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chapter 40
When Lynette saw Cheese showing off such blatant, self-serving cuteness for the first time, she couldn’t help but chuckle. After being threatened with no peanuts, Cheese had completely surrendered, and now with his little pink jelly-paw pads he was kneading at Lynette’s shoulder.
Meow, meow!
“Don’t act cute now. It’s too obvious.”
Myang.
Cheese looked up at her with innocent eyes, as if he didn’t know a thing — a real sly little creature. He’d gotten heavier lately thanks to all the food, and now he tilted his head before burying his face in her chest and blinking his eyes.
Fine. Damn it. I’ve lost.
“All right, all right. Stop it now and sit quietly on the chair.”
The power of peanuts was greater than she’d thought. If she used that trick too often, it might lose its effect, so she decided she’d have to keep it in reserve for a while.
Cheese wriggled out of her arms, went to his designated spot, and lay down calmly. Then he covered his eyes with his pink jelly paws and went to sleep. If only he could always be this cute.
“Lynette, do men always talk like that?”
“Yes.”
To tell the truth, there had been plenty of situations like that. Men flirting while drinking coffee in the café run by a young female owner was nothing new. Thankfully, regulars often intervened before anything serious could happen.
“Lynette, never give those kinds of men an opening. They’re not there for coffee, they’re there with ulterior motives.”
“I can handle that myself, so instead of worrying about me, maybe you should worry about the woman who was just in front of you…”
Even if he wanted to ignore it, Sian couldn’t help but look around. The woman who’d been at the counter earlier was already gone. She’d left with a sullen face, not even finishing half her coffee when she realized Sian wasn’t paying her any attention.
“I only see you in front of me.”
“Don’t worry about the woman in front of you and just go. Don’t forget we’re meeting tomorrow.”
When Lynette gave him a gentle smile, Sian also smiled faintly and gave her a small bow. After sending him off, Lynette closed up and went straight home, carrying Cheese. The warm bathwater and the food waiting for her were all Katrin’s doing.
“You must be tired again today. Go wash up and eat right away.”
There’s nothing as nice as someone greeting you when you come home. Hugged in Katrin’s warm, soft arms, Lynette pressed her face into Katrin’s chest.
“I’m back, Katrin.”
“Welcome home, my lady.”
It was just a simple greeting, but Katrin’s face was full of smiles. Watching Lynette slip away to wash, Katrin quickly began setting the table with Lynette’s favorites.
“But Katrin, what do you like?”
“Mm… the pancakes and dumplings you made. They were really delicious. But when I tried making them myself, I just couldn’t get that flavor.”
“Then I’ll make them for you next time.”
After washing up with Cheese, Lynette ate Katrin’s food heartily. Katrin dabbed Lynette’s lips with a napkin. Nobody could be in a bad mood when someone ate their cooking so happily.
“Will you be doing your coffee experiment again tomorrow? I wish you’d just rest.”
“I’ve got a date scheduled for tomorrow evening, so I have to go out.”
At Lynette’s words, Katrin’s eyes went wide. A date with someone other than that rotten Fernando? Katrin looked even more excited than Lynette about this first date in 22 years.
“Who is it?”
“Oh, you know him. Sian — the regular who always wears his hat pulled down low.”
“Oh! When did things get that far with him?”
“It’s not like that. He said people are afraid of his eyes at night, so we’re going to test that out. Don’t get weird ideas.”
Lynette shook her head, but Katrin’s face was full of hopeful excitement.
“My lady, you don’t have to come home tomorrow night.”
“Hmm?”
“You can spend the whole night enjoying yourself. Ohohoho!”
“I told you it’s not like that.”
“If it’s not like that, then make it like that. Ah! Looks like tomorrow will be busy from the morning.”
❅
Apparently fired up, Katrin forced Lynette out of bed early the next morning. She immediately called a masseuse. It was her lady’s first date — she couldn’t let her go out looking drab — so Lynette was dragged through an aroma bath and then a skin massage.
Lynette protested that more sleep would do more for her skin than any massage, but her opinion was ignored. After being fussed over since early morning, she barely had time to eat lunch before being made to stand for fittings.
Katrin held up the few dresses she’d brought from the Count of Pruina’s estate one after another, but Lynette shook her head.
“Katrin, I’m not going to a fancy party. I’m just going to walk around outside. I don’t need anything this flashy.”
“But it’s such a shame not to see you in one of these even once. I’d love to see you in a gorgeous dress at a party…”
In 22 years, she’d never been to a party or ball except when she was very young. At first she hadn’t had the time, and later she’d been too caught up with Fernando. Since he never attended parties, they’d always met at the Count’s residence instead.
“I don’t need to go to places like that. You don’t have to get married in life. Earning money and just having a lover to enjoy life with sounds fine.”
“That’s true. It’s better to have a lover and meet comfortably than to marry and worry about everything. So you really don’t have to come home tonight.”
