“Cecilia, lower your hip!” Armano said when his daughter tried to attack him with her rapier. “Your left side is defenseless!”
She didn't answer and keep swing her sword to his direction. Her movement getting better, but she is still slow at read on her enemy's movement and make several mistakes.
But, for beginners, she is doing well.
Max, who watched them duel in the training ground, sighed. It's already three hours, but they're still enjoying themselves, practice so hard without take some rest and ignore his presence. As if, they were living in their own world.
Armano, who using a wooden sword, thrust her weapon and throw it away from her hand before fall to the ground.
Cecilia wipe her sweat from the forehead, panting her breath. “Not… Bad. One… more, please, Father!”
“It's enough for today. You are exhausted, My Dear.” Armano said when he gently touched her shoulder.
Cecilia shook her head, “I'm okay!”
“Your boyfriend were watching us for three hours and I become uncomfortable with his gaze.”
“Max… is here?” She turned her head to the Armano's direction. Max was waiting for her with a pouted face. “Ah… I see.”
“We can continue it tomorrow. Are you going to Icicle again?”
“Yes. But, I have to go to Dandelion, first.”
Armano smiled gently, “Seems you already have a plan.”
“Well, you can say so.”
“Then, be careful.” He stroked her hair gently. “You don't bring your rapier?”
She sighed, “Icicle's people will freak out when saw it. Father, then, please excuse me. I can feel his gaze on my back.”
Armano shifted his gaze to the second prince, “I don't know why did the dragon choose him.”
“My, My. He is better than he looks like, Father. Then, see you later! I'll be home before dinner.” Cecilia bowed before she's waving her hand and approached her fiancé.
Suddenly, Armano feel something moving weirdly in his heart when he heard that word. As if something bad will happen…
**
“Ah! Young Miss from Lancia's family! I'm glad to see you again!” Adrian, the head chef, smiled friendly. “Please have a seat! I will prepare you a special table.”
“Chef Adrian! You look better than the last time we met!” Cecilia said on the most crowded restaurant in the Dandelion town.
The young couple just want to buy the fermented kimchi without make any ruckus. But, one of the waiters recognize her face and reported their arrival to Adrian.
“This is because of you, Young Miss! My restaurant is doing better because of your recipe.”
“No, Chef. This is because of your hard work! My recipe didn't go right without your skill and ability.”
Adrian's eyes gleaming, “Young Miss, you are the kindest person in this earth! Then, tell me, what can I do for you?”
“I just want to buy some kimchi. Ah, I want to introduce you with my fiancé. His name is Maxwell. And, Max, this is Chef Adrian.”
The Chef shake his hand with the young handsome man for several seconds. He felt like he knew him, but failed to remember who is that man.
However, Adrian certain if this man is coming from distinguished family. To be with a woman like Cecilia, he has to be a noble, too. “Ah, you look so familiar, Young Master.”
Max nodded, “I, previously, visit this place. Cecilia said you are a talented chef.”
“Ah, Young Miss. Thank you for thinking highly of me. Besides, both of you look so lovely!”
Cecilia smiled happily, “Is it true? Well, thank you. We will get marry, next year. And, I hope you can come to the party, Adrian!”
“You will invite me, Young Miss? Ah, this is an honor for an old man like me! Of course, I will come!”
The table is ready and when the chef guided them to it, Cecilia gently refused it.
“Wait, Chef. I'm sorry. But, we were in hurry, so we can't have some meals in this place.”
Adrian look disappointed, “Ah, I see. You must be busy.”
“We will come again. Certainly.” Cecilia said with assured smile.
“It's a promised, then! So, what can I do for you?”
“I'd like to buy fifteen big sized bottled kimchi.”
“Okay, Young Miss. I will prepare it right away, and you don't have to pay it.” He said when Cecilia took her purse.
“Nope. I can't do that.” She said while holding his hand along with the purse. “I already cut the queue line, and you give me so many special treatments. So, please, take it. Considered it as your tips.”
Adrian sighed, “Young Miss, really, I can't thank you enough. Then, I will take this. Please wait for a moment.”
When the Chef left, Max shifted his gaze to her. He knew that she pay him too much. Cecilia has a unique habit to separate the coins into several purses, depending on it size.
The one she gave to Adrian is the medium one, which contains fifty silver coins. One big size bottled kimchi's price was only two silver coins. Which means, she pay too much for it. But, Cecilia didn't seem worry about it.
“You are too generous, Chili.”
“You think so?” Cecilia tilted her head as if she was thinking about something.
“Then, I should be working much harder. So, you can spend so much money without worry.”
Cecilia laughed and pinched his left cheek before whispered, “Your Highness, please, don't overwork yourself. Your body isn't yours. But, it belongs to the Empire and it's citizen.”
Max knitted his brow, “Where did you learn that line? No, more importantly, that's my job to tell you some cheesy lines. Please, don't take my job away, Young Miss.”
Cecilia laughed harder and hiding her face on his shoulder.
“Young Miss and Young Master, Can you show us where is your carriage? One of my employer will put this to your vehicle.” Adrian said when a young man behind him bring a medium wooden crate.
Max shook his head and stretched his hand to that young man, “No need. Let me bring it.”
Adrian raised his brows when Max easily took the heavy crate. He thought that it's rarely to a nobleman who want to do something like that.
Ah, but, an unordinarily noble like him is the most suitable man for a woman like Young Miss, he thought to himself.
“Thank you so much, Chef. Then, I bid you farewell. I hope we will meet again.” The young couple slightly bowed before left the restaurant.
After several meters away from the restaurant, both of them teleported to the Icicle's forest.
“Meat, kimchi, and garlic… Hmm, it's done.” Cecilia said when she check the ingredients and put them in the wooden box.
Thereafter, she put some 'makeup' to their face. Make their porcelain face full of acne. “So, are you ready? And, Is that heavy? I can help you to bring some.”
Max rolled his eyes when he picked up the box with one hand, “With your fragile arms? No, thanks.”
“So mean!” She said when they started walking to the town.
“Chili, did you smell something?” He asked when they almost reached Christian's restaurant. “Smell like dog's fur.”
“Dog? Fur?”
“Ah, forget it. I think I make a mistake.” Max shook his head. But, the dog's scent got stronger when he entered the restaurant.
Cecilia's smile when she met the owner behind the counter. Failed to notice another man who wiped the table, “Hello, Sir! Can we borrow your kitchen?”