Chapter 53
“Such audacity.”
Kraush’s innocent face drew a brief evaluation from Crimson Garden.
Apologies, but I couldn’t shake off the feeling of awkwardness myself. It was frustrating to pretend to be strangers when we used to share jokes and jabs whenever we met.
But there was no helping it. To her, I was a complete unknown.
Kraush was fully aware that the memories in his mind no longer existed in reality. So, he felt a mix of discomfort and, at times, relief.
At least, considering his relationship with Lirina before him, this was better.
‘Her face is as unchanged as ever.’
Seeing her from a distance was fine, but now that she was right in front of him, it made him feel strangely flustered.
There was no escaping it; they had a lot of ties together.
Lirina’s eyes momentarily closed upon being asked a question, then opened wide as she belatedly realized her sudden appearance.
Her normally half-closed eyes showed a slight blush.
“Ah, forgive me. I’m Lirina, an attendant of the Igrit family. I recently fed Kami.”
At the mention of Kami, Kraush turned to Crimson Garden, whose eyes seemed to convey, ‘Kami, huh? Fits perfectly.’ He nearly squinted at Crimson Garden.
“Oh, I see. I wondered where Kream had been wandering off to. I didn’t realize he was getting fed somewhere else. Did he seem underfed?”
“I gave him food on my own accord, so please don’t scold me.”
“He’s smart enough to self-regulate if he thinks he overindulged. In fact, I’m grateful for your kindness toward him.”
Grrggrrl—
Just then, a sound echoed from Kraush’s stomach.
Lirina, hearing the noise directly, instinctively covered her mouth to hide her chuckle.
As Kraush appeared flustered, Lirina subtly held up her basket.
“I didn’t touch any of the dessert. How about it? If you’re okay with it, would you like some?”
After all, it was food destined for the trash. Since Aslan hadn’t touched the dessert today, it sat untouched in the basket.
Seeing Lirina offer, Kraush gave a wry smile.
“Wouldn’t it be rude for me to eat after both Kream and you?”
“Throwing away food is far ruder to nature. It’s actually a charitable act. This way, you’re gifting both Kream and his owner a treat.”
As always, her words flowed smoothly.
Kraush smiled apologetically despite feeling sorry.
“Well then, can I take you up on that offer?”
Anyone who knew Kraush well would be left utterly speechless at the moment.
[Wow, you’ve really got some gall, huh? After intentionally skipping breakfast, I was starting to think you were planning on starving yourself before donating your lifeless shell to me. So, was your plan to charm this girl?]
As expected, Crimson Garden’s mockery echoed in his mind.
Knowing she was well aware of his situation, why did she seem so eager to devour him?
As Kraush pondered this, it dawned on him. He had likely made Kream run errands for the past few days.
But it couldn’t be helped. The reality was that if Kraush wanted to grow stronger, he had to assist Crimson Garden as well.
“I’ll sit beside you, if that’s alright.”
Forthrightness, it seemed, was more of Lirina’s specialty than Kraush’s.
Without giving it much thought, she sat down next to him, despite their first meeting.
After spending the last few days revitalized by her encounters with Crimson Garden, it was only natural for her to feel a burgeoning fondness for Kraush, the true owner of Kream.
Wasn’t it commonly said that a person who animals are fond of can’t be that bad?
Lirina opened the basket and pulled out leftover cheesecake and black tea for dessert.
“It’s from Alina’s shop.”
Kraush, upon seeing the food, instantly recognized it. “You’re familiar with the place?”
“Yes, I visit it frequently.”
It’s a cozy little shop with great food, Kraush added, and Lirina nodded in agreement.
“That’s exactly why many students from the Mage Academy frequently stop by. They stay open late as well.”
A bittersweet expression crossed Lirina’s face as she spoke.
As if recalling someone, she quickly composed herself and handed him the plate with the cake.
“It’s good that you recognize the flavor. Here you go.”
“Thanks! I’ll enjoy it without reservation.”
Kraush cut into the cheesecake with the fork provided by Lirina.
As he did, Lirina grew lost in thought.
He looked like a boy in his mid-teens and seemed well-mannered while eating the cheesecake.
