Felix turned towards her without making any noise, his voice dripping with displeasure.
“Why were you standing behind me?”
‘Why didn’t he sense her presence until she came so close?’
He scrutinized her with eyes filled with suspicion. He had not considered himself to be this terrible. Then, he noticed the fairies fluttering around her with ease, and his expression shifted.
Clover, who had been circling her since earlier, now settled on her shoulder.
[This is strange.]
Sylvia was so preoccupied with trying not to react to that comment that she couldn’t respond. She had never imagined that pretending that something did not exist could be so challenging.
Poppy, who was the most suspicious among the fairies, flew towards Sylvia.
Then, she flew right in front of Sylvia and stared into her eyes.
Sylvia, who was suddenly surrounded, tried her best not to make eye contact with Poppy. She resorted to turning her gaze towards Felix.
He was a little surprised to see Sylvia like that.
The sharpness of his gaze occasionally made his subordinates uneasy, causing them to avert their eyes. However, the woman in front of him seemed completely unaffected. Feeling an unusual emotion, Felix stared intently with his turquoise eyes.
[There’s something strange, but what is it?]
Poppy, who was still observing her, flew back and casually sat on Felix’s shoulder.
It’s strange, but she didn’t know what’s strange.
Unlike Poppy, Clover let out a contented sound while nuzzling Sylvia’s hair.
[It smells like something I miss.]
The fairies had no idea it was the scent of Black Dragon magic and Eryngium.
Sylvia, a plant magician, grew various plants. As a result, the subtle and refreshing fragrance mingled with the scents of Black Dragon magic and Eryngium, creating a unique aroma.
[Clover might be right, it does smell familiar.]
This time, Daisy approached Sylvia, her fair wings fluttering as she circled around. Despite the snow falling on her head and shoulders, Sylvia couldn’t move a muscle.
With a single misstep, she felt like she might lock eyes with one of the fairies. Her back was already damp with sweat.
“Why aren’t you answering? What were you trying to do behind me?”
Felix’s black eyes radiated a chilling presence as he demanded an answer, not letting up.
Gulp.
Sylvia couldn’t help but swallow hard due to the tension, and the sound was audible in her ears.
Felix’s gruff yet sweet voice seemed to melt her ears, and his excessively handsome face dazzled her eyes. He was inexplicably serious and suspicious.
Unable to respond to the fairies and the protagonist, Sylvia suddenly retorted with frustration, a surge of emotions spurring her to reply.
“What were you doing in my garden?”
She was already emotionally older than Felix, and she found herself speaking informally without realizing it. Sylvia was taken aback by her words and quickly covered her mouth with her hand.
“Oh my, what’s come over me?”
Felix’s eyebrows shot up in surprise at the unfamiliar tone and her blunt response.
“So audacious.”
His sharp retort only fueled her irritation as she retorted, “I don’t want to hear that from you of all people.”
She clenched her teeth as she watched Felix, her eyes shifting to his black and luxuriant coat, mimicking his defiant act by folding her arms and lifting her chin.
Snap!
“Oh, you both are here.”
Hubert’s voice suddenly broke into the heated staring contest between the two. Sylvia and Felix, who had been locked in a wordless battle, nearly turned their heads in the direction of his voice, but neither backed down.
Sylvia resisted the urge to look away first, determined not to give in. She knew that conceding in a staring contest meant she would lose later.
Sylvia felt numerous proverbs coming to mind as she furrowed her brow. Felix seemed to have read her thoughts or sensed her emotions, and his unyielding gaze only deepened the lines on his face.
However, her eyes remained wide open, unwavering.
Hubert had become concerned when Sylvia, despite it being dinner time, had not emerged from the kitchen. He assumed Felix, who often enjoyed solitude, was in his room. But he couldn’t fathom why they couldn’t take their eyes off each other in the garden.
‘His Highness has shown interest in matters of the heart.’
There hadn’t been an opportunity before, but now that he’s free, it was a pity.
Hubert, watching them with a knowing look, misunderstood the situation between the two.
‘One-sided love, unattainable.’
Sylvia might be his benefactor, but she was still a commoner. Hubert approached the two who weren’t moving and said, “If you stay out here any longer, you might get sick, Commander.”
Sylvia, looking triumphant as if she were the victor, raised the corners of her mouth into a smirk and turned to Felix. But before he could respond to Hubert…
“You should go inside too, Miss Magician. There’s the scent of burnt food…”
Burnt smell?
Before Hubert even finished his sentence, Sylvia hurriedly turned and rushed back to the kitchen. Felix, who had initially been prepared to reply, watched her with a strange sense of relief as her victorious expression faded.
