Today, the brilliant flames of the kitchen enveloped me again.

“Tilt the frying pan like so, yes. That way the soy sauce will char a little, enhancing the flavor.”

“How fascinating, charring it for flavor!”

Head chef Babito watched what I was doing and followed suit.

Since the spices I had were not available here, he was enthralled just by my teaching their usage.

‘It’s like I’ve become a culinary genius.’

The gazes looking up at me were not ordinary.

“I’ll go check on the young princes then.”

“I learned something new today!”

I was able to leave the kitchen amidst Babito’s enthusiastic farewell.

‘Who knew I’d end up teaching cooking.’

I thought my workload would decrease after coming to the ducal mansion, but that wasn’t the case.

However, I didn’t mind.

The feeling of being wanted was quite pleasant.

‘Our little ones are studying harder than I thought, aren’t they?’

I had been lenient when they goofed off, but there was no sign of that anymore.

Though they started their education late, it was delightful to see them catching up.

‘If they want to learn something, they should learn it all!’

Behind my kids, this nanny is here!

It was at that moment, as I was walking down the hallway with burning resolve.

‘Huh? It’s Ludvion.’

Green hair was visible beneath the secondfloor window. He was quietly standing between maple trees.

‘I haven’t seen him for a while.’

Glad to see him, I quickly descended.

“Sir Ludvion!”

As I waved vigorously, his face turned bewildered, and instead of greeting, he showed his back.

‘Didn’t he hear me? Our eyes definitely met.’

Ludvion was trying to leave his spot quickly.

Whether it was adaptation or not, even the meek servants no longer avoided me.

What then was Ludvion’s reason for running away?

Quickening my pace, Ludvion moved faster as well.

It was certain. He was running away.

“Sir Ludvion! Stop!”

“……!”

As if chasing a criminal, I shouted and Ludvion started to run outright.

I couldn’t help but run as well.

The bizarre midday chase had begun.

But it couldn’t last for long.

The path near the servants’ quarters was as it always was, paved with stones.

Tripping on an embedded rock, I was thrown forward.

“Why are you running away…… Ah[Dash]!”

Just before my face hit the ground, something grayish lifted me up.

‘Wind?’

As I thought this, my feet, which had floated in the air, successfully touched down on the gravel.

“……I survived.”

Relieved, a grayish hue circled around me.

I carefully contained it in my hand, and felt the wind revolving around the circle.

“Lord Hallen, are you alright?!”

As if he never ran away, Ludvion rushed toward me.

The grayish hue escaped me and went to him.

So then.

“Is that, by any chance, an elemental?”

At my words, Ludvion’s eyes widened.

‘In the original story, he was particularly good at controlling wind elementals, wasn’t he?’

Ludvion could summon elementals of multiple attributes.

Among them, he could even summon middletohightier wind elementals.

‘Is that a lowtier elemental?’

It didn’t even have a definite form, just visible wind.

“It’s fascinating. Can you show me more?”

As I reached out, the grayish hue timidly retreated.

Hesitant, Ludvion sent the elemental back to nature.

“It cannot be.”

“Ah, it disappeared.”

I felt around the air in disappointment, but grasped nothing.

Turning my head, Ludvion was glaring.

I couldn’t understand why.

“Why did you run away earlier?”

I felt I deserved an explanation for the unexpected workout.

Yet silence ensued.

With his head drooping, making me feel guilty for asking, he finally opened his mouth.

“Because I am a sinner.”

“A sinner? What are you talking about all of a sudden… Hey, get up!”

Ludvion had knelt on the stonepaved floor.

“I failed to protect you. Summoning an elemental under such circumstances, I am well aware of my shame.”

Remembering his words, I recalled our first outing together.
“I never thought you’d think that way.”

Though it was Kashar who had protected me in a dangerous moment, not once had I blamed Rudbion.

I just assumed things were going well; I didn’t know you were digging a hole.

I hadn’t even had a chance to deny it.

Rudbion reached for the sword hanging at his side.

“I’ll repay you, even if it costs me my life…”

“Wait, just wait! I hate blood!”

Surprised to the point that my eyes nearly popped out, I firmly pressed down on his hand.

“Just unsheathe the sword. I’ll really get angry.”

Really, it was a world where you couldn’t let your guard down for fear of blood splattering unexpectedly.

As I spoke firmly, I felt the hand that had been gripping the sword slowly loosen.

“…I won’t unsheathe it.”

“Did you promise?”

I withdrew my hand, seeing Rudbion nod.

His gaze shifted to my hand then quickly moved away.

“Well, first of all… congratulations on summoning a spirit. Truly.”

Even though he felt guilty towards me, it was something worth celebrating.

“I see my investment has paid off.”

“Investment, you say?”