CHAPTER 19
The two of them began eating lunch together.
As they chatted, Scarlett took Isaac’s hand and examined it.
“Look at this. You’ve got calluses.”
“Pretty impressive, aren’t they?”
“What’s impressive about them?”
“They’re proof that I’ve finally done some real work. I never had calluses before because I’d never worked a day in my life.”
Isaac looked genuinely pleased with himself.
Then he reached out and gently touched Scarlett’s fingertips.
Years of delicate watchmaking had left the tips of her fingers rough and worn.
Feeling them, Isaac smiled.
“Your hands are impressive too.”
“Well… if you say so, maybe they are.”
For some reason, Scarlett found herself agreeing.
Isaac reached into the inner pocket of the jacket hanging beside him and took out a small box.
“Oh, and… this is for you.”
“What is it?”
Scarlett opened the box.
Inside was a pair of silver earrings decorated with delicate butterfly ornaments made from thin sheets of silver.
Her eyes widened.
“Why would you buy something like this?”
“I just… wanted the first thing I bought with my paycheck to be a gift for you.”
Scarlett carefully lifted the earrings from the box and stared at them resting in her palm.
“They’re so beautiful…”
“Really? That’s a relief.”
Since Isaac had chosen them by touch rather than sight, he’d been incredibly nervous until he saw her reaction.
With mixed emotions, Scarlett put the earrings on.
Receiving a gift from Isaacāthe person she had always thought she needed to take care ofāfelt strangely moving.
“You really didn’t have to buy me something like this.”
“So? Do they suit you?”
Normally, the person giving the gift would be the one to say that.
Instead, Isaac tilted his head and asked the question himself.
Smiling, Scarlett answered,
“Of course they do.”
After that, she fell quiet for a moment.
Isaac looked at her.
“Something’s wrong, isn’t it?”
“Huh? No. Nothing.”
“Tell me.”
His worried voice made Scarlett laugh loudly.
“Really. Nothing’s wrong.”
If Isaac ever found out about the biplane blueprints, he would inevitably become involved as well.
Changing the subject, Scarlett tore a piece of bread, folded a square of paper around it to make it easier to hold, and handed it to him.
While Isaac ate, she asked,
“Are you still wearing the bandages over your eyes?”
“Hm? Yeah. I’ve gotten used to them… and I’m worried people would be frightened if they saw my eyes.”
“Why? They’re fine.”
As Scarlett reached toward the bandages, Isaac instinctively recoiled and turned his head away.
He had never once avoided Scarlett’s touch before.
Startled, Scarlett quickly laughed as if nothing had happened.
“Okay. If you don’t like it, I won’t.”
“I’m sorry.”
“What are you apologizing for?”
That ended the conversation about the bandages.
They continued eating while sharing amusing stories from their daily lives.
When they finished, Scarlett mentioned she had business on the opposite side of the lake, so Isaac ferried her across.
Only after Scarlett left did Isaac cover his eyes with one hand.
The raft manager, Karel, hurried over.
“Young master! Are your eyes hurting again?”
Isaac was the raft’s biggest attraction.
His handsome appearance drew countless passengers every day.
To the raft’s owner, Isaac was nothing less than a priceless treasure.
Smiling, Isaac shook his head.
“I’m fine. It’s not because they’re hurting.”
“If they start hurting again, you’ve got to tell me right away. Your condition is the most important thing for our business.”
“That’s a bit much…”
“It isn’t! You can’t even see your own face, so no matter how many times we tell you you’re handsome, you never believe us.”
Isaac smiled.
Ever since he’d started using the medicine Scarlett had brought him, unbearable pain had begun flaring up beneath the bandages.
One day Karel had accidentally seen his eyes and nearly fainted from the sight.
Judging by that reaction, they must have looked horrifying.
There was no way Isaac could ever remove the bandages in front of Scarlett.
He didn’t care if he had to wear them for the rest of his life.
If it meant sparing Scarlett any heartache…
That was a small price to pay.
The Navy headquarters was unusually lively that day.
Victor’s retired subordinate, Nicolaus, had come to visit for the first time in quite a while.
The sailors greeted him cheerfully.
“Hey, Nico! What was the name of your ice cream shop again?”
“How many times are you going to ask? It’s The Navy Uncle’s Ice Cream Shop.”
That answer sent everyone into another round of laughter.
After filling the headquarters with cheerful noise, Nicolaus stopped outside the captain’s office.
In every branch of the military, the highest-ranking officer was a member of the royal family.
The Navy was no different.
Officially, Crown Prince Adam Iren served as Chief of Naval Staff.
In reality, however, the man who truly commanded the navy was Victor Dumpfelt, captain of the Rubid, Salantie’s largest warship.
