55.

At the small bakery on the outskirts, the number of customers increased day by day. Although the price was a bit high, it was delicious enough to make it worth it. At first, people came for curiosity, but later they came for taste.

“How did you make this so it’s so crispy and savory?”

“I know. This bread is torn along the grain. “It feels like tearing open a chicken breast, but when you put it in your mouth, it melts.”

“I wish I could eat these things every day.”

Compliments poured in. Bakers in the same industry were wary of him due to the sudden prosperity of his small shop and the rumor about his delicious food, but that was only for a short time.

I gave up trying to overtly interfere with the news that there was a large top in the back. Instead, there were people who took a subtle stab at it, but they were pushed out by the large man who always accompanied the baker.

Ban was watching Richt kneading the bread dough from behind. At first, he only made a small amount of bread, but the amount he made increased as time went by. Perhaps that’s why Richt lost weight. Now is the time to put the brakes on.

“Mr. Licht.”

“huh?”

Richt, who was kneading the dough, looked back. There is white powder on his cheeks, as if he touched his face with flour-covered hands. When I get close to her and brush my thumb against hers, the corners of her mouth turn up and she smiles. That smile is pure and clear, unlike before.

I wasn’t the type of person to smile like this, but it seemed as if the venom I had been harboring while living here was disappearing. Or maybe there is another reason.

Ban came up with another assumption. This was a thought she had been questioning and suppressing until now.

‘Is this really Richt?’

Although he was loyal to Richt like a dog, he was not half-hearted.

The original Richt had a sensitive and cruel disposition. He always wanted to kill Van and abused him. He also thought that making something with his hands was degrading.

But Licht, who changed at some point, did not do that. There was no torture or sarcasm. I loved and enjoyed making bread. There were many types of bread that could be made, and there were some that I had never seen before.

‘More than anything.’

At first I was confused because the actions were similar, but now I understand. This person will not hurt you.

Ban blinked slowly. The former Duke asked to protect his children, and half swore to do so. It was to repay the favor he had received from him. He thought he could do anything for the person who saved him from being useless.

I don’t know now.

“What’s wrong, Ban?”

Even if this person is not the original Richt. Will he try to regain his original Licht?

‘no.’

no. They will cover it up by deceiving themselves. Because I don’t want the current Licht to disappear. The world’s soul changes. That can’t happen. So, this person is Licht of the Devine family. The only master he served.

“it’s nothing. “What are you planning to make today?”

“The pastries are so popular that I’m going to make more.”

Half lowered her eyes.

“It’s just my opinion, but I don’t think you need to make more.”

“why?”

“Because we are already selling enough bread.”

Unlike before, people now express their opinions.

“Yes, it’s selling well. So are you making more?”

“look.”

Van put his hand on Richt’s waist. She tried it several times and found that he was more tolerant of touch than she thought.

“You are too thin.”

“I?”

“yes.”

“The amount of food you eat has increased?”

“You move that much. “You look very tired.”

“Is it that much?”

Van nodded and gently took Richt away from the dough table.

“How about we close the store tomorrow?”

“Isn’t this the day we were supposed to close?”

“Isn’t originally a store that the store owner can open as he pleases?”

“But that’s it.”

“Licht, you need to rest.”

Van looked at Richt with a sad expression. He was weak to that kind of expression on his face.

“Okay, let’s rest!”

A conclusion was quickly reached.

“But what should I do?”

Lately, I’ve been working hard on making bread, so I don’t seem to have any idea what to do.

“The sun is nice these days. “How about sleeping with the window open?”

Then Richt looked up at Van and closed his eyes.

“You too?”

“yes.”

“Okay, let’s do it.”

I smiled at Richt and thought about the dinner menu. What should I feed this skinny body to gain weight?

I like the beef I bought at the market in the morning. Should I try grilling it? Potato salad and roasted vegetables seemed like good side dishes. The pickles I made last time were finally finished. For soup, you can use mushrooms and onions.

