The Gap Between You and Me - Chapter 163

Autumn had passed and winter was coming. Leaves hanging from the branches fell one by one, and white frost fell in the early morning. As a result, the villagers worried that this winter would be exceptionally cold compared to other times. They started preparing for the winter in their own way.

Herietta and Edwin were no different from them. As for food, Edwin could easily obtain them at any time by hunting, so they didn’t worry too much. But fighting the bitter cold of midwinter was another matter.

The house they lived in was large enough for the two grown men and women, but the durability of the building was not very good. Especially in heating and keeping warm. They felt like they had to fix it. Herietta began to knit eagerly, and Edwin focused on chopping firewood.

And that day was the same. After waking up early in the morning and eating a simple breakfast, Edwin went out to the front yard and started chopping firewood.

Chop, chop. Every time the ax was struck down, the firewood split in half and a loud sound rang out.

Wiping the sweat from his forehead while holding the ax head to the ground, Edwin turned his attention to one place. There was the swinging of the fence door surrounding the yard.

“Brother, I’m here.”

A boy with red hair and face full of freckles entered the yard.

The boy’s name was Dellan. He was the only son of the couple who lived next door, and he would occasionally visit them out of nowhere.

Edwin was a little bothered by his existence, but he persevered because he knew that Herietta cared for Dellan a lot. Of course, if Dellan came over too often, he would secretly gave an unspoken pressure.

“Where is Sister Herietta?”

Dellan, who came close to Edwin, looked around and asked. His voice, which had yet deepened, was pleasant to listen to.

“She had something to do, so she went outside.”

Edwin asked again.

“Are you looking for her?”

“No. Not really.”

Dellan shrugged his shoulders. He seemed to want to ask more, but Edwin ignored it. Edwin had a kind side to him too, but only in front of Herrietta. When interacting with people other than her, he was blunt.

Edwin picked up the ax that had been set aside and began chopping wood again. Chop, chop. With each swing of his ax, the firewood block split neatly in half.

“Brother. Can I ask you something?”

Dellan, who was sitting nearby watching Edwin chop wood, spoke quietly. He said it as insignificantly as if passing by, but that must have been the original reason he came here. Edwin expressed his acceptance in silence.

“Why did you and Sister come to this village?”

Dellan asked cautiously.

“As you know, this is just such a rural village. Nothing special, an old-fashioned village that has fallen behind the times.”

There was emotion in Dellan’s voice as he spoke the word ‘old fashioned’. The frowning eyes and the smug voice. Just by looking at his expression and tone, it was visible how disapproving he was of this village.

“I heard that the people in the city are all incredibly sophisticated. The house is luxurious, and the food variety is very diverse.”

“…….”

“Isn’t it much better to live out in a bigger city than to live in a rural village like this?”

“Why do you think that is better?”

Edwin asked, not stopping what he was doing.

“Don’t believe the rumors. Especially such one-sided accolades.”

“Of course, I don’t think that everything will be true. Still, it must be some rumor that has some truth in it.”

With Edwin’s rather sincere advice, Dellan mumbled an excuse and spoke again.

“Besides, it is clear that there are many more opportunities if you go to the city.”

“Opportunity?”

“A chance to succeed. You can get things like wealth and fame.”

Things that everyone would be happy about.

“I don’t know about Sister Herietta, but it would certainly be possible for Brother Edwin…….”

Even in the eyes of the still young Dellan, Edwin looked great. A talent who will somehow succeed even if he was dropped in the middle of a wasteland with zero pennies. And it wasn’t just Dellan who held him this high.

Edwin’s appearance, intelligence, physique, behavior, and so on. Edwin was so perfect that God seemed unfair. In addition, he had a not so easily approached aura. Even if he speaks simple words, he looks dignified. Even if he does simple labor, he looks somewhat well-rounded. It was only natural that many boys and girls, including Dellan, admired him in their hearts.

Edwin, who read Dellan’s thoughts, snorted.

“Well. Because there is only one thing I want.”

“What is it?”

“You know that.”

Edwin spat out those meaningful words. The only thing Edwin Mackenzie, the perfect man in the village, wants. Dellan, who was chewing on Edwin’s words with his eyes wide open, frowned.

“No way…… Are you talking about Sister Herietta again? That you want to stay by Sister’s side and make her happy?”

When Dellan asked, Edwin smiled silently. Not speaking is another way to express affirmation. It meant that Dellan’s guess was not wrong.

“But, Brother. That’s too easy. Sister Herietta is already into you.”

Dellan, who was very disappointed, murmured.

“Besides, it’s not great at all.”

“Who defines whether that’s great or not?”

Edwin asked, cutting off Dellan’s words.

“Is it great to accumulate wealth and become a wealthy person that everyone recognizes? Is it great to conquer a country and become a power that no one can ignore? Is it possible to say that I have accomplished greatness only when you are famous on the continent, or when you leave your name in history?”

“…….”

“It is definitely difficult to acquire wealth and fame and gain recognition from people. But winning people’s hearts is harder than that. Unlike the first case, in which hard work yields something, no one can predict what the outcome will be when it comes to the human mind.”

It was a duty and belief that one could not fulfill even if they worked hard throughout their life.

That’s why Edwin would give his whole life until the last moment when his breath stopped.

Only for Herietta, for her.

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