Although Nicolaus had served under him for years and had already retired, Victor still intimidated him immensely.
Especially today.
He had actually brought ice cream to a man who had grown up eating only the finest delicacies.
“…I must be crazy.”
As Nicolaus muttered to himself, Blight smiled beside the door.
“I’m sure he’ll like it.”
With that reassurance, Blight knocked.
“Captain, Mr. Nicolaus has arrived.”
He opened the door, bowed politely, and left.
Nicolaus awkwardly smiled as he held up the insulated container.
“I’ve opened an ice cream shop.”
Victor merely gestured for him to come in.
Still as intimidating as ever.
Setting the container on the table, Nicolaus opened it.
Thanks to the cold weather, the ice cream hadn’t melted nearly as much as he’d feared.
Only then did he speak sheepishly.
“I suppose bringing ice cream in weather like this wasn’t my brightest idea, Captain.”
“A little late to realize that.”
Victor said the words while calmly helping himself to some ice cream.
Relieved, Nicolaus finally let out the breath he’d been holding.
Victor looked him over.
“You look better.”
“Yes. Better than these hands, anyway.”
He lifted his prosthetic arms.
“They’re sturdy.”
Victor chuckled.
Nicolaus had once been the navy’s finest sniper.
During a battle with pirates, a poisoned arrow had struck his wrist, forcing doctors to amputate both arms.
He had immediately used the compensation money provided by the government to order prosthetic limbs.
Because of the lengthy manufacturing process, he had only just received themāa full year later.
Making a fist with one prosthetic hand, Nicolaus grinned.
“They may look crude, but they can make a fist.”
“Better than I expected.”
“Hah. You’re still impossible to impress. That’s part of your charm, Captain.”
Usually cheerful, Nicolaus immediately regretted the joke and cautiously studied Victor’s expression.
Fortunately, Victor only gave another faint smile.
Nicolaus relaxed.
He’s probably going easy on me because I lost both my hands.
Ten years older than Victor, Nicolaus had been the only officer aboard the Rubid who wasn’t a noble.
His incredible marksmanship had allowed him to surpass aristocratic academy graduates again and again.
Victor asked,
“Is your thumb supposed to stay still like that?”
“Oh, this? I think it’s broken.”
“You should have it repaired.”
“Don’t even joke about that. It took six months to make, another six months to deliver. If I send it back for repairs, it’ll take another half year. How am I supposed to live without hands all that time?”
“I’ll order you a new one. I’ll pay for it.”
“Now that’s generous.”
Nicolaus smiled.
“But it’s far too expensive for me to accept.”
After a brief silence, he scratched his head.
“I honestly didn’t think you’d agree to see me.”
“Why?”
“To be honest…”
He hesitated.
“When you ordered me off the ship immediately… I was a little hurt.”
He laughed awkwardly.
“It’s not like you needed to stop the entire operation and turn the fleet around just because of me.”
“The mission depended on you.”
Victor answered calmly.
“You could no longer fulfill your role.”
“Even so…”
Nicolaus hesitated before deciding to say what had been on his mind ever since retiring.
“Captain… well, I’ve retired now, so I’ll just say it.”
He smiled ruefully.
“You’re the kind of person who throws people away once they stop being useful.”
The instant the words left his mouth, Nicolaus realized he’d crossed the line.
His face turned pale.
Fortunately, before Victor could respondā
The office door suddenly swung open.
Scarlett stood frozen in the doorway.
She had clearly not expected visitors.
Her gaze darted back and forth between the man with prosthetic arms…
…and her ex-husband, calmly eating ice cream.
Unable to decide which sight was more shocking, she simply stood there.
Victor broke the silence.
“Perfect timing. There’s a mechanic right there. Ask her to fix it.”
“W-What? No, that’s not why I came…”
Recognizing Victor’s ex-wife, Nicolaus turned even paler.
He couldn’t help thinking this was his punishment for speaking out of turn.
Victor casually addressed Scarlett.
“No matter how interested you are in machinery, it’s rather rude to stare at someone’s prosthetic arms like that.”
“It’s just as strange seeing you eat ice cream.”
“He carried it all the way here without any hands. The least I can do is eat it.”
Captain, you’re the rude one here…
Nicolaus thought silently before giving Scarlett a friendly smile.
“There’s nothing that needs repairing, but if you’re curious, you’re welcome to take a closer look. I heard you’ve opened a watch shop…”
“Come to think of it,” Victor interrupted, “I suppose I should call you ‘Miss’ now. You’re unmarried again.”
Nicolaus immediately became even more uncomfortable.
He shut his mouth without another word.
