Chapter 13

At first, I thought it was the first, but when I saw that Einz’s condition had not yet been reported to the temple, there was a chance that it was just due to a weak immune system.

The poison of the devil was so sensitive that it was possible for a short period of time to develop seizures. (TN: notes last chappy)

Short seizures also added to the to a weak immune system

Is he getting weaker?

Did his delusional mind lead him to search for Erin?

“I’m fine, Einz.”

“But Erin…”

“Nothing will change if you come and tell the truth because I’m never going back to the Imperial Palace.”

Erin declared firmly, looking at the distressed Einz.

“I don’t want the Duke to know the truth and go back there. That’s why even if you reveal the truth, you’ll be the only one who gets sacrificed and changed. You want that to happen?”

“……your innocence will be revealed.”

“Why do you need to prove your innocence to such a human being?”

Raymond lived with his government in his palace for nine years.

It was enough black history to be a wise duchess for such humans for nine years.

It was better than the man who believed that Erin had acted against him and was irritated by the crumbling of his sky-high pride.

“Are you sure you’re okay?”

“Yes, Einz, I’m fine. Thanks to you, I was able to get this store. I really enjoy it.”

As she prepared for the opening of her business, Erin became attached to the store with a bee sting

It was also good that the store was on a quiet street. This neighborhood was a long way from the high-end residential area where the nobles lived.

Thanks to this, I have never met someone I know here.

“Are you okay now?”

Erin changed the subject. Einz sighed and put his hand on his shoulder.

“Yes. Much better. The medicine I got from the north worked.”

“I’m really glad.”

The poison of the devil is curable enough. If you take good care of your body and continue to treat it, you may get better. (TN: notes last chap naming poison)

.

Since Einz is healthy, there is a certain possibility of recovery. As long as you don’t get caught treating it.

Erin put one hand on Einz’s shoulder and said clearly.

““If you want to reveal the truth, tell me after you have cured all of this. Then I can safely tell the truth.”It doesn’t matter if you reveal the truth after the poison of the devil has been cured. There’s a risk of being punished for concealing the poisoning. It’s for deceiving, but there’s no risk of dying.

“got it? Promise me.”

Einz hesitated, but When Erin wanted something, he would eventually give in.

“Yes. I will.”

Erin stood up satisfied.

” It’s been such a long time since I’d made you something delicious.”

Erin decided to go into the kitchen to make food for Einz. The menu was tomato stew.

Before cooking, she had to get the ingredients. Erin opened the back door and went out into the garden.

The white moon was dimly visible above the blue night sky, the moonlight shining white through the dark garden.

Erin went to the spot where the tomatoes were.

.

This place, which was formerly owned by the former owner, has been left for a long time, so many vegetables withered and died. However, there were quite a few vegetables that survived.

Erin picked up the dead vegetables and watered the surviving ones every day. New seeds were planted in the empty places.

Thanks to this, vegetables that are easy to grow, such as lettuce and tomatoes, were now filling the garden with freshness.

Tomato was caught in the bushes. Erin picked ripe tomatoes one by one.

I reached out to pick up the tomato, but instead of a fresh tomato, I touched warm fingers)

Before I knew it, Einz was holding the tomatoes before Erin. Einz said with a slight smile.

“I’ll help you.”

The two picked tomatoes together in a small garden.

Suddenly, I remembered my childhood. When I was young, I kept vegetables at home like this.

The two always played together in a garden full of vegetables and flowers.

Erin recalled her memories of those days and asked Einz.

“Einz, do you remember our 9th birthday?”

“Yes. I remember.”

I remembered.

“How can I forget?”

No matter how many memories were intertwined together to overshadow the good memories of the time, the precious memories with Erin could not be forgotten for a single moment.

It will never be forgotten.

‘Einz!’

A white-haired girl is still smiling in his vivid memory as if it was yesterday.

Holding a cake plate with both hands,

‘Einz! Happy birthday!’

She laughed as if she were too happy.

That’s when Einz first found out that a child of the same age could laugh so cheerfully.

