Chapter 82

"Z-Zein-sama... Why..."

"I came to pick up my cute lover. Good work."

Zein-sama, sitting in a chair near the entrance, narrowed his golden eyes softly and smiled.

He looked dazzling in his casual attire, and I could never get used to his overwhelming beauty.

I wondered how he knew I would be here today, even though I hadn't told him, but I quickly stopped thinking about it.

It wasn't as if it was the first time Zein-sama had figured out my location.

"Pepipo! Pupi!"

Haniwa, who had been sleeping nicely in the back while we worked in the cafeteria, flew towards Zein-sama happily. The pink ribbon wrapped around her body fluttered like wings.

"Ah, me too."

"Pupi!"

Haniwa rubbed her cheek against Zein-sama, and it was clear that she loved him from the bottom of her heart, which made me feel a bit embarrassed.

Familiars are said to share their master's consciousness and memories, so they tend to like the same things.

"Can you give us some privacy from here?"

"Pupo! Pi!"

"Thank you, you're such a good girl."

Zein-sama stroked Haniwa's head, stood up, and said to Evan and Yana, "I'll take it from here," before heading towards me, who was standing there.

He took my hand, which was still in confusion, and started walking towards the door.

"Shall we go?"

"Huh? Um, where to...?"

"I'll take you to the Marquess's mansion."

Evan, Yana, and the other employees waved and saw us off with smiles.

We got into an unfamiliar, plain carriage from the back door, and as I sat next to Zein-sama, I caught my reflection in the window.

"Ah."

I remembered that I was dressed plainly for my disguise and quickly took off the hat that Evan had once laughed at, saying, "It makes you look like a baby."

Zein-sama chuckled at my actions, leaned in close, and gently removed the thick-lensed glasses I was wearing.

"You're cute no matter what you wear."

"..."

The sight of his flawless, beautiful face so close to mine, and the fact that he genuinely thought I was cute, made my heart race.

The carriage soon started moving towards the Marquess's mansion, and the cafeteria gradually became smaller in the distance.

Feeling his gaze from the side, I turned to see Zein-sama staring at me intently.

"Is something wrong?"

"Your brown hair is quite refreshing. It makes you look a bit more mature."

During my time working at the cafeteria, I dyed my hair with magic, and it wouldn't return to its original color without washing it off.

Zein-sama playfully took a strand of my hair, kissed it lightly, and I had to struggle to suppress a small scream.

"You said you'd be busy until next week and we wouldn't be able to meet."

"I finished work early today, so I wanted to see you even for a little while."

His fingers naturally intertwined with mine, which were resting on my lap.

It had been almost a month since we confessed our love and became lovers, yet I still got butterflies in my stomach over the smallest things.

"Thank you. Actually, I was just thinking about how much I wanted to see you, so I'm really happy."

"That's good to hear. I actually wanted to have dinner with you, but I didn't have time to change, so I waited until you finished."

After that, Zein-sama had come to the cafeteria once, disguised as he used to be.

In his true form, he was too noticeable, and as a high-ranking noble, his presence would make other commoner customers and children feel intimidated.

"It's really delicious."

"Yeah, this month's dessert is also highly recommended."

Al, who had come with Zein-sama, was already a regular at the cafeteria and would come even on his own. If I said it was his favorite, the hamburger lunch would be served.

When I said he didn't need to pay because he was a child, he would get angry and say, "Who's a child! Besides, I make a lot of money," so I always took the money.

Thinking that it was also a reward for monitoring me at Zein-sama's command, it felt strangely surreal that it ended up in my hands.