CH 8.19

“Ugh, s-sweet potato pie…?”

“Of the sweet potatoes that the farmer raised with all his heart, only the special grade was separately collected and brought. After peeling and crushing them one by one, plenty of honey was added. And it’s baked in the oven until it becomes golden brown. Do you want a piece, miss?”

Gulp. Just listening to how it was prepared makes my mouth water, and the finished product is right in front of my eyes.

Theobald cut the pie and even lifted a piece.

It goes without saying that the glossy inside of the pie looks very sweet.

If you take a bite immediately, it will feel like sitting on a sweet potato slide and sliding down to pick up star candy.

“I will eat.”

“Really, miss?”

“Yes, I will eat. Two pieces!”

“Great. I’ll give you two large ones.”

Theobalt laughed heartily.

Well, I thought I was eating well, but in Theobalt’s eyes, it didn’t seem like it at all.

I can’t believe he tempted me by giving an explanation.

If you think of the farmers’ hard work, I can’t resist eating.

“Oh, it’s delicious.”

Who said that she would just eat a little and get up immediately?

I inhaled the pie like a demon.

aAnd after a while.

“Huh.”

I’m full. My stomach was so full that I couldn’t put anything more on it.

My body is so heavy that I wonder if I will be able to get on top of the horse.

‘No, if I go up now, the horse will suffer… ?’

What if the horse gets angry?

Having never seen a pony in person, I had no idea how small it was.

It may be a colt, but it will surely come in different sizes.

When I arrived at the stable with all sorts of thoughts, a much more lovely child than I thought greeted me.

“So cute!”

Neighhh. A small pony among the large warhorses peacefully gnaws at the hay.

Its height was average, but it was alone which made him stand out and easy to distinguish.

“Sumba is a species that was brought from a country across the desert. It was an offering from the Ram clan princess, but His Majesty asked if I would like to keep it, I thought of you and asked for it.”

“How about it? What’s its name?”

“It does not have one yet… you can name it. I want you to be the one to give him a name.”

“Really? then…”

Oh my, how could it be this adorable.

I looked left and right at the horse, which was chewing the hay eagerly.

Then I finally made a decision.

“I’ll name it Siwoo.”

“Siwoo?”

“Yes, the middle part of your name*.”

*(Lacius is spelled Lasi(w)us in Korean. They often add ‘w’ sound when reading ‘u’ so that’s why it became Siwoo when it was actually spelled Si-u. )

It was a familiar sound, so it would be easier to pronounce.

“Siwoo.”

I held out my hand to the pony and called it.

Since the horse’s eyes are on both sides, it seems that it doesn’t see what is in its front, so I slowly take my hand to the side.

But that was then.

-This is too much.

“Hiinggg!”

-I’m Cat, so why is that Siwoo?

A dark shadow fell over my head, and at that moment, something large and monstrous thing flew over.

It literally flies like a flying squirrel and gently lands on a pile of hay.

Hiingggg!

Unlike other horses, who have already felt Cat’s energy several times and are now calm, Siwoo jumped up in surprise.

“Cat! You’ll scared the baby!”

-Baby? That?

“Ugh, why are you so grumpy? Cat was a pretty nice name.”

-Hmph.

Cat turned his head and glared fiercely at Siwoo.

While doing so, he tapped his tail, and the hay got blown away.

“Pweh!”

As if it were fun, he deliberately hit the hay with his forepaw, causing dust to enter my mouth.

I stuck out my tongue and glared at Cat, but it had already disappeared somewhere.

“He seems to be doing that because he thinks your affection is being taken away from him.”

Lacius spoke kindly and removed the hay from my head.

It must be because Lacius is handsome, but the straw between his fingers looks like a luxury item.

“We’ll take a carriage then move to a plane because the place is quite far. We’re going to a secluded suburb, it has nearby good fields to run around in. It’s a place purposely managed for horseback riding, so it’ll be comfortable.”

“Huh!”

Siwoo seemed to be frightened by the cat, but he still moved to the plane without difficulty.

I constantly stroked Siwoo’s mane and gave him the sugar cube I had prepared to help him find stability.

“Oh, it tickles.”

Siwoo’s tongue ran over the sugar cube on my palm.

Then, as if he is in a good mood, he pricked up his ears and cried.

The inside of the plane was so wide that it seemed wide enough to carry three or four more ponies like Siwoo.

“Oh, by the way, Lashin. You’re not going to ride a horse?”

“I’ll be riding with you today.”

“Aha. But why? Is it necessary for first time riders?”

“Yes. If you suddenly encounter a snake, the horse might get startled and raise its front paws. Falling off the horse is dangerous.”

“Ugh, you can get seriously hurt.”

“Although falling off a pony won’t kill anyone, it might graze your knee.”

“… … ?”

Ugh, this guy. He’s saying this so seriously as if getting my knees scratched was a big deal…

As I always thought, Lacius tends to be overprotective of me.

‘Before, he said that since I’m a painting wizard, I wouldn’t have to worry about assassins.’

But nowadays, no assassin visits in the night. The reason was that Lacius installed many knights in the mansion.

To be honest, it would be more difficult now to find a place in the mansion where there are no knights.

“We’re here.”

The plane flying in the sky gets close in the sun.

Lacius’ blonde hair glistened in the sunlight.

I loved seeing him like that.

A man as dignified and beautiful as a masterpiece. He’s not overly handsome. 

He’s an understated beauty. So I never get tired of watching him.

It was to the point of wanting to draw a doll that looked just like him and be with it forever.

I will never meet a man like this again in my life.

“Shay?”

When I didn’t answer, Lacius turned to me with a puzzled look.

In fact, I really liked hearing his voice.

A gentle call with a hint of worry, as if to ask if you’re okay.

Maybe it’s something only I in this world can hear right now.

After Lacius meets the heroine of the original story, all of this will disappear like a bubble, but I thought I’d be fine if I became like the little mermaid.

If I could buy this moment with money, I would store it and replay it until I die.