Chapter 7 

At first, Rosia didn’t realize what Clemen was trying to show her.

While she stood with her arms crossed, waiting—

“…?”

Her nose suddenly felt itchy, so she scratched it.

Something wet touched her hand.

What is this? Why is water coming from my face?

She didn’t immediately realize it was sweat.

After all, this was the first time in her life she had ever sweat on her face.

“W-What is this?”

She only understood it was sweat when she finally grasped what it meant to feel too hot.

Seeing Rosia’s face turn red in shock, Clemen smiled brightly.

“At this level, you won’t freeze to death, right?”

Rosia stared blankly at her confident smile—

Then her mind started racing.

After running through several possibilities, she suddenly slammed her hand on the table.

“Contract! Let’s write it right now!”

*

Since their interests aligned, writing the employment contract went smoothly.

Unlike the simple confidentiality oath, this contract had many clauses, so it took time to read.

But everything was written clearly and simply, even for Clemen to understand.

Except for one thing.

“You want me to talk to you at least once a day? Face-to-face?”

Here, “the employer” referred to Zephyrus.

“I’ll give you extra pay for it too.”

Her main job was to clean the third floor where Zephyrus’s room was.

And on top of that, she had to talk to him.

Rosia thought it was a beneficial condition for Clemen, since she wanted to meet him anyway.

“Hmm. I don’t want to do that.”

“…What? Why not?”

“I can’t accept money for talking to a friend.”

Clemen wanted to become friends with Zephyrus.

Like the friendships she had read about in books—

Helping each other and spending time happily together.

The fortune-teller grandmother who raised her had said those kinds of relationships in books were all lies.

But Clemen didn’t care.

She believed that if she acted like those characters, she could one day have a friendship like that.

Usually, friendships start when one person helps another…

And Clemen and Zephyrus fit that perfectly.

They could help each other.

And he’s pretty, so I want to keep seeing him.

But getting paid?

That would turn it into work instead of friendship.

“I won’t accept that.”

“You want to become friends with His Grace?”

Clemen, who had been imagining laughing, chatting, and going on picnics together, suddenly realized something and awkwardly scratched her cheek.

“…Can’t we be friends?”

She even thought that if Rosia refused, she would secretly become his friend anyway.

But Rosia answered firmly,

“You can!”

Rosia believed people needed someone they could open their hearts to.

Clemen was the first person unaffected by Zephyrus’s curse.

She had already hoped Clemen could become that person for him—

And now Clemen herself wanted it.

There was no reason to stop her.

They weren’t in a position to be picky anyway.

“Then starting tomorrow, I’m counting on you.”

*

The next day, after parting on good terms—

Clemen ran into a few servants.

She raised her hand to greet them, but they immediately scattered and disappeared.

Clicking her tongue in disappointment, she went up to the third floor.

Looking around carefully, she noticed dust everywhere.

Even the floor felt dry and rough.

This didn’t bother her.

She had slept comfortably on desert sand before.

But the fortune-teller who raised her had been very sensitive to such things.

“How can there be no dust in a tent in the desert?”

Anyway, Clemen had cleaned many times just to satisfy that picky grandmother.

Cleaning itself wasn’t difficult.

What she needed to worry about was the person inside that room.

She knocked lightly and cheerfully.

“My lord, did you sleep well?”

Crash!

Something fell inside.

Confused, she knocked again.

“Are you okay? Should I come in?”

“Don’t come in!”

“Alright. I’m working here starting today. Isn’t that nice?”

“What’s nice about—…sigh. Submit a written report of your work before leaving.”

“Eh? I’ll just tell you. I’m not good at writing.”

“Work.”

His firm tone made it clear he wouldn’t argue.

Clemen turned away obediently.

For now, she had to work.

She would wait for a reason to break into that room.

And that moment came quickly.

“Oh! Is that your food?”

“My lord…? Yes, it is His Grace’s meal. I’ll be going now.”

The knights left a trolley of food.

Clemen’s eyes sparkled.

They say it’s easier to ask forgiveness than permission.

So she decided to go in.

Like a fox waiting for prey—

The moment her target came to get the food.

That was her chance.

“Ahem! Is anyone nearby?”

Zephyrus called out cautiously.

But Clemen stayed silent.

Click—

The door opened just enough to pull in the trolley.

Now!

“Here I go!”

“What—what is this?!”

“Let’s eat together.”

“Wait. Don’t open it!”

Zephyrus tried to pull the door shut with all his strength—

But it was useless.

He had lived confined for years.

There was no way he could win against her.

“Here. People say you become closer when you eat together.”

Clemen pushed the trolley inside.

Zephyrus couldn’t stop her.

Soon, a warm presence stood in front of him.

*

Clemen smiled brightly at him.

“Why aren’t you eating?”

“…Sigh.”

Zephyrus picked up his spoon—

Then glared at her again.

“Are you not leaving?”

“Food tastes better when you eat together. Didn’t you know?”

It felt like her words entered his ears and bounced right out.

“…Do you like cold food?”

“What?”

“The food got cold.”

“Food is food. Once it’s inside, it’s all the same.”

“But it’s better warm, right?”

Clemen reached toward the plate.

Zephyrus flinched back and scoffed.

“It’s useless. It gets cold on the way here anyway—…wait. What are you doing?”

“I’m warming it.”

She lifted the plate and held it still.

Steam began to rise—from the food, and from her.

“There. It should be warm now.”

She placed it in front of him.

He stared at it, then said,

“You must have it easy.”

“What?”

“With such a useful ability.”

“You have a similar ability too. Making ice.”

“…Can this really be called an ability?”

He clenched his hand tightly.

Wrapped in layers of cloth, his fist looked awkward—

But it also looked like he was gripping despair.

“First, my lord. Eat. You feel bad because your stomach is empty.”

“What?”

Clemen stepped closer and placed the spoon in his hand.

“Hurry and eat. Ah—slowly.”

She tilted her head, unsure if she had said something strange.

“….”

Zephyrus sighed again.

What did she even know?

To him, her words might sound like shallow comfort.

Suddenly feeling it was a waste of time, he took a spoonful of soup.

His eyes widened.

It was different.

The soup that usually felt sticky and unpleasant—

Now wrapped warmly around his mouth and throat, heating his body.

He took another bite.

It was the same.

It was still potato soup—

But it tasted much better.

Just changing the temperature made such a difference?

Unbelievable.

He looked at Clemen.

She was warming the other dishes one by one.

The once-cold air was now filled with warmth.

Come to think of it…

She had come to eat with him—

But she hadn’t eaten anything.

Of course.

She had only brought his portion.

“There. Use this.”

He handed her a fork he hadn’t used.

Clemen blinked, looking between the fork and him—

Then smiled brightly.

“Thank you.”

Nom.

She ate eagerly.

Zephyrus slowed down without realizing it.

But Clemen was completely focused on the food.

Food made by someone else… it’s delicious! I like it!

Her cheeks puffed up as she kept eating.

Watching her, Zephyrus finally spoke.