TTMC 08

Chapter : 8

What on earth is this?

It felt like Rion’s attitude had somehow changed.

I stretched out my hand, recalling that unfamiliar sensation.

A warm yet strange feeling wrapped around my entire body.

“What on earth are you thinking?”

I closed my eyes and let out a sigh.

Since when had Rion started feeling something different toward me?

No matter how much I retraced things, I couldn’t find the starting point.

Was it wrong from the beginning, bringing him with me?

But if I had just left him alone, he would have surely been taken away and abused by others.

Knowing that, there was no way I could just ignore it.

“I guess I should keep a little distance.”

Even though he couldn’t recognize me, somehow he seemed to be growing even more attached to me.

I couldn’t think of any other solution. It would be a problem if Rion became attached to me.

This wasn’t the direction I had in mind.

I stood up from my seat, frowning slightly.

“What am I even worried about?”

Once the mark appeared on Rion, his interest in me would naturally fade anyway.

As time passed and we separated, he would forget me again.

To begin with, it would be impossible for him to find someone like me.

I’m worrying over nothing.

I shook my head with a self-deprecating smile.

Maybe I had grown attached—useless thoughts filled my head.

In the first place, the reason Rion showed interest in me was because I had saved him.

Impulsive feelings like that were bound to fade quickly.

I took out the notebook I had put in the drawer and checked the date.

“There’s really not much time left.”

The marks drawn on the wall had steadily piled up.

At thirteen years old, year by year, the height difference between him and me had grown.

And yet, strangely, the distance between us felt closer.

Would a mark appear on me too? Would I also have a destined person?

I didn’t expect much, but somehow it felt like there wouldn’t be a separate destiny set for me.

To begin with, it was laughable to expect some kind of fate for someone like me, who wasn’t even an important character in the novel.

“Well, it doesn’t matter.”

Who I meet—what does it matter?

I’d be leaving this place anyway.

I planned to leave after seeing him meet the female lead, Jenis.

Of course, I would watch secretly.

I just hoped I wouldn’t end up dying.

If something like that happened, I’d have no choice but to go find Rion.

I had no intention of getting married out of obligation, nor did I want to get entangled in other people’s conflicts.

I just wanted to live quietly.

“At this point, I’ve saved up enough money… I should be fine living on my own after leaving.”

But there was nothing I could actually do.

This is ridiculous. Even knowing the contents of the novel, I can’t do anything!

My own incompetence made me feel worse.

I rolled around on the bed, wrapping myself in the blanket, then quietly closed my eyes.

I had tried investing while hiding my identity based on what I remembered from the book, but it wasn’t enough.

I needed something more stable.

“A tea shop? A dessert shop?”

Like I even have the skills for that.

But come to think of it, didn’t the female leads in novels always run away somewhere and open tea shops or bakeries?

Maybe it would work if I actually tried.

“No, no. I’m not the female lead.”

I quickly accepted reality.

Considering how I burned that cake the last time I tried baking…

I might end up being remembered as the fastest person to go out of business in this world.

“Even Rion, who’s so kind, cried saying sorry back then.”

Thinking of Rion’s terrified face as he stared at the black cake in his hands, I couldn’t help but chuckle.

He couldn’t throw it away or eat it, fidgeting awkwardly—it was oddly cute.

Should I try baking cookies tomorrow?

Maybe I’ve improved a little.

I was young back then, so this time it’ll be different.

I could almost smell the delicious scent of cookies already.

“C-cookies? You’re going to bake cookies?”

A flustered Diria stuttered as she spoke to me.

I nodded confidently.

“Yeah, I’m going to bake cookies for the first time in a while.”

“My lady, I know a really good bakery—”

“Diria. I’m making them.”

At my firm words, her eyes shook.

At the same time, Rion, who had been standing next to her, avoided my gaze and slowly stepped back.

“El, I just remembered I have sword practice today.”

I narrowed my eyes at Rion as he tried to slip away.

“I know you don’t have anything scheduled today.”

“…It’s a makeup session.”

“You hate eating what I make that much?”

“No, no!”

Rion shook his head, eyes wide.

It was an obvious lie, but I just smiled as if I didn’t notice.

“It’s fine. I’ll make them myself and bring them to you.”

“I think it’d be better if we make them together! I suddenly want to bake cookies too!”

At Rion’s urgent voice, I shrugged.

