Sincerely, Vanessa [EN]: Chapter 26

Whispered murmurs filled the air.

“Oh my god, Gideon is back in Phydom!”

“Is my hair okay? Why did he have to come to this cafe today of all days!”

“He looks hurt. I wish I could comfort him.”

“Are you crazy? Why would you?”

Women chattered about him, while the men grumbled with jealousy.

“That face and that body.”

“Damn, I wish I could have that body for just one day.”

Vanessa realized that Gideon’s name was Gideon, not just Gide.

Why didn’t he tell me his real name? I thought we were somewhat close, but now I feel a bit sad.

Come to think of it, I ran into Gide quite often, so there was no real need to tell me his full name.

And the last time we met, he was comforting me while I was bawling my eyes out.

Vanessa lowered her head in embarrassment.

Crying and whining to a stranger for no reason. It’s the worst, the worst.

With her face flushed, Vanessa buried her head in her papers and scribbled a letter, trying to avoid Gideon noticing her.

Gideon soon entered the cafe and ordered something.

Vanessa glanced at him for a moment, and her eyes widened. He looked terrible.

There was a scratch near his thick eyebrows, and a compress was attached to one cheek and near his neck. His movements as he took the glass were strange, and his arm seemed injured as well.

The woman next to him gasped as his large hand, with long eyelashes lowered, stroked his cheek.

Gideon didn’t even blink at the glances, took his drink, and left.

“He seems pretty badly hurt.”

“I heard the borders are very unstable these days. Bitolla is a mess too.”

“The king there apparently wants to close the border completely.”

“Shouldn’t the country be protecting a face like that?”

The border? What does he do? Last time, there was an investigation at the academy too… Vanessa blinked.

I asked him what he did before, and he said it was a secret, but everyone else seems to know except me. Well, what are we anyway?

Pouting slightly, Vanessa stared at the pen on the desk, closed her ears to the eavesdropping, and decided to finish her letter.

Gideon, no, Gideon, seemed busy.

⚜ ⚜ ⚜

Vanessa finally left the cafe with the two pages filled with her letter.

Even with a thick sweater, jacket, and gloves, the sharp wind seeped through her clothes.

Vanessa’s cheeks quickly turned red from the cold.

“It’s cold….”

Of course, Seogoth, where Bamberg Academy is located, is winter, even in the capital, Phydom.

Vanessa hurried towards the bookstore on the central street. As soon as she turned the corner, she ran into someone.

“Oh.”

“You were deliberately turning your head away in the cafe.”

Gideon, who had been leaning against the wall, straightened up. His slightly longer bangs fell slightly over his forehead.

Gideon stared at her blankly for a moment, then untied the muffler he was wearing and wrapped it around Vanessa’s neck, as if bothered by her exposed white neckline.

Vanessa watched his large hands tie the muffler.

“I feel a bit sad. I comforted you and gave you a lot of advice last time.”

Gideon raised the corner of his mouth as Vanessa glared at him for mentioning her embarrassing past.

“Are we that close? I didn’t even know Gideon’s name was Gideon.”

Vanessa pouted and walked forward. Gideon, matching her pace, smiled awkwardly.

“Isn’t it more impressive to use a nickname?”

“You have to tell me your name before you can use a nickname.”

“Hmm.”

“Your real name is Gideon, right? I heard it at the cafe. You’re quite famous.”

Gideon gave an ambiguous smile. Vanessa glanced at him for a moment. I don’t know how much I can ask.

Vanessa hesitated for a moment but eventually sighed. She didn’t like his awkward smile. He’s always been nice to me. We just happened to meet at Jenien’s house!

If he didn’t want to talk about it, she didn’t want to pry. He met with the professor too, so he probably wasn’t dangerous, and he was probably a wizard working at the royal palace.

“Why are you so hurt?”

Vanessa changed the subject as she started walking again. Gideon followed obediently, touching the compress that covered his cheek.

“I got hurt while working. Healing magic doesn’t work well.”

“What kind of work? If you’re going to say it’s a secret again, go away.”

“Dealing with monsters.”

Vanessa stopped walking abruptly and held out her little finger.

“No lying.”

Gideon held out his little finger, intertwined it with Vanessa’s, and swore seriously.

“There are no lies.”

Only then did Vanessa nod and say with interest.

“Are you a border wizard or a special forces member?”

“I’m working in the special forces……”

“Wow.”

Vanessa exclaimed briefly. Special forces. That’s Evan’s idol.

“I have so many friends who want to join the special forces. It’s amazing. What brings you here today? Did a monster appear here or something?”

Gideon smiled at Vanessa, who was wide-eyed and bombarding him with questions.

“It’s just a vacation. My work finished after a few weeks. But I had nothing to do, so I came out for a walk.”

“Wow, I run into you by chance a lot, Gide. I’m alone today too.”

“Where were you going?”

Vanessa answered obediently as Gideon asked gently. The two walked in step. One, two.

“I’m going to the bookstore to buy Miller’s new book.”

“You wouldn’t abandon a poor soul with nothing to do, would you?”

“….”

