Ch#98
“Is it called Pitja?”
“Yup! It’s the super yummy thing Ruri told me about before. I made it with Shalong!”
“And what’s Shalong?”
“I said Shallone, but I guess the pronunciation’s a bit tricky, ’cause he kept getting it wrong.”
At Shallone’s subtle remark, Bunny looked at her, then stuck out her index finger and shook it side to side—tsk, tsk, tsk.
“Ah, no way?! It’s totally a nickname!”
Bunny’s eyes shook noticeably as she hurriedly said it, then flung open the box.
As if trying to quickly change the subject.
“Daddy, this Pitja……!”
…Or rather, Bunny’s had turned into a lump of clay?!
Bunny’s eyes stretched wide like a fish’s. And no wonder—because she’d shaken it so vigorously on the way here, the Pitja’s round shape was long gone, reduced to something that looked like a tossed salad.
“…….”
“…….”
Bunny blinked.
‘I knew it would be like this.’
Shallone snickered inwardly as she opened her own box and casually spoke up.
“See? That’s what you get for running like that. I told you to go slowly.”
Had she?
Bunny’s head tilted slightly.
Her gaze dropped to Shallone’s box, and her eyes went wide. Shallone had carried hers very carefully, so it wasn’t the least bit messed up. It was still perfectly intact, just as it had been packaged.
“……!”
Bunny’s eyes widened round. A faint smile tugged at Shallone’s lips, a surge of unjustified pride and smugness rising within her.
She’d thought, of course, that Bunny would look disappointed, depressed, sad.
That since things hadn’t gone her way, she’d be jealous of Shallone, or envious, or maybe even annoyed.
But the moment she looked up, Shallone could only freeze, eyes wide.
“Shalong’s is totally perfect! Daddy, this is what Pitja looks like!”
And no wonder—far from looking upset, Bunny was pointing at Shallone’s Pitja with sparkling eyes, as if she was just relieved that at least this one was intact.
“Bunny’s one…….”
Hm.
Bunny casually shifted her gaze, crossed her arms, and stared down seriously at something other than her own grotesque, ruined Pitja, then slyly spoke up.
“……Looks like the Pitja Monster came and went.”
“Pitja Monster?”
“Yup.”
Bunny turned her head slightly, stomped her feet in place, and added more. Giggles bubbled up on her face, without a trace of jealousy or envy.
Whoosh.
Realizing it, Shallone’s own face flushed red instead.
Shallone clenched her fists tight. She felt like the only fool here.
Kiriel glanced at Shallone, who had bowed her head, and spoke up.
“So, how do you eat this Pitja thing? Bunny.”
“Mm, you tear it off with your hands like this or slice it with a knife like whoosh and eat it like this!”
Bunny made a big maw motion with her mouth and burst into giggles.
Kiriel patted the child’s head and crooked his finger.
“Bunny’s looks too hard to eat with hands right now, so let’s have Levon slice up Shallone’s with a knife and try it first.”
“Yesss~!”
Levon, who’d been behind Kiriel, cut the pizza for them instead, then slyly popped a slice into his mouth and naturally spoke up.
“Miss, could you spare one for this Levon too?”
“Mm. But you’re already eating some, Levon.”
“Urk. You’ve grown up so fast, already refusing to share with Levon and saying such harsh things.”
With an expressionless face and a flat voice, Levon shoved another slice into his mouth whole, then fairly placed one piece in Bunny’s hand and one in Shallone’s before quietly pulling out his camera.
Click. Click. Click.
“Please, eat comfortably. Both of you.”
“Mm.”
Bunny opened her mouth wide—nom—and bit into the Pitja. Levon, still utterly expressionless as if wondering if she felt any emotion at all, covered his mouth with one hand and circled Bunny, changing angles to snap photos.
Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click.
“Hey.”
“Yes, Young Lord.”
Levon slipped the camera back into his inner pocket as if nothing had happened and answered calmly.
