Chapter 17

Using the knife that Helka had offered, Laila cut each tart in half. It had become Laila's job to cut the pastries and offer them to Julius.

"Here you go."

"Thank you. ... Now, which one should I eat first?"

"Any one is fine."

When Laila smiled, Julius returned her smile and first pierced the fork into the most vividly colored strawberry tart.

Julius quickly ate the bite-sized tart and relaxed his cheeks, saying, "It's sweet and tangy, delicious," and then proceeded to finish the custard, berry, and others one by one.

And finally.

When it was time to eat the tart with the sunset-colored jam, Julius carefully examined the piece he had pierced with his fork before putting it in his mouth.

"Hmm... Is this, apple?"

"Hehe... Half right. Is it delicious?"

"Yeah, it's delicious."

Behind Julius, Vernerelli nodded and Helka smiled.

"Actually, the jam in the tart you just ate contained not only apples but also carrots."

"... What? No way."

Julius, who had been caught off guard, stared blankly and glanced at the remaining half of the tart on Laila's plate. Yes, Julius, who liked sweets and meat, was generally averse to vegetables.

Julius himself seemed to be trying to overcome his dislike of vegetables, but it wasn't going well. Even when mixed into dishes, the unique smell of vegetables would immediately dampen his appetite.

That's why Vernerelli had recently approached Laila with a serious face, asking, "Do you have any good ideas?" Laila, who had been consulted by Vernerelli, couldn't help but be enthusiastic. She immediately suggested mixing vegetables into pastries and created this jam with apples and carrots.

After covering his mouth with his hand as if savoring the taste of the tart he had just eaten, Julius glanced at Laila.

"Sorry, but can I eat your share too?"

"Yes, of course."

Julius took the tart that was meant for Laila and this time ate it slowly, savoring each bite. His brows furrowed as he tried to carefully discern the flavors on his tongue.

"Come to think of it, that flavor is there... but there's no smell at all, and it's sweet. Is this really made with carrots?"

"About half of the color is from carrots."

To mask the color, she had also added apple peels, but apples alone wouldn't produce such a vivid color. She had tried various methods to eliminate the unique smell of carrots, and it seemed to have worked.

After eating the last piece, Julius smiled.

"Well, this is a surprise. I was eating carrots without even knowing it."

"Can you overcome your dislike of vegetables?"

"Um, well... I doubt I could eat whole carrots, but I think I could eat them mixed into something."

Behind Julius, Vernerelli was looking at his back with renewed interest. He was probably thinking of ways to get Julius to eat vegetables at an incredible speed. Laila's success with the jam had also sparked Vernerelli's creativity in cooking, which was a great thing.

While Laila was eating the remaining tart at Julius's urging, Julius sipped the tea Vernerelli had made and sighed.

"I know I have to eat things I don't like for my health, but I just can't stand vegetables."

"They do have a unique taste and smell."

"That's part of it... but I don't have many good memories associated with vegetables."

"Is that so?"

"Yes. Before I was rescued by the Rendia army at the border... I rarely got to eat meat. I was only given things like tree roots and rotten leaves."

The living room, which had been warm and cozy, was now filled with a cold atmosphere. Laila, who had been wiping her mouth with a napkin, stopped and glanced at Julius's profile.

(That means...)

Julius hadn't just lost his family in a war; he had lived in much worse conditions.

"Of course, the vegetables Vernerelli uses in his cooking are proper and nutritious. I do try... and it's been over fifteen years. It's only natural not to use the past as an excuse forever."

"..."

"Sorry, the conversation got a bit dark."

"..."

Laila hesitated, then turned to face Julius. Her fiancé, who looked a bit healthier than he did a month ago, was looking at her with a slightly troubled expression.

"I don't know much about you, Julius. I'm glad you told me these things."

"Of course, it's not a good thing that you had a difficult childhood..."

"Hehe, it's okay. I understand."

Laila's hazel eyes, which had been wavering, softened, and Julius's left hand touched the hair at the nape of her neck. The almost straight dark blonde hair was entwined with Julius's fingers, and the sensation was visible at the corner of her eye.

My childhood was far from enjoyable. But... after being taken in by my adoptive father, I learned the warmth of people, discovered that there are delicious things in the world, and experienced the joy of magic training. Of course, I still struggle with excessive magic power, and I was devastated when my adoptive father died. Even when I try to step into the spotlight, I'm called a 'ghost mage.'

"But I'm happy now."

Happy.

Julius is happy now.

"My aunts are concerned about my troublesome constitution, and Vernerelli and Helka take care of me. And... I have a wonderful fiancée by my side."

Julius's fingers, which had been playing with Laila's hair, slid down to touch her cheek gently. His long, slender fingers traced the line of her cheekbone and added a soft touch to the flesh under her jaw, making Laila's heart ache sweetly.

"That's why I can become stronger and try to do many things. ... With everyone's help, I'm sure I'll be able to eat carrots as they are someday, right?"

Said with a bit of a playful tone, Laila couldn't help but giggle.

"Would you eat lettuce and tomatoes, too?"

"I'll try. ... Will you be there to watch me?"

Tilting her head, Laila laughed and reached out her hand. She touched Julius's cheek, just as he had done, and gently stroked the slightly fuller area.

"Not just until then, right?"

"... Yeah, you're right."

Julius, who had smiled softly, slid his hand down from Laila's cheek and gently pulled her shoulder. Encouraged by the gentle pull, Laila leaned into Julius's shoulder without resistance.

At night, he would hold her from behind while they slept. During the day, they would hold hands to release his excess magic. Compared to those, leaning on his shoulder was a minor form of physical contact, but Laila's heart was racing just as much as when he held her. She could feel the same rapid heartbeat from Julius's chest, and she couldn't help but smile.

Vernerelli and Helka had disappeared at some point, but neither of them noticed. They leaned against each other, enjoying the warm afternoon.