Volume 1 Chapter 20 Goodbye, See You Tomorrow
After finishing the meal, Sir Ciel lightly snapped his fingers.
The dishes were instantly cleaned and neatly arranged on the kitchen counter.
I said, "Thank you," and then poured fresh chamomile tea from the teapot into the two remaining teacups.
Sir Ciel looked great with the floral teacup.
The large, sapphire-like gem, which changed from his shiny silver hair, sparkled under the light of the magic stone lamp.
Seeing that made me feel a bit sad.
As I poured the tea, tears started to fall from my eyes.
"...Ms. Lydia, why are you crying?"
"...I heard a sad story, so I'm sad."
"I'm sorry, I hurt you again, didn't I? Even though you called me a friend."
"No, that's not it. Friends share sad and happy things... they split them in half. So, I'm taking half of your sadness, Sir Ciel, and that's why I'm crying... I'm crying because I care about you, so please don't worry about it..."
Who taught me that?
I can't quite remember, but that's what friends are for.
"...Ms. Lydia."
Sir Ciel wiped my tears with a handkerchief again and looked down for a moment.
Then, he plucked one of the gems from his head and offered it to me.
In his palm, the gem sparkled, about the same size as my eye.
"Gem people have magic power in their gems. ...I'm also half a gem person, so I have it too. Ms. Lydia. Please take this. It's a charm. If something dangerous happens to you, my magic will protect you."
"...Is that okay? Sir Ciel, if I break it, won't it hurt?"
"It won't hurt. ...It's because it's a mineral; the sense of pain is dull. Gem people don't die just from having their hands or feet hurt. As long as you don't break the core that acts like a heart, we stay alive."
"But just because you're alive doesn't mean it's okay to feel pain..."
"If you break one, it will grow back. Will you accept it?"
"...Thank you."
I received a teardrop-shaped gem.
The gem is hard, cool, and cold.
"The gem people, Gelhyum, are a strong and magic-skilled race. They have enough power to delay the effects of Medusa's death curse. ...But they dislike fighting."
I wipe the tears from the corners of my eyes with the back of my hand.
The gem is very beautiful and just as sad.
"My father, from what I've heard... was never weak. To protect my mother and me while she was pregnant, he chose to die instead of fighting."
"U, uuh..."
"I'm sorry. ...I've never told anyone this before. I'm getting too comfortable because you're kind. As a friend."
"Sir Ciel's father was a kind person, wasn't he..."
"I thought I was weak. ...If I can protect by fighting, then that's much better. ...But, Ms. Lydia. I care about Saintwise's subordinates, and until now, I didn't care about anything else, but... I care about you too. As a friend."
"It's kind of... a little embarrassing, isn't it...?"
"I want to protect you. ...Now, I can understand my father's feelings a bit."
Sir Ciel finished his chamomile tea, cleaned the cup with magic, and returned it to the workbench.
"Thank you for the meal, Ms. Lydia. ...It feels like every dish you make is filled with magic."
"I'm just... cooking normal food..."
"Yes. The magic cooking that your hands create. Even without any mysterious power, I think it's really wonderful. ...I'm sorry for dragging you into my selfishness."
Sir Ciel stood up.
Holding the gem tightly, I hurriedly stood up too.
"If we can uncover the secret of the Tears of the Moon Rosaracrim, there will be no more discrimination against gem people. That's why I started my research. If the kingdom's people notice the Curse of the Moon, their fear and hatred of monsters will grow even more. ...The gem people might be oppressed. And those who have become violent due to the Curse of the Moon... can only be judged. No matter how gentle their original personality was."
"We don't know who will be cursed, do we?"
"Yeah... The day the moon turns red. It could be me, or Ms. Lydia, or even you, under the Curse of the Moon... If we can find a cure, that would be the best."
"...I can only cook, but if there's anything I can do, please let me know!"
If it were me before talking to Sir Ciel, I would have run away crying.
But now, it's different.
Because it's sad.
If a beloved family member suddenly changes,
that's really scary and painful.
"Ms. Lydia. Well then, see you tomorrow."
"Tomorrow?"
"Yeah... I've been working hard every day without a break, so I think it's okay to take a day off sometimes. I caused a commotion at the palace, and I'm thinking of moving the lab to a house in town."
So, see you tomorrow.
With a smile, Sir Ciel said this, and when he reached the door, he disappeared with a shining magic circle at his feet.
"See you tomorrow..."
I was staring blankly at the empty restaurant where Sir Ciel had been.
The cold gem in my hand felt a little warmer.
Before I knew it, there were several gold coins on the table.
It was much more than the cost of the meal I served.
And I even received a gem.
I let out a small sigh.
Maybe it's okay to take a day off from the restaurant tomorrow.
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