It's a flower because it's pretty (2)
"Is it very strange?"
Millenia fiddled with the hem of her dress awkwardly. She didn't know it was a problem because it wasn't strange.
Ian questioned Rahon with his gaze.
'Did you give her those clothes?'
'I didn't know it would be that big.'
'Bring her some more clothes right now.'
'20 gold.'
Ian nodded as Rahon held up two fingers.
Soon, Millenia's slender shoulders were wrapped in a thick cardigan.
"It's cold to just wear that."
"Thank you."
"What's funny? It seems like you're holding back laughter."
"Oh, no, just..."
Even if they assume that Rahon is a person who speaks informally to everyone, Millenia's reaction is very natural.
She was always wary of strangers.
Ian tilted his head to the side.
"I guess the two of you have already greeted each other."
"With Rahon? Yes, I spoke to him briefly a little while ago. He is called 'The One Who Saves."
"That's very different from what someone said, saying he didn't say a word."
Ian stared at Rahon with cold eyes. Rahon, who had been ignoring everything, suddenly lost his temper.
"Why are you so polite to her but so informal to me? Are you discriminating against the guardians?"
"Didn't you speak informally to me when you first saw me?"
"..."
Ian, who had silenced Rahon's mouth with just one word, grabbed Millenia's hand.
"I'll heat up the bath water for you."
"Huh? Oh, no. I'll do it when Nadia comes."
"I can prepare it for you."
"It's okay, I really want to do it later. I'm more curious about what happened to the knights. How injured were they..."
"They weren't the kind of opponent that would get hurt. A few people were hit by paralyzing poison or arrows, but that's something they should be able to overcome."
"What about Montpain?"
"They would have found it."
"Is it possible that they won't be able to find it?"
"That doesn't happen."
"Wow... I feel relieved when you say it like that."
Millenia smiled brightly. Ian's gaze fell on her gently curved lips, then quickly left them.
"I failed to respond properly even though you warned me in advance. I will pay the price for putting the Guardian in danger when I return."
"If you say that, Little Duke, I can't raise my head. I told you too late that there was going to be an attack. It was my fault in the first place."
Still, Ian's face did not brighten. Millenia shook the hand he was holding stiffly.
"Um... Uh, where should I sit? Could you show me the way?"
He understood that she was trying to change the subject, but it was so awkward that it was almost heartbreaking. Ian just laughed.
"Please sit here."
The moment Ian led Millenia to the sofa, a cute little sound was heard from somewhere.
"..."
Millenia's face turned bright red in an instant.
Ian asked Rahon, who was trying hard to suppress her laughter by pursing her lips.
"Rahon, are you hungry?"
"No?"
"..."
"Come to think of it. I guess I was a little bit hungry."
"Let's start preparing dinner now."
Ian sat Millenia down on the sofa.
He covered her lap with the blanket he had taken from Rahon and knelt down in front of her.
Rahon snickered at the action that seemed to be making eye contact.
He thought it was really sincere, even though the other person couldn't see it.
"Dinner will be ready shortly. Please wait a moment."
"I can't help you... I'm sorry."
"The kitchen is small, so I can do it alone. If you need any help, please let me know."
"Yes."
Millenia answered softly.
Even if she could see, it would be difficult for Young Lady, who grew up preciously, to help him prepare meals, so why is she so apologetic?
Looking back, he has never seen a Young Lady say sorry as often as Millenia.
Most of the time, Young Lady doesn't apologize no matter how many mistakes she makes because of her pride.
Ian, who was looking up at Millenia with pity, winked at Rahon.
"What are you doing? Aren't you going to prepare dinner?"
"Should I do it?"
"Then shall I do it?"
"..."
Ian's cooking skills were abysmal.
Even though he put in the same ingredients, something bizarre and unidentifiable came out.
So whenever Rahon came to the mountain lodge with Ian, he prepared a packed lunch or took charge of preparing the meals.
Rather than seeing precious ingredients being thrown away, it would be better to do it himself.
"Don't even go near the kitchen."
Rahon gave a sharp warning and headed to the kitchen.
A rustling sound was heard from the kitchen, and soon the smell of baking bread filled the lodge.
