Opposite her, with his head bowed low so that his face was not visible, Ilex was stuffing ice cream into his motionless mouth.
“Why the hell am I eating this?”
It was incredibly sweet. Ilex hated desserts since childhood, and this one had too much sugar for him. But even as he frowned, he used his hand to cover his face as he continued to shovel the dessert into his mouth.
With a bitter expression on his face, Ilex swallowed the meaningless piece of sweetness and looked opposite. Tilia Ambrose, who had been sitting motionless for quite some time, finally ate her ice cream.
Ilex watched her carefully, pretending that he was not interested. She acted indifferent, but the amount of dessert on her spoon steadily increased. The speed at which she scooped the ice cream and the speed at which she chewed became faster and faster.
"She seems to like it."
It seemed that all these shameful actions had borne fruit.
Ilex stuck the spoon into the ice cream and raised the corners of his mouth slightly. Now that he thought about it, this was the first time.
The first time he watched Tilia receive her “reward” was sitting face to face.
When he watched her eat sweets, he was usually behind her. Sometimes higher, and if he was very lucky, then next to her. But no matter how lucky he was, he always had to watch her from afar.
So it was inevitable. No matter how hard he tried to restrain himself, his gaze kept wandering in her direction.
For the first time, he saw Tilia's face relax up close.
Having glanced at her furtively, Ilex lowered his head with difficulty. And swallowed the half-melted ice cream.
The ice cream he didn't like was so sweet it made his tongue numb.
Maybe it was because the sugary piece of sweet stuff had gone down his throat, but his chest felt like he was drowning in a vat of honey.
In a moment.
- I'm going to take another one.
Seeing that Tilia's plate was completely empty, as if it had just been washed, Ilex decided to be bold.
- Should I order one for you too?
Of course, he kept his expressionless expression as he practiced.
-……
Tilia, holding the rabbit-shaped spoon, hesitated for a moment.
The moment has come.
- I'll just order it. Obviously, since we both came here, it would be strange to order just one each.
In moments of indecision, such a disparaging comment could spur Tilia into action, even if she seemed reluctant to do so.
-...Okay, go ahead.
As expected, she nodded as if it was no big deal.
Ilex, maintaining his facial expression, calmly asked:
-Which one should I take? Vanilla?
- …No. Strawberry.
- Fine.
Ilex responded calmly, pulling back the curtain and stepping out into the aisle. When he walked towards the counter, which was quite far away, his expression was indifferent, even cold.
But exactly fifteen steps from where Tilia was sitting...
-……
Ilex's steps stopped abruptly. He bent over as if about to fall.
His desperate efforts to maintain his composure lasted only fifteen steps.
“Strawberry.” Seriously?"
Placing his hands on his knees, Ilex remembered Tilia's prim face as she spoke a few minutes ago.
"Damn...she really likes something like this."
Having caught his breath, blushing slightly, Ilex straightened his clothes. He cleared his throat and walked up to the counter.
He couldn't keep her waiting too long. She was surprisingly impatient.
When he approached the counter, the salesman greeted him warmly.
- Oh, I would come right away if you called...!
- One strawberry and one vanilla. Oh, add more toppings to the strawberry one.
- Certainly! Absolutely, sir!
Trying to please the insensitive owner, the store owner smiled so widely that his lips almost cracked and rubbed his hands.
- I'll also add vanilla filling for free! After all, you allowed us to use the store for a few hours without paying rent for months...
- Young master.
Но лесть лавочника была прервана.
The knights, who had clearly been looking for him for quite some time, arrived with furious expressions on their faces. The shopkeeper looked worried as he stared at the big men in silver armor.
One of the knights, who looked the most angry, walked straight towards Ilex.
- That's all you can do. You must leave now.
Ilex took a quick glance at the threatening knight before turning to the seller and calmly saying:
- Forget about the vanilla filling. And keep its quantity to a minimum.