Gideon chuckled softly as Vanessa stared at him awkwardly.

Seeing the compress on his cheek move with his laughter, Vanessa asked with concern.

“I heard that monsters have been increasing a lot lately.”

“It’s becoming a problem because they’re not ordinary monsters, but artificial ones. Because they are mixed, it’s difficult to find their weaknesses, so it’s slow to exterminate them.”

Gideon gently pulled Vanessa closer as a carriage approached quickly, and he started walking on the side of the road.

“I’m sorry.”

Gideon looked at her with a puzzled expression as Vanessa suddenly spoke.

“I just thought you were a leisurely wizard. Skilled, but working moderately….”

Gideon let out a hollow laugh, and Vanessa buried her reddened nose in the muffler and mumbled.

The muffler smelled nice. It was exactly like him. An elegant and soft scent, but like a large tree.

“The really talented wizards often live comfortably.”

“That’s not bad either. What brings you to the capital? It’s amazing to meet you in Phydom.”

“A friend invited me. I had nowhere else to go during the vacation.”

“Oh, Jenien will be sad.”

Vanessa snorted. Most of the letters that came from Jenien started with “idiot,” so Vanessa’s replies usually started with “grandfather.”

“Do you like Phydom?”

“I think it’s a really beautiful city. Lively. Actually, I was going to the bookstore now, but I don’t think I can go.”

“Why can’t you go?”

Vanessa glanced up at his face. He was truly the most fitting man to be called a creation of God.

The bangs that fell slightly over his forehead made him look more relaxed, and the firm jawline and high nose completed his glamorous features. Every time his golden eyelashes, shining in the sunlight, moved, she felt a strange emotion.

“Too many people are staring.”

Gideon noticed Vanessa’s gaze fixed on his face and chuckled.

He told Vanessa to wait for a moment, then went into a nearby general store and bought a robe to wear over his coat. His already large body looked even bigger and taller with the robe on.

“Is it okay to take me around now?”

“Good. I’ll take you around.”

Vanessa nodded elegantly. Gideon, who had received the glorious grace, bent down and pressed his cheek against the back of her hand.

Vanessa had originally planned to go to the huge bookstore on the central street. The bookstore, lavishly gilded, was a place where many people came and went.

But Gideon recommended a small bookstore near the Batnir Bridge.

“The real thing is always hidden.”

The two walked towards the Batnir Bridge.

The road wasn’t very crowded. Unkempt bushes and weeds were sticking out between the stone slabs, seeking the faint sunlight.

And as they turned the corner, a small bookstore appeared before them.

The bookstore looked very shabby. A small space was added to the upper left of the rectangular building, making it look crooked as if it would collapse at any moment. Hundreds of books were lined up outside, as if the bookstore’s interior space was insufficient. Half-torn books were also hanging in the air, drying out.

Gideon strode in first, and Vanessa, with curious eyes, touched the scattered books before following him inside. The musty, hand-stained scent of the books wafted up.

“Wow.”

Unlike the shabby exterior, the inside was relatively clean. All sorts of books were arranged, waiting for their owners, between the aisles where only one person could barely pass.

“Can you pass through with that big body?”

“I have to squeeze through.”

Gideon whispered and slowly walked in. Then he took out a book and handed it to Vanessa.

“It’s a romance novel. I thought Vanessa should read it. Come to think of it, did you do well in literature class this semester?”

“Are you kidding me?”

Vanessa glared at him sullenly and opened the book. There were many scribbles and underlined marks in the book.

But on the very first page, there was a short phrase written in blue ink.

「To my beloved Finnel.

The two main characters are just like us. I will always remember your love and try my best.

Thank you for being with me.」

“Wow.”

Gideon smiled briefly as he watched Vanessa admire the affectionate phrase.

“Do you know who Finnel is from here?”

“I don’t know, but I think she’s a fragrant person.”

“Dolova’s lover.”

“…That Dolova?”

Gideon pulled down the robe covering his head and whispered almost inaudibly. Gorgeous blonde hair poured out.

“That Dolova.”

Dolova was the greatest musician in Friva’s history. He composed large-scale symphonies even though he was deaf in one ear and blind.

And that symphony became the most beautiful piece of music in later generations. Even Vanessa, who had no knowledge of music, shed tears when she heard the second movement.

But he was only able to do so thanks to Finnel’s help. Finnel did not leave him even when he went blind and deaf, and protected him from his greedy family.

“The owner here is crazy about collecting these things.”

“Is it okay for me to touch this?”

Gideon grinned and handed the book to Vanessa.

“Of course. The owner thinks books should be touched by people.”

However, he just doesn’t take out the most precious books. Gideon swallowed those words.

Vanessa and Gideon thoroughly explored the inside of the bookstore.

Vanessa exclaimed in hushed delight every time Gideon explained something. His soft voice echoed in the corner of the bookstore.

Vanessa even discovered a short phrase from the founder of Bamberg Academy, Bam Bandalu.

「The greatest wizard does not fear the loss of power.」

It was a bold and energetic handwriting.

Vanessa whispered in admiration.

“This is really a treasure trove. Why don’t more people know about it?”