episode_0135

After thoroughly washing and disinfecting the wine bottle, I returned to the academy with new wine.

I thought about changing the bottle, but I felt there was no need to go that far, so I ended up just washing and disinfecting.

It was washed and sterilized not once, but more than four times, so it is unlikely that opium will be detected in the wine.

“Is it lunch already? … .”

Well, thanks to that, I only got back to the academy after the sun rose in the sky, but it wasn’t really a waste of time because it’s better to get everything taken care of. Anyway, there is nothing urgent that needs to be resolved right away.

Anyway, when I returned to the academy, I didn’t immediately go to ask for wine, but instead walked towards the dormitory, hiding the wine bottle in my chest to wait until nightfall.

I would like to immediately bury the wine and take care of the matter by delivering the letter to Priscilla, but… … .

―I’m going to have lunch. Do you want to go with me?

―What does it mean to have a friendly match with the Knight Academy?

―Ahh, it’s summer now… … .

-I guess I should stop by the training ground.

Since it was the weekend and it was noon, there were too many people walking around, so I gave up.

Think about it. Excluding the royal family, what would anyone think if they saw the princess of the duke family, who has the most power in the kingdom, digging the ground with a shovel in the middle of the day?

Using earth magic is one way, but this method is also out of the question because it will leave a magic mark and arouse suspicion. In the end, the only answer is to just wait until night falls.

“Ha… … .”

I looked at the many people walking around, each sharing their own stories, for a moment, and then started walking again.

When I arrived at the dormitory, I naturally opened the door and went in.

“I went there――”

Oh right.

I almost said I had been there unconsciously, so I blinked for a moment and looked around.

Only after confirming that there was no one in the hallway or room, I smiled bitterly and entered the room.

“Phew… … .”

After hiding the wine I brought from the villa under the bed, I sat down on the bed and stared blankly ahead.

The bed where Hermel always lay or sat was empty, with only a little warmth remaining. Since it was the weekend, he probably went to the training ground to swing his sword like before, or to the restaurant to have lunch.

Because I had moved without eating breakfast, my stomach was growling and crying out for food, but I didn’t feel like eating anything, so I just laid down in bed.

“Once the head of the family dies, that’s when the real beginning begins.”

Many people will die. A lot of people will get hurt. The country will be turned upside down, and this generation’s king will be the last monarch of the Trueno dynasty.

but… … . What’s a little unsettling is Seria’s presence. Because he’s a squire who doesn’t know where to go with the foolish reason of wanting a happy ending.

Well, it’s okay anyway. It’s okay for Ceria to be helpful to Hermel, she’s not a threat. okay. That alone makes it a risk that Seria can easily endure.

by the way… … .

“I can’t sleep.”

I was absent-mindedly counting the stains on the ceiling and slowly sat up.

I was so tired that just sitting down from lying down gave me a headache and pain, but I felt like if I lay down again, I wouldn’t be able to fall asleep and my headache would only get worse, so I just got up.

There’s still a lot of time left until the sun sets, and even if I lie down here, I won’t be able to sleep. What should I be doing in the meantime?

“… … .”

Thinking it was about time, I patted my stomach as my belly button chimed again.

“Ha.”

I really hated my stomach for crying without notice even in this situation.

But what can you do? It’s a physiological phenomenon that any living person naturally has.

I sighed, touched the back of my neck, and stood up.

“Should I go get something to eat too… … .”

Tuk-tuk. I came out, pounding my shoulders, which were heavy from fatigue, with my fists. I looked at several people walking in the direction of the restaurant, and then walked in the opposite direction from them.

The place we arrived at was, of course, in front of the Blue Door Cafe. Although there was no light on inside, the scent of coffee flowing out even though the door was not opened told me that there was someone inside.

I stopped reaching for the door handle for a moment.

After thinking for a moment, I opened the door and entered the cafe. I made eye contact with the cafe owner, who was sitting at the counter and quietly drinking coffee.

“Uh.”

He looked a little surprised, as if he didn’t know I was coming. I smiled quietly and said hello.

“Hello. It’s been a while.”

The cafe owner blinked for a moment at my greeting, then stood up with a small smile.

“Ah, welcome. I was a little surprised because I didn’t know you would come at this time.”

“No, it’s okay. It was my fault for coming outside of business hours.”

I shook my head and answered, and the cafe owner said it was okay and got up.

“Oh, did I somehow interrupt meal time?”

“No, no. I finished preparing for the evening business and just sat there because I had nothing to do. Now, please sit down in a comfortable seat.”

