Volume 1 Chapter 63 Do Mushrooms Heal The Heart?
Mr. Lucian gently pulled his hand away from my body and wiped the tears rolling down my cheeks with his rough fingertips.
His palms, used to holding a sword for a long time, were big and hard.
It seemed like Mr. Lucian's efforts were visible in the shape of his bony fingers.
"...Mr. Lucian, but all this time, you have always been Mr. Lucian. And yet──."
Just a little while ago, he was coming to have breakfast as usual.
He would go on expeditions to hunt monsters, and despite everything, we repeated our calm daily life.
So why?
When I asked, Mr. Lucian smiled tiredly.
"Lydia. ...To be honest, I've been thinking about kidnapping you and running away somewhere. I don't want to kill you, just you... I thought everyone in the kingdom was a beast. But you are different."
"W-wait, I'm also a citizen of the kingdom... I'm from the country that hurt you and the people of Kirschtein."
"My sister... if she were alive, she would be about your age. She must have been cute. ...Just like you, Lydia."
"Mr. Lucian..."
"The flames of revenge, once ignited, cannot be extinguished. The people of Kirschtein want to use me as a banner to attack the old Kirschtein kingdom and rebuild it. I feel the same way. ...I thought that was right. If something was taken by tyranny, it should be taken back."
"B-but, all this time, you didn't want to do that..."
"I wanted to know what kind of person King Zeere was. If he was the cruel man I saw when I was young, I thought I would try to kill him right away. But... that person is intelligent and just. I have hatred, but... instead of acting immediately, I want to see the truth."
If that's the case──.
I want him to stop the revenge.
Mr. Lucian is a charming man, good-looking, loves to fight, and is kind enough not to get angry no matter what I say.
I can't believe that the Mr. Lucian I saw was all a lie.
"Mr. Lucian... please... stop..."
The words asking him to stop get cut off.
Mr. Lucian cradles my cheeks with both hands and looks into my eyes, which are as clear as the sky.
"Lydia... I have always wished to live in the fantasy you gave me... but it's over now. Everyone is getting impatient. You were abandoned by Stephan... and King Zeere has become weak. The palace is controlled by foolish Stephan, who hasn't even had his coronation, and Stephan is just following Francois's orders."
"...The people of Leonsroar said it was tough because of that, right...?"
"Yeah. Because of Francois's whims, I'm being taken around for inspections of the holy city and various temples... The people of Kirschstein think I've become a dog of the Bernard royal family... They wonder if the time for revenge has come... I got impatient and attacked you earlier. I'm sorry... Anyway, I was thinking today would be the last."
"Last...?"
"Ah. I want to kidnap you and run away. This is my true feeling, Lydia. I want to take you away... You hold a grudge against the Bernard royal family, so you should be with me... But, there are so many more people around you now. You probably won't be mine anymore. If I took you, you would definitely cry and hate me."
"...Kidnapping is wrong... So, no. But, Mr. Lucian... I don't want you to disappear."
"Why?"
"Because, you're my friend...!"
What should I do?
What can I do?
If this continues, something sad will happen.
If it turns into a big fight, Sir Ciel and Sir Roxas might have to fight Mr. Lucian.
Someone might lose their life somewhere.
I──finally, I'm not alone anymore.
There are so many more guests, and I've made friends. I can cook now, not just while crying and holding grudges.
That's thanks to Mr. Lucian, and Sir Ciel and Sir Roxas.
So──.
"Mr. Lucian, I... I was always angry and sad about His Highness and Francois, but... I think the pain you feel and my pain are so different that they shouldn't even be compared... But, I'm much happier now."
I placed my hands over Mr. Lucian's hands that were touching my cheek.
"Happy?"
"Yes... I want you to enjoy the food and feel better, rather than cooking while feeling angry or crying. Cooking like that is more fun, and it makes me happy when you eat it... Coming to the festival with Mr. Lucian was really fun... I haven't had many fun experiences until now, but now there are so many fun things."
"Ah... I had fun too, Lydia. The time I spent with you has always been enjoyable."
"Then, let's stop... Mr. Lucian, please stay as you are... It might be a lie, but the real Mr. Lucian might be different. To me, the charming Mr. Lucian is Mr. Lucian."
"I am not a charming man. Lydia, it's only you. You are my only friend."
"Then...!"
"Time's up, Lydia. Even if I stop, many will still commit terrible acts. I can't stop them. They too have lost their families, daughters, wives, and siblings to violence... The old Kirschtein territory under the kingdom's control is terrible. Exploitation and violence are still happening."
"...Mr. Lucian, but that doesn't mean you have to bear everything alone..."
"I am a survivor of the royal family... Until I met your cooking, my memories were filled with blood and fire. But now, I can remember clearly. My father's strong hands and my mother's gentle smile... Thank you, it's all thanks to you. Lydia, I must fulfill my responsibilities. My belief in justice..."
"Mr. Lucian... um, there are still mushrooms left, so..."
I grabbed Mr. Lucian's arm as he tried to pull away from me.
Then, I took the skewered grilled Takeri Matsutake and pressed it against his mouth.
"Ah, hot... Lydia, it's hot..."
"Well, then please eat it properly...! If you don't take your time, you'll burn yourself... If you don't eat it all, I'll push it into your mouth..."
"Ha... ah, haha... you've gotten stronger, Lydia... I thought you would just keep crying. I really liked hearing your cute complaints while you were cooking. It was like you were a child... I wished I could be like you."
Mr. Lucian took the grilled mushrooms from me and started to eat slowly.
I clenched my hands tightly and watched him.
My cooking has the power to heal sickness and curses.
I wish it could heal emotional wounds too.
Please lend me your strength, goddess── I prayed silently.
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