TRST 37

Chapter 37

When Ains stopped speaking, silence quickly enveloped the restaurant. Some nearby patrons seemed to recognize Ains, so despite his abrupt entrance, no one voiced their discontent.

The tension was broken by Master Belle, who sat across from me.

“Hello, Duke Graham. I am Versena Dielman. It’s our first meeting in person. You may not know, but I’m an elder of the Magic Tower.”

Master Belle leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand, and greeted Ains, who was still in shock. Her gentle smile was charming.

Ains struggled to respond to her greeting, clearly caught off guard by the situation.

I called out to him softly. Only then did Ains look between me and Master Belle. While his expression remained mostly unchanged, he appeared flustered.

He was probably just as surprised as I was; like me, he wouldn’t have expected Grandfather to introduce a woman.

Regardless of his reasons for being there, it was evident that he was taken aback.

“Master Versena… It seems you already know. I am Ains Graham.”

Ains finally introduced himself to Master Belle, who smiled in response.

“Since you’re here, why don’t you sit down? Whatever the reason, this meeting is a connection, so let’s have a meal together. What do you think, Cecilia? Is that alright?”

“Huh? Oh, I…”

I was too flustered by her suggestion to respond. Being with Ains felt uncomfortable, but I didn’t want to refuse Master Belle, especially since she was a friend of my Grandfather.

I glanced at Ains. He was silently looking at me, seemingly waiting for my approval.

‘Could he really be waiting for my permission?’

No way.

Despite his unusual interest in me after the divorce, Ains had remained quiet since I rejected him.

“…I don’t mind if he joins us.”

After some thought, I finally spoke up. Master Belle turned to Ains with a smile.

Even though being with Ains was awkward, I couldn’t keep avoiding him forever. I would need to visit Graham Manor to see Grandfather, and I couldn’t dodge Ains every time.

It felt like it was time for me to face him confidently.

“My companion doesn’t mind, so what about you, Duke? Would you like to join us for a meal?”

Ains hesitated at Master Belle’s relaxed invitation. Although he was an uninvited guest, it would be impolite to refuse her.

He looked at me for a moment before turning to Master Belle and saying, “No. I think I misunderstood and came to the wrong place. I’ll take my leave…”

It seemed Ains had chosen to leave after all. I felt a wave of relief wash over me. Master Belle looked at him with disappointment.

“Are you really going to leave just like that? After coming all this way?”

At her question, Ains fell silent and nodded. Master Belle couldn’t hide her regret as she nodded.

“Well, if that’s your choice, it would be rude to keep you. It was nice meeting you. I hope we cross paths again if fate allows.”

Master Belle smiled softly as Ains nodded slightly in response and turned away.

“Then, Cecilia, after we finish our meal and head to the Magic Tower, I’ll introduce you to some people. Master Cesare will likely be there today, so we can greet him as well.”

Master Belle suddenly suggested, and I smiled at her kindness.

“Yes, I understand. Thank you for your thoughtfulness.”

“I’ve heard about you from Cesare several times. It seems he holds you in high regard.”

“Pardon?”

I felt a bit flustered by Master Belle’s comment and wondered what Master Cesare had said to make her so enthusiastic.

Just then, a long shadow fell beside our table. I turned to see Ains standing there, having not left as he had said he would.

“Duke?”

I called out carefully. He looked at me with a blank expression, as if he wanted to say something but was holding back.

Feeling confused, I glanced at Master Belle, who was smiling at Ains, seemingly amused by the situation.

“Oh my, you mentioned you were leaving. What’s the matter, Duke?”

At her question, Ains opened his mouth. Then, as if a thought struck him, he smiled faintly and said,

“Upon reflection, I realized it’s quite rare to meet an elder of the Magic Tower. Since we’ve crossed paths, I’d like to join you for a meal, if that’s alright.”

I had expected Ains to leave, but he returned with a request to join us. Since I had already permitted him earlier, it felt too late to refuse. I hoped Master Belle wouldn’t turn down his request, and thankfully, she readily accepted.

“Well, since you put it that way, I can’t refuse. Please, take a seat over there.”

Ains sat in the empty chair next to me, and I straightened my posture, feeling conscious of his presence.

“Are you okay with this?”

Ains asked, even though he was already seated. At this point, what difference would it make if I said no?

“It’s fine.”

I replied without showing any discomfort. I realized I couldn’t avoid him forever, so it seemed like a good chance to get used to his presence.

“Will you be ordering separately?”

“If you have a recommended dish, I’ll have that,” Ains replied calmly. Master Belle nodded and called the waiter, ordering another dish similar to ours.

“Master Versena, I understand you were introduced by my Grandfather. What’s your relationship with him?”

Ains inquired. I looked up at him, recalling the same question I had asked Master Belle earlier. She chuckled, glancing between Ains and me before responding.

“As I mentioned to Cecilia earlier, Damon and I are friends. We’ve known each other for a long time, and I couldn’t refuse a friend’s request.”

“A request…?”

Ains asked cautiously. Master Belle nodded quickly.

“You must know about Cecilia’s condition, Duke. I heard from Damon that to fully heal, she needs to learn how to handle mana. That’s why he sought my help. Although Cesare is assisting Cecilia, Damon believes Cesare is too young and inexperienced. Still, he’s the Master of the Magic Tower.”

Master Belle spoke with a hint of amusement, straightening up as dishes began to arrive one by one.

“The chef here is excellent. While the chef at Graham Manor is skilled, I’d say this one is a notch better. Please enjoy it; it’s on me.”

She encouraged us to eat, and I finally spoke up.

“Thank you. I’ll enjoy the meal.”

“Yes, eat well and build your strength; it will help with learning mana.”

Master Belle smiled contentedly at my gratitude.

I took a bite of the appetizer in front of me, savoring the salty and savory taste of the cheese, which paired wonderfully with the mild wheat crepe and tangy sauce.

“It’s delicious.”

When I exclaimed, Master Belle looked satisfied.

“I’m glad you like it. I was worried it might not suit your taste.”

Only then did she continue eating. I began to savor the following dishes as well.

I understood why Master Belle had chosen this restaurant. As she said, the meals at Graham Manor were excellent, but the food here had a distinct level of sophistication.

While I was continuing my meal, I noticed that Ains’s hand had stopped moving. I put down my fork and glanced at Ains.

Then, I met his eyes.

I wondered why he wasn’t eating, and it seemed he had been looking at me for some time.