episode_0008

The next place we headed to was a bakery with the smell of freshly baked goods wafting through the air.

“Why here…?”

“Well, I thought that maybe giving a gift to Confucius would help him feel better.”

Of course it’s a lie.

I didn’t intend to buy it for that purpose.

“Would you like to choose what you want to eat, Princess?”

“… I’m not hungry.”

Ellen averted her eyes.

Gulp.

Immediately a cute sound rang out.

Elin’s ears turned red as she lowered her head.

“… … ”

“Why are you telling lies that will be found out in an instant?”

I’ve been feeling this since a while ago.

Elin is reluctant to receive anything.

Rather than disliking the favor, it feels like there’s something behind it that’s fearful.

Maybe it’s because of anxiety.

“Anyway, choose what you want to eat.”

“Hmm.”

“You can choose what I want to eat.”

“… Okay.”

Only then did Elin nod.

If you had just told me to choose what I wanted to eat, do you really think I wouldn’t have chosen it?

I put Elin down on a chair in the middle of the store and approached the bakery owner.

“Is there something you’re looking for, sir?”

He was a baker with a stylish mustache.

Rondo is like that, and so is this baker.

Is it necessary to have a beard to cook?

“Can you also make custom orders?”

I put down a silver coin.

“Of course. I will make it with the best craftsmanship on the continent. What should I make?”

The baker pounded his chest and snorted.

Somehow it feels like my mustache has grown taller.

“Well, I don’t know the exact name, so I’ll have to explain a little bit. First, it’s dessert… .”

He continued his explanation, mixing in hand gestures.

The baker, who had been listening with a nod, raised his hand in the middle.

“Okay, wait a minute.”

“Why are you like that?”

“That… custom-made dessert, isn’t it for your daughter to eat…?”

The baker winked at Elin.

She was just sitting there, staring blankly, like a doll with its strings cut off.

But here too, there is a misunderstanding about a father-daughter relationship.

Are you really presbyopic?

Luke quickly shook his head and shook his head, thinking it wasn’t an important matter at the moment.

“No. I’ll feed it to someone else.”

Still, the baker’s expression did not brighten easily.

“But isn’t this too much? How much resentment must have been incurred… .”

“So, one silver coin is not enough?”

“No, no! Absolutely not. If I take any more here, I’ll probably get caught.”

The baker quickly shook his head and continued.

“Just… I thought it was to the point where they were trying to assassinate someone.”

assassination?

What does that mean?

He let out a snicker.

“No way. You are exaggerating.”

“Ah… Haha, right? No, I was just joking… .”

The baker quickly changed his subject, sweating profusely.

It was clear that Luke’s mouth was smiling, but his eyes were not.

The golden eyes that shone softly like those of a beast gave me goosebumps.

“How did you know this combination… … Okay, I understand.”

The baker enters the kitchen with an awkward smile.

“Wait, I have one more favor to ask.”

“Uh, what is it?”

The hesitant baker looked anxious.

“I’ll come a little closer.”

I moved closer to the baker so Ellen wouldn’t hear.

The baker closed his eyes tightly after hearing the detailed order.

“This isn’t an easy request. I’ve never made a cake like this before… … .”

“Is it impossible?”

“No way. I’ll do my best.”

The baker’s eyes shone brightly as he received the silver coins.

“Then what you ordered now will be delivered later… .”

“Yes, I will come and get it later.”

Elin, who had not heard the content, tilted her head.

* * * * *

“What were you talking about?”

As soon as I got back, Elin asked.

“It’s a secret.”

It was something I couldn’t tell you right away.

Even if everyone in the world knew, Ellin alone had to not know.

Elin’s eyebrows furrowed slightly, but soon returned to their original state.

“Have you chosen some bread?”

Ellen shook her head.

Why?

I asked him to consider whether Luke would eat it instead if he wasn’t going to eat it.

“I don’t know.”

“Yes?”

“I’ve never had breads like this before, so I don’t know which one tastes good.”

An unexpected answer came out.

Could it be that the Duke’s family didn’t even provide proper bread?