Ban, who had originally been able to cook only by grilling, was slowly improving his skills.

“I could be a chef.”

Richt went so far as to say so. Van quietly lowered her head and kissed Richett’s hair. He is so dull that he doesn’t even notice this much.

It’s a bold move that you wouldn’t even think of when you call yourself a dog and belittle yourself. Van, he too was changing along with Richt.

Theodore, who had been looking at the document intently, soon put down his pen with a sigh. The day is fine for him, but his mind is troubled. His waiting days are getting longer. It’s been a long time since he surpassed double digits.

He wanted to leave the place and look for Richt, but duty held him back. Theodore called his aide and asked.

“What is Archduke Graham doing?”

A young man with brown hair and an ordinary appearance, whose father was a prime minister, he was the new person brought in by Theodore after he kicked out Alione.

The young man, Altain, secretly rolled his eyes and answered.

“Same as usual.”

“That means it’s the same as usual.”

“He drinks strong alcohol, but sometimes when he feels like it, he goes out to swing his sword.”

The opponent was usually the Imperial Palace Knights. This was because most of the Redford Knights returned to their original places, with only a few remaining. Even in this situation, Abel did not forget his duty. Thanks to this, Knight Commander Alex is suffering.

“It can’t go on like this. “Grand Duke Graham swings his sword against knights every day, so there are few sane people.”

Alex, who couldn’t stand it anymore and came to complain.

“I’ll talk to you.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

Alex stepped away with an emotional expression on his face. Afterwards, Theodore stood up and went directly to Abel. His residence is a small villa near the current Theodore’s palace. It was originally a place where the teacher stayed, but now he was staying there.

When Theodore appeared, Lauren greeted him.

“Welcome, Your Majesty.”

“Can I meet Archduke Graham?”

“You can see him, but he’s not in a good condition.”

Lauren laughed awkwardly.

“It’s okay.”

“Then I will guide you.”

Theodore headed to Abel’s room. Lauren wrote a small note and opened the door. It is the sunniest room in the villa, but the curtains are drawn so the room is dark.

Abel was looking disheveled and drinking. It seemed like she wasn’t even using a glass.

“Hey, Your Highness has arrived.”

“Archduke Graham. “How about setting a better example as a guardian?”

Theodore sighed and spoke.

“He’s not really this kind of person, is he?”

Where has all the dignity of being part of the royal family been taken away? Theodore went inside and sat down on the sofa opposite Abel. I miss Richt too. I wish he was around.

Because there was no one by my side to think about, I felt like everything was slowly falling apart. The love he once tasted made Theodore thirsty. Therefore, it was not that he could not understand Abel’s feelings.

“There is no news about Licht, right?”

“doesn’t exist.”

Even though I raised the bounty halfway, there is no news. I had to assume there was something to this.

‘Well, the opponent is Devine.’

Even as empress, my mother had great pride in her family. So she was more alert and kept in check.

“When Devine moves, there’s nothing he can’t accomplish.”

Theodore still remembered those words.

“After all, Devine is moving, right?”

Instead of answering, Abel took another sip of his drink. Theodore was right. He was blatantly interfering with the search for Licht in Devine. Since the huge monster was doing this, the smaller animals could not move for fear of retaliation.

At least the mercenaries who were behind moved around quite a bit, but it was only for a moment.

‘How did the mercenary king shake it?’

As the mercenary king declared that he would not interfere in the affairs of the country, most mercenaries actually gave up this work. Theodore knew that too.

“Aren’t you the one who said we should look at it as a long-term game? Close the curtains and move more. Stop taking your anger out on my knights. “Something good happened.”

“What is it?”

“My birthday is coming soon, and envoys will be sent from various countries accordingly. “I want you to deal with those reapers.”

“It’s annoying.”

“Have you noticed that sometimes your tone becomes overly rude?”

“All right. “It moves.”

Those who come to see the young crown prince will be blocked by Abel. And you will regret trying to exploit the loopholes in the empire.

Abel put down the bottle and stood up.