Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic-Chapter 1438: Enriques’ Love Story - Finale
Shard winked at Mr. Enriques:
"By the way, I’m taking a break. I encountered some troublesome people at the party, so I wanted to hide for a bit. Oh, Mr. Enriques, I didn’t expect to see you again, what a coincidence. Speaking of which, since we last met, how have things been with you and your wife?"
He pretended to be curious... and he really was curious when he asked, considering Mr. Enriques knew Shard was aware of most things, he didn’t hide from him:
"After tossing that coin, I realized what I truly wanted. I took your advice and consulted a psychologist. He believed I was overly anxious. Although his hourly rate was somewhat outrageous, thankfully, after talking to him, I felt I truly gained something."
Mr. Enriques gestured with the letter in his hand to Shard and stepped over to the light of the kerosene lamp:
"However, to say there’s no care at all in my heart is impossible, after all, she is my childhood lover, my current wife..."
Shard immediately coughed, making Mr. Enriques awkwardly realize what he had just said:
"Alright, I admit, the issue with my friend I mentioned last time was actually my own issue."
He didn’t show the hesitation and doubt he had last time; this time, he was evidently prepared and had made a decision:
"I asked a well-connected relative in Velindale City to help investigate my wife’s past during her studies in Velindale and found some of her former classmates to inquire, to confirm... confirm..."
"What she and that lover did in Velindale City."
Shard said, making Mr. Enriques feel even more awkward.
"I’ve experienced many stories in the past and present, men only remain unchanged by their desires and these things throughout time. Go on."
Mr. Enriques nodded:
"Yes, to ascertain Maggie’s past in Velindale. Depending on the result of this letter, I will decide whether to maintain this marriage. I love her, I’ve loved her since childhood. If her mistake isn’t severe, I’m willing to continue loving her and spend my life with her; if the mistake is unforgivable, I will choose to let go. Love isn’t everything in life; perhaps I should broaden my perspective."
Shard lightly applauded:
"I won’t determine whether your decision is correct, but I admire your resolved demeanor. Whatever path you choose, as long as you can keep moving forward, it will be fine in the end."
Thus, the young Southern Nation Gentleman smiled, looked down at the letter in his hand, and handed it to Shard:
"Mr. Watson, please give me the result. Although I spoke confidently, I am actually quite nervous."
"No, no."
Shard shook his empty glass, declining:
"This is your private matter. Besides, you’ve come this far, there’s no need for me, an outsider, to peek into more of your privacy."
Mr. Enriques thought for a moment, then softly thanked Shard, and used a small knife he carried to open the sealed letter, pulling out three pages of letter paper and reading them under the dim light of the kerosene lamp.
Shard turned his back on him, showing he wouldn’t intrude on his privacy. But truthfully, he was very curious about what was written in the letter.
Mr. Enriques read rather quickly, and when Shard heard the sound of the letter being folded again, he turned around to see a look of relief on his face.
"It seems you have made up your mind?"
Shard asked, and Mr. Enriques nodded, taking a match from his pocket, gently struck it against the wooden post nearby to ignite it, and then set the three pages alight, the flame burning in his eyes:
"Mr. Watson, I’m really sorry, but could you help me deliver a letter to the banquet hall? Please get it to my wife’s hands."
Since the stable was filled with hay and susceptible to fire, the two stepped outside. Mr. Enriques looked at the flame in his hand, then dropped it to the ground:
"I want to have a talk with Maggie."
"Of course, no problem."
Mr. Enriques had a pen on him, and Shard provided him with a few pages from his notebook. The young Southern Nation Gentleman thought about the wording and took over ten minutes to write a letter spanning two pages. After folding it simply, he handed it to Shard:
"It’s too cold here; we shouldn’t meet here. Please tell Maggie I’ll be waiting for her on the bench by the fountain in front of the mansion’s courtyard."
"No problem."
Shard agreed, and they both walked towards the mansion concealed by bushes and grape trellises.
Although Shard wasn’t bored enough to use the [Breath of Ages] to recover the burned letter, he was quite curious to see what the letter he now held said.
After temporarily parting ways with Mr. Enriques, Shard walked back while glancing over the two pages of paper. Smiling and shaking his head, he folded the letter:
"It seems that what Maggie Enriques did in Velindale City wasn’t too excessive."
[Was this really all he wanted to confirm?]
"Men, what they think is actually quite simple to figure out."
There were about half an hour left until the public speech at eight-thirty, and the atmosphere in the banquet hall was particularly lively. Shard handed his empty glass to a waiter and picked up another glass of red wine.
