Gene drew back, looking a little sulky. Tahyang spoke again.
“What brings you to Delphinad? Did you come to study at the library?”
“Yes. To attend lectures.”
“To join a school, then. Are you thinking of learning more magic?”
“That’s the idea.”
A school was a small academy within the library. To open one, a person had to apply to the library for authorization, but there was no need to build premises or hire teachers. Lecture rooms could be rented cheaply from the library. If the classes were popular, not only students but teachers gathered, and even people to serve as teaching assistants and do odd jobs appeared of their own accord. Large schools whose heads had earned the title of “Master” were said to receive subsidies from the library. Students belonging to such schools were called “scholars.” They came from across the continent, so competition was quite fierce.
“Have you decided which school to enter?”
“No, I don’t know enough yet.”
She said no, but somehow her expression made it look like another lie. Apparently, she was unwilling to reveal much of anything about herself. Rather than question her further, Tahyang said, “I’ve heard that Aleksandr’s school is best for magic. I don’t know much about magic, though, so I couldn’t say whether the examination is easy or difficult.”
“Thank you for the advice. I’ll keep it in mind.”
Rosa gave a small nod of thanks, then suddenly looked at Nana beside her. Nana had just been about to slip her forefinger between her lips. Rosa firmly signaled for her to take it out. Nana withdrew her hand hesitantly, her lower lip protruding in disappointment. Tahyang saw and spoke.
“She must be hungry.”
Having watched Nana devour that extraordinary quantity of food in the kitchen, Gene could not possibly agree. Yet remembering it made his own empty mouth water without his noticing. It was dinnertime too. Since Loben’s shop usually operated illegally at night, he had indeed hoped there might be something to eat.
Perhaps that thought was why his nose seemed to itch. There was a suspicious smell coming from somewhere, a smell that could not possibly be here now. When Gene had wrinkled his nose a few more times, Rosa took a rolled-up napkin from her pocket.
“Would you like some sardines?”
Gene was dumbfounded, but saw no particular reason to refuse. Each took a fried sardine and looked at Tahyang. Tahyang said, “That sounds like a snack cats enjoy.”
Chuckling, Gene tossed him one. Soon all four had their heads together, chewing fried sardines. Their savory smell spread. Gene asked Rosa, “When did you put these away?”
“You have to make sure you have food.”
Suddenly, Gene felt a sense of déjà vu. It had happened a very long time ago. Around the age of seven, or even earlier, he had once secretly taken a handful of almonds from somewhere. Clenching his fist to keep from dropping them, he held on for half a day. He finally got them home, but his fingers had become so stiff that he had to uncurl them one by one with his other hand. When his mother asked where he had got them, Gene had answered just as Rosa had. Almonds were too expensive to eat casually. Without scolding him, his mother had stroked his hair and put an almond in her mouth. The same savory smell had spread then as now.
He had forgotten that. He could no longer even remember where he had taken the almonds from. Yet the moment Rosa spoke, it came alive again. The relief and pride he had felt when his mother asked no more questions were vivid. At the same time, he felt bewildered. It had been theft, hadn’t it?
Instead of telling a sentimental story, Gene said, “Your purse was full of gold. Hardly cause to worry about hunger.”
“Oh, the gold.”
Rosa felt inside her clothes, took out a purse of gold coins, set it on the table, and pushed it toward Gene and Tahyang. They looked casually at each other. Rosa spoke.
“The remaining half I promised. Thank you for helping. Nana, you thank them too.”
Nana slowly tilted her head, then sprang up from her chair. Taking hold of her skirt, she made a fairly splendid curtsy. Splendid though it was, Gene doubted whether she understood the meaning of the gesture.
When Nana finished, Rosa stood as well. Gene looked up at her. With a mechanical smile, Rosa met his gaze. Then, as their eyes remained locked, she tilted her head much as Nana had.
“What?”
“You’re leaving?”
“I should.”
“Do you have something urgent to do in the middle of the night?”
“No. But there’s no reason not to go, is there?”
Gene shrugged one shoulder. Something displeased him. Their agreement was over, so parting was only right, but there was no need to do it immediately, in the middle of the night, the moment everything was settled. No, something else had irritated him more. He did not know what it was, but he spoke.
“No reason to go either. Especially with a child, in the middle of the night.”
“Thank you for worrying, but I can manage that much.”
“Really? A little while ago, you seemed to be searching everywhere for that child.”
Rosa blinked a few times.
“Yes. I’m very, very grateful for your help. But I don’t want to put you to any further inconvenience.”
“Inconvenience?”
Tahyang, who had been watching the two, spoke.
“I understand the young lady’s thinking. Now that her sister has been rescued, she must find us unsettling. After all, we are only strange men. But…”
Gene frowned and turned toward Tahyang, but Rosa shook her head sharply first.
“I wasn’t thinking that.”
Gene asked too.
“Do you really think so?”
Tahyang lifted the corners of his mouth.
“A woman’s caution is a virtue. Especially when she has a vulnerable treasure to protect.”
“What treasure?”
Tahyang indicated Nana with a tilt of his head.
“Doesn’t she have the appearance your kind favors?”
Instead of answering, Gene bowed his head and let out an incredulous laugh. Rosa spoke firmly again.
“That wasn’t what I meant.”
“If it wasn’t, I apologize. But take this back.”
Tahyang pushed the purse of gold toward Rosa. Wariness appeared on her face.
“Why? We agreed.”
