With his massive build, there was no way I’d lose sight of him.
He trudged along listlessly, yet he was diligently scanning the stalls.
The seriousness with which he picked through the items made it seem like he was searching for a gift to make amends.
‘He was choosing something last time too. Could he still not have apologized?’
His weary steps reminded me of a lost puppy.
Though his size was more like a bear’s.
His back looked pitiful, but I felt wronged too.
I couldn’t just let him go.
I stealthily closed the distance between us.
“Hey…”
As I called out to him and reached out my hand.
He suddenly whirled around and grabbed my wrist with a firm grip.
“Ow!”
The immense strength brought tears to my eyes.
Spotting me, the man released my hand in startled alarm.
“Oh! I’m sorry. You approached from behind so suddenly, I was surprised…”
He apologized in a flustered rush, but I checked my wrist first.
In that brief moment, it had turned red.
His size wasn’t just for show.
His strength was no joke.
“A-Are you in a lot of pain?”
Of course it hurts. Why wouldn’t it?
“Ow, ow, ow, ow!”
I clutched my slender wrist and deliberately cried out loudly.
Resorting to my old extortionist Espin act after so long, the man grew even more flustered.
“Let’s go to a doctor—or a priest.”
That’s not what I meant.
I wanted him to be mindful of me, but not to this extent.
“I-It’s not that bad.”
“No, we can’t risk it. You might be seriously hurt. If a priest feels overwhelming, at least see a doctor.”
I tried to back off before things escalated, but he was unexpectedly firm.
“Come on. Let’s go.”
With the momentum of someone ready to hoist me up forcibly, I ended up following him in a daze to the nearest clinic.
“There’s no issue with the bones or muscles. But you’ll have some bruising. Just in case, I’ll wrap it with a bandage for today. If it hurts, apply a cold compress.”
After a simple diagnosis, he bandaged my wrist.
‘If my parents see this, they’ll freak out.’
Gasp!
Come to think of it, Billy wasn’t around.
He must have looked away for a moment, and I’d moved on my own.
I’d get scolded again for wandering off alone.
And now I’d gotten hurt on top of it.
I was done for.
Already drained at the thought of the nagging from my parents, my energy ebbed away.
As we left the clinic, the man apologized again.
“I’m truly sorry.”
His expression showed genuine remorse, at a complete loss.
“I’m sorry. Really sorry.”
When I didn’t respond, he kept bowing like a marionette, repeating his apologies.
It was market day, so the streets were crowded with passersby.
A big man like him bowing repeatedly to me drew stares inevitably.
People glancing our way started to slow their steps, and it seemed like this couldn’t continue.
“Let’s move somewhere else first.”
He obediently followed behind me.
We relocated to a bench on the outskirts of the central square.
“Are you sorry to me?”
“Yes, I’m really sorry. You reached toward my waist, so I reflexively thought you were a pickpocket and…”
“I was trying to tap your arm!”
First a swindler, now a pickpocket misunderstanding.
“Anyway, failing to control my strength is my fault, so I’m truly sorry.”
He apologized once more.
‘But I can’t forgive him so easily.’
“Juice would be nice.”
He must have caught the implication in my abrupt words.
“Will that suffice?”
He asked without any sign of displeasure.
In his earnest readiness to do anything, I sensed a familiar scent from him.
The scent of a pushover.
“For starters.”
“Understood. Do you have a preferred drink?”
“Wild strawberry juice. They sell freshly squeezed over there.”
I deliberately chose a slightly pricier one.
“Yes, I’ll get it right away. Please wait a moment.”
Without a word of complaint, he went off to buy the drink.
As expected, he gave off major pushover vibes.
He must have hurried, because he soon returned with a wild strawberry juice in one hand.
“Here’s the wild strawberry juice.”
“Thanks. But you only bought one for me?”
Noticing he had just the single cup bothered me, so I asked.
“I’m fine. Is there anything else you need?”
He only showed an attitude of wanting me to assign him any task.
His eyes were resolute yet sparkling.
It felt like if I threw a ball right now and said ‘Fetch!’ he’d go retrieve it.
Even for someone as shameless as me, this was starting to worry me.
“I called out to you earlier because I had something to say.”
“Yes, please go ahead.”
He clasped his hands respectfully, assuming a posture of attentive listening.
With me sitting comfortably and him standing before me like that, it felt as if I were the one meting out punishment.
“Sit down.”
I nodded toward the spot beside me, but he shook his head.
“No, thank you. I’m comfortable like this.”
An attitude ready to take any scolding.
He was upright and proper.
It made me hesitate about whether to say what I’d originally intended.
“Don’t you remember me at all?”
“…Are we acquainted?”
For a moment, he wore a troubled expression.
I shook my uninjured wrist.
The golden wish bracelet jingled softly.
His eyes widened.
“You’re the one with the bracelet from before…”
He seemed to recognize the bracelet he’d lingered over.
‘It feels odd.’
I’d been burning for revenge, yet the target didn’t even remember me.
It made my pettiness feel even greater.
‘Still, I have to say it.’
“Did you know you never apologized to me back then?”
“Pardon?”
He looked bewildered, not understanding.
