38 – Pancakes, Snow
“…Ahem. I apologize. When you come next time, I’ll give you plenty of service, young man.”
“Ah…thank you…”
-So that’s what it was? Sorry!
-You didn’t know the benefactor!
-I’ll buy you a drink next time!
Whether it was a meal or a feast of animosity towards me, the mealtime came to an end.
Fortunately, whether it was intentional or not, Ariel spoke up in my defense, causing the citizens and the landlady to wear puzzled expressions.
I’m glad at least those hostile glares disappeared. I thought I might actually get stabbed with a knife while walking down the street.
“Phew…”
“Why the sigh?”
“It’s nothing. Really…”
She asks, feigning a truly innocent expression.
…I don’t know what to say, so I just muttered “no”.
“Well then, what should we do now?”
“Me? I should go back to the castle and start working again. It’s about time… I think.”
Before leaving the stew shop, I glanced at the pendulum clock on the wall. It seemed to be around 1:10, so it should be about the right time to slowly walk back to the castle.
“Hmm… Just don’t go.”
“…Pardon?”
“I’m telling you not to go. Right now… I’m still getting to know you.”
“But…”
As the newest member, if I start skipping work already, it won’t look good to the other servants, and more importantly, it doesn’t feel right to not do the work I should be doing myself. I tried to refuse, but…
“Are you defying me right now?”
“…Understood.”
With Eriel’s eyes wide open and speaking, I had no choice but to obediently comply. No matter what anyone says, I am currently… Eriel’s personal butler. Eriel’s orders take top priority.
“Hmm… You show a sense of responsibility for the tasks assigned to you. I’ll remember that.”
Eriel’s murmuring, which felt like he was looking at me as an experiment, was a bit unsettling… But what can I do?
“So, what should I do now?”
“Just… Whatever you want. Try anything.”
Whether it was because of my submissive response or not, Eriel’s wide eyes returned to their usual emotionless state.
Since I’ve been seeing Eriel so often, I sometimes feel like I can sense a hint of emotion in those eyes.
…Enjoyment? Nah, there’s no way.
Hmm. That reaction just now… seemed like she really liked it.
“Then, let’s go together first!”
“Okay.”
Well, I’ll know once I feed her! With that thought, I led Ariel, who was following me diligently, towards the rumored pancake shop.
‘I’m sure it was said to be somewhere to the left of the central statue…’
In the center of the Frost territory, there stood a gallant statue of a hero. A man, holding the handle of a sword thrust into the ground, looking straight ahead.
I heard he was the first lord of the Frost family. Anyway.
As I walked along the path, a cute-looking store that obviously seemed like a dessert shop caught my eye.
It was indeed popular these days, as people were lined up in front of the store.
“Yum~ The smell of pancakes! Miss Ariel, let’s hurry and get in line!”
The sweet aroma wafting from afar seemed to excite me unwittingly. I took Ariel’s hand and led her towards the shop.
“………….”
Ariel, without a word, stared intently at the hand I was holding and followed my lead.
– Wow… this looks delicious…!
– Yum yum… Wow…! This is really good!
A couple leaving the shop looked happy as they ate their pancakes.
Fluffy pancakes topped with just the right amount of syrup and a small piece of butter.
Gulp.
I couldn’t help but salivate. It’s just pancakes, but why am I drooling so much?
‘…It seems this body really likes sweet things.’
Originally, I wasn’t much for seeking out sweet things to eat.
Yet, the craving I feel now lets me know that this body intensely desires those fluffy pancakes.
“hahahaha… I’m somewhat looking forward to this?”
“You, of all people… a pancake lover, it seems.”
“It appears so. I’ve never tried them before.”
It wasn’t a lie. I had no particular preference for pancakes, barely remembering if I ever ate them in my life, and after coming to this world, I didn’t even know pancakes existed.
As I let my imagination soar with thoughts of pancakes, our turn had almost arrived.
‘Finally… Can I really eat them now…!’
With an excited heart, I approached the pancake shop, only to be greeted by a sign that read -Sold Out- right before my eyes.
“….Ah.”
That day, my world crumbled.
***
“…….Ah.”
Looking at Venice with a face full of despair, as if the sky itself had fallen.
Wondering what was wrong, I followed Venice’s gaze to the shop, realizing that the pancakes were sold out.
‘Is she really that despaired over something so trivial?’
It’s just a dessert after all. A snack for after or before a meal, just something to enjoy.
Eriel didn’t prefer desserts. Not that she disliked the sweetness of desserts, but they weren’t interesting enough to excite her.