Knowing Alina’s shop means he could very well be a student at the Mage Academy, just like her.
His poise while enjoying the cheesecake told her he came from a respectable background.
A fact she wouldn’t overlook, having worked as an attendant in a noble house.
“Speaking of which, I almost forgot to introduce myself.”
Kraush, having taken a bite of cheesecake, finally spoke up.
Though Lirina had introduced herself, he had yet to provide his name.
“I’m Kraush Valheim, part of the Cheongha Knights.”
But as soon as those words left his mouth, Lirina froze.
Valheim, that was a family even she, way out in the magical city of Halgrem, had heard of.
Thus began the peculiar first meeting between the boy and Lirina.
＊＊＊
From that moment on, Lirina added visiting the park to her daily routine to meet Kraush.
In truth, she didn’t particularly need to go there.
Yet, for some reason, she found herself drawn to the park time and again.
‘Why do I keep heading to the park?’
As she made her way there once more, Lirina deeply pondered.
For one, it had become a habit to feed the crow, which she had affectionately named Kream.
Kream was clever, a truly charming creature that evoked her fondness.
Thus, her feet unconsciously directed her towards another meeting with Kream.
Secondly, she thought to herself, what’s the point of leaving leftover food lying around?
Even though Kraush did say he was a Valheim, he always enjoyed the meals she brought.
Perhaps, Valheim wasn’t as cushy as she thought? But when she inquired, he lamented that training with the Cheongha Knights left him perpetually hungry.
Yet, whenever they spoke of Valheim, he exhibited a mysterious reluctance.
After all, the distance between Halgrem and Starlen was considerable for a family like Valheim—an independent city far from the protective barriers of Starlen.
Consequently, the recent changes in Kraush’s life remained inaccessible to average maids like her at the academy.
Because of this ignorance, Lirina had fallen into a misunderstanding.
She felt a pang of sympathy for him.
He was still an unripe young lad, scarcely out of his teenage years.
Being ostracized from his family must have been an enormous wound.
Perhaps because of Aslan, she felt particularly susceptible to the plight of wounded boys.
In truth, her actions might be closer to escaping her own reality.
Perhaps helping Kraush, who was facing a somewhat similar predicament, was a means of self-soothing since she had no way to heal Aslan.
‘What a pitiful thing I am.’
But seeing Kraush enjoy his meal brought her a sense of satisfaction.
Despite making the long trip to buy food every evening, Aslan only ever took a few bites.
Even though the food Aslan had touched was surely discarded, she was grateful to Kraush for at least consuming the untouched leftovers.
“Thanks for the meal.”
“It’s great to see you enjoy it. I feel you’re going to grow tall soon.”
Recently, Lirina had been bringing only the untouched food from Aslan’s meals, her characteristic smile ever-present.
Watching her, Kraush gently ruffled the back of his head.
Seeing something unsaid building up in him, Lirina tilted her head.
“Do you have something on your mind?”
“Well, considering I’m the one getting free food, it feels odd to say this, but I think there’s something regarding your choices that’s worth discussing.”
This certainly was a situation that would raise some eyebrows.
Kraush always received meals from the same shop, and in fact, they were leftovers.
Lirina worked in the Igrit family.
It was clearly abnormal for her to continuously bring food from the same place by leaving untouched leftovers.
With this in mind, Lirina briefly averted her gaze.
To be honest, it wasn’t something she wanted to share with others.
She felt the strain of being alongside the person she served, who constantly attempted suicide, so it wasn’t exactly easy for her either.
Mindful of this, she bit her lip briefly.
‘If I share this, won’t I be no different from the maids I scolded?’
As memories of the maids she had reprimanded flashed through her mind, Kraush broke the silence.
“I pried into your matters too much since I’m the one benefiting. I only asked because you often seem to have something weighing on your heart. If you’re okay not to answer, that’s just fine with me.”
Hearing this, Lirina covered her face as she smiled.
“I… my expression isn’t that strong, so it shouldn’t have shown too much.”
“Believe me when I say I’ve known people who read emotions better than anyone. Trust me on this one; I’m good at interpreting faces.”
It wasn’t just about reading her expression; he had come to know Lirina well enough to understand her better.