“You were on the verge of tears, and it caused a weird misunderstanding with my companion.”
“Ah, yes. I remember.”
“I was the one who went through the unpleasantness, but you only apologized to my companion.”
“I-I did?”
His pupils began to shake violently.
“Yes, you. I want an apology.”
That was exactly why I’d followed him.
When I first spotted him, I’d thought of some petty revenge.
But the more I experienced him, the kinder he seemed, so I settled for just an apology.
“I-I must have. I’m truly sorry. I was so flustered back then that I must have forgotten to apologize. I’m sorry.”
Regaining his composure, he apologized immediately.
“I’m sorry for hurting you today.”
He did it again.
“Combined with last time, I keep causing you trouble. I’m sorry.”
And again.
“Stop it.”
He seemed ready to burrow into the ground, so I had to intervene.
“No, it’s my fault. No matter how many times I beg forgiveness, it wouldn’t be enough. I’m really sorry.”
His stance was firm.
His sincerity was exhausting.
“You apologized sincerely. Or was it forced?”
He paused.
Then, as if eager to prove it wasn’t forced, he continued in a flurry.
“N-No, it was sincere. But I…”
His words were dragging on again.
“Then that’s it. I’ll accept the apology.”
Cutting him off with reassurance, he flinched and stared at me.
After gazing for a moment, he asked slowly.
“…Is it really over?”
“Yes, because I received a sincere apology. If someone apologizes genuinely, there’s no reason not to forgive them.”
If his attitude had been insincere, I wouldn’t have done this.
In my eyes, he was foolishly upright and kind.
I didn’t want to show my grudge-holding side even to someone like him.
I do have a conscience, after all.
That’s why I readily accepted the apology.
“Th-Thank you.”
Suddenly, tears welled up in his eyes.
And abruptly, emotions surged, and he began shedding tears profusely.
He did this last time too—why again!
“Why are you crying? I said I forgive you.”
Flustered, I rummaged through my pockets.
Fortunately, there was a handkerchief in my inner pocket that my nanny had packed.
“Here. Wipe your tears quickly.”
He didn’t even think to take the handkerchief, just letting the tears fall drop by drop.
Biting his lower lip, he sobbed silently, holding back sounds.
Maybe because of his pretty blond hair.
It inexplicably reminded me of Luciano.
He too would bite his lower lip like that when something weighed heavily on his heart.
Of course, Luciano didn’t shed tears so freely.
The only times Luciano cried in front of me were when peeling garlic and onions.
In the end, I had no choice but to reach out and wipe his tears myself.
“I-It’s fine, fine. Thank you for the handkerchief.”
Only when the handkerchief touched his cheek did he seem to snap out of it, taking it as he spoke.
But what good was that.
“Please, stop crying.”
The tears kept pouring.
Whatever made him so sorrowful, he wept buckets.
It was fortunate we were in a less crowded outskirts.
It would look like I’d made him cry.
I’d draw weird looks again.
‘More than that, why does it feel like people cry whenever they see me lately?’
To the point where I’d have no defense if Billy said something.
* * *
“Have you calmed down now?”
“S-Sniff, yes. I’m sorry.”
“It’s not something to apologize to me for. Here, drink this.”
I handed back the wild strawberry juice I hadn’t even sipped.
“I’m fine. I bought it for you, miss.”
He tried to refuse, but I insisted, pressing it into his hand.
“You cried so much, you might get dehydrated. Drink it.”
“Thank you. I’ll enjoy it.”
At my persistent urging, he drank the wild strawberry juice.
For someone who refused, he must have been thirsty, because he downed it in one go.
Sensing my gaze, his ears turned red.
“Please wait a moment. I’ll buy another right away.”
With that, he dashed off again.
Really.
His scatterbrained personality didn’t match his solemn bulk.
“Here.”
After a short wait, he returned with another juice and handed it over.
His expression was composed, but the corners of his eyes were still red.
Hmm, getting more involved would probably be tiring.
“I’ll enjoy this. Well, I’ve received the apology, so I’ll be going.”
I took the new wild strawberry juice and stood up.
“You’re just… leaving?”
If not leaving, then what.
He asked a strange question.
“Yes, since I got the apology.”
I gave a casual nod in farewell and hurried toward Billy, who was waiting for me.
“Has your anger really subsided completely?”
His gaze was plaintive.
The expression of someone desperately seeking forgiveness.
And I realized the target wasn’t me.
I hesitated for a moment.
“Yes. Of course.”
Too lazy to deal with it, I just said yes.
He wasn’t someone I had a close bond with, so I didn’t want to seriously listen to his troubles.
But was that the answer he so desperately wanted to hear?
His face crumpled into tears again.
It was the look of someone struggling to swallow surging emotions.
Fearing a second round of sobbing, I braced myself.
Fortunately, he held back the tears.
Though his expression was grotesque.
“Even if you’ve committed a grave wrong. If you apologize sincerely, will the other person truly forgive you?”
“I told you, yes.”
Hearing my reply, his face collapsed.
Watching his expression melt into relief, as if he’d received forgiveness from the other party, I turned to go my own way.
At that moment, I shouldn’t have answered so simply.