Well, considering how Ellen was treated, it’s obvious that even if she did give him something, he would only give him hard rye bread.

“I was thinking short. Then let’s take a look together.”

He quickly admitted his mistake and crouched down in front of Elin.

He stopped Elin, who was trying to get carried on his back naturally.

“Put your leg on top of your shoulder.”

“… ?”

Ellen did as she was told, although she had doubts.

Hold the leg that is on your shoulder firmly and slowly stand up.

“Be careful not to fall. You can hold your head.”

“읏… .”

Ellen really grabbed Luke’s head.

hobbyhorse.

I chose this position because I thought it would be better than being carried around.

“Let’s look around like this. Tell me anything that looks delicious.”

I slowly walked around the displayed breads.

“… Give me down.”

Perhaps embarrassed, Ellen patted Luke on the head.

It didn’t hurt because I didn’t use any strength.

I feel like a watermelon.

“At least do it properly.”

“Wouldn’t it be much easier to watch this way?”

“… … ”

There was no reply for a while.

Then, as if he had given up, he pulled Luke’s head hard.

“Let’s look from there.”

“Okay.”

He moved according to Elin’s instructions like a chef being controlled by a rat.

“How about this?”

“Hmm… .”

Ellen looked at the bread carefully and sniffed at it.

I picked a few and took them to the counter.

The baker brought out the custom-made bread, which had just been baked.

“… That one smells the best.”

Elin pointed to the custom-made bread, a castella cake that gave off a splendid light.

Of course it will smell delicious.

Because I made it that way on purpose.

“But that bread is dangerous.”

“… Is it dangerous?”

“Yes. Because it is a gift to Confucius.”

“… … Huh?”

Ellen tilted her head.

There was no need to understand it right away.

Because you’ll find out for yourself what happens very soon.

* * * * *

“What are you doing?”

“That’s funny.”

I put various herbs I had just purchased into the custom-made castella cake.

And if you inject mana… .

Flash flash.

The Castella cake puffs up and emits light as if it is about to evolve.

The colorful lights are fading away.

What emerged was a slightly more glossy castella cake.

“Let’s go back now.”

“… … What about the magic grass?”

“Ah.”

I hesitated as I was about to open the portal.

Yeah. Now that I think about it, I actually forgot about the errand.

If we go back like this, no matter how many gifts I give, we’ll just keep running wild.

Luke quickly headed to the magic herb shop.

It’s almost time for the store to close.

I managed to obtain the most powerful magic herb by a hair’s breadth.

Of course, this time I used Gerald’s money.

“Then let’s really go back now.”

Exactly.

I snapped my fingers and opened a portal.

The place we moved to was Elin’s room.

The first thing I discovered there was.

“… What are you doing, coming here now?”

Gerald was very angry… no, his anger had cooled down a little.

“Have you been here the whole time?”

“Then where are you going? He can’t even come out of the room.”

Oh, right.

If you want to get something from Elin, you have to come to this room anyway.

So you’re saying I was here after killing you?

At this point, it’s one of two things.

In reality, he’s a tsundere older brother who only treats you badly on the outside.

If you have severe mana addiction to the point where you have to wait helplessly.

Of course, Gerald was the latter.

“Did you bring the magic herb properly? Or you’ll really die… … .”

“Of course.”

He handed me the magic herb he had just bought.

Gerald took it with trembling hands.

The shaking is a little severe.

Are you tired of being angry or just exhausted from mana addiction?

When reasonable doubt solidifies into certainty.

Gerald began to smoke the magic herb quietly.

“Smoking is prohibited in the Princess’s room.”

“Shut up.”

“My name is not Dakcheo, Confucius.”

“… … Phew.”

Gerald passes by, hitting Luke on the shoulder as if he doesn’t have the strength to fight back.

“Ah… This is it. It’s the strongest one. I bought it well, so I’ll skip it today… .”

“Oh, please wait a moment.”

I can’t just let it go like this.

“Here, it’s so late, I brought a gift too.”

