Chapter 28

Chapter 28

“Thank you.”

“No, it’s nothing.”

At Tatar’s words, Leasis clapped her hands. She spoke with an embarrassing face.

“It’s the Knights’ job, and I’m embarrassed that I’m being presumptuous.”

“No. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Thanks to you, we, the Ichrissen family, will be able to move forward.”

Leasis blushed. A warm voice like Neren’s rang her ears. Tatar bowed his head. He looked up and smiled. There seemed to be a faint scent of spring somewhere.

He was staring blankly, but his hand moved like an excellent conductor. The blue pattern carved on the back of his hand shone brightly, and the ground covered by water like a lake froze tightly. On top of it, small and cute things such as ice flowers, chairs, frogs and butterflies rose one by one.

Tatar shook hands with Leasis and turned his head. There was a carriage with an imperial emblem on the hill far away. Fortunately, he had no business with it. Instead of covering up the incident, Tatar agreed with Hizen. If something happened to the Imperial Family and to the Empire, he would cooperate with the Imperial Elite Knights with all his might.

There were also some unexpected things. Hizen did not receive the Fairy Tears. He had said he would spend his own money on the mission and even sponsor Tatar’s nephews. He had said that the children could cost unplanned money growing up, and he did not even get a truffle. Tatar refused, but Hizen was too stubborn. In the end, Tatar promised to pay the debt in the future.

Now that the museum was gone, the Ichrissen family would also be in a crisis for a while. Leasis looked anxiously at Tatar. But his expression was light.

“I’m going to make sculptures for children with my speciality, ice magic. And the Fairy Tears will melt in my mother’s grave. I’ll be truly comfortable now.”

“I’m glad.”

“I’m sorry, by the way. You hurt your hand because of me…”

Tatar opened his eyes wide as he looked at her hand. It had been bleeding, but it was now perfectly healed.

“But when did you treat your hand?”

“Oh… a little while ago.”

Did she bring a healing amulet? She came with the Imperial Elite Knights, who could not have come without a cure. Tatar understood easily.

After saying goodbye to him, Leasis got on the carriage. But the atmosphere was tensed. She could even hear the sound of swallowing saliva.

Leasis peeked at Hizen sitting next to her. Leaning on the carriage, he had closed his eyes slightly, perhaps a little tired.

He looked more handsome today. When Leasis stared at him, he sighed.

“If you have something to say, say it.”

“…Count-nim. Did you keep your eyes open?”

Max burst into laughter at the unexpected question. However, when he felt Hizen’s fierce gaze, he turned his head with a false cough.

Hizen lowered his gaze. Her hands were neatly placed on her slightly wet white apron. They were red and swollen, but there was no sign of blood.

She had been foolishly injured again for the sake of others. He would go back and give her a cure, and then nag her properly. Hizen, who had made up his mind, closed his eyes again.

* * *

The first place where Leasis stopped by after arriving at the Imperial Palace was the kitchen. She hesitated in front of the huge imperial kitchen.

On the way, Kasha came across her. She approached her with a happy face.

“Leasis!”

“Oh. Hello, Kasha-nim.”

“Yes. What brings you here?”

At first glance, it seemed a bit like a reproach, but it was a friendly greeting. Leasis said with a bright smile.

“I’d like to use the kitchen.”

“The kitchen?”

“Yes.”

Recently, Count Dratius’ direct maid was the talk of the town. The Count was said to be exceptionally good to her. Kasha, of course, was not naive enough to believe rumors.

“Isn’t it Count Dratius ordering you to make a meal? Tell me the truth.”

“No.”

Leasis, shaking her head, calmly explained. She said she wanted to prepare snacks for the Imperial Elite Knights to repay their kindness to Liduré, who had been indebted to them in the past.

It was also good for Liduré to receive evaluations, as she intended to present their new macarons to regular customers first.

Kasha’s long torn eyes bent. Smiling gently, Kasha patted her on the back.

“That’s a very nice heart. How much time do you need to use the kitchen?”

“An hour is enough.”

“Wait a minute.”

Kasha entered the palace kitchen and said something to the surrounding servants. She looked like she was haggling for a while, and she gestured.

“Come here, Leasis.”

“Oh… thank you!”

Her red eyes twinkled. Standing in front of the counter, she quickly made macarons.