“No. I said then that I wouldn’t accept it. The advance you gave us is enough.”
“I can’t accept kindness like this.”
“It isn’t kindness. It’s judgment. I’m merely a country cat who’s content with a patch of sun to sleep in. Give me so much gold, and I won’t know what to do with it. You must understand.”
Gene knew Tahyang often used that way of speaking when he wanted to end an argument. By belittling himself, he naturally left the other person with nothing to say. It was one of Tahyang’s generous habits that Gene respected.
But Rosa was a different sort of person. She immediately shook her head.
“No. I can’t take it back. Do I look like someone who would skimp on money to find her sister? Once I agree a price, I always pay it. I won’t take a single gold coin off the promised amount.”
Her stubbornness seemed almost excessive, but it was also a declaration that she would pay the two men so thoroughly that she would owe them nothing. At this rate, it would not have been surprising if Rosa pretended not to know them the next time they met. Gene almost wondered what sort of life could have given her such an attitude.
Tahyang looked at Rosa’s face for a moment. He stroked his beard lightly, as he did when choosing difficult words.
“You believe that if you owe someone, it will inevitably cause trouble later? Perhaps that is wise. No bad things happen, but no good things happen either. Yet if she trusts neither luck nor people, she must trust only herself. Are you prepared for that? Do you mean to fight as one person against the whole world? Don’t. The world isn’t that interested in you. If you don’t challenge it, it will look the other way too.”
Rosa gazed steadily at Tahyang, then replied, “I don’t know what you mean.”
It was not a request for further explanation. As Rosa turned to leave, Gene spoke.
“Wait. There’s something left to settle.”
Slowly, Rosa turned toward him. Seeing her expression, Gene gave a faint smile.
“Nothing like that. Tahyang, give me the money we took earlier.”
Tahyang took out the purse and handed it to him. Gene poured the gold coins onto the table, then moved them one by one with a fingertip, counting. The whole table filled with gold. Loben watched with interest but did not interfere. Rosa sat down again.
“Twenty-four.”
Gene swept the coins back into their purse, then opened the purse Rosa had just handed over. He repeated the same process. By the time about ten coins remained, the others could see the result too. The second purse held twenty-four gold coins as well. Gene left the scattered gold where it was and spread both hands.
“Tahyang took out one gold coin earlier. That makes forty-nine in total, doesn’t it?”
Rosa blinked rapidly. On her otherwise unchanging face, this was the only habit that betrayed emotion. She emptied the purse. A few smaller coins fell out, but no gold. Gene tilted his head slightly, then spoke.
“Since you’re treating us as mercenaries, let’s settle it like mercenaries. You said you’d give us half at the start and the other half when the job was finished. But we’re one coin short. Now, what do you suggest?”
“I’ll pay you back. Please wait a little.”
“Wait? Why should I trust you and wait? If we part here, where am I supposed to find you, with no home or family?”
“I won’t run away.”
“And how am I supposed to believe that?”
There was a teasing note in Gene’s voice, but Rosa looked serious, regardless of whether he meant it. After a moment, she spoke.
“All right. Tell me your terms. How should I pay you back?”
“Let’s see. What do you have that’s worth a gold coin?”
Gene looked at Rosa briefly, then shifted his gaze to Nana. Until then, Nana had been stroking Huka’s back, idly watching the conversation. Rosa spoke.
“My sister is out of the question.”
Gene whipped his head around and glared at Rosa.
“Honestly… Nobody has ever thought so little of me. A mercenary, and now a shameless brute as well? Ah, I won’t sleep tonight.”
It was then that Nana spoke for the first time since arriving.
“No. You won’t sleep tonight.”
All three turned to Nana at once. Gene asked, “Was that meant for me?”
Nana nodded repeatedly and smiled. It was not a child’s smile, and Gene narrowed his eyes a little. He had long since grown thoroughly sick of women who simpered at him. Yet a child could hardly be smiling with that intent.
Rosa was looking at Nana too. Meeting her eyes, she moved only her lips and said something. Nana answered.
“No.”
Rosa mouthed something again. Nana replied once more.
“Yes.”
Presently, Rosa spoke.
“Don’t take what Nana says to heart. She’s always saying strange things. But about the gold coin, may I make a suggestion?”
Somehow her attitude had changed from a moment earlier, but Gene answered without concern.
“Go ahead.”
“How about dinner?”
Gene laughed a little in disbelief.
“What? That’s no way to say it. It sounds like you’re asking me on a date. And you’re offering to buy me dinner without any money?”
Rosa was not flustered. She merely blinked a few times.
“No. I’ll cook it for you.”
“Where?”
“I don’t have a home yet, so at your house.”
“Deciding the place for yourself too. What about ingredients?”
“You can buy that much yourselves.”
Tahyang began to chuckle. Gene spoke.
“Do you know what sort of place I live in?”
“Of course not. Surely you have a kitchen?”
She was so confident that he was beginning to look forward to it. Suppressing a smile, Gene replied, “Yes, I do.”
“Then that’s settled.”
Rosa stood again, followed by Gene’s and Tahyang’s eyes. Tahyang asked, “Surely you don’t mean to go right now?”
“What else would we do here? There’s only water.”
Rosa picked up her bag. This time, Nana jumped up from Huka’s side as well. Tahyang happened to be folding the sardine napkin in half. For the first time, Rosa made something like a smile and patted her bag.
“What a shame. No more sardines, Master Cat.”
Discover more from Lilly Translations
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.