“Alright, sure.”

Diria let out a sigh of relief when she heard Rion would join.

It seemed everyone in the count’s household already knew about my lack of skill.

The head chef, who had been looking at me worriedly, glanced at Rion.

“You will be joining as well, Sir Rion?”

“Yes. Since El wants to do it, I should help.”

Rion smiled brightly and stood beside me.

Rolling up my sleeves with determination, I looked at the prepared ingredients.

“You all don’t trust me enough. Just watch.”

At my spirited declaration, the chef’s expression changed slightly.

Seeing a hint of expectation in his eyes, my confidence grew.

But where had that confidence gone? Why was I now struggling with sticky dough?

“…Rion, it won’t come off my hands.”

In the end, I asked Rion for help as he neatly handled his own dough beside me.

He looked at my hands, then stepped behind me.

“It’s all stuck to your hands.”

Rion’s face suddenly appeared over my shoulder.

Feeling the firmness of his chest behind me, my eyes widened.

When did he grow this much?

Enveloped in Rion’s arms, I stared at his large hands as he removed the dough stuck to mine.

He skillfully cleaned it off, then held my messy hands under water.

“Here, let’s wash them first.”

“…Okay.”

Still caught in his arms, I washed my hands under the running water.

Rion carefully washed my hands from behind.

“Um, I can wash my hands myself.”

“My hands are already dirty anyway, so it’s fine.”

Rion didn’t change his position until every bit of dough was gone from my hands.

“If you add a bit more flour, it won’t be this sticky.”

I watched in amazement as my dough gradually returned to normal.

As expected, there’s nothing Rion can’t do.

“Thanks. At least the dough didn’t fail because of you.”

“I only got good at this because of you, El.”

“Huh?”

At Rion’s words, I tilted my head.

Diria, who was organizing the ingredients, spoke up.

“My lady, don’t you remember? Since you kept coming into the kitchen wanting to try all sorts of things since you were young, Sir Rion went through quite a lot alongside you.”

“…I did?”

“Of course. Just think about how many cakes you burned.”

That’s strange. I feel like I didn’t make that many…

Since Rion didn’t refute her, it must be true.

Looking at it that way… I really don’t have any talent, do I?

A bitter feeling rose in my mouth. This really wasn’t it.

“But it looks like this time will be a success.”

At Diria’s words, I nodded.

The dough had finally turned out properly after resting, but it wasn’t something I had done alone.

“As expected… I guess this isn’t my thing either?”

What am I even supposed to do to make a living?

My future felt bleak—like I could see nothing but darkness ahead.

At this point, isn’t this a bit too much?

Was I made as a character destined to die later, without even a single talent?

They say everyone is born with at least one thing!

Why am I like this? There’s no one I can even blame.

If I went to that wretched Edgar and asked why he gave birth to me like this, I might end up dead that very day.

“…Ah, should I bake cookies and give them to him?”

Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad if we got along a little better.

I’ve grown up enough now, so maybe he wouldn’t find me as bothersome.

I can’t keep pretending not to know forever—maybe I could at least try to improve things.

As I pondered my relationship with Edgar, Rion tapped my arm.

“El, do you want to pursue baking? If so, I’ll always help you.”

He must have thought I was upset because the cookies weren’t turning out well.

Rion was watching me more carefully than necessary. He didn’t have to.

“No, Rion. I wanted to do this on my own.”

“You’re already doing well enough.”

At his words, I pressed my lips together.

You idiot. Anyone can see you did most of this! And saying you’ll always help…

You’re going to leave for the female lead anyway, yet you talk like you’ll stay forever.

How unfair. You say things like that because you don’t know your own future.

“Rion, you can’t always help me.”

“…You’re right.”

He seemed to already know what I was going to say.

After all, I had repeated those words to him countless times, almost like brainwashing.

We were family, but one day we would have to part.

We were friends, but nothing more.

Our relationship was clearly defined.

I reminded him every day so he wouldn’t forget—that when the time came, he had to go, that our paths were different.

If he ever refuses to leave later, I’ll just run away myself.

I didn’t want to get entangled with the female lead and end up dead.

If my father showed no signs of changing, I planned to leave him behind without hesitation as well.

“Shall we start shaping the dough now?”

Sensing the awkward atmosphere, Diria handed cookie cutters to me and Rion.

Without a word, I rolled out the dough and began pressing it into shapes.