“No! This can’t be happening!”
Sylvia’s desperate cry echoed through the house.
The rice, which should have been turned off long ago, had burned completely, turning a deep, even black.
Yes, just like Felix’s beautiful dark hair.
‘Damn you bastard! I won’t let you go!’
Sylvia clenched her fist, vowing to get back at him.
★★16. Winter watermelon is golden watermelon★★
Despite the unusual atmosphere, the soldiers hungrily devoured the delicious enoki mushroom rice cake soup.
“Hmm.”
The soldiers sat around the table, sipping the hot broth, feeling a warm sensation spreading from their stomachs.
All the dishes Sylvia prepared were incredibly delicious. Even though there were many unfamiliar ingredients, the flavors were guaranteed.
Dennis, in particular, was in awe as he voraciously tore into a large chicken leg.
A chicken the size of an ostrich may have a lot of meat, but the bones were enormous. The mountain of chicken bones piled under the table spoke of the amount they had devoured.
Since the first day, when Sylvia had provocatively challenged them, their appetites had grown day by day.
Living on the streets, they used to eat only what was necessary, but now their stomachs had expanded, their skin had regained its luster, and those stubborn dark circles under their eyes had disappeared.
Moreover, the time they spent in the bathroom had significantly decreased.
Sylvia had completely transformed their eating habits. Fresh vegetables, fruits, and her diverse and rich cooking techniques had replaced their old diet of only meat and bread.
The soldiers, Dennis, and Hubert were deeply impressed by how good the fruits and vegetables tasted and how they synergized with meat, even without Sylvia’s explanations. They could feel it in their bodies, and her words were unnecessary.
However, they wanted to say something about the current atmosphere.
Yet, when they faced Felix’s stern, black eyes, they had no choice but to lower their eyelids and continue eating.
Thunk.
A dagger struck precisely.
With precise accuracy, Felix rotated the dagger through the boundary between emerald green and black, causing it to pierce through effortlessly.
Crunch.
The sound of splitting was satisfyingly crisp.
Just hearing it made them curious about the taste, as if slicing through a watermelon.
Sylvia, who was focused on tearing into her chicken, raised her head.
Zzzt.
As soon as she raised her head, Felix, sitting across from her, shot her a menacing glare.
Around him, watermelon rinds were scattered like shards instead of chicken bones.
Within the white boundaries, the bright red flesh was tantalizingly revealed. Felix may have been arrogant, but the taste of this unfamiliar fruit left him utterly amazed.
Felix’s description of the taste was not about the unique flavor of the fruit but focused on the texture and juiciness. He had never tasted a fruit so rich in moisture. The crisp, refreshing texture was simply delightful, and he couldn’t stop himself from devouring it.
Despite his intimidating gaze, Felix elegantly handled the spoon, already polishing off five whole watermelons. Sylvia couldn’t help but chuckle at his immense appetite.
Even though she laughed softly, Felix, ever alert, immediately noticed and noisily clanked his spoon against the plate.
Crunch, crunch.
He continued to make noise with his spoon, raising an eyebrow at her.
Pfft.
This time, it was Sylvia who made a sound, mimicking the sound of air escaping from her mouth. Felix responded by noisily dropping his spoon onto the plate.
Thunk.
“What’s that? What are you doing at the dinner table?” Sylvia raised an eyebrow, her demeanor becoming increasingly ominous.
Hubert and Dennis, who remembered the events of that day, noticed the situation and held their breaths. They hadn’t forgotten how Sylvia had mercilessly driven a tree into a man’s crotch.
“You’re ruining the taste of the food,”
Felix, who was clearly not going to back down, stood up abruptly. The chair screeched as it was pushed back.
“Not the taste of anything, but watermelon taste, right?”
Hubert, sweating profusely, tried to smooth things over.
“Hmph, dinner tonight… was, uh, delicious,” Hubert said, casting his eyes in different directions.
“It’s just tasteless,” Felix retorted fiercely.
“Ohoho, so you’ve eaten five whole watermelons. If you liked it, you probably could have eaten ten,” Sylvia said, playfully teasing. She savored a candy radish pickle, her lips curling up in satisfaction.
Sylvia, facing Felix’s fierce gaze head-on, moved her magic and infused the peridot ring.
Despite the magical energies flowing within her, Felix sensed something peculiar. However, before he could dwell too deeply on it, new watermelons sprouted rapidly on the table, each with unique colors, sizes, and shapes. They were accompanied by leaves, giving the impression of fresh growth.
