The two kids growled at each other like hostile cats. At times like this, Sailorus was the one to mediate… The boy, with a brotherly attitude, calmed Sisi and Ariante, then pondered for a moment before speaking.

“Ariante knows the way, and if we don’t go too far, it should be fine. And the Duke’s forest is different from just entering the mountains. There are paths… and probably forest keepers. So, it should be safe.”

Ariante, who had become triumphant, looked at the children as if to say, ‘Got it?’ Then she spoke.

“I’ll bring snacks from the kitchen! It’s okay if we secretly put them in a basket. Sailorus and I will go together…”

“I, I want to go!”

Unexpectedly, it was Luzian who raised his hand. He blushed as the children’s eyes focused on him, then awkwardly pretended to cough and pushed his glasses back up.

“Sailorus is bigger than me. I’m smaller, so, um… I might be less noticeable.”

Ariante said, “We’re not going to steal. We’re just going to ask for some snacks. Sailorus, who had been listening to the discussion, objected.

“You’re a fool, right? If you just ask for snacks, the servants will bring them, won’t they? Who will put them in a basket for us? That will get us caught! It’s better to quietly bring them out.”

Umbrose, who had his lips puckered and head tilted while fidgeting, also joined the conversation.

“But you know, there are always cooks in the kitchen. Luzian… how are you going to quietly bring them out?”

“Uh, about that…”

Luzian faltered at the end of his words. In his mind, he could vividly imagine himself and Ariante sneaking into the kitchen, quietly bringing out bread and tea, like the wandering boys in books, but suddenly, he realized that there were actual chefs in the kitchen.

In his own home, whenever he went down to the kitchen, there were always chefs… and not just one or two.

At that moment, Ariante spoke.

“I have a good idea! I’ll go and ask for snacks, so Luzian, you secretly bring a basket. That should work, right?”

“A basket?”

Luzian raised his eyebrows. Then Ariante, frustrated, said as if it were obvious.

“You suggested that, didn’t you? If you ask them to put it in a basket, they’ll do it, right? So, I’ll secretly take things like bread and cookies. Meanwhile, Luzian, see if there’s a suitable basket without anyone noticing.”

“How would I know where the basket is?”

“I’ll tell you!”
When Ariante got annoyed, Luzian quickly lowered his tail and mumbled, “Got it.” It was a far cry from the day they first met when he didn’t say a word and poured out mean words.

Chrony spoke with a worried expression, “Is it really okay?”

“It’s fine, Chrony. Don’t worry.”

Sailorus patted Chrony on the back. Then, Sisi, who had been eyeing them, retorted in a teasing tone.

“If you’re scared, you can just wait here, Chrony.”

Chrony blinked in surprise, “I don’t want that! I don’t want to be alone.”

Ariante stood up abruptly. Seeing this, Luzian, who had been watching, also stood up awkwardly.

“Then, everyone wait here, okay? Don’t say anything if someone comes. When Luzian and I bring snacks, you guys can sneak over there. There, near the oak tree. The gardeners don’t go back and forth in that direction.”

“Got it, Ariante. We’ll wait here.”

Sailorus replied. Sisi glanced at him again, then turned to Ariante, inflating his cheeks, and tore off a piece of the grass with a futile effort.

Ariante, making Luzian sway strangely, went toward the kitchen. The cooks, who had been bustling around with neatly arranged ingredients, widened their eyes at Ariante but didn’t dare to speak to her.

“See, the baskets are in the kitchen’s inner storage. Bring one with a lid. Got it?”

“Uh… got it.”

“If anyone asks why you’re taking it, tell them I asked you to.”

Luzian, who had been rolling his eyes, asked with an uncertain voice, “Are you confident you won’t get caught?”

“Do you think I’m stupid?”

Ariante wrinkled her little nose, and Luzian, looking mocking, stared at Ariante but ultimately said nothing and obediently went to where Ariante pointed.

Some apprentice cooks saw Ariante entering the kitchen, but they all pretended not to know. They seemed worried that if they asked what she was up to or stared at her, Ariante might kick them in the knee or something.

Ariante casually took out a sack of nuts from a shelf that was piled up haphazardly on one side, then quietly entered the storage. She packed long-lasting bread and cheese, opened a glass jar at the bottom, and filled it with cookies. As she packed, she became more and more excited! Her heart pounded as if she were really embarking on an adventure.

When she spread out the sack stacked in one corner of the storage, she saw a bag of nuts. Ariante grabbed a handful of walnuts and almonds, then, finally, bit into a cookie with peanuts as she stealthily went outside through a side door.

“Hey! What if you leave me behind!”

At that moment, an urgent voice came from behind. It was Luzian. With an annoyed and tense expression, he held a picnic basket with a lid in his hands.