Volume 7 - CH 10

Franz wrote me a letter.

In the sky, 370 million stars appeared. It’s a beautiful night, and I’m craving white pepper SSG.

It was announced that 370 million runa had been cashed in.

I requested sausages from the cook and went to the temple early in the morning.

‘Priests have voracious appetites.’

The temple’s cuisine was vegetarian, and the meat was never cheap.

Even a stew was made with an abundance of pricey spices.

Perhaps this is why Franz enjoyed the pungent flavor.

The spicy jalapeno was the same, and white pepper was expected to please him.

As usual, Franz crouching down the stairs, smelled the sausage and exclaimed.

“Hmm, that’s quite fragrant.”

What, you look like a drug addict.

The way he squinted and sniffed was completely out of character of a temple’s high priest.

“The 45 million runa will be delivered to the address you mentioned today.”

As a lady of a count, there’s no way I could accept that money.

Especially when there were a lot of eyes watching me.

“I put it in an apple box to disguise it. Don’t worry.”

“I appreciate that as well.”

I decided to get the money delivered to Valhail’s house.

Because of his terrifying landlord, his house will never be in danger of being robbed.

“Then I’ll pay you 50 million runa right there.”

“You are free to take your time. Because it has no interest.”

Franz was very kind. I considered hiding it, but I eventually told him the good news.

“At long last, I’ll be able to pay off my debt.”

“What? Miss Selina, what do you mean by debt? What kind of sad thing are you……?”

“I managed to get my hands on a mine.”

“What?”

He tilted his head and blinked his clear eyes.

“Don’t you remember? A mine. A mine where many magical stones were reclaimed.”

“What……”

Franz looked at me as if he were a lost baby bird, puzzled.

“When I borrowed the magical stone, I promised to pay it back someday. How did you forget that?”

Franz, who had been wandering for a long time, finally exclaimed, “Ah!” as if he remembered when I burst out laughing.

He must have forgotten completely.

“Then why did you help me all this time? What do you believe in?”

“Well, that’s…”

As I looked down at Franz, he blushed and scratched his head.

“……I didn’t even think of a mine from the beginning.”

His voice trembled slightly, like that of a teenage child.

I could feel his desperation, as if he were telling me his true feelings right now.

“Miss Selina, I never expected anything in return.”

His amber eyes, unable to look at me, wandered on the floor.

“Just… just to help you. I want to be a help to you.”

I opened my mouth after a while, leaning against the wall with my arms folded, looking down at the clean top of his head.

“So… you’re saying that because we’re so close, you can take care of me as much as you want?”

“Y-yes…… that’s right.”

Franz’s ears and neck were red from embarrassment. And because he was so adorable, I acted even more shamelessly.

“In the future, I may make even more unreasonable demands.”

“……I’m honored.”

I’m curious if there are any ants crawling around.

I winked at the sausage, giggling softly.

“You’re going to have an upset stomach. Go ahead and eat it. I won’t talk to you anymore.”

“Yes.”

Then Franz started eating the sausage.

Yummy yummy-

We decided to postpone the rest of the conversation because he needed to eat before someone arrived.

“UHHH.”

He was in the middle of savoring the taste when he suddenly opened his eyes, as if he remembered something.

“Ah, Miss Selina.”

“What?”

“Have you heard the news?”

“I haven’t heard anything yet.”

He lowered his voice, surprised.

“I will let you know the news….. Do you know why I’m dressed in black?”

“Well, because the Head Priest is dead?”

There has yet to be an official announcement or news from the temple.

“How did you find out?”

His terrified hand dropped the sausage. Franz quickly grabbed the sausage.

“Do not eat that!”

“I got it in three seconds, so it’s fine.”

……Yes, three seconds is a national standard.

I couldn’t tell him not to eat it because he dusted it so meticulously.