~Chapter 122~
The Grand Madam narrowed her eyes at Elcayan.
Elcayan told her everything that had happened so far.
“I had heard some news, but it was more serious than I thought.”
Calix, standing beside her, also nodded with displeasure.
“We can’t just let the people who hurt Lady Delphina live. If she gives me permission, I’ll cut off their heads myself.”
Elcayan shook his head firmly.
“That’s not what Delphina wants.”
“What? Why not?”
“She said that living will be more painful for them.”
Calix tilted his head, unable to understand.
“R-really?”
“Yes. It makes sense that you don’t understand, Sir Calix. You enjoy physical labor. But for nobles, that life is torture.”
Calix still looked confused. He was even wondering if he should go work on the city walls today.
For him, physical labor was more like training—and training was enjoyable.
The Grand Madam also exchanged looks with Calix, equally puzzled.
But both she and Calix eventually trusted Delphina and Elcayan’s judgment. After all, they were people of sound mind—and they had already proven their way of thinking during the hydra incident.
“So, what should we do now? Delphina is a soft-hearted girl. She must have been shocked.”
The Grand Madam worried about how much Delphina had suffered. Knowing someone wanted to kill you was painful. She didn’t want Delphina to carry that burden.
“Our Delphina must have had such a hard time.”
With a sad face, the Grand Madam muttered. Soon, they began discussing how to cheer Delphina up.
“What should we do to lift her spirits?”
“How about making her a gift again?”
The Grand Madam nodded. “Yes, she loved it last time. She praised my skill so much.”
Calix also agreed. “Even Elcayan loved what you made. Isn’t that right?”
His eyes went to Elcayan’s sword. Remembering the strange ornament attached to his sheath, Elcayan frowned.
“It’s not a bad idea. But this time, why don’t you make a gift for Delphina yourself?”
“A gift? I was already planning to give her a restaurant.”
By now, the restaurant’s interior had already been completed while they were in the capital.
The Grand Madam clicked her tongue.
“No, not that.”
“…?”
“You’ve never given her something made with your own hands.”
“That’s true, but…”
Elcayan looked troubled. Since the hydra’s neck incident, he usually filtered his mother’s advice—but this time, her words made sense.
He thought of the odd ornament she had once made for Delphina’s dagger.
‘It looked so bizarre.’
He was talented at many things with his hands, but he had never made a gift for someone himself.
‘What if I inherited her awful taste?’
If his sense of beauty was that bad, giving her a handmade gift might be no better than giving her the hydra’s neck.
Still, Elcayan began seriously thinking about it.
He wanted to give Delphina something special he made with his own hands. Just imagining her happy made his heart feel lighter.
‘But not food. Definitely not food.’
He knew how serious Delphina was about cooking. He had tried to cook for her a few times during their travels, but his food was terrible.
Calix never touched it. Even he didn’t want to eat it.
Though Delphina tried to eat it out of kindness, Elcayan always stopped her. He didn’t want her to suffer through his tasteless meals.
So in the end, he ate them all himself.
As he was lost in thought, the butler’s voice came from outside the door.
“Lady Delphina has arrived.”
The Grand Madam’s expression brightened instantly.
“Delphina?”
Soon, the door opened, and Delphina walked in.
The Grand Madam let out a sigh of relief. Delphina looked refreshed, as if nothing had troubled her.
“Delphina?”
“Yes, Grand Madam.”
“You should have rested more.”
“The roads are so smooth now, I didn’t feel very tired.”
Delphina’s eyes sparkled as she looked at Elcayan.
“The restaurant you told me about—can I go see it now?”
“….”
“If you’re busy, I can go alone.”
“No, I’m not busy at all.”
Delphina smiled brightly.
“Then let’s go together! I’ll cook something delicious for you.”
“Alright.”
The Grand Madam and Calix also jumped in excitedly.
“We’ll come too!”
“Of course. How could we miss the first visit to Delphina’s restaurant?”
The butler, however, almost lost control of his expression. Elcayan still had mountains of work left undone.
Their eyes met. Elcayan only shrugged, and the butler sighed helplessly with a small smile. Hugging the pile of documents tightly, he thought:
‘Anyway, it’s His Grace who’ll be working late tonight.’
Even so, the butler decided to follow. He was looking forward to tasting Delphina’s food again. His heart felt warm.
Delphina arrived at the restaurant with Elcayan. Her eyes widened in surprise.
<Delpi’s Restaurant>
The signboard showed her childhood nickname.
A system window popped up:
<Chef Delphina’s Restaurant. To hide her identity, a nickname is used. This hidden gem will soon become famous among those searching for good food.>
She remembered her teacher calling her “Delpi,” dropping the “na” from her name. Once, she had mentioned this to Elcayan in passing.
‘So he remembered even that…’
Elcayan never forgot the little things she said.
“If it feels like too much, please tell me anytime. I made the sign on my own.”
Delphina shook her head.
“No, I like it. It’s perfect.”
Owning a restaurant with her name had always been her dream. A name on the sign meant trust.
The restaurant looked plain on the outside—similar to the small village restaurants she liked. That made her happy.
She had often told Elcayan about her dream.
“I’d like a restaurant of just the right size. Like the ones you see in the countryside.”
“Wouldn’t something grand be better? Why such a simple place?”
“Because I want people to come in easily, even if they’re just passing by.”
“….”
“And… I don’t want people to know it’s mine.”
She laughed softly.
“If it’s too fancy, poor people might not feel comfortable coming in.”
She wanted a restaurant where anyone could eat at a fair price.
Elcayan nodded.
“Then it’s better if no one knows it’s connected to the Lohaim family.”
“Yes, exactly.”
That’s why he had used only her nickname on the sign.
Then another system window appeared:
<Soon, a special guest will visit Delpi’s Restaurant. Someone deeply connected to Delphina.>
Delphina’s eyes widened in surprise.
