Chapter 16
Chapter 16
It might be too strong an expression to call it a bond, but she could certainly feel a sensation as if she were connected to another person. She didn’t know how long it had been.
Candice felt that him coming to find her and becoming her friend was great luck. While she was very happy to have someone close like this, there was also a side effect that arose.
It was the fear that she might lose the friend she had barely made.
By her own senses, it hadn’t been that long since he had come and gone. About two or three years ago. But in reality, a whole twenty years had flown by.
The anxiety that the world was changing quickly while leaving only her behind, that she would be left alone in the end, tormented her.
“I’ve always been alone. Why am I like this when I’ve lived just fine until now?”
Candice tried to soothe herself, but it was difficult. She recalled the conversation she had shared with Luke while eating for the first time.
“How did you end up getting chased out of the village? You’re not even the type of kid to do bad things.”
“There were some misunderstandings.”
“Really? Then when those misunderstandings are cleared up, you’ll go back to the village soon.”
Back then, she had thought their cohabitation wouldn’t last long. So she had even cheered him on, telling him not to lose hope when he answered that he wasn’t sure.
People and elves are both sly. In just one month, Candice’s heart changed. She felt like she wouldn’t be able to congratulate her precious friend if he said he was going back to the village. Far from congratulating him, she secretly hoped he wouldn’t go.
Candice no longer brought up the word “village” itself out of her mouth. She worried that he might say he should head home now.
She knew it was better for him to live among people who weren’t a witch. Yet still, because she hated the thought of sending him off and being left alone, she couldn’t bring herself to speak.
“To think such selfish thoughts. I really am a bad witch!”
Candice blamed herself. But her torment was short-lived. A bigger problem arose for her.
“I messed up again. What do I do…”
While Luke was an all-round worker, she was a tremendous troublemaker.
Perhaps due to a lack of attention, there were countless cases where she would leave one thing out and only remember it much later, or step on something and slip and fall, getting hurt. Ever since she lived alone, there hadn’t been a day without bruises on her limbs.
Thanks to that, she made medicine in large quantities without exception, and the medicine container had to be that big accordingly. Small ones simply couldn’t handle it.
“Candice, watch out!”
If it were just her getting hurt alone, it would have been better. The problem was that she did many things that ruined his hard work, like spilling mop water on a spot Luke had painstakingly cleaned.
Luke’s expression, which had been smiling and saying it was fine at first, grew darker day by day. Today as well, a sack burst open and the grain kernels inside spilled onto the floor.
Candice rolled her lips inward, bit them, and turned away from what she had done with all her might.
“Candice…”
“I-I’m sorry. I didn’t do it on purpose!”
The sound of Luke’s footsteps as he strode toward her was so frightening it was terror itself. He stood in front of Candice and let out a deep sigh.
“I’m really sorry…”
“It won’t end with an apology anymore. You’ve crossed the line for me to smile and say it’s okay. Don’t you think so too?”
Candice’s heart dropped. He seemed thoroughly angry. That made sense, since Luke, who used to call her noona so nicely, had recently even started calling her “you.”
This time I’m really going to get scolded. Fine. Maybe being scolded would actually put my mind more at ease. Candice clenched her fists tightly to steel her heart.
“Listen carefully, Candice. It would be better for you not to make mistakes from now on. Because…”
“Okay…”
“Every time you mess something up, I’m going to kiss you.”
“Mm. Got it… Huh?”
Candice, who had resolved to accept any criticism willingly, blinked rapidly. A kiss all of a sudden? Wondering if she had misheard, she turned her head, and Luke had his arms folded primly and was glaring at her.
“You’re going to kiss me for making a mistake?”
When she asked, wondering if she had misheard, instead of answering, Luke pressed a lip stamp firmly onto her cheek. Candice’s eyes went wide at the surprise kiss.
The corner of Luke’s mouth, who had been glaring at her round eyes while maintaining a prim expression, twitched.
“You hate getting kissed by me, right. Punishment is supposed to be something you hate by nature.”
“I-Is that so?”
“So be careful not to make mistakes again. One kiss per mistake.”
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