“Who’s your real master?”
Kiriel asked coolly, watching Levon—who’d only given one piece each to the children’s hands, popped one in his own mouth, and sunk into photo frenzy—and Levon replied with utter confidence.
“It’s the miss.”
Kiriel’s mouth twitched sharply at Levon’s answer.
Unable to raise his voice in front of the children, Kiriel clicked his tongue in displeasure and spoke.
“…Get out. Now.”
“Yes.”
Thud—
Levon answered matter-of-factly and left the study without a shred of lingering attachment.
“Bunny, um…….”
Bang.
Just as Kiriel was about to speak, the door flew open again without any decorum.
“Oh, do you need drinks? Miss Bunny, Miss Shallone.”
“…….”
“Bunny, grown-up glasses get grown-up drinks.”
Grown-up glasses get grown-up drinks?
Pfft. Shallone rolled her eyes at Bunny’s bold expression as the girl snorted.
‘She looks like a total wild child, but she’s got manners?’
She couldn’t be the only one drinking juice like a kid. She’d already learned everything about noble etiquette from the Witch. She was confident she wouldn’t lose to most noble ladies.
Shallone stared down at the Pitja in her hand, then spoke.
“I’ll have black tea…….”
“Yes, understood.”
Levon shut the door with a thud and left.
“…….”
He hadn’t asked Kiriel at all.
Kiriel’s mouth twitched, but he barely suppressed his irritation.
Watching Bunny eagerly eat her Pitja to see if it suited her taste, he picked up a slice and took a bite himself.
His eyes widened at the flood of flavors in his mouth: melted cheese, roasted vegetables, tangy tomato sauce, and even the crispy, oven-baked crust. It was a unique taste he’d never experienced before.
He’d thought it every time Bunny occasionally brought some strange food she’d made, but these really weren’t things you could just come up with easily.
“Tasty?”
“Super tasty.”
“Super!”
Bunny burst into a hi-hi laugh.
“What about Shalong?”
“Ah, yeah. It’s good. Really…….”
Shallone, hand over her mouth and eyes wide, nodded slightly. She didn’t honestly like the kid much, but the food was definitely delicious.
As they chatted idly, click—the door opened and Levon entered.
“Here, Miss Shallone. Black tea.”
“Ah, thank you.”
“Not at all. You’re already so mature, miss.”
With an expressionless but gentle voice, impeccable posture, and not a single flaw, Levon served the black tea and set a clear glass in front of Bunny.
‘I don’t actually like black tea much, but…….’
Black tea was still something she couldn’t quite figure out if it was tasty. Fragrant bitter water—that was it.
‘But I can’t fall behind that kid.’
The moment Shallone thought that and lifted her teacup.
Pour, pour.
Bunny’s clear glass began filling with a dark purple liquid.
“This is grown-up grape juice in a grown-up glass, with no sugar added so it’s not too sweet.”
At Levon’s words, Bunny nodded solemnly with both hands—Kiriel had wiped the glass with a handkerchief first—lifted the glass, and nodded again.
She took a serious sip of the grape juice, went “Gulp……” and nodded.
“Mm. Tasty. Thanks.”
“Yes.”
Levon smoothly straightened the knee he’d had bent and stepped back, then poured wine into Kiriel’s wine glass as well.
Bunny glanced at it slyly, then shrugged her shoulders with a smug look.
‘What……? That’s a grown-up drink?’
Shallone’s face crumpled slightly as she sipped the tasteless black tea.
‘Why is that a grown-up drink? If I’d known, I would’ve…….’
Shallone hardened her expression mid-thought.
‘No, what am I saying? I was showing more grown-up side…….’
Levon approached and set an empty glass next to her black tea cup.
“Shall I pour you one, miss?”
At the quiet question, Shallone’s eyes widened. After a long hesitation, she nodded very slowly.
It was a boisterous—Bunny-only—snack time.
