CH 106

Tea Party and Lorschel (20)

When she looked at him silently with those distrustful eyes, Kergel raised his hands as if he was going to explain and opened his mouth.

“I’m telling you, I’m also full.”

“Who would even believe that? …”

As soon as Roelin shook her head and tried to continue the conversation, Kergel opened his mouth first.

“There’s a saying. A saying that goes like you’re full just by looking at the food. Honestly, when I heard that, I thought it was utter nonsense. But now, I think that I can grasp how it feels. I feel like I’m full just by looking at you eating.”

“What is that? I’ve heard that parents feel full when they see their children eat, but……”

Roelin muttered in an awkward tone. At the same time, her heart was feeling touched.

In fact, she never thought that it would apply to her at all.

There was nothing more absurd than that for her, who had never been loved by her own parents.

Was it really like that?

Would other people, other parents, be really full just by watching their children eat?

It was unimaginable for her, who had never been truly loved. It was also an unfamiliar feeling to her since she never had been shown any affection either.

But…

‘I think I can know how he feels now too.’

The hope that the other person could enjoy better things than even themselves and enjoy more things with such delight.

The hope that the other person would experience further happiness and live along an infinite smile.

She was more concerned about this man in front of her than she was of herself and she had always been worried.

It must have originated from that kind of mind.

“This is delicious, try it.”

Roelin took one of the dishes in front of her and placed it on Kergel’s plate while concealing her emotion. Then, Kergel continued staring at her before he smiled and opened his mouth.

“Ah.”

“……?”

“If you can, feed me.”

“What?”

Roelin opened her eyes wide, bewildered by Kergel’s words. Regardless, Kergel still opened his mouth naturally and winked as if he was urging her.

“Ker…”

“Hehe.”

Roelin was amazed and tried to dissuade him, but Silloa, who was serving the meal, burst into laughter without even realizing it.

Roelin became more embarrassed and glanced at Kergel. Nevertheless, Kergel still had his mouth casually.

Just as if he would keep doing that if she didn’t feed him.

“Phew…”

She had no choice but to feed him the dish, which she had just recommended.

It was salmon steak with tartar sauce.

“It’s delicious. Is it because you fed me yourself?”

Kergel took a bite and smiled with his eyes. Just then, a whispering voice could be heard.

“Sir, didn’t His Majesty originally hate tartar sauce? He doesn’t like sour things…”

“Well, well!”

However, the whisper was so loud that everyone there had heard it. Lucy coughed awkwardly at Silloa’s words and frowned. Only then did Silloa finally realize her mistake and closed her mouth in a hurry.

But there was already no use in doing that.

“……do you hate tartar sauce? Then, you should have told me earlier.”

Roelin said with a sullen look. Kergel, who became embarrassed by her response, waved his hand and made an excuse.

“No, I don’t really hate it. Who doesn’t even like it? I think the maid had misunderstood my taste. Isn’t that right, Lucy?”

“What? Ah… Yes.”

Lucy, who had suddenly been asked a question, hesitated and was forced to nod when Kergel urged her to answer with his eyes wide open.

However, it definitely looked very awkward to anyone else. In addition, Silloa also became embarrassed as she was at a loss.

Roelin stared at them for a moment with her eyes narrowed and gave a smirk.

What could she even say about the fact that he was eating the food that he usually hated while saying that it had been delicious only because she was the one who recommended it?

His actions and lies were all so cute. So, she ultimately decided to pretend in believing Kergel’s words.

“That’s a relief. Then, you can eat all of this.”

“What?”

“You said that it was delicious.”

It was good for the body if he were to eat them equally and not be picky at all. Roelin laughed while swallowing her own words in return.

* * *

“Haha…”

Roelin was reading a book quietly when she laughed without realizing it. Then, Lucy looked at her with a questioning look.

“Oh, it’s nothing. The book is… interesting.”

“……What? Do you mean that book?”

Lucy’s eyes opened wide. She then turned herself to the thick book that Roelin was reading. It was a book of scholars that had been famous for being upright and strict in everything. It had also been a book that was notorious for being so boring that only a few people were able to eventually read the entire book.

Lucy couldn’t believe that Roelin was laughing at such a book.

When she saw that Lucy’s expression began to get strange, Roelin’s face turned red after she had finally realized her mistake.

“Hmm, hmm. I need to go for a walk. It’s a little hot.”

“I’ll have it ready at once, Empress.”

Lucy had already noticed that Roelin brought up the issue of taking a walk to change the subject, but she simply tried hard to hold back her laughter and bent down.

As soon as Lucy and the other maids were away for a while to prepare for the walk, Roelin took a deep breath and exhaled before she ultimately tapped both of her cheeks with her own hands.

The heat on her cheeks, which was burning with embarrassment, was not subsiding that easily.

“You must be crazy.”

She murmured and as she eventually felt frightened at her own pace, she looked back. And only after she had confirmed once again that there was no one else did she exhale one more time and soon relaxed her body.

“………haha.”

Roelin laughed once more. In fact, she didn’t even laugh because the book was fun.

It was because of Kergel that she laughed. All because of the man who had eaten a lot of dishes which he didn’t even like at lunch earlier.