Finding a specific person among so many guests wasn’t easy, but thankfully, with "her" help, Shard quickly spotted Mrs. Enriques.
As luck would have it, the young Mrs. Enriques was sitting on a sofa chatting with Miss Lathis. Meanwhile, Miss Benanis and Miss Sylvia were nowhere to be seen.
Shard walked over with his wine glass, causing the two ladies, who were just discussing operatic topics, to fall silent.
Shard said:
"Mrs. Enriques, long time no see."
Shard had met Mr. and Mrs. Enriques once at Earl Granger’s estate, so Maggie Enriques also knew him.
"Who is this handsome gentleman from the Northern Country? Introduce us, Maggie."
Miss Lathis said with a smile, and Mrs. Enriques briefly introduced him and greeted Shard:
"Hello, long time no see, Mr. Watson."
Shard then said to Miss Lathis:
"I have a private matter to discuss with Mrs. Enriques, I wonder if you would..."
He made an apologetic expression, so Miss Lathis was about to stand up, but was stopped by the young lady:
"It’s okay, Mr. Watson, what do you want to say?"
She probably didn’t want to be alone with a young man.
"Since you don’t mind, I’ll get straight to the point. Earlier, I met your husband. He asked me to give you this letter and tell you that he’s waiting for you on the bench near the fountain at the front of the courtyard."
Shard handed over the letter. The young lady glanced at it nervously after opening it, then hurriedly stood up, said goodbye to Miss Lathis, thanked Shard, and walked quickly towards the direction of the door with the letter.
"Are you familiar with Maggie Enriques?"
Shard curiously asked the young golden-haired girl. Miss Lathis nodded thoughtfully:
"There are only a few noble young ladies here, even though the Golden Dawn Opera Group spends half the year out of Randall Valley due to performances, I still know these people. When I met Maggie Mason, she was only fifteen."
Miss Lathis said, seeing Mrs. Enriques walk away, then softly asked:
"Are you still handling business while attending the banquet?"
"This isn’t really business, just my personal curiosity."
Shard raised his wine glass, and Miss Lathis raised her glass and clinked it with his:
"Can you tell me what’s going on?"
"Of course, but, do you mind taking a walk with me?"
Shard gestured outside:
"The play I’m following has reached its final act, and I don’t want to miss the ending part."
"Of course, no problem."
She extended her hand, clad in a white lace glove, to Shard, who gallantly let her rest it on his arm, and they rose together with Miss Lathis.
As they walked out, Shard recounted the story starting from attending the ’countryside noble wedding’ with Ston Osenfort. The story was quite simple, just about the love between a man and a woman.
But Miss Lathis still listened intently, especially interested in the role Shard played in it.
By the time Shard reached the part about the incident in the stables, they had already arrived near the fountain. Both Mr. and Mrs. Enriques were ordinary people, so Shard’s Illusion Technique was enough to hide them under the moonlight, even without the Seventh Ring’s Miss Lathis.
They arrived just in time to see the young woman walk toward her husband, and the Southern Nation gentleman stood up from the bench.
The fountain stood on the central axis of the estate, and the light from the nearby gas street lamp was much brighter than in the back garden. That light illuminated both their faces; the woman pursed her lips, holding tightly to the two pages from the notebook, hesitating about what to say; while the man looked at his wife in front of him and took the initiative to speak:
"Tomorrow, I’ll move back from the study to the bedroom. Remember to have the servants move my pillows and quilts back, and change the sheets."
Mrs. Enriques looked up at him, her eyes seemingly glistening with tears:
"You’ve forgiven me?"
Mr. Enriques shook his head slightly:
"In the letter I asked Mr. Watson to deliver, I’ve written quite clearly... Although the past events cannot be completely erased, at least I know I still love you. The difference between marriage and love, perhaps, is just that."
He opened his arms, and Mrs. Enriques instinctively dropped the two pages, stepped forward, and embraced him:
"I, I... sorry, I’m really sorry."
She couldn’t say another word, and Mr. Enriques embraced her as well. Shard saw his face finally show a relieved smile:
"Maggie, although the wedding was last month, our marriage truly starts tonight. From now on, I won’t bring up that matter again, but I also hope you understand that I won’t give you another chance."
Mrs. Enriques held her husband tightly:
"I will love you with all my life, yes, all my life, starting from our childhood days... Tomorrow morning I’ll personally cook breakfast for you, just like before."
The two kissed under the moon, and watching this scene unfold, Miss Lathis smiled, while Shard glanced at the two pages on the ground.
