CHAPTER 49 - A DATE WITH LIAM (3)"Now there are many types of vegetables circulating in the northern market, and the cuisine in this place has really changed a lot from decades ago," Liam muttered quietly.
Harriet smiled when she heard his comment.
"This is thanks to the Old Duke and the Emperor," said Harriet softly.
"You're right," Liam chuckled. "Northern people like alcohol to warm our body up, and the climate here is perfect for making winter wine, or fire water… but I've heard a lot that Northerners who travel to the south really like spicy food," Liam said quietly.
"Ah, right. It's still hard to get spices here. The pepper I got the other day was also bitter…" Harriet muttered.
"If Northerners had access to warm-climate herbs and spices, perhaps there would be more dishes that would satisfy you, Madam," Liam said softly.
Harriet nodded.
"Ginger, ginseng, pepper, chilli, paprika…" she muttered under her breath. "Unfortunately, even from the capital to here, it takes a week for a freight carriage… the ingredients will no longer be that fresh."
"Hmm," Liam rubbed his chin lightly. He mumbled, "It's hard for Southerners to make refrigerators with transportable insulators, huh. It must be very expensive."
Harriet smiled. "Right. Your idea is the same as the Emperor's a few years ago."
"Is that true?" Liam chuckled. "So it's really still hard to figure out how to make a device like that, huh?"
Harriet nodded. She explained, "That's because Southerners don't have access to ice, so alchemy is needed to produce artificial ice.".
"I already guessed. Alchemy and world science will help modern society far better than knowledge of plain magic," Liam muttered.
Harriet ate her food, looking at Liam, who was silent, thinking about many things to help the progress of the Northern people and increase the effectiveness of the trade route. Harriet once again wished that this man had never had any misfortune and become the clan leader. What would he bring to this world? Harriet knew one of them was happiness, feeling how warm her heart was right now.
After finishing their lunch, Liam took her for a short walk to enjoy the city atmosphere once again and digest their meal. After a while, Liam led Harriet down a path near town to a small park where children used to play.
The path was lined with tall black-trunked trees on either side, with small, light green flowers hiding behind their dark leaves. It didn't look like the colorful spring in the south, but it was still spring.
Walking further into the park, Harriet realized that there was a public school for northern children nearby, and those who had just returned from school would gather and play in the park.
Liam grabbed her hand and pulled her gently. Harriet realized the man was swinging his walking cane more casually than usual.
Actually, Liam didn't need this cane anymore, because he had started to adapt to the condition of his body where all his joints hurt. He had planned on putting away the cane back in the storage last night, but then he remembered he'd be going out with Harriet today.
Liam didn't want to be suddenly startled by pain and have to find a place to lean on, so he brought his cane just in case. At the same time, Harriet looked at Liam's face from the side.
She waited for Liam to say what he wanted to tell her. Harriet knew she didn't really have the right to hear everything from Liam, but it was precisely because she trusted him that she had to know. She wanted to help Liam through everything.
Liam sensed Harriet's mood and saw her preparing to hear him. He silently stared sadly into the distance.
"Madam, after I lost my heart, I never really wanted to survive, actually," Liam said softly, starting the conversation.
Harriet blinked, looking up at Liam, who was hiding his face by looking the other way.
"Not because I know that getting well is impossible under these circumstances, but because I don't want to live anymore myself," explained Liam.
The two of them stepped on the stone path in silence.
"But if I had known I would meet you at the end of my life, I would have worked even harder to find a way to recover, even if it was impossible," Liam continued, looking at Harriet with regret.
The man gripped Harriet's hand a little tighter. "Between the two of us, things proceed so fast. It's so easy for me and for you to realize the feelings we have for each other. I'm also afraid that as soon as we start all this, it will all end as quickly as it started," explained Liam.
Liam's words pierced Harriet's heart like a dull dagger. That was how she felt too. Everything felt so perfect it almost made no sense, and to be honest, Liam's figure almost felt like a dream to her.
"Harriet, I feel like our meeting was a very beautiful mistake," Liam muttered.
Harriet chuckled, almost sobbing. "You are right."
Armed only with the desire to wake up, Liam opened his eyes without a full moon. And even though it was destroying his body faster than ever, Liam hardly cared, and even felt that this was the most correct.
"That's why I have started going back to my studies of mythical creatures and methods for regenerating lost organs and cells, even though I've failed before," explained Liam gently.
Harriet, who heard that, gasped softly.
"Ah," she glanced at the book Liam read in the library yesterday. It was only a moment, but she could see a few of its contents.
"I didn't tell you because I was afraid to give you hope that I might be able to heal myself. Because, first, everyone and even I know that it's impossible," Liam explained, turning to Harriet and clasping her hands together. "Secondly, it will be a much worse suffering because we will try to fight my death which is almost certain," he continued.
Previously, the two had already accepted that Liam would die soon.
But when there was hope and effort, this time, the pain would be doubled if they failed.