Silver Lining Yesterday - Chapter 4
“…Revolting?”
“Yes, the best way I can express my feelings for Ernie is ‘I cherish him.’ I mean, it’s not that I don’t love him, but saying ‘I love you’ out loud, especially not in writing, just feels… eerie.”
Jean shuddered, as if the mere thought of it was terrifying.
Nix gave her a strange look to her unexpected answer.
“So, what exactly is your relationship, then?”
“If I had to define it, I’d say we’re more like siblings… Ernest acts like a child, even though he’s ten years older than me, and he always insisted on being the older brother.”
Her casual explanation, with her legs crossed, didn’t show any hint of affectionate shyness. It was enough to dispel any misconceptions of their passionate love that the public had assumed.
Nix almost mentioned the commonly known rumor about their love affair but decided against it.
It wasn’t worth unnecessarily provoking Jean, who had just barely calmed down.
“Anyway, I’m glad to see that you’ve at least understood the situation now…”
As Nix tried to change the subject, he paused.
Jean, who was nervously pulling at the sheets, glanced at him from the corner of her eye.
As he puzzledly rubbed his face, he momentarily froze when their eyes met.
“…You said you were Ernest’s son.”
Jean hesitated for a moment, then reached out and gently brushed his cheek.
“After 23 years, he has a son that has grown into a man. It’s like seeing a younger version of Ernest… ”
Her face softened as memories of her youth came.
“How’s Ernie? Did he get married? Does he treat you well?”
The affection for her old companion spilled over into his son.
Nix took a deep breath, trying not to show any emotion. A soldier of Alderon was supposed to remain composed under all circumstances.
“…I don’t know.”
“What kind of answer is that?”
“I don’t know anything about the whereabouts of a father I’ve never met.”
Jean blinked slowly. Her pale face seemed frozen, as if even her muscles were stiff.
“What does that mean?”
“Just what I said.”
“Did Ernie abandon you?”
“He probably doesn’t even know I exist.”
“How could he not? You look so much like him.”
Without thinking, Jean firmly grabbed Nix’s chin as he tried to turn away. Her blue eyes were sharp with stubbornness.
Nix didn’t resist her touch and responded calmly.
“He disappeared with you. 23 years ago.”
In that instant, the wide blue eyes, previously full of emotion, went completely still.
Nix waited in silence until the confusion in her large eyes began to settle.
Soon, her small hand, which had fallen onto his knee, trembled with spasms. Her lips, which had been twitching repeatedly, finally let out a pitiful groan.
“Oh my God…”
Jean buried her face in her trembling hands and curled her back in sobs. Even her barely audible voice was shaking.
“How could this happen… Just like I was sealed away, Ernie must be asleep somewhere too. Yes, it must be that way.”
It could be, or it might not. Nix thought coldly.
“Ernie, I mean, your father wasn’t the type to just die so easily. I can assure you of that. But… what was your name again?”
“Nix.”
“Right, Nix. I’ll make sure to find your father. Just like you woke me, I’ll find Ernie…”
“Alright, let’s put that aside for now.”
Nix, who had been showing little interest, lowered his hands from where they were crossed, letting them drop between his knees as he tilted his head slightly.
“We have something to do first.”
“Something to do…?”
“Disappointing. Jean Rohrbach, is Ernest Garland your only friend?”
Jean blinked with tear-streaked eyes, suddenly lifted her body upright, grabbed Nix’s collar and hung onto him.
“Are you talking about Gemma? Gemma, Gemma Heidegger, is she safe? Right?”
Her tone was completely different when speaking about Ernest so casually and using the word ‘revolting’.
Nix, studying her desperate gaze, faintly curled his lips into a smile.
“Soon enough, she’ll be a bent, old grandmother, but… she’s safe.”
“It’s only been 23 years, she can’t be more than 45! What nonsense are you talking about? Forty is still young!”
Jean slapped Nix’s shoulder in frustration.
Nix wrapped his hand around her delicate wrist and casually pressed his lips to the back of her hand.
“Then, Jean, shall we go meet your beloved Gemma?”
Nix’s red eyes curved smoothly over the back of her hand where his lips had been.
It was the same alluring smile Ernest had in the old photograph, the same gentle image Jean must still remember.
Jean, staring at him as though entranced, nodded slowly.
Nix, pressing his lips delicately to her fingertips, secretly smirked to himself.
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pickle3
Hmm, either this Ernest betrayed them or someone else did.
Would also to better to have looked into whoever spread the rumors about them ‘running away”