Volume 1 Chapter 67 Lydia And Her Three Friends
Sir Rail finished eating all the mushroom hot pot, saying, "Ah, that was delicious," with a big smile.
He also gobbled down about 5 rice balls. Sir Rail really eats a lot.
I'm happy he enjoys the food.
Eating tasty food makes people feel happy. I want to make him feel happy, and cooking for him is much more fun than cooking with a sad heart.
So──I'm...
"I, um... I'm going to visit the, um... Moon Chill Cult..."
"It's the Moon Soul Cult, Lydia."
"I'm going to the Moon Soul Cult..."
Sir Roxas kindly corrected me, so I said it again.
"Ms. Lydia... that is very dangerous."
Sir Ciel said in a warning tone.
"Yes... I know... but I can't just sit here. I hate that Mr. Lucian, Sir Ciel, everyone from Saintwise, and everyone from Leonsroar have to fight..."
I think the Bernard Kingdom did terrible things to the people of Kirschtein.
I wasn't born back then, so I don't know what was right or wrong.
But when a fight happens, someone always gets hurt.
That is very──scary.
"I don't want Mr. Lucian, Sir Ciel, Sir Roxas, or Sir Rail to get hurt. I hate fighting. Everyone came to my restaurant... ate my food. It was fun. Even though I was always crying, it was fun... so..."
"Ms. Lydia. ...Your cooking has changed me. I used to think that as long as I got enough nutrition, it was fine. But your cooking is so gentle, it makes me want to eat. I'm sure Lucian feels the same way."
Sir Ciel's voice is so kind, and I know I shouldn't be crying.
Tears keep spilling out.
I feel like my actions are foolish, and even I start to think that.
But he doesn't deny it; he accepts me, and it makes me want to cry even more──I'm already crying, though.
I'm so happy.
"Sir Ciel... u, um... thank you... I, I like you, Sir Ciel. You're always so kind to me... I like you."
"I'm your friend, after all."
"Yes..."
Having friends is really reassuring.
Without Sir Ciel, I wouldn't know what to do; I might have just cried.
Even now, I feel a bit the same way.
"That's right, princess. Thanks to you, I'm feeling much better. I used to think I could just climb up to the white moon. But now, I don't think about that at all. I want to live more. And I want to protect you."
"Sir Rail... I'm glad. ...Because you eat my food, I can think that maybe I can be helpful too."
Sir Rail said this with strength.
The Sir Rail who used to look at some distant world is gone. He seems so light and happy now.
When I look at Sir Rail, I feel happy too.
"Lydia. I also, Lydia..."
"Sir Roxas..."
Sir Roxas seemed like he was about to say something, but he hesitated.
I don't really understand him well. I don't get him, but he feels clumsy and like someone I can't just ignore.
"Lydia. ...Roxas wanted to see you eating grilled mushrooms."
"W-why...?"
Sir Rail crossed his arms and said thoughtfully.
I wonder if Sir Roxas wanted to eat grilled mushrooms too.
Now that I think about it, I didn't make any today.
I talked about eating them with Mr. Lucian, so maybe that's why he wanted them.
"Brother, I'm not thinking that...!"
For some reason, Sir Roxas was flustered.
His arm must have touched the empty plates and cups. Just as they were about to fall, Sir Ciel quickly used magic to clean them up from the table.
"Lucian... even though he gets to see the princess in such a lovely way, he disappears. That's just strange, right?"
Sir Rail shrugged, looking exasperated.
"That's right. Even though he was invited on a date by Ms. Lydia, he left her in tears. We need to bring him back and make him apologize. ...Hatred breeds more hatred. That's why the gem people dislike fighting. If Ms. Lydia's cooking can change Lucian's heart or the hearts of the Kirschtein people, then... maybe a discussion is possible."
"But it's dangerous, isn't it... for me, alone..."
"Ms. Lydia. It's only natural to lend a hand when a friend is in trouble."
"That's right, princess. I'm a hero, after all. A hero is someone who helps the princess."
"...I'll help too. If we have a discussion, the Duke Girard family's position will be useful."
Sir Ciel, Sir Rail, and Sir Roxas all say they will help me.
I feel so full inside. I've always been alone.
I've always thought I couldn't trust men. I've even said it out loud.
I was a terrible person.
I want to repay everyone's feelings. I want to make food that can heal the hearts of the Kirschtein people and Mr. Lucian.
I want them to feel a little more at peace.
If that happens, maybe we can find a solution with words instead of swords.
I'm not a Kirschtein person. It might be wrong for me, who hasn't suffered, to think this way.
But just a little. Just a little, I feel like I understand what it's like to feel abandoned by the world.
"Ms. Lydia. It's already late. We've finished dinner. We'll investigate the Moon Soul Cult's hideout and infiltrate it tomorrow. Once we know the location, I can sneak in with my magic."
"You'll sneak into the kitchen, put the cooks to sleep, and then the princess will cook instead. Then, you'll take it to Lucian and the leaders of the Moon Soul Cult who are nearby. And they'll eat it."
"...The claims of the Kirschtein people might not align with our country. But if Lucian changes his mind, something might change."
"Thank you...!"
I rubbed my eyes and then had a good idea, so I clapped my hands together.
"Um, I don't know if this will be a thank you, but since we'll be together tomorrow, would you like to stay over today? I have a room available... and there's a bed."
When I suggested this, Sir Ciel and the others exchanged glances.
An awkward silence filled the air, and I started to panic. Did I say something unnecessary?
They probably want to go home. Everyone loves their own home the most, after all.
"N-No, I'll come again tomorrow. With my brother."
"Roxas, I'm staying over."
"I'm going home, brother."
Sir Roxas stood up from his chair with a loud clatter, looking very flustered.
Then he grabbed Sir Rail's arm, trying to pull him away.
"Then, I'll stay. Ms. Lydia, you must be worried. We can hold hands and sleep together if you want."
Sir Ciel reached out to me and wiped away the tears from the corners of my eyes.
"Together...?"
Is it okay since we're friends?
Friends do talk all night, and maybe it's normal to sleep together too.
"You should go home too, Ciel. You can use teleportation magic, right...!"
"Ms. Lydia was attacked once. I'm worried about leaving her alone."
"If you're staying, then I'll stay too, brother."
Sir Roxas keeps saying he'll go home and then he'll stay. Is he feeling unstable?
I can't really say anything about that.
In the end, it seems like the conclusion was that Sir Ciel would set up a barrier at my house.
They all said they would come back in the morning and then went home.
I should get some proper sleep too. Tomorrow, I need to cook with all my heart like never before.
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