‘Just eat it next time, right?’
That’s what Eriel was about to say to Venice.
However, Venice now seemed completely deflated. The once confident and cheerful expression was soaked in gloom, and upon closer inspection, there were tears glistening in the eyes of the bowed head.
If it had been like usual, Ariel would have told him not to do anything unnecessary and to go back. Whether it was his father, mother, or brothers.
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Regardless of who the other person was, she would have ignored them and soon forgotten.
Thump!
However, the feeling that she felt now… What on earth was this emotion?
Upon discovering Venice’s tears, she felt something inside her heart reverberating.
“…What is this?”
For no reason at all, she wanted to comfort him and make his wishes come true.
Simply put, she wanted to embrace him.
Faced with this unfamiliar and incomprehensible situation and emotion, Ariel didn’t know what to do.
“Go…back…”
Still hunched over, Venice, as if lingering in regret, turned his back and started to walk away, his steps unsteady.
Unconsciously, Ariel found herself walking towards the pancake shop, towards that pitiful creature-like figure. And the words slipped out.
“E-Eriel, Miss…?”
“Two pancakes. Bring them here.”
“B-But we don’t have the ingredients…”
“Double it. No, make it five times as much. So do it.”
Bring the pancakes right now.
The pancake shop owner, his eyes widening as soon as he spotted her, threw off his apron and started running off somewhere, flailing about.
Carrying materials obtained from somewhere, the owner hastily returned to the shop and swiftly began making pancakes.
“Heuk… Heeok… Here… it is…!”
“Yeah. Thanks.”
Holding the completed pancake, he headed towards Venice, who was walking slowly with a sluggish pace despite having started a while ago, seemingly bothered.
“Venice.”
“Yes…”
“Eat this.”
“Yes… yes? This… this is…!”
As soon as she spotted the pancake, the gloomy expression on her face instantly turned bright. It’s incredible how emotions can change so quickly.
“T-Thank you…!”
And then, he watched Venice inhale the pancake as if shedding tears of deep emotion.
It’s just a pancake. Yet, is it really making her this happy?
“Nom nom… Miss Ariel too… have some…!”
“Yeah.”
In response to his words, she scooped up a bit of pancake with a small spoon and put it in her mouth. The softness and sweetness felt in her mouth were just like any ordinary pancake.
It’s a regular pancake, no different from usual. If it were the usual Ariel, she would have taken a bite and discarded it.
“…Is it delicious?”
He looked at Venice, who seemed to radiate a happy smile as if possessing everything in the world. The desire to convey the happiness he felt, to share it with me, was transmitted.
“Yeah. It’s delicious.”
Thump-thump.
Today… pancakes seem delicious.
I let myself be hit by the snowflakes falling, in an unknown… yet not unpleasant sensation.
Even sweeter than pancakes… looking at your smile.
***
“Commander!”
“Seris, Deputy Commander.”
After autumn passes and winter arrives, I stroll through the streets with the commander.
“It’s cold today.”
“Oh… hehehe…”
The commander personally wraps a scarf, embroidered by himself, around me. In that moment, I feel as if I have everything in the world.
I need nothing else. If only this moment could last forever.
Then, the first snow of the year begins to fall.
I stare blankly at the snow, then shift my gaze to the commander, who is also looking at the sky.
Despite the cold weather, the warmth of being with my loved one makes me forget even the chill.
And… that warmth brings forth the feelings I had carefully hidden.
“Commander….”
“Hmm? Seris, Deputy Commander. What’s the matter?”
“I… Commander….”
The words I had kept hidden don’t continue, and the world shatters into pieces.
“…………….”
Without any thought to wipe her flowing tears, Seris simply stared blankly at the ceiling.
Sweeter than pancakes, a dream she didn’t want to leave slips away. Only the miserable reality awakens her mind.
“………..”
For no particular reason, she looks out the window beside her bed. Outside, the year’s first snow falls beautifully, leaving its mark on the world.
The reflection in the window. Her blue eyes, clear as a serene sea, now lifeless, reflect an endless abyss.
“Your eyes are beautiful.”
Suddenly, she remembers the captain speaking about her eyes. Was it a memory from reality, or a sweet lie from a dream?
Unable to discern the truth. Only tears continue to flow from Seris’s lifeless eyes.
“Sob…sob…sniff…!”
Feeling a crushing pain as if her heart would burst, endlessly repeating the words she never got to say.
…Recalling the face and voice she will never see again.
The first snow, had begun to fall.