“Hmm? Ha, I guess you still have thoughts.”

Anyone could see that it was just empty words.

Gerald took the castella without a doubt.

“… What is this? Is this the first time I’ve seen this?”

Gerald’s eyes widened as he sniffed the scent.

“This is a custom-made bread. I put in a little bit of sincerity to apologize for earlier.”

He made a ring shape with his hands.

Gerald, who understood the meaning, raised the corners of his lips.

It clearly resembled Elin, but it was an unlucky face that did not give off any feelings.

“Okay. I’ll eat it because I appreciate your sincerity.”

Then take it into your mouth.

As the bread got closer to Gerald’s mouth.

Luke had a hard time controlling the corners of his lips from twitching.

Fluffy-

Gerald took a bite of the bread.

“How is it?”

I couldn’t hold back my laughter, so I asked.

“It tastes better than I thought… hmm… ?”

Gerald, who had been sulking, covers his mouth.

His face turns pale.

“Ugh… .”

Gerald covers his mouth and runs off somewhere.

I knew where I was going without even asking.

“… Teacher?”

Only then does Elin realize something is strange and grab Luke’s collar.

“You know now, Your Majesty.”

“… What?”

Elin looks up at Luke with slightly anxious eyes.

“What happens if you touch the princess?”

“… What did you put in it?”

“It’s nothing. It’s not poison… … It’s just a mixture of herbs.”

“… Is that okay?”

Elin asked with a worried voice.

“If you do that and get kicked out… .”

Of course, the concern wasn’t directed at Gerald.

Who cares what happens to Gerald?

He was a man who always made me run errands and beat me if I rebelled even a little bit.

Rather, I was worried that the good-natured Luke would be kicked out.

“Of course it’s okay. I’ll just have to go to the bathroom more often. Do you think Confucius would kick me out for something like that?”

Luke grinned.

“And since you did that to the princess, shouldn’t you at least be able to bear a stomachache?”

Ellen nodded slowly.

That’s right.

Gerald used to hit Ellen’s stomach so that the wound wouldn’t be visible.

I even felt a little bit refreshed.

“You’re going to have a hard time today.”

Luke muttered as he looked down the hallway Gerald had left.

I don’t know, though.

The golden eyes buried between the dark circles were shining with a soft madness.

* * * * *

The next day.

I went to see Elin with light steps.

He woke up Elin, who was still half-asleep, and cleared her throat.

“Princess. I have good news.”

“… What is it?”

Elin, still half asleep, yawned slightly.

“The maids saw Confucius going to the bathroom a lot yesterday. They gave up counting after 26 times.”

Elin’s stupid hair stood on end as she blinked.

Only then did I remember what I had done to Gerald yesterday.

“Now you know clearly. What happens if you touch the princess? So from now on, don’t worry. If anyone tries to harm me, I’ll lock them in the bathroom… … .”

Let’s give a speech on 101 reasons why you shouldn’t mess with Ellen.

“… Heh.”

A cute sound came out.

There’s no way Luke would have done that.

If I had made a sound like that, I would have slapped myself.

In that case, there is only one culprit.

“Are you laughing now?”

“… … Oh, no?”

Of course, Elin looked more surprised than Luke.

Why are you surprised when you’re laughing yourself?

anyway.

A sense of pride welled up from the depths of my heart.

It was just a snicker.

But that small reaction was a sweeter compliment to Luke than any reward.

“Did you know that? Actually, this kind of combination is also done with space magic.”

“Then what I saw yesterday… … .”

“That’s right. I made it by mixing some herbs with magic.”

The tone of voice rose on its own.

“How is it? Isn’t this the first time you’ve seen this kind of magic? It’s a magic that only I can teach you. If you want, I can teach you.”

“Can I do it too?”

“You can definitely do it.”

He conveyed his message with great confidence.

Ellen nodded slightly as if possessed.

“… Teach me.”

“You found enthusiasm. Good.”

The moment when Ellen’s expressionless face takes on color.

Luke had no intention of missing that little gap.

“My class will be very interesting, so please look forward to it.”