WBESFL 15

Vanessa and Yahin were people one couldn’t easily mistake. Their flaming sunset-colored hair and exotic appearances made them stand out wherever they went.

The sight of the two facing each other was something Eleanor hadn’t anticipated.

How did they know each other? She was a little curious, but neither seemed like the type one could casually ask.

Yahin, who had been silently listening to Vanessa, suddenly looked toward Eleanor. When their eyes met, she flinched involuntarily.

She’d thought they’d never cross paths again. It wasn’t even his sister—she was meeting the brother like this. Lisa’s words, telling her to never get involved with him, echoed in her mind.

It would’ve been nice if they just turned their backs and pretended not to see each other, but Yahin stared openly at her. Even Vanessa turned her head to see where he was looking.

Why is he staring like that?

Eleanor hesitated as she tried to leave the uncomfortable spot. Yahin began walking straight toward her.

“……?”

Is he coming to me…?

It was an awkward moment to run away, so Eleanor just stood there awkwardly, her eyes darting around. His long strides quickly closed the distance between them.

…He really is coming to me?

“…….”

He really was.

Yahin came to a stop right in front of her. People said Haitarans were big, but Yahin might be the biggest of them all.

Towering over her like a shadow, he looked down at her with an intense gaze. It was overwhelming.

“Miss!”

Lisa rushed in between Eleanor and Yahin with fierce determination. Though smaller than Eleanor, she did her best to shield her.

Unfortunately, Eleanor could still clearly see Yahin—and Yahin could obviously see her, too.

But Lisa stood firm like a wall, trying her best to protect Eleanor.

“If you have something to say, say it to me or the knight. Don’t approach the young lady rudely.”

She spoke clearly and firmly. At her cue, a knight rushed over and pushed against Yahin’s chest. He wasn’t Gale, who had encountered Yahin before, so his response was rather slow.

Yahin didn’t budge even when the knight pushed at him, barely reaching his chest. To the knight, it probably felt like trying to move a boulder.

Eleanor, watching with pity as the knight strained and sweated, noticed people—starting with Anna’s family—beginning to take an interest in the commotion.

An illegal immigrant, covered for by her aunt.

If this blew up, it’d be big trouble. Especially for her aunt. She needed to handle this smoothly.

To do that, she had to listen to what Yahin wanted.

Eleanor, who had grown up in the capital where Haitarans were treated coldly, had no idea the people of this territory accepted Yahin and Yasmin with rural warmth.

Yahin was staring at her with an intense expression, clearly wanting to say something. Eleanor raised her hands in surrender.

Even if she didn’t want to believe it, he wasn’t budging—he clearly had business with her.

“Stop it. Yahin, do you have something to say to me?”

She waved off the knight struggling to push Yahin, and asked. Yahin nodded slowly. So he really did have something to say to her.

“Alright then. Follow me.”

They couldn’t talk here with all these eyes watching. Eleanor looked around and pointed toward a quieter spot behind the store.

“Young lady! Are you really going to talk with this unidentified man?!”

Lisa, too cautious to say “Haitaran,” used a roundabout expression in protest. Eleanor whispered to her,

It’s better than getting caught. We have no choice.

Finally aware of the eyes on them, Lisa bit her lip.

“But you can’t leave my side!”

Sticking close to Eleanor, Lisa kept a sharp eye on Yahin.

Eleanor told Anna to wait and led the group of three behind the store.

Vanessa watched the group go without reaction and simply turned away.

Behind the Store

There was only a bench and no people—perfect for a quiet talk. Eleanor, hidden behind Lisa and the knight, faced Yahin.

Unfortunately for the two human shields, Yahin was far too large to be hidden by anyone.

Eleanor, about their height, wasn’t much better off either.

“What do you want to say?”

Yahin pulled a small notebook and pen from his pocket. He scribbled something, then handed the notebook over. It passed through Lisa and arrived in Eleanor’s hands.

“I’m sorry and want to apologize.”

Eleanor read the shaky handwriting three times. He wants to apologize?

“You’re saying you want to apologize?”

Yahin nodded. Yasmin spoke perfect Tritan, but judging by the spelling, Yahin hadn’t mastered the Empire’s language yet.

“You already did back then. That’s enough.”

Eleanor recalled how he had bowed deeply. She handed the notebook back. He wrote something else and passed it to her again through Lisa.

“Got scolded by Yasmin for grabbing Fairy’s arm.”

Eleanor read the words seriously. “Fairy” was oddly neat. Ignoring the embarrassing title, she focused on the rest.

“…You got scolded for grabbing my arm?”

Yahin nodded a bit quickly. He passed the notebook again.

“Haitarans must not hit Fairy. I am sorry. You not hurt?”

Hmm. So Haitarans mustn’t harm fairies. He wanted to apologize and check if she was okay.

The arm he had gripped tightly had turned red for a while, but hadn’t swollen or bruised.

If it had, Eleanor would’ve been angry today.

But the marks had faded the next day, and she’d forgotten.

“I’m fine. So Haitarans don’t hit women?”

She handed the notebook back herself this time. Going through Lisa was getting annoying. And this much didn’t feel dangerous.

“Young lady…!”

“I’m just uncomfortable, Lisa. He means no harm, so it’s okay.”