Kraush smiled, cleverly downplaying it.
“You always seem lost in thought, so it’s bound to show.”
Lirina pulled her hands away from her face.
“Kraush seems to read hearts, not just the crow’s.”
Lirina chuckled softly as she recalled how Kraush often acted as if he was truly conversing with his crow.
It made her wonder how he must have grown up in a family that taught him to be so perceptive.
“…I suppose you have a point. Kraush is an outsider, so perhaps I can voice my concerns to you without fear of reprimand.”
As she spoke, she turned her face towards the sky, her expression deep in thought.
“Kraush.”
Kraush called out her name, bringing her back to focus.
“It’s difficult for me to explain my situation in detail, but I have no one to share it with.”
He was, after all, the one called the ‘half-wit’ of Valheim.
Lirina agreed, feeling an inkling of sadness for that part.
“I’ve heard that when people hold their burdens inside, it eventually becomes too heavy to bear. Wouldn’t it help to share it once in a while?”
“…You speak quite eloquently.”
Lirina absentmindedly played with her hair, a gesture that came naturally when she was in contemplation.
Then moments later, she finally turned to Kraush.
“You may have heard that Aslan hasn’t been himself lately.”
“Is it the fact that the direct descendant of the Igrit family is attempting suicide?”
Lirina nodded earnestly.
It was something one couldn’t go unsaid while living in Halgrem.
“I’m his attendant. The food I brought you was untouched by Aslan, yet he always enjoys this shop’s food. It holds memories for him.”
Lirina gently fiddled with the basket, her nostalgia for Aslan evident.
It was the memory of a time when Aslan enjoyed meals with others.
“I see.”
“I apologize for venting such sorrow.”
“No, it’s alright. But it seems Aslan wasn’t always this way, correct?”
As she hesitated to add a title before Aslan’s name, Kraush managed to mumble out his thoughts.
“Yes, that’s right. He was always such a bright soul. No matter how tough things became, he managed to stay optimistic.”
Once the topic was opened, Lirina found it hard to contain the flood of words.
It seemed the emotional weight she held had become too burdensome to keep locked inside.
“… But after losing one of Aslan’s friends, he fell into a dark pit.”
The friend who might have been his greatest companion was now nowhere to be found.
“The fact that they’re missing…”
“…She went missing. I’ve searched high and low, even brought it to the attention of the lord, but he told me to leave it alone. So…”
She lost herself momentarily, pouring out all her pent-up feelings.
“I’d like for you to forget what I’ve just said.”
It was not something she should disclose to someone outside.
With that, Kraush shrugged.
“That’s fine; I have nowhere else to share it.”
Seeing Kraush unconcerned with her buried secret, Lirina couldn’t help but smile wryly.
“Strangely enough, I find myself opening up more when I’m with you, even though I’m usually a reserved person.”
“Really? I never thought of you as a reserved person.”
In Kraush’s faint memories, Lirina had always been quite chatty.
‘But then again, I might have coaxed that out intentionally.’
Kraush had his own way with words that he had developed, but knowing Lirina was familiar with him meant he could speak more openly.
With that familiarity came comfort, leading to warmer exchanges.
They were nearing the point of completion.
Kraush lifted himself from the chair lightly.
“In that case, let’s work on finding a solution to your worries.”
“Pardon?”
As Lirina looked at him with a puzzled expression, Kraush smiled brightly.
“Ultimately, if we find Aslan’s friend, your troubles will resolve along with them.”
“…But I’ve done many investigations.”
“I’m from Valheim.”
Upon saying that, Lirina flinched.
While she understood he was labeled as a half-wit, he was still a Valheim.
That particular family would have had far more access to information than mere attendants in the Igrit household.
“…I’m not sure I can trust someone who gets his meals from leftover scraps.”
“Well, that’s concerning. How can I build your trust?”
“Just joking. I believe you.”
Seeing that she had shared more than she intended, a sense of lightness washed over her.
She chuckled lightly, visibly relaxed.
“Well then, I would be grateful for your assistance, Kraush.”
Lirina joined her hands in a small prayer as she requested his help.
“Kindly repay the meal by helping with this.”
And true to form, she mixed in some playful banter into her words.
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