be sick to take medicine, right?”
“That’s true…”
“Maybe she just wanted some basic remedies to keep on hand. That’s more likely, since she looked fine.”
Emilyna nodded, slowly accepting his reasoning.
Yes, maybe she had overthought it.
It could simply be that her mother was stocking up on household medicine.
After all, not long ago, Mactron had come down with a mild cold.
At the time, Katie had been flustered because they’d run out of medicine.
That explanation fit well enough, and Emilyna allowed herself to relax.
“Thank you for telling me, Denka. If you hear anything else, please let me know.”
“Of course. I’ll remember and pass it along to you.”
“Really, thank you. I’ll be going now.”
“Take care on your way back.”
Denka waved her off, and Emilyna bowed her head in return.
But as she was about to leave the shop, she realized someone was missing.
“Come to think of it, where’s Peter?” she asked.
“Off on an errand. He should be back soon. Do you want to wait and see him?”
Emilyna shook her head.
There was no telling when Peter would return, and she couldn’t wait around indefinitely.
Besides, I should get back and check things at home.
Resolving to see him another time, she turned to leave without hesitation.
Just then, Peter appeared.
Speak of the devil…—he was walking into the shop at just the right moment.
Spotting her, Peter greeted her first.
“Well, if it isn’t Miss Emilyna! What brings you here?”
“Just a small errand. It’s been a while, Peter.”
“It has, hasn’t it? I guess this is the first time we’ve met since Rosie left? How’ve you been?”
“Oh, you know. Getting by.”
“Attending elegant parties like the other noble ladies, I imagine?”
“Ugh. To the point of being sick of it.”
Her disgusted tone made Peter chuckle.
“Still, I can’t picture it. You, sitting primly and sipping tea? If Rosie heard, she’d be horrified.”
He spoke with a mischievous grin.
Peter and Rosie had been close friends since childhood, and Emilyna had known him through her.
But Denka broke into the conversation by smacking Peter sharply on the head.
“Watch your tongue, boy! Is that any way to speak to a young lady?”
“Ow! That hurt!”
“Quit whining. That was barely a tap.”
“What? That’s basically assault! Honestly, you’re so barbaric.”
Peter sulked, pouting his lips, while Denka only snorted.
“Hah. And you’re soft as butter, always sulking like some fop. Enough. Take the young lady home.”
He pointed to a box with his finger.
“And drop that off along the way.”
Peter followed his gaze and groaned.
“You want me to haul that again? It’s heavy!”
“Would you rather the young lady carry it?”
“Wow—Father, seriously? Twice in one day? Isn’t that too much for your delicate son? Why are you so harsh with me?”
“That’s exactly why I’m making you do it. Build some strength.”
Denka shut him down firmly.
Peter stared at him, utterly dumbfounded by the unreasonable logic.
At that moment, Emilyna stepped in.
“Enough, both of you. I’ll help carry it, we can share the load.”
“That’s not right, young lady.”
“Why should you have to help with this?”
Both Denka and Peter protested at once, then glared at each other, ready for round two.
“You’re so slow that the young lady felt she had to step in! Move it already!”
“You’re the one forcing unnecessary work! It’s not even urgent!”
“Not urgent? Should I let it rot, then?”
“You only bought that worthless junk because you got swindled in the first place!”
“What was that, you brat? Care to repeat yourself?”
“I said it already! What, you gonna hit me again?”
Their bickering spiraled on and on.
Sighing, Emilyna left them to their quarrel, deciding she’d head home on her own.
But she hadn’t gone far before Peter came running after her, clutching the box filled to the brim with goods.
It was clearly heavy—his arms trembled under the weight.
Finally, Emilyna asked,
“Should I give you a hand? You look like you’re struggling.”
“No need. I’ll just blame my unlucky fate for having such a father. With his brute strength, I can’t win no matter what.”
Peter answered bitterly.
As she’d suspected, the father-son spat had ended with Denka’s victory.
And really, how could Peter win when his father could simply overpower him?
Peter’s lanky frame hardly seemed like it belonged to Denka’s son at all.
Perhaps that was why Peter hated looking weak more than anything else.
