Chapter 287 – 287. Conflicting Minds (1)
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The setting sun blazed dizzyingly across the western horizon, dyeing the lake pink.
The lake turned golden, and soon,
It started to turn red like blood.
The taste of the pink lake unfolding with the evening sunset boasted a beautiful scenery that elves with noble hobbies especially chose as the best.
Of course, Yooshin and Allen, who were watching the sunset and the pink lake with Ardena, showed a cold reaction, as if they didn’t feel any particular sentiment.
“There is a villa not far away that I have reserved in advance.”
Did you prepare well?
Ardena had even reserved a luxury villa that high elves aristocrats usually visit.
Yushin started to roll her head.
What special anniversary was today?
In response to Ardena’s act of planning a wonderful holiday with all her heart, Yoo-shin shouted ‘Brain fully active!’ And summarized the events with Ardena that could be considered her anniversary.
‘Could this be the day I was first brought as a slave? This is Slavery Day…. No, it hasn’t even been a year since you were taken to the country of the elves. Besides, what the heck is Slavery Day?’
Yushin couldn’t find the answer even while arriving at the villa that Ardena had booked.
It was natural.
Ardena just prepared for the Yushin,
Because she was nothing more than preparing a holiday with all her heart for the one she loved.
“This is where it is.”
The villa where Ardena guided Yushin and Allen was located in a good spot with a clear view of the lake, not far from Pink Lake.
A high triangular roof,
A chimney protruding from the roof and piles of firewood piled up outside the villa.
Even the exterior made of oak wood and numerous windows connecting the outside and the inside. In addition, the villa was very spacious, unlike a place to stay for a while and then leave.
“I will prepare dinner. Sit quietly on the sofa and wait.”
After changing her clothes, which had been soaked in salt from her splashing with Allen, Ardena immediately headed to her kitchen.
Likewise Allen, who changed her clothes,
She rushed over to Yushin who was sitting on the sofa and she put her head on his lap.
The wolf’s tail waggled.
Like a pet dog wanting to be petted by its owner, it rubbed its soft cheek on the lap. When Yushin reached out his hand and stroked his cheek, he was delighted with a gyreureung sound.
“You are very diligent. Domestic and…. It’s the complete opposite of anyone.”
“Is that what you want me to hear?”
“Then.”
Yushin nodded her head at Allen’s question, which pouted her lips.
“I can learn to cook too!”
“To blow up a few kitchens….”
Are they planning to terrorize Valencia Castle, which ungratefully provided them with food, clothing, and shelter?
Like the hospital where the eunuch was hospitalized, the kitchen of Valencia Castle explodes one after another.
Weeping servants,
The image of Allen standing in the ruined kitchen,
And even the numerous ingredients sacrificed for what is called cooking and terrorism.
Yushin, assuming the worst case, shook his head.
‘I think it’s the first time I’ve seen Ardena cook….’
The appearance of a high elf knight who started cooking in earnest while preparing the ingredients himself was a rare scene that could not be witnessed often.
The figure of Ardena wearing an apron,
If Leticia were by her side, she would have raised her voice, saying that she wanted to record this moment permanently.
“Haam… !!”
The wolf woman let out a long yawn and began squinting her eyes.
Are you tired of playing hard?
Intoxicated by the warmth of her restoration, Allen struggled to move her heavy eyelids and tried to hold on to sleep, but in the end she couldn’t overcome her soma and fell asleep.
Seeing Allen fall asleep while receiving her lap pillow, Yushin reached out and stroked her hair while reaching out her hand.
“Can I help you a little?”
Yushin asked.
At that, Ardena, who was wrestling with ingredients while holding her kitchen knife, opened her mouth.
“No, it’s okay. I received special training from the maids until the day before… , This is enough.”
“Special training? It looks like you are well prepared.”
“Yeah… ! I can’t show you the ugly side of me who is anxious about a single dish!”
Ardena, who had revealed her inner feelings, acted shyly while blushing.
Red hot up to her ears, she
She split the shell of the lobster with a sharp cleaver.
She was also a skilled female knight, so her sword skills were not normal. She showed no clumsiness in the way she cut her lobster.
“I feel a little sorry when I cook by myself….”
Ardena laughed at Yushin’s murmur and opened her mouth.
“Then, while I prepare the dishes, tell me how Miss Alone and Leticia passed their graduation exams. Since you participated as an observer for the graduation exam, you must have seen everyone competing against the judges, right?”
“Talking to others is my specialty. If I couldn’t become the Seven Swords of the Kingdom, I would have been a bard who traveled all over the continent and sang about heroic feats.”
“Because you are a minstrel… Yes, it would have been fun if you had become a bard.”
As she imagined Yushin singing and playing music as a free-spirited bard, Ardena put a smile on her lips.
Even though it seems to fit well,
Laughter came out at the fact that the famous demon slayer on the continent once dreamed of becoming a bard.
Indeed, if he had become a bard… , Could she have been romantically involved with him?
After thinking about it for a while, Ardena had a happy delusion, saying that somehow she must have met Yushin and become a loving relationship.
“Alone’s opponent was a retired knight who had been active on the border of the Demon King’s army before retiring. He was as agile as Alone and boasted of sharp swordsmanship.”
Yushin began to tell the story of Alone and Leticia, who confidently passed the graduation exam.
The high elf’s pointy ears pricked up.
After trimming the lobster, she focused on Yushin’s story as she made a lemon butter sauce and sliced onions and paprika.
