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Chapter 20
“Ah, I see…”
I opened my bleary eyes and nodded.
So, young master nobles learn cooking because they want to make food for the person they like.
And the result of that was this delicious stew.
Well, if that’s how As thinks, then so be it.
Thinking that to myself, I continued speaking.
“As, the stew was really delicious. Thank you so much for making me such a tasty meal. But you’re still young, so you don’t need to do things like this from now on. Do you know how dangerous and difficult it is to handle fire and knives?”
“……”
“Children should just enjoy eating the food adults make for them and play happily. Oh, of course you need to study hard too…”
“Einra, I’m not a child. Cooking is something I can do well enough.”
As cut me off firmly.
Flustered by the way his mood seemed a little sour, I quickly waved both hands.
“No, I didn’t mean you can’t do it…! I just meant that children should naturally be looked after by adults!”
“I’m not a child, I’m an adu—hah…”
As stopped mid-sentence and sighed, looking strangely disheartened, as if reality had just hit him.
He looked like I shouldn’t prod him anymore, so I rolled my eyes around awkwardly and hurried to change the subject.
“Oh, right! Do you like spicy food?”
“…Why are you asking that all of a sudden?”
“Well, most people don’t like spicy food, you know? But since the stew had a bit of a spicy kick, I was just curious.”
For a moment, As’s eyes flickered.
But as if that had just been my imagination, the next instant he smiled casually and replied,
“I don’t like it.”
“……”
“But… I might end up cooking for someone who does like spicy food.”
As spoke calmly.
For some reason, my body froze like it had been nailed down. My mind went blank—I couldn’t even figure out what to say.
I just sat there staring blankly at him, like a broken doll.
Ding-ling.
A bell rang from downstairs. The sound that chimed at the front door whenever a visitor arrived.
I silently showered thanks upon this unknown guest who had rescued me from the awkwardness, and jumped to my feet.
“Looks like someone’s here. As, if you’re feeling well enough, come downstairs slowly. Don’t push yourself!”
I lightly patted As on the head before hurrying downstairs.
“Who is it?”
When I opened the door, a low chuckle came from just above my head.
I looked up—and was met by a pair of sky-blue eyes curving warmly as they looked at me.
“Did you run here, Einra?”
The voice I had always only heard through the crystal orb now brushed directly against my ears.
The breeze blew by, brushing against his honey-colored hair.
“Did you really miss me that much?”
My dearest Harnen stood at the doorway, smiling at me.
“Harnen!”
Overjoyed, I broke into a wide grin and threw my arms around him.
Harnen laughed softly, like he was melting, and mussed my hair with his hand.
“You’ve gotten clingier since the last time I saw you. Is it just my imagination?”
“If you hadn’t stayed away for so long, I wouldn’t be like this! I missed you so much!”
I pulled away from his arms, half complaining.
Then I held his cheeks and carefully examined his face.
“You haven’t been neglecting meals just because I wasn’t around, right? You’ve been eating properly?”
“Since you were worrying about me, I made sure to eat well. How’s that? Did I do a good job?”
Tilting his head like a puppy wanting praise, Harnen looked at me expectantly.
I chuckled and patted his head in approval.
“Yeah, you did well. Health comes first, above all else. Got it?”
“If that’s what you want, Einra.”
Like a well-trained golden retriever, Harnen lowered his gaze obediently, accepting my touch. Then, suddenly, his eyes shifted behind me.
His gaze seemed to turn colder, and just as I was about to turn around in puzzlement, a quiet voice came from behind.
“…Who is that person?”
It was the first time I’d ever heard As’s voice so cold.
Startled, I quickly turned back.
There stood As, smiling faintly at the corners of his lips—but his eyes were fixed intently on Harnen.
“Ah, um, As, this person is—”
“Nice to meet you, little young master.”
Before I could even introduce them, Harnen smiled first and spoke.
“My name is Harnen. I’m Einra’s closest friend.”
“……!”
I clapped a hand over my mouth in shock.
My favorite person had just personally called me his “closest friend.” My chest swelled so much I was nearly in tears.
But As’s reaction was… quite different from mine.
“Ah, I see.”
Answering half-heartedly, As twisted his lips as if annoyed.
“So, you’re Einra’s… closest… friend?”
“That’s right, ‘little one.’ By the way, who might you be? You weren’t here not too long ago…”
Harnen tilted his head innocently, putting emphasis on the word little one.
As’s crimson eyes flashed dangerously for an instant.
My earlier joy vanished in an instant—I could only keep my mouth shut and dart my eyes around nervously.
This… this was not the atmosphere I had been hoping for.
But soon, As smiled brightly again as he answered Harnen’s question.
“Nice to meet you, Brother Harnen. I’m As. Einra picked me up after I collapsed unconscious. She’s been taking care of me ever since. She even puts me to sleep so I don’t have nightmares.”
“…Puts you to sleep?”
The smile vanished from Harnen’s face.
I couldn’t let this sharp, dangerous mood drag on any longer.
Quickly, I stepped between the two of them.
“Alright, you two! Let me properly introduce you again!”
Pointing to Harnen, I told As,
“As! This is Harnen. He graduated from the same academy as me—he’s my childhood friend. He works as a sorcerer in the capital, and he’s on vacation right now, so he came to visit me.”
Then I pointed to As and told Harnen,
“And Harnen! This is As. A week ago, I found him collapsed and unconscious, so I treated him. He said he doesn’t remember anything except his name, so he’s staying with me for now. Since he’s really scared of nightmares, I promised I’d help him sleep starting yesterday.”
I grabbed their hands and clasped them together.
“You’ll be living together for a while, so let’s all get along well, okay?”
“Shake hands!” I declared, and though both of them were staring coldly at each other, they soon curved their lips into smiles and gripped hands firmly.
“Nice to meet you, As.”
“Likewise, Brother Harnen.”
For a moment, I thought I saw vein marks etched into their smiling faces—but I forced myself to deny reality and smiled brightly.
It was fine.
…Really, it was fine.
