< Side story 5. Dream Drinking Bird (4) feat. Iril & Schlieffen >
#A5
“The potato stew you ordered came for two!”
Iril shouted. Her silver-white hair fluttered beneath the archipelago’s sky. She hummed as she approached me and placed two bowls of potato stew on the outdoor table.
“Ehehe enjoy your meal!”
Steam was rising from the freshly boiled potato stew. It was a dish that came after a long wait but the two men who came as guests just stared blankly at me not even thinking about picking up the spoon.
“…Good to be alive.”
“Can I really eat this?”
Suddenly the men’s eyes became watery. They waited for two full months to dine with her at Nimburton’s Table a restaurant run by Iril.
When she waited only to hear rumors about her she wondered if it was worth it but the moment she saw Iril’s face all her doubts melted away like her eyes welcoming spring. She smiled brightly.
“sure. “This is a dish I made for you to enjoy.”
“Ah how gracious…!”
“I will definitely come back…”
They were sobbing and trying to say something. Suddenly a creepy murderous feeling spread out from a corner of the restaurant. The men froze feeling their bones go cold.
“This is….”
They simultaneously turned their heads towards the source of death. In the distance inside a restaurant a handsome young man wearing an apron was peeling potatoes. Schlieffen sent her whole message without taking her eyes off her potatoes.
[The mouth is an organ for putting food in.]
The low voice was intimidating. He wore an apron instead of a uniform and held a small kitchen knife in his hand. Next to it there was a mountain of new potatoes that had been brought in from the Grancia estate yesterday.
As Schlieffen grasped the hilt of his sword his blade took the form of wind and disappeared. Okay! The skins of hundreds of potatoes were peeled off at once. He raised his head glared at his men and spoke.
[This is especially true in restaurants.]
“What a tragedy.”
The men took a deep breath. The spoon fell from my hand and fell into the stew. They barely came to their senses and started devouring the stew as if they had starved for three days.
“Well let’s eat well!”
“Wow I guess you’re very hungry. “Eat it slowly.”
Only then did Schlieffen survive. After serving a few more meals Iril entered the restaurant. A middle-aged man with dark blue hair had just finished eating and was wiping his mouth with a handkerchief.
The handkerchief made of the finest silk had the image of a knight stepping on a dragon embroidered with gold thread. It was the emblem symbolizing the Grancia family. Iril seeing the empty bowl clasped his hands in admiration.
“Wow you cleaned it cleanly. Does it suit your taste Duke?”
“Uh huh it tastes better than Rustang buffalo tenderloin. And I told you to call me father.”
The middle-aged man chuckled. It was Josef Siniban de Grancia the current head of the Grancia family and Schlieffen’s father. Schlieffen who was watching the scene narrowed his eyebrows.
“Matriarch. Please maintain your dignity.”
“I don’t want to hear about you using Aurors to peel potatoes. No matter how I think about it I passed the Pale Road too early.”
“Miss Iril is having a hard time because you keep taking up space. “Do you know that this is already the fifth bowl?”
“I know. And this will be my sixth bowl. Baby is it possible to have just one more bowl? “I will pay you ten times no a hundred times the price.”
Josef who said that let out a mocking laugh again. Charisma who was reminiscent of a lion had long since drowned in potato stew. He could not believe that he had once opposed the Schlieffen marriage along with other members of his family.
Josef broke down after he met Iril who visited the Grancia mansion about a year ago.
By the end of the three-day family and territory introduction all members of the Grancia family including Josef had become Iril’s ardent followers. Ronan who had visited for the purpose of establishing discipline was so embarrassed that he had said everything. Iril who received additional orders nodded willingly.
“sure! “I’ll get it to you right away!”
“…Miss Iril.”
Schlieffen who was quietly peeling potatoes twisted his lips. To be honest he didn’t like the idea of Iril working and sweating. Of course he was willing to help as much as he wanted.
Iril who had gone deep into the kitchen was no longer visible. Josef put down his handkerchief and opened his mouth.
“What a good kid. “Every time I see it I wonder how a blunt guy like you could get a girl like that.”
“Yes.”
“Seeing as you don’t deny it I guess I taught you well. Yes it’s been almost two years since you proposed so when are you planning on getting married? ”
“After defeating Jaifa and ascending to the position of the best sword of the Empire.”
Schlieffen answered without hesitation. Josef who was silent for a moment shrugged his eyebrows.
“When exactly is that?”
“It’s summer this year.”
“It is time for the decisive battle of the Sword Saint. “Is there any need to rush like that?”
“yes. Unless you become the strongest swordsman in the world you are not qualified to protect Miss Iril.”
Even as he spoke of his normal condition his dark blue eyes remained unwavering and stern. The corners of Josef’s mouth slightly rose.
“Please work hard. “That girl has a very sharp side so I don’t think she will call me father until she officially marries you.”
“That’s a pathetic reason.”
“I won’t deny it. But this is not what you should hear either. “It’s been two years since we started dating and you’re afraid to even fold your arms.”
“Ugh…!”
Schlieffen’s face turned red. He put down his kitchen knife and spoke slowly.
“So… what’s wrong…?”
“You are a genius son. However I am worried that because his talent is focused on swords he is suffering from a disability in the field of giving and receiving love. “You resemble me a lot but in that respect the difference is like heaven and earth.”
Josef clicked his tongue. Even for him who grew up in a conservative family the romance between Schlieffen and Iril seemed overly childish.