Sylvia, not looking at Felix, but explaining the watermelons as if to him, said, “The first one is striped watermelon, then there’s black watermelon, yellow watermelon, bok watermelon, and melon. How about that? Even though they’re all watermelons, they’re quite diverse, right? It’s a luxury to eat watermelons in the winter.”
She spoke as if she were explaining the watermelons to Felix, but her expression was quite defiant, and she didn’t look at him.
Sylvia meticulously boiled chicken breast, making it tender, then used a fork to poke it thoroughly. She dipped it in a mixture of carrots, yuzu peel, and finely ground salt and enjoyed her meal.
Feeling somewhat full, Felix, who had intended to leave for his room, found himself rooted to his spot as if an invisible force held him in place. His eyes shook intensely, but he couldn’t tear them away from the watermelons.
Sylvia, noticing his struggle, smiled inwardly and spoke. “Yellow watermelon might have a different taste and texture. For those who have finished their meal, please enjoy it as dessert.”
She openly laughed and continued to savor the chicken breast, dipping it this time in basic salt with just a hint of pepper.
Hubert and Dennis, who had previously lowered their utensils out of caution, watched as Sylvia continued to use her fork. She showed no sign of stopping, unlike the others. Keeping her fork moving in her plate, she looked at Felix, whose eyes continued to shake uncontrollably.
Seeing her, Felix was reminded of Asta, who was playfully making a request. Asta spoke in her mind,
[Felix, I want to try the yellow watermelon. Can you slice it for me?]
[Gulp.]
The fairies had gone wild over the new fruits and vegetables they discovered during their time here. This noise further increased the tension in the room.
Plunk, plunk.
While others had set down their utensils due to the strange atmosphere, Sylvia continued to move her fork, unfazed. Felix, who had momentarily stood still, gazed at the new watermelon with fascination.
“Let me try that yellow watermelon. Huh? Cut it for me,” Sylvia teased him, causing him to cast her a quick glance before quietly retaking his seat.
Thunk.
Once again, Felix sliced the watermelon with his dagger. As he discovered the new texture, his eyes widened in amazement. Sylvia, watching him with her peripheral vision, recalled the source of this peculiar sensation.
‘It’s similar to that guy. The feeling and that arrogant attitude! That haughty demeanor!’
Sylvia recalled the time in her youth when a certain middle school boy had come to her, demanding that she tattoo a black wyrm on his left arm, claiming it was essential for controlling him.
Felix turned towards her without making any noise, his voice dripping with displeasure.
“Why were you standing behind me?”
‘Why didn’t he sense her presence until she came so close?’
He scrutinized her with eyes filled with suspicion. He had not considered himself to be this terrible. Then, he noticed the fairies fluttering around her with ease, and his expression shifted.
Clover, who had been circling her since earlier, now settled on her shoulder.
[This is strange.]
Sylvia was so preoccupied with trying not to react to that comment that she couldn’t respond. She had never imagined that pretending that something did not exist could be so challenging.
Poppy, who was the most suspicious among the fairies, flew towards Sylvia.
Then, she flew right in front of Sylvia and stared into her eyes.
Sylvia, who was suddenly surrounded, tried her best not to make eye contact with Poppy. She resorted to turning her gaze towards Felix.
He was a little surprised to see Sylvia like that.
The sharpness of his gaze occasionally made his subordinates uneasy, causing them to avert their eyes. However, the woman in front of him seemed completely unaffected. Feeling an unusual emotion, Felix stared intently with his turquoise eyes.
[There’s something strange, but what is it?]
Poppy, who was still observing her, flew back and casually sat on Felix’s shoulder.
It’s strange, but she didn’t know what’s strange.
Unlike Poppy, Clover let out a contented sound while nuzzling Sylvia’s hair.
[It smells like something I miss.]
The fairies had no idea it was the scent of Black Dragon magic and Eryngium.
Sylvia, a plant magician, grew various plants. As a result, the subtle and refreshing fragrance mingled with the scents of Black Dragon magic and Eryngium, creating a unique aroma.
[Clover might be right, it does smell familiar.]
This time, Daisy approached Sylvia, her fair wings fluttering as she circled around. Despite the snow falling on her head and shoulders, Sylvia couldn’t move a muscle.
With a single misstep, she felt like she might lock eyes with one of the fairies. Her back was already damp with sweat.
“Why aren’t you answering? What were you trying to do behind me?”
Felix’s black eyes radiated a chilling presence as he demanded an answer, not letting up.
Gulp.
Sylvia couldn’t help but swallow hard due to the tension, and the sound was audible in her ears.
Felix’s gruff yet sweet voice seemed to melt her ears, and his excessively handsome face dazzled her eyes. He was inexplicably serious and suspicious.