“Thank you for your consideration.”

As I said that, instead of going to the counter seat where I always sat, I headed to the table inside, a little away from the window.

“Can I prepare something you always eat?”

The cafe owner asked me that while lightly washing his hands, and after thinking for a moment, I smiled bitterly and said,

“No, I want to eat something a little different today.”

“Um… … . It’s a little different… … . What specifically would you like to eat differently?”

“That’s right… … .”

I looked out the window for a moment and answered his words.

“Coffee, pasta, orange juice, anything that isn’t pancakes is fine.”

Coffee, orange juice, pancakes, pasta, all foods that remind me of Hermel.

Ha, me too. When did you ask about something like this? … . Feeling so empty that I couldn’t even smile, I answered like that and quietly clenched my chin.

“Hmm. Would you like to prepare a meal for you?”

“Yes. Please do me a favor.”

The cafe owner nodded at my answer and went straight into the kitchen.

Inside the cafe, which suddenly became quiet, the scent of the coffee the cafe owner had been drinking earlier was in the air.

“… … .”

As it happens, the spot where the coffee was placed was where I always sat, and where I sat when I visited with Hermel.

Same store, same place, same coffee, same smell. All of those things pierced my memory, and the memories of that night came back to me, albeit vaguely, in reality.

‘Hehe, if Charles likes it, I like it too!’

‘Do you want to try some coffee?’

‘Ah, but that black water is a bit… … .’

It was definitely a happy and good memory, but I couldn’t help but smile.

My eyebrows naturally narrowed, and I chewed my lips without realizing it. I narrowed my eyes and let out a trembling sigh.

“It’s only one day… … . It’s only one day… … .”

It’s only one day, but you are so–

Sigh!!

I tapped my forehead with my palm so hard that my head throbbed.

Thanks to this, I got a headache that I didn’t have before and my forehead felt tingly. At least I was able to crush the weak thoughts that surfaced.

I’m glad. I was worried that this damned thought would only break my bones.

“Phew… … .”

I really don’t want to think about it, so I hit my forehead and the pain forced me to stop thinking.

He resembles Hermel so much that it brings tears to my eyes.

I laughed bitterly, closed my eyes, and stroked my numb forehead. After touching my forehead like that, I opened my eyes to the faint scent of muscat tickling the tip of my nose.

“The tea prepared is Darjeeling and Dumul tea harvested this month. Since there was no request, no milk or sugar was added, and the food prepared together was a sandwich. Enjoy your meal.”

“Thank you.”

I smiled the best smile I could muster and quietly savored my tea.

Although it is not a stronger scent than coffee, I savored the tea as slowly as possible as I felt that the scent of coffee was somewhat lightened just by quietly holding it in my mouth.

“By the way, you stopped by the cafe during lunch time today for some reason.”

“… … Yes?”

As I was drinking tea with my eyes closed to forget the smell of coffee, I responded to the cafe owner’s question about half a beat late.

The cafe owner smiled slightly and continued speaking.

“Starting one day, you completely stopped visiting during lunch time, so I was wondering if you would use the student cafeteria from now on. Today, for some reason, he came to me during lunch time and asked. It doesn’t have any special meaning.”

“Ah… … . okay. hmm… … .”

I don’t have the courage to face Hermel, who is awake yet.

Knowing I couldn’t say that, I just smiled bitterly and shook my head.

“I just wanted to drink tea today. There is no particular reason.”

“Is that so? I was worried because you didn’t look that good, but I was relieved to hear that everything was fine.”

“Are you worried that the number of customers will decrease?”

“Haha. Because it’s a cafe I run as a hobby. Rather than worrying about the customer, it’s about worrying about the other person.”

“Be kind too.”

I smiled and ate my tea and food. After about an hour, we were able to finish a light lunch.

The Darjeeling that was left until the very end ran out, and even the little bit of Darjeeling that was in my mouth disappeared down my throat. The scent of coffee, which had been hidden for a while, raised my head again.

Feeling that I had to go somewhere else quickly, I quickly finished paying and headed towards the door of the cafe.

“I enjoyed it.”

“Yes, please stop by next time.”

“I’ll think about it.”

I smiled vaguely and answered, then left the cafe and started walking.

“Please stop by again next time――La… … .”

well. I guess I won’t have to go again next time.

This is why I didn’t want to make memories.

Now even cafes are no longer my sanctuary.

“Haha… … .”

Even though I didn’t drink coffee, I let out a small sigh and a sneer at the bitter taste lingering in my mouth.