As the evening approached, Olivia and I watched in awe as Diem approached, wielding a substantial chunk of meat and a knife.

“Diem, let me do it,” I offered.

“Child? I shall prepare it,” Diem replied with determination, making it clear that there was no room for negotiation.

And then, the knife in Diem’s hand did its magic.

“Unbelievable…”

“…Oh my?”

As if enchanted, the meat and vegetables began to dance on the plate.

The once-thick meat thinned out, with knife marks appearing in between. A gentle sprinkle of salt and pepper descended upon the meat like a flurry of snow.

The vegetable peels were removed, and they were expertly sliced into bite-sized pieces.

Diem couldn’t use magic, but what he was showing us now could easily be mistaken for just that.

In the blink of an eye, Diem had finished preparing the ingredients. He placed his palm over the frying pan and nodded in satisfaction, a contented smile on his face.

And then…

“Sizzle~”

Despite grilling a large piece of meat, the result was finely diced meat and vegetable stir-fry, resembling little cubes.

The moment we saw the food in the dish, our gaze towards Diem took on a different quality.

“He truly is an extraordinary individual.”

If we were dining in a formal restaurant, we would use knives, forks, and spoons to eat, observing proper etiquette. But this was a meal in the middle of our journey.

Furthermore, we were currently homeless, staying outdoors. Preparing an extravagant meal outside made it difficult to eat and clean up afterwards.

However, look at this food.

Not only had it been finely diced for easy spooning, but the variety of ingredients used was impressive. Few utensils were required, and there were only a few dishes to clean.

And the taste…!

Even while homeless, I never expected to have such a splendid meal.

The moment I took a bite, all reason left me, and I found myself unconsciously emptying the dish.

Blushing with embarrassment, Olivia also seemed to be hiding her mouth with her hand and bowing her head slightly.

The bowl on her lap was empty.

***

Thinking of feeding the children, I absentmindedly started finely chopping the meat.

This could be seen as me shredding expensive meat depending on the perspective, even though it was an action of consideration on my part.

Although I was slightly worried about the strange expression when they received the bowls, a sigh of relief involuntarily escaped as I watched the two people continuously moving their spoons without stopping while taking a bite.

“Thank goodness.”

By the way, is it edible?

I roughly made it without paying much attention to the seasoning, so I don’t even know what it tastes like.

As I took a spoonful and put it in my mouth, the potatoes were fluffy and the meat was chewy yet tender.

“As expected, cooking relies on the ingredients, huh?”

If I had used cheap meat, it would have had a rubbery texture as if chewing on a eraser.

I won’t have to worry about ingredients from now on~ I thought as I tried to scoop up a second spoonful.

“Um… child?”

“…?”

“I’m sorry, but can we have one more bowl?”

“I, I also request the same!”

Fortunately, it seems they liked it.

I was about to finish the meal and go do the dishes.

“Please sit beside madam!! Please!!”

I surrendered to Elli, who didn’t let go of the bowls.

If there was an issue.

“Oh…”

Elli’s determination not to give up the bowls was transformed into strength, and she accidentally split the wooden bowl in half?

With her face turning red as if Elli was about to explode, she started washing the frying pan.

I glanced at her, wondering if she would fold the frying pan too, but luckily she seemed to know how to control her strength.

“Should I buy iron bowls next time?”

Even if they fold in half, they are necessary and can also be used as shields in emergencies.

Olivia called me when I was in the midst of rational thinking.

Nodding as she tapped her seat next to her, as if telling me to sit.

“Yes?”

I sat across from her.

I always think it, but she is incredibly beautiful.

Elly, who sweats while doing dishes, is pretty by worldly standards, but she can’t compare to Olivia’s beauty.

Not just a different style of beauty, but a true beauty.

The aura she exudes makes it clear that she is a married woman, and her figure is also fantastic.

Sitting right next to a succubus-level beauty like her?

No matter how young and naive my body may be, my mind is that of a thirty-year-old bachelor.

I know everything, but it’s difficult to resist various temptations.

I could withstand it when I was at the rescue center.

I had a sense of duty to protect the children, and I was busy with other things.

But it’s not the same here.

There’s nothing to protect and nothing to keep me busy.

On top of that, the setting of her being my family has emerged.

But our blood isn’t connected?

Do we have to sleep together?

“My mind is becoming dull due to the clichéd and vulgar comic material…”

Of course, she doesn’t see me as a man.

Just by calling me “baby,” she treats me as a hero.

It probably ends at the extent of her substituting me for her son, Dre.

She’s probably giving me the family love that she couldn’t give to her son.

That’s truly agonizing.

Olivia looks at me with an air of dissatisfaction filled with inflated cheeks.

She’s so cute and lovely.

She is 34 years old.

I’m 15.

There’s a 19-year age gap between us.

They say that being the same Zodiak sign makes people close even with a 12-year age difference, but this age difference has gone more than a full circle.

Do I enter into a relationship with a woman who doesn’t see me as a man?

This is infuriating… no, not like this!

Even though there’s a saying that says it doesn’t matter as long as the taste is good, a 19-year age difference is a bit much, isn’t it?

Isn’t it?

Because my actual age is 30.