The imperial chefs who were cooking nearby also opened their mouths. They even spied on her, who was giving off the unusual spirit of a master.

Leasis, who made the macarons in an instant, shook her hands. She smiled proudly at the fine pink macarons.

This many would be enough, the tray was already overflowing. She was a bit itchy thinking of Hizen, who would sleep soundly after eating her own macarons. She felt overwhelmed as if she had climbed a mountain for the first time, and she was as excited as when she first came to the Imperial Palace. She wanted to go quickly even though she was not in a hurry. Right now, she really wanted to go.

She ran with a tray full of macarons. The surrounding nobles glanced at her as she passed by with pink macarons glittering appetizingly, with a sweet and fragrant smell.

“Miss Leeeeeeeaasis!”

Jason ran out when she arrived at the entrance of the Imperial Elite Knights. It was a voice like the howling of a polite goat. Leasis smiled pleasantly.

“Hello, Jason-nim.”

“Where the hell did you go last night? I was worried!”

“I had work to do. But it worked out well.”

“That’s a relief. By the way, why do you have macarons?”

She became a little shy. Leasis spoke refreshingly, encouraging her mouth to open up.

“I wanted to show you the new macarons and made some snacks.”

“I’ll hold it for you!”

“It’s all right. It’s light.”

“But I still…”

“No. I want to give it to you myself.”

Leasis hummed and reached the Imperial Elite Knights. Then Jason, who was following, said anxiously.

“You know… the Commander-nim won’t like snacks like this.”

“Well, I don’t know.”

Leasis smiled meaningfully and entered the cafeteria. The rest of the group looked up and saw her.

“What is this!”

“Oh oh oh!”

“Hehe. It’s a snack. Take it as you pleased.”

The knights took macarons with their eyes shining. As the macarons that filled the tray gradually began to run out, Jason crumpled two of them in his mouth.

At some point, the air in the cafeteria became cold. Turning his head, he saw Hizen and Max. Jason gulped down the macarons and froze to salute.

“I see the C-Commander-nim!”

Hizen frowned. The next thing he hated after Princess Ashley was the noise.

They had been quiet lately, but what was going on? While looking around the cafeteria, his blue eyes found a girl.

‘Again, it’s her.’

Suddenly, he felt a headache. Whenever he left the maid without work to do, he would find her at the cafeteria. And she would be surrounded by the annoying Jason and the other knights.

One of Hizen’s eyebrows went up. Leasis was the same today as before. Also, even though she was not confident, she had such a comfortable and happy face. He pressed his lips because he did not like it.

Some frightened knights fell beside Leasis. Knowing nothing, she smiled brightly.

“Well, Count Dratius-nim.”

“Tell me.”

“It’s a new macaron to be released at the Liduré bakery where I worked.”

“So?”

Leasis liked it even though it was a sharp counterpoint. It was a great improvement just to get an answer from him. She said, fiddling with her fingers and a little embarrassed.

“It’s break time, so I’m giving you a little sample, is it okay?”

It was not worth answering. Hizen silently moved to get some coffee. When he looked at the cups on the shelf, he saw her chasing after him. She looked like a puppy following his owner.

“…Why are you following me?”

She was bothering him. Hizen’s cool eyes poked her cheeks. However, his opponent did not surrend.

She put a pink macaron in front of his mouth.

“Could you please try it for me, Count-nim?”

Oh, my God!

Jason, who was watching from afar, shook his head. Wasn’t sweet one of the things the Commander hated the most?

As expected, Hizen’s reaction came out. He turned his head, shaking his eyes slightly as if he was angry.

“Get away from me.”

“Don’t do that, just once. Just once. Yes?”

“Get rid of it!”

Hizen shouted out loud. Something was going to happen. The nervous knights asked Max with their eyes.

‘Can we leave it like this?’

‘Don’t worry.’

Max spoke softly and sat on the chair. There was a commotion in his ears.

“Come on. Don’t do that, try it just once. Ah!~”

“I’m not going to eat it.”

“It was done with sincerity.”

“That’s enough!… Oom!”

“Hehe. What do you think?”

Hizen was made speechless by the sweetness overflowing his mouth.

“How is it?”

His tongue was tingling, and her red eyes were finely curved in front of him. He shouted with one hand covering his red face.

“It tastes awful!”

She had got his taste right. Max sipped some coffee and smiled broadly.