“I’m really sorry.”

Cedric bowed politely and apologized to Deborah. He didn’t look like the person who was laughing and wiping away tears just a minute ago.

“Oh my, it’s okay.”

Deborah replied with a small smile.

“Hardly anyone who listens to my song doesn’t laugh until now.”

It was meant to be a comforting remark, but it was true that there were few people who didn’t laugh after hearing her song.

At best, there were Dia, Irene, Charles, Sage, who used to work with the Heather family, and finally, that boy?

“By the way, what brings you here?”

“Oh, I came to bring this.”

Cedric extended the elegantly designed can he had been holding to Deborah.

“Please take it.”

So Cedric, with one hand holding the can, placed it on Deborah’s two hands. Deborah, with a somewhat heavy weight, raised her eyebrows and asked,

“What is this?”

“It’s candy.”

Cedric answered with a friendly smile.

‘Candy?’

Feeling puzzled from Deborah’s smile, Cedric added an explanation.

“The owner sent it.”

Still smiling, Deborah narrowed her eyes. Sensing her blatant curiosity, Cedric explained.

“He said today you seem a bit down and asked me to deliver it.”

“Ah, I see.”

Deborah let out an embarrassed smile. At that moment, Dia, who had been holding both hands together and cautiously watching, gathered courage and asked,

“Are you not feeling well?”

“No, it’s just that I couldn’t sleep well, so when I met Mr. Baker, I made a mistake, and I think he got worried.”

Deborah replied, thinking,

‘Is it because I lack credibility, Mr. Baker is suspicious, or maybe both?’

And why give candy when I’m feeling down? Perhaps Jen gains energy by eating something sweet? Considering how he devoured desserts on our first meeting, it might be possible.

Judging by Jen’s appearance alone, he doesn’t seem to like sweet things much, but people shouldn’t judge solely based on appearances.

“Anyway, I should express my thanks to Mr. Baker.”

“I’ll make sure to convey your gratitude.”

“Oh, please don’t hesitate and ask for anything.”

Deborah, with her eyes gracefully narrowed, took hold of the can. However, for some reason, it didn’t open easily.

“I’ll open it for you.”

Cedric said, reaching out his hand. Deborah handed the can to Cedric with an embarrassed smile.

“I’m sorry. I also have strong hands, but it strangely won’t open.”

“Hoho. Sometimes cans are like that, aren’t they? Maybe it’s defective…

Saying that, Cedric, who received the can, opened the tightly closed lid with a light gesture as if turning over a page of a book.

Deborah looked at Cedric with surprised eyes.

“Well, it’s defective. The inside is warped.”

Cedric said, confirming that the part where the lid and the can met was bent outward.
“Maybe it would be better to transfer it to another container due to a different illness. Shall I prepare that for you?”

“Hoho. Thank you for your consideration. However, this can is sufficient. I don’t need to carry it around.”

Once again, the candy can returned to Deborah’s embrace. A sweet and refreshing scent lingered around her nose.

“By the way, Mr. Radford, you seem very strong.”

“Haha. I’m not that strong, just a bit above average.”

Cedric replied with a subdued laughter. Deborah thought he was definitely not just slightly stronger than average.

“Anyway, thank you for opening it. Would you like to have one?”

Deborah extended the can.

Cedric was still smiling, but inwardly, he felt perplexed.

‘I would hate it if he knew I was going to enjoy this.’

Cedric didn’t want to incur Jen’s displeasure. It was troublesome. However, he also didn’t want to refuse the candy being offered. He didn’t want the recommending hand to become awkward.

“Then, please choose one.”

“Oh, then…”

Deborah examined the inside of the can. Perhaps due to the darkness, all the candies seemed to have the same color.

‘Maybe it’s just my mood.’

Deborah tilted the can, pouring out a few candies. They were all pretty yellow candies.

Deborah unintentionally widened her eyes.

‘I didn’t know they were all going to be yellow.’

Most cans like this usually contained various flavors. However, in her hand were only fragrant yellow candies, even more fragrant than the ones she couldn’t eat before. Was the dream last night about receiving candy a premonition?

“There wasn’t much to choose from.”

Cedric picked up a candy and put it in his mouth. His brow crinkled momentarily.

“Mm! It’s really sour.”

“Oh my, is it?”

Deborah also put a candy in her mouth. It was more tangy than sour.

“Are you okay?”

Seeing Deborah’s expression not just unfrowning but opening into a big smile, Cedric chuckled and asked,

“Yes. It tastes good.”

“Miss Deborah seems to enjoy sour things.”

“I thought I was ordinary, but I might be like that after all.”

Deborah, with the candies, offered them to Dia and Irene as well. Dia cautiously picked one, and Irene smiled and declined.

“…”

Dia just stared at the candy without moving it to her mouth. Deborah, worried that she might have accepted the candy reluctantly for the sake of the atmosphere, asked,

“If you’d like to have it later…”