When he received the secret agents’ report he almost lost his mind. Of all the acts of affection that took place over the past six months the most daring thing I did was to lean my head on his shoulder. He took a deep breath and continued speaking.
“I’m not saying you should make the first move. I know you’re not the type of idiot to do something like that. However it would be a good idea to start developing the courage to kiss Miss Iril in front of everyone.”
Schlieffen understanding what he meant chewed his lower lip. Josef was talking about a wedding that would happen someday. There would be nothing worse than that if the groom couldn’t kiss his bride as an oath in front of thousands of guests.
“Uhm….”
Schlieffen sighed. Looking back he realized that he had never done anything right except propose marriage. Even those words were said while he was bleeding profusely and half of his soul was gone.
In fact he was also wary inside. Schlieffen who began dating Iril and read three figures of her relationship books knew that many women have a crush on men who are dominant.
However there was nothing he could do as he was paralyzed just by looking at Iril’s face. At times like this I envy Ronan. Schlieffen who had tried to shake off his distracting thoughts was about to pick up the kitchen knife again.
“Iik…Schlieffen! “Can you help me?”
“I’m going now.”
Iril’s voice came from inside the kitchen. Schlieffen immediately got up and started walking towards her. As she rounded the corner she caught sight of Iril standing in front of her shelf raising her tiptoes and whining.
“They put it up so high…her arms can’t reach it.”
“hmm. “I will do it.”
Schlieffen nodded. He moved her aside and placed her dishes in the highest compartment. Iril scratched his cheek when he saw her getting off so easily unlike her.
“Hehehe thank you.”
“It’s no big deal.”
“Mr. Schlieffen is very kind. Is it because he resembles the duke?”
Iril laughed. Schlieffen’s heart twitched again at her sun-like smile. Suddenly a flash of light passed through his mind.
‘for a moment. Maybe now is the time.’
It wasn’t intentional but it was a very good situation to proceed with. He happened to be well-liked by helping with the work and he had no eyes for seeing.
Josef’s words about having to develop courage and quotes from dating experts about having to take the lead were circling in his head.
Schlieffen who had miraculously regained her senses looked down at Iril. Her own face was shining in her sunset eyes. Our breaths were touching each other and the distance was closer than we thought.
Wouldn’t it be okay to kiss the back of your hand? Schlieffen who had made that judgment was in the midst of summoning courage from his bones.
“Hey Mr. Schlieffen.”
“hmm?”
Schlieffen tilted his head. Iril who had been quietly looking up at him suddenly raised his tiptoes. side. Her lips touched Schlieffen’s cheek and then fell.
“…ah?”
Schlieffen’s time stood still. He lifted her trembling arm and placed her hand where his lips had been. Iril continued speaking with his back to her.
“I know you always care about me.”
“Uh uhh. Hmm? uh…?”
“thank you. Mr. Schlieffen.”
Schlieffen could not answer. The only thing he could do for now was to use his rapidly fading mental strength to resist the loss of his legs. Iril who was smiling at her muttered softly.
“Hehe…I’m a little embarrassed as expected. “It’s my first time doing this to someone other than my brother.”
Iril’s once white face turned red like a ripe apple. Schlieffen tried to say something but Iril did not give him the chance. side. Once again she was on her tiptoes and this time he kissed her other cheek.
“ah.”
“The customers are waiting so I’ll be there first. “Come slowly.”
Leaving Iril with those words she turned her back. That was the moment she turned her corner and disappeared. dump. Schlieffen sat down her legs feeling weak.
“…Huh!”
Schlieffen who had been doing this for a while let out a breath like someone who came up from a dive. Only now did he realize that he wasn’t breathing.
As my paralyzed senses returned I began to hear sounds around me. This was before he could even enjoy the reverberations of the historical event. Someone’s cheerful voice echoed from the hall.
“Elder sister!”
“Kya!?”
Iril’s screams followed. Schlieffen’s intelligence which had been downgraded to that of a dog or cat returned to normal. It was the moment when he reflexively got up from his seat and reached the hall.
“Miss Iril! “What is this…!”
Schlieffen’s eyes widened. A child whose gender was unknown was hugging Iril and burying her face in her chest. Iril was stroking his head and smiling.
“Ahaha it tickles! So who is the little customer?”
“Take a guess.”
All the guests’ attention was focused but the unidentified little boy paid no attention and was rubbing his cheek against Iril. The corners of Schlieffen’s eyes fluttered as he had no way of knowing that this was Sita transformed into a human being. He barely escaped his panic and shouted as he picked up the food.
“this guy!”
Easy profit! The wind that gathered in an instant began to swirl around the sword body of the sword. Josef surprised by the force stood up.
“Shu Schlieffen. for a moment…!”
“Don’t interrupt!”
He urgently tried to mediate but it was in vain. Schlieffen was enraged and was about to punish the yellow thug. Kwaaaaang! Suddenly the entrance to the restaurant was thrown open as if it were about to break apart.
“What?!”
“Ugh!”
The startled guests burst into the room and burst into laughter. Schlieffen’s movements stopped for a moment. A sturdy young man slowly appeared beyond the creaking door.
“Nimiral… Heouk I finally found it.”
The body of the wild-eyed young man was completely wet with sweat. He looked like a man who had sprinted all over the archipelago. Schlieffen recognized him and raised his eyebrows.
“…Ronan?”
“Get out of the way.”
The wind that wrapped around the kitchen knife died down. Ronan pushing Schlieffen walked into the store with strides. Sita’s eyes widened as she turned her head.
“Oh I got caught!”
