Chapter 54

Unwittingly clutching the white cloak around him, Eli looked up, his eyes flustered.

"I've got a lot of body heat, you know, so you cover yourself with that, Eli."

"…Liar."

Eli slowly closed and opened his eyes, then motioned to take off the cloak. However, Reina quickly invoked a spell.

After spreading warmth all over her body, she took Eli's hand. Her eyebrows were raised as she looked at him, as though to say, 'Told you so'.

"See, I'm telling the truth, aren't I?"

"..."

"I've got a lot of warmth in me. So you wear that instead. It's designed for women, but… At least you won't be uncomfortable."

Reina let go of his hand and adjusted the cloak over him again.

"..."

Staring at the hand that Reina held just now, Eli closed and opened that same hand over and over again, as if to see if there was still warmth left over.

'Um… Is he still feeling cold?'

She had no choice but to hold Eli's hand again. She gently let the warm energy flow through his hands in a way that wouldn't be too overbearing.

"Maybe because I'm warm and your hands are cold, Eli, so it feels good for me, too. Should we stay like this for a while?"

In the end, Eli was from a renowned household that's called the best knight family for a reason. Eli squirmed a little uncomfortably. It seemed like he noticed her subtle use of magic.

Smiling before she asked something, Reina soon changed the subject.

"Let's wait a little longer, but no one comes after a while, let's start moving. It's dark, but it's better to move than to wait here until dawn."

Distracted by her words, Eli stopped fidgeting. He nodded in response.

"…Okay."

He clasped the hand that was smaller than his. He held it tightly so as not to lose this warmth—as if he would never let go.

* * *

It had already been five days since the group had arrived at Cressen.

In the meantime, Reina's relationships with Letis and Fran had stabilized, and Eli was now completely won over, too. So, really, it could be said that her visit here at Cressen was a success.

'Of course, I mean, I don't know if Eli's feelings for me are or a romantic kind… or something.'

In any case, Eli started following Reina around as though she was his mother bird.

"Noona, this bread is delicious. Here, try it."

"Thank you, Eli."

But as soon as the bread he handed over was placed on Reina's plate, Paul—who was next to her—quickly reached for it.

"I like this kind of bread, too!"

Paul's hand was going straight for the freshly baked bread, but then a fork was brutally stabbed onto the table next to his hand.

"Don't you have your own hands? Get one for yourself."

The one who gave this cold warning was Eli. At this, Paul pouted sulkily, but, huh… does this make sense?

"If you touch Noona's food again, this fork right here will be stabbed right into your hand next time, not the table."

With that innocent face of his, Eli went on to spout such words that would make anyone shake in their boots.

The gap in his personality made Reina gape her mouth open, but Eli just smiled and handed her a glass of juice.

"Now, here, Noona. You like this juice, right?"

"Uh, yeah."

Inadvertently taking the glass, Reina looked alternately between Paul and Eli.

Did these two have a bad relationship? Or was Eli just originally like that…?

"Umm…"

Reina's brows were slightly furrowed for a moment, but she soon shrugged anyhow.

Well, personality schmersonality. She didn't care, as long as he's nice to her.

"Haahm— Good morning."

Just in time, the door opened, and Letis entered the dining hall while yawning. He poured water for himself from the glass pitcher on the table, then he sat down in one of the chairs.

"What about the others?" Letis asked.

"Jeremy and Douglas are doing their morning training. Luke, though, I don't know."

"I see. How about you though, what're you going to do today?"

Before answering, Paul spread some jam on a piece of bread first, and took a bite out of it.

"I wonder?" Paul said.

"You haven't decided yet?" Reina asked.

"It's only a five-day schedule though?"

Baffled by Paul's bright answer, Reina stared at him incredulously. But all he did was smile and make eye contact with her.

"What? Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Didn't you say you got the entire schedule approved?"

That's the only reason Reina was unwillingly dragged all the way out here.

"Yeah."

"But just now, you said it's only five days."

"Yeah."

"…This punk."

Paul noticed that Reina was about to grab him by his hair, so he added with a smile.

"The five-day schedule was 'entirely' approved by the Imperial Family."

"..."

"I didn't mention the other nine days because there's no schedule for those days."

He said that as he munched on his slice of bread. Reina stared at him pointedly.

'Ah, seriously. Should I really just hit him once.'

A violent urge started to stir in Reina's mind for a short moment. Still though, she couldn't raise her hand carelessly.

"Paul."

As she began to calmly spread jam on the bread Eli gave her, she calmly called her friend's name.

"Hm?"

"I think you need one of those."

"What?"

Paul tilted his head to the side innocently. She, too, followed with an ever-so-gentle smile on her lips.

"A silver spoon."

"A silver spoon?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

What do you mean, why?

"Silver spoons are the most effective in discerning whether or not your food has been poisoned. That's why you should always carry a silver spoon with you."

"..."

"You wouldn't know when you're going to die, Paul. In my hands."

She carefully took the bread Paul was eating and set it aside. Then, she held their hands together closely.

"So, let's be nice, shall we?"

"Yes, ma'am."

Watching the two childhood friends' back and forth for a while at the side, Letis burst into laughter. He picked up a snack on the table as well.

"So, what are you doing today?"

Chewing on a crunchy cookie, he leaned back against his seat and asked.

"I really don't know… I've only planned a schedule for five days."

"You don't have anything in mind?"

"Yeah."

"Hmm…"

Sitting crookedly on his seat, Letis paused to think, then opened his lips again.

"Then, since we're all bored, why don't we play a game? Finding Luke."

"A game?"

For a moment, a flash went through Paul, Fran and Eli's eyes.

'These boys are the future of the country… After eating so much like that, you're really going to do this? Tsk, tsk.'

What will happen to this country in the future, really.

Side-eyeing them as if they were pathetic, Reina shook her head and spoke up.

"Count me ou—"

But before she could finish that sentence, Paul intervened.

"For the price, how about granting a wish?"

"…What?"

A wish coupon, huh?

The bread in Reina's hand dropped to its plate as her eyes went wide.

'If it's a wish coupon…'

A lifeline?

"Oh…"

Yes!

If, in the end, she couldn't capture anyone, she could just proudly ask for financial help once the time comes that she needs to run away!

"…Count me in! I wanna play! Let me join! I'll definitely participate!"