𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭
Started working two months ago.
While I was cooking in the live-in house, it became a weekend ritual for Edgardo to indulge in cake, occasionally work out, and read books.
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On a whim, when I asked Baldwin if I could do a trial run at my dorm on a holiday, he surprisingly gave me a quick approval.
It seems they’d rather I not go to the knight’s dorm on my days off. If it’s something that’s going to be discarded by then, they’re generous enough to let me use it as I please. On the flip side, the paperwork has increased, but I don’t want to go to work on my day off.
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“Valka-sama, please taste this.”
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What I’ve made is tasted by Edgardo. Having been raised in the Marquis family, Edgardo’s palate is quite refined. His accurate advice is extremely helpful.
I get up a little later than usual, do some trial cooking, and if I get tired, I have cake while chatting with Edgardo. I find it a bit difficult to spend the day alone, given my previous life experiences, so I was happy that Edgardo would come over on my days off.
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“Ah, I see. So this is where you’ve been spending your holidays.”
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I looked up sharply at a voice that was not Edgardo’s.
From the corner of my eye, I see flowing, fiery hair swaying gently. With his vibrant aura and wavy garnet hair, Rolf Ouldra was standing there leaning against a tree.
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“Rolf. . .”
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Despite his confused expression, Edgardo spoke in a firm voice. Rolf responded by playfully waving both his hands.
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“Hold on, wait, I have no intention of telling anyone. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have called out to you.”
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A tense atmosphere hovered between Edgardo, who was confronting the approaching Rolf, and me, who was frantically chewing my food.
Could his entrance have waited a bit?! Among the serious ones, I’m the only one munching away, and it feels out of place!
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“I’ve been curious about where Edgardo goes on his days off. Before, you would basically be in your room, right? You wouldn’t come even if I invited you, and when I thought I’d finally caught you, you’d refuse.”
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These two seem to have been close. I feel a little guilty for taking Edgardo away.
Rolf’s milk-chocolate-colored eyes gaze at me with some warmth. Not letting on that I was just munching away, I put on a serene face. A lady wears a mask, after all.
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“I’m glad Edgardo has found a place where he can eat what he likes.”
“Rolf, you knew?”
“I thought I was hiding it well. But Edgardo is five years younger than me, right? I can tell.”
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Rolf chuckled and nudged Edgardo’s shoulder, making a dull sound.
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“Don’t make that face. You were hiding it from me; that’s your penalty. Isn’t this just cute?”
“I don’t have to tell Rolf everything.”
“True, but I could’ve bought a cake too.”
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Rolf made a face that was slightly pouty and childlike.
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“If I did that, then Rolf might get penalized for giving me prohibited items. I didn’t want that.”
“Edgardo. . .”
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Edgardo, usually reserved and mature, looked his age. Rolf seemed touched. And there’s me, out of place.
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The two of them confirmed their friendship in front of me, who was just blending into the atmosphere, and then both looked at me. Feeling like the atmosphere was okay for me to move, I stood up and bowed.
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“Miss Norchev, thank you for protecting Edgardo’s heart. I must thank you.”
“I haven’t done anything. Valka-sama, from now on you can eat whatever you like even if you don’t come here.”
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As I looked at Edgardo, genuinely happy for him, I noticed his face was quite pale.
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“. . .So, are you saying I shouldn’t come here anymore?”
“Please come whenever you like.”
“Then why would you say something like that?”
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Surprisingly, Edgardo is being quite forward, causing me to maintain a slight distance. I’ve gotten used to good-looking guys since I started this job, but I’m not really comfortable with them getting too close.
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“When you feel like having something sweet at night, you can’t come here, can you? You could eat with Ouldra-sama, though.”
“No ulterior motives?”
“Ulterior motives. . .? Oh, should I return the magic bag?”
“No, you keep it.”
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The awkwardness intensifies as Edgardo stares intently at me.
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“Uh, really, you can come whenever you want. It was really enjoyable when Valka-sama visited.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Actually, I’m a bit awkward being alone, so having you taste-test really helps.”
“. . .I’m glad.”
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Edgardo smiles as if flowers are blooming.
He’s younger, but there’s something sultry, or perhaps a bit of allure. . .It got my heart racing a bit. Not being repulsed by a handsome man’s smile is a big step for me.
Even if I work somewhere else in the future, contact with the opposite sex is inevitable. I probably didn’t feel tense around Edgardo because he has a straightforward personality, and we’ve spent a fair amount of time together.
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“Oh~, really?”
“Rolf!”
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Edgardo punches Rolf’s shoulder. Absorbing the fairly heavy blow, Rolf laughs.
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“Can I come here next time too?”
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Rolf whispers something into Edgardo’s ear. Edgardo is taller, so Rolf has to stretch a bit.
A few seconds later, Edgardo reluctantly nods.
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“Miss Norchev, would it be okay if Rolf comes too?”
“Yes, although I won’t be able to attend to you much.”
“I’m the one who imposed, so there’s no need for any hospitality. It’s a day off, after all.”
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Rolf is always cheerful and sometimes has my back. To be honest, it doesn’t really matter to me whether he comes or not, but if he wants to come, I see no reason to refuse.
I’ll consider the day off as a combination of cooking and handsome-guy training.
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