Eleanor’s firm tone made Lisa step back—reluctantly. But she stayed close, ready to shield her at a moment’s notice, and Eleanor didn’t stop that.

Yahin finished writing and handed the notebook to her again.

“No. Of course not hit women. But must not hit Fairy, especially.”

Eleanor’s expression grew odd. She interpreted the messy words and hesitated before asking,

“Because I’m a fairy… I must not be hit?”

Yahin nodded again. Eleanor gripped the notebook tightly.

Even as a child, no one had called her a fairy. Her entire being rejected the title.

Is he serious? She looked at him suspiciously, but his expression was completely sincere. Did he hit his head crossing the border?

It had been bad enough when Yasmin—a tiny cub of a girl—called her that. Now this enormous man was saying it? It was unbearable.

“Yahin. It’s nice you go along with your sister’s imagination, but stop calling me a fairy.”

“No. Not joke. I really think you are a fairy.”

Yahin scribbled quickly.

She was stunned. Do I have to prove I’m human now?

“Why do you think that?”

Eleanor knew she wasn’t the kind of beauty people called “ugly.”

Her pale tones and delicate features could count as pretty with effort.

But after seeing Lydia—who looked like she had absorbed all the color in the world—it felt absurd to be called a fairy. A simple “pretty” compliment would be fine, but this was too much.

Yahin thought for a moment, then reached into his shirt and pulled out a necklace.

“Looks like Fairy.”

She took the necklace and saw a picture of a praying girl with slightly darker hair and blue eyes.

“This is the fairy?”

“She is Nimpha, who protects Haitar. A goddess.”

“I guess… we do look a little alike…”

They did resemble each other. Similar hair and eye colors, fair skin.

But if that’s enough to say they looked alike, then there must be countless women in Beiren who looked like this “Nimpha.”

“I’m not a fairy goddess.”

She handed the necklace back.

Tritan had similar legends—like mermaids in Lake Nifla, or the Phoenix guarding Beiren. Every land had its imaginary protectors.

Yahin looked a bit dejected. Like a puppy with drooping ears and tail. Eleanor suddenly felt guilty.

“Well, I’ll tell you my name at least.”

Yahin eagerly offered his notebook. Eleanor wrote clearly for him to copy.

“Eleanor Stikoff.”

He traced the letters with his finger, mimicking speaking.

“Call her ‘Miss,’” Lisa cut in coldly.

Yahin looked downhearted and scribbled awkwardly.

“Miss” (spelled incorrectly)

“….”

“….”

Eleanor and Lisa were both speechless. If he showed up again and presented that word…

“…You can call me ‘Lady Eleanor.’”

Lisa didn’t stop her this time.

With a pen that looked tiny in his hand, Yahin carefully wrote again.

“Lady Eleanor.”

This time, it was his neatest writing yet. The contrast with the earlier “Miss” made Eleanor laugh.

“Good job, Yahin. You wrote my name very well.”

Yahin stared quietly at Eleanor’s face, curved in a gentle smile. A petal had gotten caught in her hair near her forehead.

He reached out to remove it, but Lisa yanked Eleanor back.

“Don’t touch the young lady.”

Lisa shielded Eleanor, and the knight also stepped in. Surrounded by protection, Eleanor blinked.

Yahin lowered his hand and held out another note.

“Not hit. Petal was in hair.”

Ah. So there was a flower in her hair.

Eleanor touched her head and pulled out a light pink petal. He’d been telling the truth. She waved Lisa and the knight off.

“Thank you, Yahin.”

He nodded slightly with a small smile.

“Oh right, you were talking with Vanessa earlier?”

Eleanor suddenly remembered seeing them together. Given how cold Vanessa usually was to her, it was surprising.

“With Vanessa.”

Vanessa had become “Bunessa” in his writing, but he nodded earnestly.

“You know her?”

“She sometimes gives work to me and Yasmin. She’s kind.”

“Vanessa is kind?”

“Yes. She helps us. Very kind.”

Huh. So she was kind to Yahin and Yasmin.

Eleanor felt strangely conflicted.

Maybe she’s just pretending to be nice in front of my aunt? Maybe she’s like this to everyone?

She had thought that, but now Yahin’s words made her doubt herself.

Was I the only one she acts fake with?

“Lisa. Do I come off as fake? Do I smile artificially?”

“What? No, not at all! I mean, sometimes your smiles look a little forced, but—”

“Then do I seem fake when I do that?”

“No! It looks more like you’re trying not to ruin the mood. I admire that.”

Right. I knew I wasn’t fake. I never acted that way.

Relieved, Eleanor smiled. She was glad Vanessa’s attitude wasn’t justified by some flaw of her own.

Well, if Vanessa is nice to Yahin and Yasmin, that’s a good thing. Better that she’s praised than criticized for being raised by my aunt.

“I should go now. Yahin, does Yasmin also think I’m really a fairy?”

Yahin nodded. Eleanor held her forehead. All this because they vaguely resembled that goddess?

“When you get home, make sure to tell her I’m not. My name is Eleanor, okay?”

Like an obedient puppy, Yahin nodded again.

Finally human again, Eleanor smiled brightly.

“I’ll get going. Bye, Yahin.”

She waved lightly. Yahin waved back and bowed his head. Something about the image made Eleanor laugh as she turned away.

Yahin kept waving, watching Eleanor grow distant with Lisa and the knight.