On the plate was a round cake covered with pink cream. On the cake, there’s a white chocolate cream with crooked letters.

“Happy birthday, Einz!”

.

It wasn’t that big either. It was as small as a span of an adult’s hand.

Little Einz ate a piece of cake with Erin.

‘It’s delicious….’

Einz thought she would never forget the taste of the cake.

Looking back now, it wasn’t such a great taste. It’s just a fluffy sponge with a lot of strawberry cream.

But for little Einz, who had always been lonely and lonely living alone with his father, Erin’s cake was a sweet comfort for the soul.

Erin continued with a smile.

“You made me a birthday cake for my birthday the same year.”

On Erin’s 9th birthday, which came a few months later, Einz made her own cake to repay Erin.

Einz laughed as she recalled that time.

“I did. I learned from your mother and made it, but the cake didn’t rise, it was hard, and it was a total mess.”

Erin laughed with a clear sound.

“But it was delicious.”

Erin was a pure and elegant beauty.

White blond hair as soft as the white moonlight and a slender jawline, light red lips like rose petals and dark green eyes like grass leaves.

The skinny body looked fragile, but the whole scene was filled with elegance and fortitude.

She grew up to be a proud lady, but her beautiful features clearly left traces of the old days.

There was a trace of a little girl playing with him as a child.

‘If I wasn’t this body……’

I wanted to marry Erin when I became an adult.

But Einz, born as the son of a poor knight, had no money to help Erin.

That’s why he volunteered to be sent to troops in dangerous areas in the North.

.

It seemed that if he made a great contribution to the battlefield and gained fame and fortune, he would be able to be with Erin.

So desperately, he went to battle after learning swordsmanship.

Then, Einz suddenly heard that Erin had become the Duchess.

The two men’s status widened by a wide margin.

‘……It was hard to get into the palace.’

I got the position I wanted. But I went too far and got myself poisoned. This resulted in Erin getting hurt. And regret followed after.

If he cures the disease, he will tell the truth.

Even if he could not cure it, he would one day reveal the truth, because he could not let Erin live with an unjust accusation forever.

The two filled the basket with tomatoes and returned to the kitchen of a two-story house.

Erin washed the fresh tomatoes, peeled, and cut them.

Tomatoes, potatoes, and onions were cut, roasted, and the pickled pork was coarsened and boiled.

Inside the pot, the delicious tomato stew boiled.

The fresh tomatoes gave off a delicious smell, full of meat and a subdued flavor.

The stew was seasoned with salt and pepper.

The sweet smell of tomatoes and the savory and tender meat filled the small kitchen.

While Erin moved the finished food to a small restaurant next to the kitchen and set the table, Melly also entered the dining area.

When everyone sat down, Erin distributed food to each bowl.

Melly, who ate the stew with curious eyes, savored the taste with a surprised face.

“Wow, it’s so delicious!”

Melly ate up the food in front of her, as usual, with admiration.

The stew reeked of sour tomatoes. Einz also took a careful bite of the stew.

As soon as it got into my mouth, the rich flavor of the tomato stew aroused my appetite.

The refreshing taste of fresh tomatoes and the deep taste of meat and potatoes were in perfect harmony.

“It’s really delicious.”

“Right? Erin’s food is really the best.”

Melly emptied her share of the food and took another bowl, praising Erin.

“You make these delicious foods. You’re especially good at making desserts. I think it’s true that Erdan has a good taste.”

Melly let Erin know every time she praised her.  Erin smiled awkwardly and muttered.

“Actually, Erdan people seem to like sweet food.”

Her mother’s cooking was full of sweetness.

Perhaps the fact that her mother, who lived in the Erdan Mountains and moved to the Empire, chose to work as a baker is related to the habits of the Erdan people who like sweets.

Erin had thought so.

The Erdans were hardly known as minorities, who hid their tracks on the continent, so I could not be sure.

It was drizzling outside. I could see the raining garden through the window beside the table.

“So did you name the store?”

“Yes.”

The eyes of the two people were focused. Erin replied, putting down the empty bowl. I’ve been thinking of a name for a long ago.

“Lemon Tree.”

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