After a while, Rahon came out into the living room carrying a large tray.
He placed the toasted bread, soup, coffee, and hot milk on the table and sat down on the floor.
"Let's eat."
Ian scooped up some soup and brought it to Millenia's mouth.
"Rahon is pretty good at making soups."
"Oh, I'll do it."
Millenia stopped in her tracks at Ian's actions. Even Rahon stared at him with his mouth open, but Ian was the only one who didn't know the problem.
"Shall I cool it down for you?"
"I'll eat some bread."
"Ah."
Ian sighed softly.
Come to think of it, Millenia didn't eat watery food like soup.
Most of the meals she had just before leaving the Astrod mansion were also prepared without soup.
Ian spread butter and jam on some bread and put it in Millenia's hand.
"It's edible. Please eat it."
"Thank you. But why were you at the mountain lodge, Rahon?"
"Because I have the necessary medicinal ingredients. There are many rare herbs in this mountain, so I came here often with him."
"I was lucky. Thank you again for treating me."
"I was paid to do it anyway, so what? Ian, aren't you going to eat it?"
"Yes."
lan tore off a piece of bread and put it in his mouth. His eyes were fixed on Millenia.
Rahon stopped eating and looked at Ian.
It's overly polite for a woman he likes, and excessive for a brother taking care of his younger sister.
In fact, Ian had a younger sister who was five years younger than him.
However, the difference is that it is not a warm, cozy, and fluffy atmosphere like now, but rather one where only swearing and violence run rampant.
Ian's appearance now is... Yes, he looks like a butler who is loyal to his master. The way he politely serves soup is exactly like that.
If he were to compare it to an animal, would it be something like a loyal dog?
'Heh, do you know that the girl you worship so much proposed to me when we were young?'
Rahon snickered inwardly. He changed the subject because he felt embarrassed for no reason.
"What happened this morning? And what about the paralyzing poison?"
"It's the Third Prince's doing."
When Ian explained the situation, excluding the fact that the assassin seemed to be the Third Prince's private soldier, Rahon's expression suddenly distorted.
"He sent an assassin because you said you wanted to break up? Isn't that crazy?!"
"Because of me, many people got hurt. The schedule was also delayed. I'm sorry."
"The Knights have to protect the Young Lady. Do not apologize to those who failed in their duty."
"Right, why is that your fault? It's that crazy guy's fault. It's okay to break up. If you date someone like that, you'll only suffer."
Millenia laughed silently.
The two men were silent for a moment, their faces quietly smiling with their mouths covered.
"Why are you laughing?"
"When I listen to Rahon's story, it really feels like an ordinary thing. What happened to me is like meeting and breaking up with a lover."
"That's right."
"But other people don't think that way. They attach a lot of meaning to it."
"Because you are the Guardian. That's why Guardians shouldn't act recklessly."
"I wish I had met Rahon before. If you had scolded me like this, I wouldn't have even started."
Rahon smiled softly, holding his chin.
"Wow, what a pretty girl..."
"It's a brother?!"
It's amazing that this innocent little girl, who suffered from mental illness and was always melancholy, has grown up to become a guardian like himself.
It feels strange.
Rohan was proud to hear that she had overcome her ordeal, and she was furious when he heard the rumor that she had become Oslo's lover.
That's why Rohan volunteered for Eldern. After work, he wanted to go to Millenia and give her a stern scolding for what the hell she was doing. He had absolutely no intention of killing her like he had threatened to do.
'I saved her, but now she's dead.'
But that was just his feeling. Millenia didn't remember Rohan at all.
At that moment, Millenia pressed her temple. The smile on Rahon's lips disappeared in an instant.
"Do you have a headache again?"
"...No."
"But why are you touching your temple?"
"It's a habit that I do without realizing it when I think about it... But... Lord Rahon."
"Why."
"I feel like you've been particularly concerned about my headache for a while now. Is there another reason?"
"You always had a headache when you were little."
"...Me?"
Millenia blinked with a puzzled look on her face.
"I think you've mistaken me for someone else. I never had a headache when I was young, except for a cold."
"You really have forgotten everything."
"Yes?"
Rahon continued speaking, feeling both sad and relieved.
"Good job."
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