Volume 1 Chapter 41 A Glasses-wearing Guy With A Hobby Of Dressing Girls In Maid Outfits And Taking Them Around Town
I returned to Lobelia Diner House in the Girard family's carriage.
The alley where my restaurant is located is narrow, so the carriage couldn't enter.
Because of that, I asked Sir Roxas to drop me off at a square a little further away.
"Lydia. Today, really... um, thank you. Because of you, my brother was saved. ...So was I."
Before getting off the carriage, Sir Roxas thanked me, and I shook my head.
"N-no, I just cooked..."
"That cooking must have some holy power. The blessing of Goddess Alexandria. A miracle from the goddess."
"I don't think that's true..."
Sir Roxas, carrying a basket filled with leftover hijiki, miso, fried tofu, and vegetables on his shoulder, got off the carriage first and extended his hand to escort me.
I hesitated but accepted it.
I placed my hand on his large palm, which had delicate long fingers.
I wonder when was the last time I was escorted like this when getting off a carriage.
For about 6 months after becoming engaged to Sir Stefan, he always held my hand when picking me up to go to the castle.
How nostalgic. Memories, may you perish along with my feelings of love.
"Lydia. ...Your cooking has power. You saw my brother's condition, right?"
"B-but, it's strange to say I have that kind of power when I don't have any magic."
"Who said you don't have magic?"
"Well, you see, when I became aware of things, my father said that the nobles conduct a magic power diagnosis. I was diagnosed as colorless there, and... being colorless means having no magic power. It's true that I can't use magic."
"It's not that you have no magic power; it might just be that the way your magic activates is limited."
"I don't really know, but..."
Sir Roxas was looking at me intently, so I looked down.
The nobles usually do this, but even among the kingdom's citizens, those who wish to can receive a magic power diagnosis at the temple.
It measures the amount of magic power and checks which attributes one is good at, as well as whether they have special magic abilities.
When you put your hand into the water mirror for the magic power diagnosis, the mirror changes according to the person's magic power.
The darker the color, the more magic power is said to be present, and the colors change for different attributes like water, fire, wind, and earth.
When I became aware of things, my father took me to do the water mirror diagnosis.
I think my mother had already passed away by then.
When I put my hand into the water mirror and no color changed, my father calmly said, "You have no magic power."
Maybe my father was disappointed in me then.
Not long after that, Francois and my stepmother appeared at the priest's house.
"In the water mirror diagnosis, the color of water didn't change. If I had magic power, it should have reacted."
"I wonder what that means. But you have power. That is certain. There might have been some issue with the water mirror... I'm, um, I think you should have more confidence."
"Y-yes, thank you... But just being told that my cooking is delicious is enough for me..."
Sir Roxas's feelings are appreciated, but I don't want magic.
I thought about wanting the power to heal Sir Rail's illness.
But if I could just spend quiet and peaceful days at Lobelia Diner House, that would be enough.
"Patients with White Moon disease are not just my brother. There are more patients in the royal capital and in this country. Many are hidden at home, or their families can't take care of them and send them to treatment facilities. You probably won't see them in town."
"...Sir Roxas."
Somewhere in my heart, I knew this.
It's not just Sir Rail who is suffering from illness.
But I... I can't think of anything I can do.
What if I fail? If I don't have that kind of power? I don't want to give hope that the illness can be healed and then take it away.
"I..."
"Lydia. The goddess's blessing is with you."
Sir Roxas holds my hands, which were looking down.
I suddenly realized and looked around.
In the square near Lobelia Diner House, close to dusk, many people are coming and going.
Everyone seems a bit apologetic, avoiding us as we hold hands in front of a rather wide carriage.
I felt myself turning red and blue.
We look like annoying lovers staring at each other while holding hands in public. But we're not lovers.
"S-Sir Roxas, please let go...!"
"Is it that bad? I'm sorry about that...!"
When I waved my hands, Sir Roxas irritably pulled his hands away from mine.
I received the basket from Sir Roxas.
It's not that I dislike Sir Roxas or anything, but I think holding hands in the middle of town is a bit much.
We're not lovers or anything. If we were, it might be more acceptable.
"Lydia. Here's your reward. Take it."
"Thank you..."
Sir Roxas finally gave me a heavy bag.
I could feel the coins inside.
"Oh, isn't this too much...!"
"You got your clothes dirty, used up time and ingredients, and even got kidnapped. Think of it as compensation."
"I'm not angry anymore, though..."
"Anyway, just take it. Well then, Lydia. I'll come back with my brother."
"Um, Sir Roxas...!"
I stopped Sir Roxas as he was about to get into the carriage.
"When you have free time, please come by. If you don't mind, I'd like to cook stew together..."
Holding hands in the square isn't good, but I really want to cook stew together.
"I-I see... I can't help it then."
"If you don't want to, that's fine. I'm not forcing you or anything..."
"I don't mind. Alright, Lydia. I'll try to drop by on days when I don't have anything else to do."
"Y-yes! Thank you!"
He doesn't have to come by that often, but it's nice to have Sir Roxas around.
It makes cooking easier.
I was so happy to think I could make delicious stew that I smiled and thanked him.
Sir Roxas hurriedly looked away from me and got into the carriage.
I watched the carriage drive away and then headed home.
On the way, I passed by Mx. Margaret, who was smoking aromatic tobacco in front of the restaurant as usual.
"Welcome back, Lyd-Lyd. How was the kidnapping this time?"
"Mx. Margaret, I'm back. Well, since you were watching, you should have helped me!"
"I've been telling you for a while now, stop crying and get yourself a boyfriend, you know? It's obvious that the one who took you was Roxas Girard. The Girard twins with their magic. I think he's not bad."
"That's not the point. Sir Roxas and Sir Rail are really close, so even if one of them became my boyfriend, I don't think there would be any room for me."
"Oh really? That's the issue?"
"The issue? What do you mean by that?"
"Well, I was watching you guys from a distance earlier... It looked like a rich guy's weird hobby, taking a girl around in a maid outfit and then giving her money. Everyone was buzzing about it. I bet by tomorrow, the talk will be that Lyd-Lyd sold herself!"
"W-What? That sounds really, really creepy...!"
So this outfit really was Sir Roxas's taste, huh?
After saying goodbye to Mx. Margaret, I went back to the restaurant.
When I entered, I saw Sir Ciel sitting at the counter with his legs crossed, and the restaurant was left unlocked.
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