Katrin kept trying to book Lynette for an overnight stay, making Lynette stifle her laughter. She chose a simple outfit instead of a fancy dress. It looked plain to her eyes but was still a pretty dress by local standards.
Once she had it on, Katrin sat Lynette down to fix her hair. She braided it into a half-up style, giving her a different look than her usual simple tie-back. After some light makeup, a few accessories, and a bit of money, Katrin helped Lynette to her feet.
When Cheese tried to cling to Lynette, Katrin quickly pulled him away.
“I’m going now.”
“Yes! Have a good time. And by the way, I won’t be waiting tonight. Ohohoho!”
Though it wasn’t even a real romance yet, Katrin still pushed Lynette out the door, seeing meaning in her moving on from Fernando to meet someone else. Caught off guard, Lynette slowly headed to “Attraction,” the meeting spot.
She figured she’d have to wait an hour if she went now. She thought about killing time at another café but decided not to waste money and headed straight there.
“Hm?”
Someone was standing in front of the shop, peering inside. Maybe a customer who didn’t know it was the regular day off? She quickly went over.
“I’m sorry, but today is our regular day off, so we’re not open—oh?”
She stopped mid-sentence when she saw who it was.
“Lynette, you’re stunning today. I thought an angel had descended from heaven.”
It was Sian. The last time she’d seen him his hair had been squashed under his hat. Now it was neatly combed, but black hair still fell over his forehead and eyes.
“Sian, are you hiding your eyes with your hair now? I told you not to do that.”
She reached out and brushed his bangs aside. A clear red ruby eye was revealed. The pupil shining between the black strands looked like a red star glimmering at midnight.
“You’re beautiful. I mean it.”
“Aren’t you afraid?”
“No, I’m not afraid. That’s why we should go where there are other people and test it out. The night market’s open today.”
As Lynette started walking toward the night market, Sian held out his hand — an offer to escort her. Lynette smiled, placed her hand lightly on his, then curled her fingers under and lowered their hands instead of holding them up formally.
“Come on! Let’s go.”
“Y-yes.”
Sian let himself be led by her. His ears felt hot.
As they walked hand in hand, Sian grew stiff when the crowd thickened. But Lynette smiled at him, as if casting a spell to say it would be all right.
When their joined hands began to feel warm, Lynette pointed at something.
“How about that?”
“You mean the fruit drink?”
“Yes, something sour before eating will whet our appetite. Let’s eat our fill tonight. Here.”
“If that’s the case, I won’t refuse.”
With his consent, Lynette went straight to the fruit drink stand.
“Oh? Isn’t that the owner of ‘Attraction’? My goodness, I didn’t know such a handsome man was your boyfriend. Hohoho!”
Recognizing Lynette, the vendor grinned.
“That’s quite a thing to say. I’ll have apple juice. Sian, what about you?”
“Ahem, I’ll have the same…”
Sian coughed awkwardly. The vendor quickly juiced some apples, poured the juice into bamboo cups, and handed them over.
“What a perfect couple you make.”
“Thank you. Here’s the money — keep the change.”
After fishing money from his pocket, Sian handed the drink to Lynette first. She smiled softly as she accepted it.
“Thank you. Then I’ll buy the next thing we eat.”
“You don’t have to.”
“I think I do. I don’t like letting just one person bear all the expense.”
Even if it wasn’t perfectly split, money should go back and forth between them. So after finishing her drink, Lynette paid for the next snack herself. With a bag of fries in each hand, they continued walking the market, Sian still not letting go of her hand.
“Sian, let’s try that. It looks delicious.”
It was skewered chicken grilled with sauce. Feeling nostalgic, Lynette pulled Sian along to the stall. The smell made her mouth water.
“Welcome! What flavor would you like? This one’s mild, this one’s sweet, this one’s spicy, and this one…”
Glancing at Sian, Lynette waited.
“Get whatever you like.”
At his words she ordered a mix of flavors. The vendor handed over a bag full of appetizing skewers.
As Lynette fumbled for her money, Sian took the bag from her, paid, and then led her to a quieter spot. Sitting on an empty chair, he opened the bag and began eating, trembling slightly.
Lynette, who’d missed this taste for so long, smiled in happiness. Seeing her, Sian smiled too and took a bite.
“The meat is chewy and the seasoning is perfect.”
“Right? Haah, chicken is always the best, no matter what you do with it.”
Seeing Sian’s tastes matched hers, she eagerly ate more. When she’d eaten half her skewers and saw Sian finishing his, she giggled.
“Sian, you’ve got sauce here.”
“Here?”
He tried wiping it with his hand, but it didn’t come off. Lynette reached out and wiped the sauce from the corner of his mouth herself.
“Thank y—L-Lynette?”
Sian froze mid-thank-you. Lynette had licked the sauce from her finger after wiping his mouth.
“Mmm… tasty. To put it Sian’s way, it’s like the taste of a first love you never get tired of, no matter how much you eat.”
