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Chapter 31
Alina let out an exclamation of admiration when she saw a bright light envelop the entire door.
“Wow, what’s that?”
“I put a spell on it so only you and I can enter here. Just put up with this until we install a new door.”
Rihardt walked into the living room, furrowing his brow.
“Good thing I came to see for myself. I didn’t know you were living in a place this dangerous. What would you do if a thief broke in?”
“Why? It’s nothing unusual. Everyone lives like this.”
“That won’t do if I’m going to protect you.”
Rihardt spoke solemnly and set the sword at his waist down in front of the fireplace.
“You need to realize your own worth a little more.”
“I’m just the owner of a neighborhood restaurant.”
“What?”
Rihardt looked utterly dumbfounded at her words.
“Do you have any idea what you’ve become in the imperial palace right now?”
“W-what have I become?”
At his meaningful tone, Alina’s heart tightened.
Her pulse quickened, wondering if rumors about her true identity were spreading.
But unlike Alina, who was tense to the point of freezing, Rihardt continued with a rather bright expression.
“The legendary chef.”
“Le—what… did you say?”
Alina asked again, her throat tight.
At the utterly unexpected, embarrassingly grand title, her face grew hot.
Rihardt, unfazed by her reaction, went on.
“The legendary chef who won the Kestol Embassy Banquet Competition and then disappeared.”
Alina stared at him, stunned. He looked at her as if to say it was obvious—why didn’t she know?
“So even if you went back to the imperial palace, no one would say a word. They’d all welcome you.”
“……”
“Alina? Are you okay?”
Alina stood there with both hands covering her face.
When Rihardt bent down to look at her, he could see that even her ears were bright red.
Unable to lift her head, Alina spoke haltingly.
“I heard too many things today……”
Rihardt watched her flustered state, then smiled gently.
“Right. For now, go in and rest. I’ll keep watch out here.”
After checking the fire in the fireplace, Rihardt sat down in front of it and spoke reassuringly.
“If anything happens, call me. I’ll come right away.”
Alina nodded without changing her posture. Watching her disappear through the door, Rihardt smiled warmly.
The sound of rain falling outside and the soft crackle of logs burning in the fireplace filled their night.
Shaaah—.
Lying in bed, Alina stared up at the ceiling as she listened to the rain outside the window.
Even after lying there for a long time, she couldn’t fall asleep, her mind unsettled by the sound of the rain.
Maybe it wasn’t just the rain, but the fact that Rihardt was lying in the living room, saying he would protect her.
‘Rihardt……’
Alina turned over and looked toward the door.
Beyond that door, Rihardt was there.
Thinking that the man she believed she would never see again was right nearby made her feel strange.
She recalled the moment she had seen him for the first time today.
Ever since leaving the imperial palace, she had often thought of Rihardt.
In her memories, he was always a boy, and in every recollection he remained a boy.
But the real him was different.
The Rihardt who appeared before her was far too dignified to be called a boy—he was a young man.
‘Please, don’t leave me alone again.’
Only that earnest, pleading look in his eyes, when he had begged her, was still childlike.
‘Let’s go to sleep.’
When Rihardt’s voice echoed in her ears, Alina squeezed her eyes shut.
If she let her thoughts wander any further, she felt like she’d end up staying awake all night.
‘Everything I’ve done so far was for you.’
With her eyes closed, Rihardt’s face appeared vividly in her mind.
When she even pictured his handsome face breaking into a bashful smile at her, Alina snapped her eyes open and patted her cheeks.
“Maybe I’ll have a glass of milk.”
In the end, Alina got up from the bed, patting her shoulders.
On a night like this, she needed a cup of warm white milk.
A cup of milk that would melt away the stiffness in her body.
She quietly opened the door and cautiously peeked into the living room.
Between the crackling of the logs, she heard the steady sound of breathing.
‘He’s asleep.’
Smiling softly, Alina stepped out into the hallway.
Careful not to wake Rihardt, she moved with light, cautious steps.
In the kitchen, she poured white milk into a pot and looked for matches.
When she struck a match and held it to the stove, the flame flared to life and the pot began to warm.
Alina rested her hand on the counter and gazed steadily at the pot.
Waiting until small bubbles formed around the edge of the milk made it just right to drink.
That way it wasn’t too hot, but not lukewarm either—perfect for before bed.
“What are you doing?”
As Alina took out a mug to pour the milk into, she turned at the shadow approaching from behind.
Standing before her was Rihardt, wearing only a white shirt.
He looked more relaxed and natural than when he was in uniform.