The age difference isn’t that big.

I may have just gotten younger physically, but mentally I’m 30+15 years old.

On the other hand, am I the one who’s older?

Thinking like this, maybe it’s okay…?

While pondering how to handle this alone, Olivia, who had been sitting across from me, sat down next to me.

Then she reached out and grabbed my shoulder.

Swoosh.

She then laid my head on her lap.

It’s not like I’ve gained a lot of weight, so why are her thighs so soft?

I haven’t showered all day like her, so why does she smell so fragrant?

When the spirit of my thirties, not fifteen, opened his eyes, Olivia gently stroked my head.

“Isn’t it tough for you?”

The flames of desire that were about to bloom under her soft voice seemed to have been extinguished by a fire extinguisher.

‘What am I thinking?’

I am a wife of a man and a mother of a child.

My husband is dead and my child has left my side to travel, but still?

Anyway, I am a person with a family.

If you have common sense, then of course!!

The determination I had to firmly reject her gradually wavered under her touch, as if I were handling a pet.

“You’re amazing, my dear. Mom is so proud of you.”

“…”

Oh, I don’t know.

Love is something that requires mutual agreement, after all.

Even if I try to figure out how to approach her, it will be the end if she rejects me.

So for now.

“If she sees me as a man, then it won’t be too late for me to see her as a woman.”

I decided to enjoy this touch purely.

***

I didn’t want to leave the perception that I can’t even do the dishes as a woman, so I aggressively did the dishes.

From Noble mtl dot com

I may have broken about two plates, but I thoroughly washed the frying pan, which was almost new.

“It might be a little rusty… but it should be fine.”

After tilting the dishes to drain the water, I stood up from my seat.

“Madam. Diman. Thank you for waiting.”

With a satisfied smile, Olivia wiped the water off her hands and placed her thumb in front of her lips as she approached the bonfire.

“Hush.”

Closing her mouth and lowering her gaze, Olivia noticed Diman, who was lying on her lap, exhaling a steady breath.

Olivia gently stroked Diman as if he were her real child.

“It seems like the little one was very tired.”

Tired… he must have been.

I almost forgot.

Olivia and I are adults.

But Diman is still a child.

No matter how mature and grown-up he seems, he’s just a fifteen-year-old.

At an age where a mother’s embrace is natural and a father’s protection is obvious.

At that age, he took the lead in looking after other children.

He was forced to come on this trip due to the adults’ circumstances.

But he never complained.

He even cooked, searching for his role among the adults.

It’s strange that he’s not tired.

Olivia took out a blanket from the bag and covered Diman before sitting across from him.

“Madam, are you okay?”

“Thanks to the blanket, I don’t feel very tired.”

“You may feel fine for now, but fatigue will continue to accumulate. Let’s prepare a tent and sleep together with Diman.”

“What about Eli?” she asked, her smile instantly forming.

The reason for the establishment of the Shadow Knight Order was to protect important individuals. As a result, she had met and observed many people in her surroundings. However, this was the first time she encountered someone so pure and kind-hearted.

“Even though it may not seem like it, I am a knight. If I use my magic appropriately, I can go without sleep for three days and be okay.”

“Three days? Wouldn’t that be too hard?”

“If we were to be attacked by monsters or thieves, it would be difficult to endure. However, this road is frequently traveled by people, so there’s no need to worry too much.”

And if I become too exhausted to bear it, I can enter any nearby village and rest for a whole day to fully recover. Despite explaining that it was alright, I wonder how kind our target to be protected is.

“Still, it’s not good to push yourself too hard. Eli, we should find a way for you to rest enough.”

“I appreciate your consideration, Lady.”

After that, it felt like Olivia and I exchanged only a few words, but the moon had already tilted significantly.

“You should rest soon, Lady. I’ll set up a tent for Diarm.”

“Thank you, Eli.”

In response to her answer, I carefully tucked my arms behind Diarm’s neck and legs, so as not to wake him. He worked hard for a fifteen-year-old, exercising diligently and growing tall with a sturdy physique, but still a child after all. He was light enough.

As I lifted Diarm up with a blanket, Olivia’s eyes widened in surprise.

“What’s the matter?”

When her gaze landed on where the blanket covered, there was a noticeable bulge.

“Cough… I heard that young boys with vigorous vitality do… um, something with their… feet… while sleeping.”

The Shadow Knight Order specializes in protection. The target could be a young child or an elderly person. Therefore, they acquire knowledge about the human body, or more precisely, about people regardless of age or gender. I had also acquired various knowledge, including this kind of situation, in my head.

But if there’s a problem.

“Are they naturally this big?!”

From Ellie’s perspective, who often grabbed her collar more than a man’s hand, she couldn’t have imagined that a man’s lower garment would grow so large.

“Oh, if it’s Olivia, wouldn’t she know?”

She had married and even given birth to a son.

She was more familiar with [men] than with herself.

She hoped Olivia would say something.

As if waiting, Olivia’s lips parted.

“When you put that in… gulp…”

“Huh?!”

It wasn’t the answer I wanted.

Tap the screen to use advanced tools Tip: You can use left and right keyboard keys to browse between chapters.

You'll Also Like