Chapter 76
‘Have I lost my sense of taste…?’
Elena was concerned about this.
Otherwise, it wouldn’t have tasted so bad.
All she could taste was the bitter flavor of the vegetables.
Obviously, she added sweet and sour sauce and bacon, but it was strange.
‘I thought Lexion said it was delicious?’
Suddenly, Elena realized that Lexion felt that way because he loved her.
Elena shrugged and put down the sandwich.
“Lexion is very kind. To say a sandwich that doesn’t taste like anything delicious.”
“No. I really like it.”
Lexion, who promptly ate the sandwich, replied in earnest.
Still, Elena’s expression didn’t soften.
“I guess I’m not good at cooking. Actually, I’ve never done it before…”
“That could be because you have never done it before. Still, it was delicious for me.”
“… Really?”
“Yes.”
Lexion’s eyes gently curved as he put a soothing hand on Elena’s shoulder.
“If you practice little by little, you will get better at some point.”
“Yes. I’ll have to practice more often in the future.”
Elena’s expression softened a bit.
“Then I’ll make Elena’s meal today.”
“Is Lexion good at cooking?”
“I’m not very good at it, but I’ve done it a few times.”
After saying that, he began to prepare her meal.
Elena’s heart swelled with anticipation.
Soon, her eyes widened.
Because Lexion’s hands moved very quickly.
It took only a few minutes to chop the vegetables, fry the bacon, and assemble the sandwich.
Moreover, the shape was different from the sandwich Elena had made.
There were significantly fewer vegetables than Elena’s, and more sauce.
There was also twice as much bacon in it.
“Eat it.”
Lexion held out a plate of sandwiches to Elena.
“Yes. I will eat well.”
Elena took a large bite of the sandwich.
As expected, the sandwich Lexion made was really delicious.
‘It’s made with the same ingredients, but how can it be so different…?’
Thanks to the right amount of vegetables and the sauce, she could taste the ingredients coming together.
‘It’s sweet yet salty.’
Elena gulped down Lexion’s sandwich.
“You should drink some milk with it, Elena.”
Lexion hurriedly brought milk to her, fearing that she might choke.
“Thanks.”
After consuming three sandwiches and two glasses of milk, Elena finished her meal.
“Wow. It was really delicious, Lexion.”
“I’m glad to hear it.”
“When did you learn to cook?”
Elena patted her swollen stomach as she sat down on a simple chair.
Lexion followed her and sat down next to her.
“I didn’t intentionally learn it. Instead, over the past seven years, I have cooked most of the dishes myself.”
“Ah….”
Lexion said he’d cooked for the knights when they were exhausted on the battlefield.
As a result, his skills naturally improved.
“But it was really delicious. It’s the best sandwich I’ve ever had in my life.”
“Thanks. I will cook more often in the future.”
“Great!”
Elena smiled brightly.
After eating, the two went out to the garden for a walk to digest.
Deep into the night, the brilliant moonlight illuminated the flowers in the garden.
The night air was quite chilly.
Elena unconsciously touched her forearm.
Then, a warm robe was placed over her shoulder.
Lexion handed her the cardigan he was wearing.
“Thank you.”
Lexion simply smiled and took Elena’s hand.
The fragrant smell of grass tickled the tip of her nose, and the sound of insect cries was heard.
‘This is nice….’
Elena fleetingly thought.
Winter would come soon, but with Lexion, it seemed that it wouldn’t feel so cold.
As she thought about it, she came to her senses.
‘…I should probably go. One can never know what’s going to happen.’
As she pushed the thought away, she remembered Roen, whom she had met today.
Even though it was the first time they met, she felt distressed for her.
‘It’s because the story of Roen is like one of many Rofan novels I’ve read in my previous life.’
Of course, the world she was in now was also a world in a novel.
‘Anyway, I want to help, but she refused…’
There was no other way.
Elena shook her head slightly, casting off her thoughts about Roen.