Unable to respond to the fairies and the protagonist, Sylvia suddenly retorted with frustration, a surge of emotions spurring her to reply.
“What were you doing in my garden?”
She was already emotionally older than Felix, and she found herself speaking informally without realizing it. Sylvia was taken aback by her words and quickly covered her mouth with her hand.
“Oh my, what’s come over me?”
Felix’s eyebrows shot up in surprise at the unfamiliar tone and her blunt response.
“So audacious.”
His sharp retort only fueled her irritation as she retorted, “I don’t want to hear that from you of all people.”
She clenched her teeth as she watched Felix, her eyes shifting to his black and luxuriant coat, mimicking his defiant act by folding her arms and lifting her chin.
Snap!
“Oh, you both are here.”
Hubert’s voice suddenly broke into the heated staring contest between the two. Sylvia and Felix, who had been locked in a wordless battle, nearly turned their heads in the direction of his voice, but neither backed down.
Sylvia resisted the urge to look away first, determined not to give in. She knew that conceding in a staring contest meant she would lose later.
Sylvia felt numerous proverbs coming to mind as she furrowed her brow. Felix seemed to have read her thoughts or sensed her emotions, and his unyielding gaze only deepened the lines on his face.
However, her eyes remained wide open, unwavering.
Hubert had become concerned when Sylvia, despite it being dinner time, had not emerged from the kitchen. He assumed Felix, who often enjoyed solitude, was in his room. But he couldn’t fathom why they couldn’t take their eyes off each other in the garden.
‘His Highness has shown interest in matters of the heart.’
There hadn’t been an opportunity before, but now that he’s free, it was a pity.
Hubert, watching them with a knowing look, misunderstood the situation between the two.
‘One-sided love, unattainable.’
Sylvia might be his benefactor, but she was still a commoner. Hubert approached the two who weren’t moving and said, “If you stay out here any longer, you might get sick, Commander.”
Sylvia, looking triumphant as if she were the victor, raised the corners of her mouth into a smirk and turned to Felix. But before he could respond to Hubert…
“You should go inside too, Miss Magician. There’s the scent of burnt food…”
Burnt smell?
Before Hubert even finished his sentence, Sylvia hurriedly turned and rushed back to the kitchen. Felix, who had initially been prepared to reply, watched her with a strange sense of relief as her victorious expression faded.
“No! This can’t be happening!”
Sylvia’s desperate cry echoed through the house.
The rice, which should have been turned off long ago, had burned completely, turning a deep, even black.
Yes, just like Felix’s beautiful dark hair.
‘Damn you bastard! I won’t let you go!’
Sylvia clenched her fist, vowing to get back at him.
★★16. Winter watermelon is golden watermelon★★
Despite the unusual atmosphere, the soldiers hungrily devoured the delicious enoki mushroom rice cake soup.
“Hmm.”
The soldiers sat around the table, sipping the hot broth, feeling a warm sensation spreading from their stomachs.
All the dishes Sylvia prepared were incredibly delicious. Even though there were many unfamiliar ingredients, the flavors were guaranteed.
Dennis, in particular, was in awe as he voraciously tore into a large chicken leg.
A chicken the size of an ostrich may have a lot of meat, but the bones were enormous. The mountain of chicken bones piled under the table spoke of the amount they had devoured.
Since the first day, when Sylvia had provocatively challenged them, their appetites had grown day by day.
Living on the streets, they used to eat only what was necessary, but now their stomachs had expanded, their skin had regained its luster, and those stubborn dark circles under their eyes had disappeared.
Moreover, the time they spent in the bathroom had significantly decreased.
Sylvia had completely transformed their eating habits. Fresh vegetables, fruits, and her diverse and rich cooking techniques had replaced their old diet of only meat and bread.
The soldiers, Dennis, and Hubert were deeply impressed by how good the fruits and vegetables tasted and how they synergized with meat, even without Sylvia’s explanations. They could feel it in their bodies, and her words were unnecessary.
However, they wanted to say something about the current atmosphere.
Yet, when they faced Felix’s stern, black eyes, they had no choice but to lower their eyelids and continue eating.
Thunk.
A dagger struck precisely.
With precise accuracy, Felix rotated the dagger through the boundary between emerald green and black, causing it to pierce through effortlessly.
Crunch.
The sound of splitting was satisfyingly crisp.
Just hearing it made them curious about the taste, as if slicing through a watermelon.
Sylvia, who was focused on tearing into her chicken, raised her head.
Zzzt.
As soon as she raised her head, Felix, sitting across from her, shot her a menacing glare.
Around him, watermelon rinds were scattered like shards instead of chicken bones.
