Chapter 56

This is the story right after the side chapter "The Troubled Man."

"…Lucia, your hands look painful."

I thought Mr. Phil would come to Laguren as usual, spend some time in a lively manner, but he was looking at my hands with a puzzled expression.

What was he looking at?

Following his gaze, I noticed my hands and realized he was looking at the chapped skin.

It had been quite cold these past few days, and the water was so cold that it was a bit uncomfortable.

Before I knew it, my hands had become more chapped.

However, it wasn't bad enough to prevent me from cooking, so I hadn't been too concerned. But Mr. Phil had noticed it.

"It's not that painful, you know?"

"There's no way. You're a young girl. There's even blood seeping through. It wasn't this bad last year, was it?"

"That might be because I've been doing more things recently. Cooking and cleaning, a lot of water-related work... But really, it's not that painful."

Even as I said this, Mr. Phil didn't look convinced at all.

He's overreacting. It's a bit worse this year, but it always happens in winter.

However, no matter how much I tried to reassure him, Mr. Phil's face didn't clear up.

He usually looks cheerful and happy when he's at our house, but seeing him with such a serious expression made me uneasy.

Unable to bear it, I tried to hide my hands behind my back.

When I cautiously looked up, Mr. Phil was still looking at me with a troubled expression.

Then, as if making a decision, he stood up.

"…Sorry. Could you tell Albes that I'll be returning to the capital for a bit?"

"Returning to the capital? What, are you going now?"

"Yeah, that's right. I remembered something I need to do. …It might take a week or a bit longer. I'll come back here as soon as I'm done. So, it's okay to leave my things here, right?"

"Of course, that's fine."

"See you then!"

With just a light coat over his shoulders, Mr. Phil left the house.

I hurried outside, but his tall figure, walking quickly, was already small in the distance. Tall people with long strides can move so quickly.

As I marveled at this, Mr. Phil mounted his horse and headed towards the capital. He waved once, then quickly accelerated and disappeared from sight.

He usually returned to the capital looking tired, with his horse moving slowly. This time, he looked like a different person.

"…I didn't know Mr. Phil could make his horse run so fast."

It was a surprising side of him I had never seen before.

◇

One week later.

"Here, this is for you."

When Mr. Phil returned to Laguren, his hair was quite messy from riding.

But when I greeted him with "Welcome back," he smiled and handed me a small ceramic container.

It was about the size of my hands, with a lid. The ceramic was plain, but a beautifully colored ribbon was tied around it, making it look very cute.

"What is this?"

"Actually, I have a friend in the capital who knows a lot about injuries and illnesses. I visited him while I was there and consulted him about your chapped hands. He gave me this ointment."

"An ointment?"

As I hesitated, Mr. Phil, still smiling, pressed the small ceramic container into my hands and made me hold it.

"It's not something that will heal immediately, but it's supposed to prevent further deterioration and work gradually. It also has some preventive effects. So… could you accept it as a payment for my stay?"

"But..."

I looked down at the ceramic container in my hands.

Encouraged by Mr. Phil's smile, I gently opened the lid and a distinctive smell hit my nose.

It was translucent, smooth, and oily.

The quality of such ointments can vary greatly depending on the price. Despite the plain container, the ointment inside was well-mixed and smooth, with no rough particles. It looked very carefully prepared.

…This doesn't look cheap at all…

Perhaps impatient with my silence, Mr. Phil took off his gloves, picked up the ceramic container, and used a spatula to take a small amount of the ointment.

"You should apply this much to your skin. I heard it might sting if your skin is broken… Are you okay?"

He applied it cautiously to the back of my hand and fingers, looking worried as he peered at my face.

Indeed, it stung quite a bit at first, but then the oil seemed to cover the wounds, and the pain gradually eased.

There was still a bit left, so I rubbed my hands together to spread it. It felt as if my hands were wrapped in a soft cloth.

"How does it feel?"

"…It feels very good. But, is it really okay for me to take it?"

"Of course! The person who gave it to me would be happy to know you're using it."

I looked up at Mr. Phil's smile, then turned to Albes, my older brother.

When I'm unsure, I tend to rely on my brother, a bad habit I've had since childhood.

Albes is older than me and has more experience. He considers things I might overlook and makes sound judgments.

So, even though I'm already seventeen, I ended up relying on him again.

Albes had a serious expression, but when our eyes met, he smiled as usual, sighed, and came closer to us.

"Since you're here, take it. I was also concerned about your hands."

He said this and gently patted my head.

It was a gesture that made me feel like a small child. But I don't mind being patted by my brother's large hand.

…It always makes me feel very happy, perhaps because it reminds me of being protected.

"Since Albes says so. Thank you, Mr. Phil."

I took the ceramic container from Mr. Phil.

He smiled softly, a gentle expression on his beautiful face.

"I'm glad. I'll be staying for a while, then. Unfortunately, my vacation is a bit shorter, but it can't be helped."

Mr. Phil sighed but looked happy.

He immediately relaxed, sat down in a chair, and stretched out.

Mr. Phil's bright smile has the power to make people happy.

Yurana, who had brought water with a bemused expression, was now secretly smiling, and Albes, who had been frowning, was smiling as he sat across from us.

Seeing the three of them, I felt happy too.

It was the same warm, happy feeling I get when Albes pats my head.

(End of the side chapter "A Thoughtful Souvenir")

Thank you for reading to the end.

The main story "Invited to My Ex-Fiancé's Wedding Despite the Engagement Being Broken Off. I Can't Refuse, So I'll Ask My Brother's Friend to Accompany Me" has been published as a book by SQEX Novels.

The first volume, with significant additions and revisions to the serialized version, is available from April 7, 2022. For more details, please see the activity report.