Chapter 307 -: 306 Why do I feel like this?
Haah...
Julius let out a weary sigh before pushing himself to his feet. He stood still for a brief moment, his gaze lingering on the familiar wooden house before slowly stepping inside.
It had already been two months since he married Lyra. At the time of their wedding, he remembered feeling happy... didn’t he?
The memory should have been clear, yet every time he tried to recall it, an indescribable uncertainty surfaced in his heart.
Ever since earlier that day, a strange sense of discomfort had been following him wherever he went.
It had all started while he was resting beneath a large tree on his way back to the village.
He had simply closed his eyes for a short nap, yet after waking up, everything had felt... slightly off. He couldn’t explain why.
Nothing around him had changed. The village was the same, the people were the same, even Lyra was the same.
Yet the strange feeling refused to leave, lingering quietly in the back of his mind like an itch he couldn’t scratch.
"...Haa..." Julius sighed once more before shaking his head. Thinking about it any further wouldn’t change anything.
He made his way toward the kitchen, where Lyra was already busy preparing lunch.
The gentle crackling of burning firewood echoed softly through the room while the rich fragrance of freshly cooked food drifted through the air, making his empty stomach rumble.
The delicious aroma instantly pushed away some of the strange thoughts clouding his mind.
Deciding not to dwell on those uncomfortable feelings any longer, Julius walked over to the dining table and quietly took his seat, patiently waiting.
Before long, Lyra emerged from the kitchen carrying several simple but appetizing dishes, placing them carefully onto the table with her usual gentle smile.
The two began eating together in comfortable silence, occasionally exchanging a few casual words between bites.
Their days had become almost identical since their marriage. Every morning they woke up together, shared breakfast, worked until evening, ate dinner, and then went to sleep beneath the same roof.
It was an ordinary, peaceful life. This large house belonged only to the two of them, and because of that, it sometimes felt far too spacious, its empty rooms making the silence between them even more noticeable.
After finishing lunch, Julius rested for a while, slowly sipping the fragrant tea Lyra had brewed for him.
The warm bitterness spread across his tongue, easing away some of the exhaustion that had accumulated throughout the morning.
Once he finished his tea, Julius stood up and smiled faintly. "I’m heading out."
"Be careful," Lyra replied warmly.
Julius nodded before stepping outside once more, making his way toward the fields.
The afternoon sun still hung high above the village, its blazing heat beating mercilessly against his skin.
Before long, beads of sweat had already begun forming across his forehead. Along the way, many of the village farmers greeted him with cheerful smiles, asking about his day or exchanging a few simple words.
Julius returned every greeting with a smile of his own before continuing onward. After walking for some time, he finally arrived at his farmland.
Half of the field had already been tilled yesterday, leaving only the remaining half waiting to be finished today.
Without wasting any time, Julius picked up the heavy farming tool resting against a nearby tree and began working.
One swing after another, he relentlessly turned the hard earth over, maintaining neat, orderly rows across the entire field.
He never stopped, nor did he slow down despite the scorching heat pressing down upon him.
Sweat soon soaked through his clothes, dripping from his forehead onto the freshly turned soil below, yet Julius simply wiped it away with the back of his hand before continuing his work.
Hours quietly slipped by without him noticing, each passing moment marked only by the steady rhythm of his farming tool striking the earth.
Only after what felt like several exhausting hours did Julius finally stop. Supporting himself with the handle of the farming tool, he slowly lifted his head toward the sky.
The brilliant blue heavens had long since disappeared, replaced by the breathtaking colors of dusk.
Brilliant shades of orange, crimson, and gold stretched across the horizon as the setting sun cast its final rays over the village.
The warm light bathed the fields in a gentle glow, making the freshly tilled earth shimmer beautifully beneath the evening sky.
Julius quietly admired the view for several moments before wiping the sweat from his forehead one last time. Resting the farming tool across his shoulder, he slowly began making his way back home.
Today’s work was finally finished. Tomorrow he would continue by breaking the soil into fine powder, making it soft enough for planting.
After that, he would spread the natural fertilizer he had purchased from the neighboring village just a few days ago. Once everything was prepared properly, he could finally sow the seeds.
"...Haa..." Julius released another exhausted breath as he walked beneath the darkening sky.
"I hope this year’s harvest is a good one..." he quietly murmured. "I need to save as much money as I can. When our child comes into this world... they’ll need it."
By the time Julius reached the village, countless stars had already appeared overhead, glittering peacefully across the night sky.
Not long afterward, he arrived home. As always, Lyra was already waiting outside for him, welcoming him with the same bright, gentle smile that never seemed to fade.
"Did work go well today?" she asked.
"Yes," Julius replied with a smile.
She handed him a large clay jar filled with cool water. Julius eagerly accepted it, washing the dirt from his hands before raising the jar to his lips and taking several large gulps.
The refreshing water soothed his dry throat almost instantly. After handing the jar back to Lyra, he went inside to wash away the sweat and dust covering his body.
By the time he finished bathing, dinner had already been prepared. The warm meal waiting on the table smelled just as delicious as lunch had.
Julius quietly ate together with Lyra while listening to her happily talk about everything she had done throughout the day.
Occasionally, he nodded along, asking a few questions or smiling whenever she excitedly shared another small story. The peaceful conversation continued until every dish had been emptied.
When dinner was over, the two retired to their bedroom.
The room soon fell into complete silence.
Julius lay on his side, staring quietly into the darkness. Despite the exhausting day of physical labor, sleep refused to come. His body felt tired, but his mind remained strangely awake.
That uncomfortable feeling from earlier still lingered somewhere deep inside his chest.
"...Why do I keep feeling like this?"