Within the white boundaries, the bright red flesh was tantalizingly revealed. Felix may have been arrogant, but the taste of this unfamiliar fruit left him utterly amazed.
Felix’s description of the taste was not about the unique flavor of the fruit but focused on the texture and juiciness. He had never tasted a fruit so rich in moisture. The crisp, refreshing texture was simply delightful, and he couldn’t stop himself from devouring it.
Despite his intimidating gaze, Felix elegantly handled the spoon, already polishing off five whole watermelons. Sylvia couldn’t help but chuckle at his immense appetite.
Even though she laughed softly, Felix, ever alert, immediately noticed and noisily clanked his spoon against the plate.
Crunch, crunch.
He continued to make noise with his spoon, raising an eyebrow at her.
Pfft.
This time, it was Sylvia who made a sound, mimicking the sound of air escaping from her mouth. Felix responded by noisily dropping his spoon onto the plate.
Thunk.
“What’s that? What are you doing at the dinner table?” Sylvia raised an eyebrow, her demeanor becoming increasingly ominous.
Hubert and Dennis, who remembered the events of that day, noticed the situation and held their breaths. They hadn’t forgotten how Sylvia had mercilessly driven a tree into a man’s crotch.
“You’re ruining the taste of the food,”
Felix, who was clearly not going to back down, stood up abruptly. The chair screeched as it was pushed back.
“Not the taste of anything, but watermelon taste, right?”
Hubert, sweating profusely, tried to smooth things over.
“Hmph, dinner tonight… was, uh, delicious,” Hubert said, casting his eyes in different directions.
“It’s just tasteless,” Felix retorted fiercely.
“Ohoho, so you’ve eaten five whole watermelons. If you liked it, you probably could have eaten ten,” Sylvia said, playfully teasing. She savored a candy radish pickle, her lips curling up in satisfaction.
Sylvia, facing Felix’s fierce gaze head-on, moved her magic and infused the peridot ring.
Despite the magical energies flowing within her, Felix sensed something peculiar. However, before he could dwell too deeply on it, new watermelons sprouted rapidly on the table, each with unique colors, sizes, and shapes. They were accompanied by leaves, giving the impression of fresh growth.
Sylvia, not looking at Felix, but explaining the watermelons as if to him, said, “The first one is striped watermelon, then there’s black watermelon, yellow watermelon, bok watermelon, and melon. How about that? Even though they’re all watermelons, they’re quite diverse, right? It’s a luxury to eat watermelons in the winter.”
She spoke as if she were explaining the watermelons to Felix, but her expression was quite defiant, and she didn’t look at him.
Sylvia meticulously boiled chicken breast, making it tender, then used a fork to poke it thoroughly. She dipped it in a mixture of carrots, yuzu peel, and finely ground salt and enjoyed her meal.
Feeling somewhat full, Felix, who had intended to leave for his room, found himself rooted to his spot as if an invisible force held him in place. His eyes shook intensely, but he couldn’t tear them away from the watermelons.
Sylvia, noticing his struggle, smiled inwardly and spoke. “Yellow watermelon might have a different taste and texture. For those who have finished their meal, please enjoy it as dessert.”
She openly laughed and continued to savor the chicken breast, dipping it this time in basic salt with just a hint of pepper.
Hubert and Dennis, who had previously lowered their utensils out of caution, watched as Sylvia continued to use her fork. She showed no sign of stopping, unlike the others. Keeping her fork moving in her plate, she looked at Felix, whose eyes continued to shake uncontrollably.
Seeing her, Felix was reminded of Asta, who was playfully making a request. Asta spoke in her mind,
[Felix, I want to try the yellow watermelon. Can you slice it for me?]
[Gulp.]
The fairies had gone wild over the new fruits and vegetables they discovered during their time here. This noise further increased the tension in the room.
Plunk, plunk.
While others had set down their utensils due to the strange atmosphere, Sylvia continued to move her fork, unfazed. Felix, who had momentarily stood still, gazed at the new watermelon with fascination.
“Let me try that yellow watermelon. Huh? Cut it for me,” Sylvia teased him, causing him to cast her a quick glance before quietly retaking his seat.
Thunk.
Once again, Felix sliced the watermelon with his dagger. As he discovered the new texture, his eyes widened in amazement. Sylvia, watching him with her peripheral vision, recalled the source of this peculiar sensation.
‘It’s similar to that guy. The feeling and that arrogant attitude! That haughty demeanor!’
Sylvia recalled the time in her youth when a certain middle school boy had come to her, demanding that she tattoo a black wyrm on his left arm, claiming it was essential for controlling him.