Alina greeted him with a gentle smile.
“Didn’t you sleep?”
At her question, Rihardt sighed and rubbed his chin.
“After finally being with you again after six years, how could I sleep? I’m afraid this precious time might be a dream. Weren’t you the same?”
“……Want some milk?”
Instead of answering him, Alina took out another mug and held it up.
“Yeah.”
Rihardt nodded calmly and sat down at the table.
Alina poured warm milk into both cups and handed one to him.
“Drink.”
“Thanks.”
As Alina sat down and wrapped both hands around her mug, Rihardt hooked his fingers through the handle and lifted his cup.
Perhaps thanks to his training, even the way he drank milk was proper and elegant.
Alina glanced at him, then took a sip herself.
It was fresh milk delivered from the ranch that morning. Even though it was simply warmed, it carried a gentle sweetness.
Rich and creamy, the milk was a nighttime treat.
For a while, the only sounds in the kitchen were the two of them softly sipping their milk.
“By the way, I haven’t seen Til since earlier. Where is he?”
After they finished their milk and an awkward silence settled in, Alina asked what she’d been wondering. Rihardt parted his lips slightly at her question.
“Ah. Til……”
He set his mug down and pressed his fingers together.
Snap!
With a clear sound, a deep blue light spread briefly, and a white bird fluttered into existence in midair.
The small, snowball-like white bird flapped busily and flew toward Alina.
“Riese! Riese!”
“Til!”
Alina beamed and held out a finger.
Til perched on her finger and opened and closed his beak.
“Riese! Delicious Riese!”
“Heehee.”
How long had it been since she’d last heard that nickname—“delicious Riese”?
Smiling with delight, Alina kissed Til. As he fluttered while gripping her finger, he settled down to receive the kiss.
Clatter.
“Rihardt……?”
At the moment Alina kissed Til, Rihardt jerked violently, like a broken doll.
“What’s wrong?”
“N-no…… it’s nothing.”
Rihardt, his face flushed from his neck to his ears, hurriedly covered his face with his hands and turned aside.
‘Was there something in the milk? He doesn’t have any allergies, though.’
Tilting her head in confusion, Alina shifted her gaze to Til perched on her finger.
Til puffed out his chest feathers proudly, as if showing himself off.
“Riese! Riese!”
“Til, you’ve put on weight.”
Laughing, Alina gently stroked Til’s head.
Til shook his head from side to side, then rubbed his face against her finger.
Watching the peaceful scene, Rihardt cleared his throat. His face was still red.
“I’ve had Til manifested for quite a while, so it’s been a long time since I’ve seen him in physical form too.”
“Why?”
“……Because every time I manifest him, he looks for Riese. Watching that was a bit… hard.”
After cooling the heat in his face, Rihardt spoke wistfully while looking at Til.
“A guardian animal shares emotions with the one it protects. Pain, longing, even loneliness.”
“Rihardt……”
Feeling both sympathy and guilt at his words, Alina suddenly flinched.
She remembered how startled he’d been when she kissed Til.
“Um. They share emotions, right? Not sensations?”
At her sharp question, Rihardt rubbed his face with both hands.
“I didn’t expect you to suddenly kiss him.”
“What…?”
Alina looked at him in disbelief. Under her gaze, Rihardt awkwardly cleared his throat.
“Um, th-that is.”
“…….”
“Next time, tell me beforehand.”
“Pfft!”
At his shy request, Alina burst out laughing. Smiling with her eyes half-mooned, she waved her hand.
“What? I didn’t do it to you—I did it to Til.”
“That’s mean.”
Rihardt pouted at her words. Despite his size, he asked petulantly,
“So you’re saying you won’t do it for me?”
“Til is cute.”
Alina said with a smile as she finished her milk.
“He’s cute, so I doted on him.”
“……Then I guess I’ll have to do a lot of cute things too.”
Rihardt murmured softly as he looked at her. Stroking Til as he scampered across the table, he spoke again.
“I’ll call him out often from now on. Since we’ve met again.”
After finishing his words, Rihardt absentmindedly touched the cord of the necklace around his neck.
Watching him, Alina’s gaze shifted to the necklace.
The pendant hanging at the end was hidden inside his shirt, so she couldn’t see what it was.
“What’s that?”
“Ah, this is…….”
Rihardt startled and quickly took his hand away from the necklace.
As if worried the pendant might show, he even gathered the collar of his shirt in his hand.
After gauging Alina’s reaction, Rihardt opened his mouth carefully.
