SWNOVELXO Chapter 35
■■ Chapter.
To be honest, Lady Fact didn’t quite understand how busy Ain’s daily life truly was.
She only vaguely felt that the boy who occasionally visited the alley always seemed tired and drained.
It wasn’t until she moved away from the alley and started working at the grocery store that she truly understood what Ain’s everyday life was like.
He was always busy.
On early mornings, when Lady Fact hadn’t even woken up yet, Ain would come to the grocery store and immediately start cleaning all around the shop, then tidy up the dusty shelves.
Once the empty shelves were replenished with ingredients, he’d finally stretch out and go check if she was awake, entering her small room.
Even after this, there was no time to rest. His day consisted of dealing with customers as they flocked in, constantly restocking the shelves, then once more dealing with the customers, a process that repeated endlessly.
And even so…
“Ain.”
If Lady Fact quietly called out for him, wanting to see his face,
“Hmm, do you need something?”
He would immediately turn around, a kind Ain ready to help.
“Keep going, Ain.”
“Thanks.”
With a gentle smile, he would return to his work, his hurried back view coming into sight.
The indifferent expression she had seen in the past was gone now, replaced by a man who easily smiled at her.
So Lady Fact thought that she wanted to help him, even just a little bit, as he worked so hard from the early mornings.
Since she had watched him do these tasks several times, if Lady Fact could prepare and finish his tasks beforehand, he would surely relax a little.
With this thought, she woke up rubbing her eyes, began sweeping and mopping the floor even before Ain arrived.
With a huge yawn – “Haaam” – she wiped away the accumulated dust from the shelves and, with some grunts, found some ingredients in the warehouse and filled them back into their spots.
Though rough around the edges, the jobs were completed in a manner that resembled Ain’s usual approach.
Because Lady Fact was still slow and unsteady, by the time all the tasks were completed, only a little time was left before Ain arrived.
As the footsteps outside the grocery store began – “Tob-tob-tob” – Lady Fact hurriedly finished her tasks, her disheveled hair fluttering behind her as she quickly went back into her small room.
Soon enough, the door to the grocery store opened.
Ain, who always arrived at the same time every morning, naturally set down his bag and began his usual routine.
Lady Fact kept a close eye on him through the slightly opened door.
When Ain tried to start cleaning with the broom in hand, he stopped upon realizing there was no dust left; when he approached the shelves to replenish the stock, he found them already done, albeit a little rough.
With an awkward scratch to his head, he chuckled softly, then changed direction.
The destination was undoubtedly the small room.
That was the moment Lady Fact looked forward to most, after all the processes had been completed.
She quickly jumped onto her bed from her spot near the door, pretending to be asleep.
Remembering what Ain had once said, she knew that good deeds were meaningful only when done discreetly, and she made sure to commit this to memory.
She pulled the blanket over herself up to the halfway mark, closed her eyes tightly, and pretended to be asleep while making soft snoring sounds.
After waiting for a moment…
“Creeaaak…”
The sound of the door opening.
“Tob-tob-tob…”
The sound of Ain’s footsteps approaching.
And with a soft chuckle…
Lady Fact felt the familiar steps nearing her, with a gentle touch straightening her disheveled hair and brushing her forehead.
“It’s time to wake up now.”
Perhaps this was the moment she looked forward to, wanting to help him.
It was because she loved when Ain cared for her that she enjoyed pretending to be asleep. When he spoke to her in his soothing voice, she would quietly open her eyes.
This was one of the few desires Lady Fact indulged in.
Though she believed it was wrong to trouble someone as busy as him, this was her personal way of fulfilling her uncontrollable desires.
“Yes, Ain.”
And so, her day began with her beaming at him. It had become quite a natural and beautiful smile.
In this way, Lady Fact grew accustomed to her daily routine at the grocery store.
She would wake up early in the mornings, taking over his jobs whenever she could, and eventually, under Ain’s encouragement, began learning how to work at the grocery store.
Though slow and weak, she would move with more vigor when Ain praised her efforts.
During these times, she also learned how to use honorifics.
She couldn’t understand why she had to speak differently to customers and elders, and she would often tilt her head in confusion.
“Well? Have a good day.”
“…Correct but wrong.”
She couldn’t understand what exactly politeness was, so she just kept blurting out phrases.
And Lady Fact always seemed disappointed whenever Ain disappeared.
“See you next Wednesday.”
“…Farewell, Ain.”
Ain, the boy, wasn’t at the grocery store every day and two days in a week he would be absent. Lady Fact, who used to patiently wait months for their brief encounters, found herself disheartened after just two days of not seeing him.
She felt an ache she now understood: that the absence of something dear only increased its longing.
She wondered why he left her behind and wished he would stop and stay beside her.
But, she feared that uttering those words might make him dislike her even slightly, so she remained silent.
And so, Lady Fact was left alone.
Or rather…
Ain’s absence didn’t leave her truly alone.
“Hey, kid, let’s eat.”
“…”
Even when Ain wasn’t there, an evening companion stayed by her side. He was a large, bearded man whom Ain called “Uncle.”
Every evening, he stayed there and made her warm meals.
The familiar taste.
It was undoubtedly the same taste as the food Ain always brought.
Yet somehow, compared to Ain serving it, this food tasted slightly blander, making her feel heavy and her throat tight.
As she absentmindedly stared at the man who had prepared the meal, she put down her spoon.
“Not tasty?”
“…”
No, it undoubtedly was.
“Hm, wait a moment. I’ll cook something new.”
“…”
She remained quiet, without replying.
The man, trying to understand what was wrong with the food, took a bite himself and tilted his head.
From the kitchen, his murmured voice reached her:
“The taste is fine, but maybe it’s my old age affecting my seasoning…”
Without thinking that Lady Fact’s refusal might be due to her stubbornness or a tantrum, he went back to cooking the meal.
But still, Lady Fact, after two more spoonfuls, quietly put down the spoon again.
“Hmm… I guess I should practice cooking more. Sorry the food didn’t meet your taste.”
“…”
She silently stared at this man for a while, then turned her head, feeling somewhat uncomfortable.
To be honest…
Lady Fact wasn’t ready to open her heart to anyone but Ain.
Perhaps this was a protest against having to interact with anyone else but Ain.
Nevertheless, she was undoubtedly a kind person.
And she was close to Ain.
So she refrained from outright pouting, and instead hung her head as she rocked her feet softly.
A few days later, it seemed the Uncle finally understood why Lady Fact was acting this way.
“Do you want me to work all seven days of the week instead?”
“…”
Facing the seated Lady Fact, he asked her directly.
“If it’s difficult for you to say, I’ll handle it. Either way, me showing up every day is not really a problem.”
“…”
This proposal was rather tempting for Lady Fact.
It was as if he had exactly guessed what she desired, making it feel somewhat unfair.
After hesitating for a long while, Lady Fact eventually shook her head.
“Hmm, didn’t you want me to stay with you always?”
“…”
She did.
It was undeniably true that her sadness stemmed from Ain’s absence.
Still…
There must have been a reason why Ain took two days off, and she didn’t wish to get in the way of what he needed to do because of her stubbornness.
She would have to endure this loneliness herself, biting her arms or thighs at night to distract herself.
Lady Fact timidly glanced at the sheepish Uncle scratching his head, then quickly retreated into her small room.
Lady Fact was still scared of people coming close.
She lacked trust that they wouldn’t reject her.
She wished no one other than Ain would come near her.
Still.
Seeing the Uncle scratch his head and ponder what was wrong through the gap in the door made her chest feel a little heavy.
Though Lady Fact didn’t yet understand exactly what this emotion was.