Then, suddenly, she remembered an event that she wanted to ask Lexion, but she couldn’t.
‘… The letters.’
Was it because she heard that Lexion had cooked and eaten on the battlefield?
She recalled that he had not responded to any letters she had sent after he left.
Elena had been wondering about that ever since she reunited with him.
However, since Lexion didn’t bother to talk, she didn’t ask.
It sometimes bothered her, but she didn’t think it was a big deal now.
‘I don’t think Lexion threw away the letters I gave him.’
And she believed in him.
Obviously, something must have happened.
She has always thought of it that way.
‘Still, I wonder why he did that.’
Elena cautiously glanced at him from her periphery.
He turned his head as if he felt her gaze, even though she appeared to be looking ahead.
“Lexion.”
“Yes, Elena.”
Lexion answered with a soft voice.
Elena looked at his face and asked.
“In the past seven years, why haven’t you responded to my letters?”
There was no resentment on her face when she questioned him, only pure doubt.
At her question, Lexion stopped walking and looked at her.
He was about to say something, but then he shut his mouth.
He thought over it, lost in his thought.
Lexion’s mouth opened after some time had passed.
“… I was like Roen too.”
“What? What do you mean…”
At the unexpected answer, Elena was confused.
Lexion’s grip on her hand tightened slightly.
He gave Elena a profound look.
“I didn’t want to burden you.”
Elena just stared at him without saying anything.
What he was talking about, she couldn’t understand right away.
“I didn’t read your letters because I was afraid that if I read them, I would want to go back to the Halos right away.”
Lexion’s eyes darkened a little. They burned brightly as if they harbored a fierce desire.
“I know you would become a capable wizard. If I don’t become an exemplary Halos…”
“What….”
“If I stand next to you, but I don’t have anything, it might be to your detriment.”
“Lexion…”
Lexion was 13 years old when he went on the battlefield.
Even if he was young and impressionable, he still thought about that.
“Sorry for not replying. If you were upset… I’m sorry.”
Lexion raised Elena’s hand and brought it to his cheek as if feeling her warmth.
“But I have all the letters you sent me.”
Soon after, Lexion lightly kissed the back of her hand.
“I’ll bring it to you. Wait a minute.”
Lexion entered the mansion before Elena was able to stop him.
Elena, who was left alone, covered her flushed cheeks with both hands.
She pondered what Lexion had told her a while ago.
And realized.
‘… Lexion has really liked me since he was young.’
Realizing that fact again, it felt like her heart would burst.
The night air was definitely freezing, but somehow she felt warm.
Elena fanned her hands against her face to cool off.
Meanwhile, Lexion returned.
In his hand was a small box.
Lexion immediately led Elena to the nearby bench.
There was a magic lamp beside it, so it was quite bright.
He then handed the box to her.
“These are the letters you gave me.”
Elena carefully opened the box and looked inside.
Inside the box were the letters she had sent.
Although the envelopes were tightly sealed, there was hardly any damage as it was carefully stored.
“Actually, I tried to open it when I got home. But when I was about to open it, I thought it would be a waste…”
“If you don’t want to open it, I won’t open it. Since it belongs to Lexion.”
Elena smiled and handed the box back to him.
Knowing how he felt and the reason, it didn’t matter what she wrote in those letters.
Lexion took the box, treasuring it.
“Thank you for taking care of it.”
There had been times in the past when she’d been disappointed, but it was not the case anymore.
Rather, Lexion’s attitude warmed her heart.
Elena looked at him and smiled.
And Lexion smiled back at her.
*****
After their evening walk, Lexion escorted Elena to her room.
Standing in front of her room, Lexion could hardly let go of Elena’s hand.
As always, he didn’t want to be separated from her even more today.
On the other hand, Elena was just gazing at him with innocent eyes.
Fortunately, Lexion managed to control his yearning.
“Good night, Elena.”
“Yes. Good night, Lexion.”
But when he saw her bright smile, his heart wavered.
He moved closer to Elena without realizing it.