- Young master!
At the knight's sudden outburst of anger, Ilex shot him a chilling look.
- Quiet, Nick.
-……
“I’ll let myself be dragged away after I eat this ice cream, so don’t make a scene.”
His fierce gaze was enough to pacify the enraged knights, and then, as if in jest, he added, lifting the corner of his mouth.
- And keep some distance from the entrance. How do you expect customers to come if they are scared?
Returning to his usual impassive demeanor, he turned to the salesman with an expectant expression on his face, as if to say, “So? Hurry up."
- Yes, right now! I'll bring it now!
The store owner, clearly frightened, jumped up and ran to the kitchen.
Knight Nick sighed and rubbed his eyebrows, surprised at his master's domineering attitude.
“Young Master, how long are you going to continue to avoid your responsibilities and run away like this?”
Seeing that anger wasn't working, Nick adopted a pitiful tone, which Ilex ignored as he turned over a small panel on the counter.
It was a cute little sign that said, “Grand Opening: Free Gifts.”
***
Having satisfied his craving for dessert, Ilex left safely.
- Should I take you home?
- No, thank you.
- I thought that you would refuse. That's why I asked.
As if asking this only out of politeness, Ilex turned and left without saying another word.
Tilia watched him as he walked away, then turned and walked towards the station where the stagecoaches stopped.
The books she held with both hands were heavy, but her heart was light.
Since he didn't try to persuade her, it seemed like Ilex really just wanted ice cream. Otherwise, he would have used the late hour as an excuse to try to take her home.
She ate ice cream. She received the books.
She felt she had made the right decision by accepting his offer. After all, the money he spent on those books was nothing compared to what they meant to her.
"What luck."
No matter what anyone says, it was a happy day.
Even the bad feeling of almost running into George disappeared when she thought about how delicious the ice cream was.
“It really was delicious.”
I wonder if there is such a place in Ontario? By then I will be earning my own money, so I could treat myself to something like this once a month.
Tilia imagined her future as she walked along the road bathed in the setting sun.
She was humming quietly by the time she reached the stagecoach station.
***
A dim light flickered in the dark basement of Earl Myers's estate. This place was never open to those who were not part of the family.
- Father, it wasn't me!
The faint light was not enough to illuminate the entire basement. But even in the dim silhouettes, it was easy to see how desperate Gregory Myers looked.
- I really did not commit heresy. You know, father. I hate books, I can barely read my coursework! Someone must be setting me up...
- Shut up!
Earl Myers's face was cold as he looked at his son. His face was in shadow, and he looked at his son - the one who brought ruin to the family - with complete contempt.
- OK. I don't think an idiot like you read those banned books.
- Then we should go to the temple...!
- But not just forbidden texts were found in your room - it was a damaged drawing of the Blessed Virgin Mary from the Holy Scriptures!
The Count shouted at Gregory, and his voice was like fire.
- Our family lived off the grace of the temple, and you went and painted this obscene dirt on the body of the Virgin Mary? And I got caught!
- Father, I swear, I didn’t do it, I was set up...!
- I said shut up!
Hit! Unable to contain his rage, the count hit his eldest son.
Gregory, having received a blow from his father for the first time in his life, looked at him and tears welled up in his eyes. Even seeing these tears, the count's gaze remained fierce.
- I barely managed to prevent the title from being revoked by collecting all the money. But we have lost countless other things. The Myers family would never be able to enter central politics again. The temple... will no longer support us.
-……
“I regret that I used vile methods to send you to the academy.” I shouldn't have invested money in a fool like you.
Earl Myers walked past his son, who collapsed on the floor.
- Today is the last day that I can protect you. Tomorrow the Holy Knights will search this place.
- Father…!
- The only advice I can give you is to surrender to the authorities.
- Father, father!
The Count ignored his son, who clung pathetically to him, and left the basement without hesitation.
Knock. There was the sound of a door closing.