As Yushin continued the story, he kindly stroked Allen’s head, who was breathing lightly. Although he was stroking him with his rough, calloused hand, Allen had a smile on his lips, perhaps because he liked the touch.
‘It seems like he chooses only envious things every time.’
Ardena, who glanced at Allen receiving Yushin’s touch, sent her jealousy.
With her feelings of jealousy,
She split her cheese, which was hard as a rock, in one stroke.
Just as Ardena felt her jealousy at the sight of Ardena cooking, Ardena also began to send her jealousy at the sight of Allen sleeping with her head resting on her Yushin’s lap.
* * *
The dinner prepared by Ardena was butter-grilled lobster, one of the favorite meals of the High Elf nobles.
Sweet butter and salty cheese,
A dish seasoned with plump lobster and various vegetables came to the dinner table.
White tablecloths and napkins,
Well-ordered forks and knives.
White wine occupied the table.
As a banquet for the High Elf nobility, it was perfect without the slightest deficiency. I thought it was a dinner prepared by Ardena, who has a meticulous personality.
“Thank you, I had a good meal thanks to you.”
After eating,
Yushin, who came out of the villa for a while, looked at the lake dyed in jet black and greeted the night breeze blowing from the front.
“I’m glad you enjoyed your meal.”
Ardena answered.
I glared at Allen, who was giving off a sweet atmosphere with Yushin and his arms crossed.
“It would have been a more enjoyable dinner if no one had broken the plate with a knife.”
“The dish that breaks easily is the fault.”
At Ardena’s scolding, Allen laughed and turned her head away while pinching her snort.
Shamelessness to the point of unintentionally clenching a fist.
She even crossed arms with Yushin in front of her and hijacked the player.
She was an Ardena who never lost her composure and cool-headedness, but the walls of her reason crumbled whenever Allen showed a restless and cocky mood.
“Since I was served delicious food, I have to serve something too.”
“A treat?”
Ardena asked back at Yushin’s words.
What are you trying to do,
Appreciating her attentiveness, I wondered what he would serve.
I just did it because I like it, you don’t have to worry about it….
However, Ardena decided to listen to him in silence because she was curious about how Yushin would repay her for the dinner.
And since it was a reward that Yushin did for him, he did not want to refuse.
Not that woman
Because it was only for me.
“I’ll borrow the kitchen for a while. Both are waiting outside for a while. I want to surprise you.”
“What?”
At Yushin’s meaningful words, Allen asked while her wolf ears pricked up.
Was there interest?
Golden eyes were shining.
What the hell are you waiting for outside to prepare? I’m sure he didn’t prepare a surprise gift…. Considering that they were renting the kitchen for a while, there was definitely a strong possibility of preparing a dessert to eat after a meal.
“…….”
“…….”
When Yushin, who was acting as a mediator or buffer, left, Ardena and Allen formed a composition that seemed to confront each other.
As in the old days, there was no bloody sword fighting just by facing each other,
It seems that the situation where the two of them are alone is very awkward.
A suffocating situation was created, as if you had ten roasted sweet potatoes in your mouth without any drink.
“I will wait elsewhere.”
Awkwardness transferred from silence.
It was Ardena who decided to retreat first because she couldn’t stand him.
He said he would wait for Yushin elsewhere.
She was about to leave the place where she had just talked with Yushin.
When Ardena turned her back, she opened her mouth as Allen glanced at the back of the high elf warrior chief.
“Hey, long ears.”
At that call, Ardena turned her head while muttering, ‘Are you really going to quarrel with me?’.
But contrary to expectations,
Her purpose in calling her Ardenna was not, as usual, to pick a fight against her. There was another reason to call her geun.
“I have a question for you.”
“What?”
If, as usual, he called me an old maid again, or if he said such unpleasant things as some spoiled priest, I would immediately draw my sword.
I won’t lose again now.
As long as she started learning Master’s secret sword, she would never be defeated by the mad dog of Roxfield, and Ardena had full confidence.
But the words that came out of Allen’s mouth were,
It was a completely unexpected question.
“You are my brother… , How much do you love Yushin Gilead?”
“What… ?”
“How much do you love your brother?”
Ardena’s question made Ardena feel embarrassed, surprised, and then ashamed.
Why such a question
Besides, why would that woman who is madly obsessed with Yushin ask that?
Due to Ardena’s accident, she couldn’t follow Allen’s question.
Because it was such an unexpected question,
Her cold thinking stopped and she was momentarily speechless.
“I truly love Yushin Gilead.”
But,
The answer has already been decided.
Although it was a confusing situation, Ardena confessed that she sincerely loved a human man named Yushin Gilead.
Dozens of times
Hundreds of times
It is because as she asked and answered herself, she confirmed her love for Yushin.
That is why, even in a situation where she felt confused, Ardena felt love deeply in her heart to the extent that she reflexively confessed her feelings for Yushin.
“To the extent that it cannot be exchanged for anything in this world. And she is irreplaceable with anything in this world…. I sincerely adore Yushin Gilead.”
In Ardena’s concise yet sincere confession,
Allen looked at the high elf warrior chief with his golden eyes flashing.
“…….”
What are you thinking?
After hearing her answer, Allen just stared at Ardena as if he was deeply concerned about something about her.
How long was the heavy silence between the two? Learning of Ardena’s stubborn heart, which she never seemed to back down from, Allen let out a deep sigh while scratching her own head vigorously in her annoyance.
