𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟔: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐨𝐝𝐨𝐫𝐞-𝐬𝐚𝐦𝐚
At the lakeside villa, I served the lunch I had prepared. The main dish was a cold pasta, combining a sauce full of spring vegetables I had prepared in advance with pasta I had boiled and chilled.
Heyerdahl has many food temperature management items using magic stones. This is due to the abundance of magic stone fragments, the enthusiasm for technological development to live comfortably even in harsh winter climates, and above all, the efforts of Theodore-sama, who has been actively working on technological development to restore the territories exhausted by border invasions.
When I brought the dishes from the kitchen to the dining room, the children’s faces lit up with smiles. Theodore-sama also looked at the plate and me with a pleased expression.
“You didn’t have the maid make it, you made it yourself.”
“Yes. I enjoyed cooking as a hobby. . . I apologize for having a hobby that’s not very ladylike.”
“[Don’t let go of the hand that wraps your tongue, it’s more important than a cliff], right?”
“Huh?”
“It’s a saying here. It means that a person who cooks delicious food for you is something you shouldn’t let go of, even more than a cliff you grab when you’re falling. . . you see.”
As he said this to me while licking his fingertips, I felt my body temperature rise.
The older boy, Serio, looked at us and pursed his lips.
“Teacher and Lord Father, you’re staring at each other again.”
“You two look so good together, you should just get married already.”
“Marriage. . .”
As I choked on my words, Theodore-sama burst out laughing.
I didn’t know whether to laugh or scold, and I felt indescribable.
“Marrying Theodore-sama. . . that’s rude.”
“It’s not rude at all. I’m always complaining to the children about how to catch Miss Chloe’s attention.”
It was a bombshell.
Stunned, I watched as Theodore-sama tilted his head, his hair swaying.
“Haven’t you noticed? I’ve been courting you.”
Theodore-sama touched my cheek, which had turned bright red.
“There’s a petal falling. I wonder if it came in through the kitchen window.”
“Ah. . .”
As he picked up the white petal, Theodore-sama kissed it while looking at me.
“. . .It’s not fair to kiss it before me.”
Overwhelmed by the intensity of his narrowed gaze, I found it hard to breathe.
As if regaining his composure, Theodore-sama clasped his hands together in prayer.
“Let’s eat while it’s delicious. . . Miss Chloe, please sit down.”
“Yes. . .”
Watching us, the children clasped their hands together, their faces showing a sneaky smile. It was embarrassing, butーーas long as I wasn’t making the children uncomfortable by watching their precious “Lord Father” and me, I felt relieved.
(Relieved. . . no. What am I thinking?)
ーーAfter the meal.
“Why. . . why would you. . . try to court someone like me?”
Watching the children start playing in the lake again from the balcony of the villa, I voiced the question I couldn’t ask in front of the children.
