Welcome to the Demon’s Cabin - Chapter 42

“You came back quickly? It seems dinner will take a little more time. Please wait just a bit.”

“Take your time. There is still quite a while until the usual dinner time.”

The savory smell vibrated inside the cabin. How good would it have been if not only the smell was good, but the taste was good as well. Irene, blaming her own disastrous body, took off her shoes and quickly turned toward the stairs, running up to the attic.

***

Having completed the vase made only of colorful anemones, Irene picked up the white vase and stepped down the stairs lightly and without a sound. When she stole a glance, Idris seemed to be entirely absorbed in cooking, oblivious to the world.

Irene, who carefully passed behind him as he wrestled with corn, placed the vase on a corner of the dining table. After she discreetly moved aside the vase that was already on the table, which held white and yellow lilies, she finally relaxed her tension.

It was her first time trying to hide her presence like this, but the effect seemed certain. Idris, who had never ignored her presence except when he was about to fall asleep, was focusing on the food with his back turned.

Irene, who even succeeded in pulling out a chair at the table and sitting on it without a sound, thought to herself with inward surprise.

‘Even this is possible? I did not expect him to fail to notice at all despite being a knight.’

Well, living in isolation, it was a talent that was neither particularly good nor useful.

Irene began to wait for the meal, watching Idris’s busy hands.

Idris, who had been wrestling with the corn kernels for a long time, seemed to have finished cooking and began to put the completed food onto plates. Irene remained breathless and continued to watch that sight quietly.

“……! Miss Irene? When did you come?”

Idris, who was turning around while holding a plate, said as he jumped in surprise. He, who had reflexively taken a step backward, walked back to the front of the dining table and placed a steaming plate in front of Irene. Irene looked up at him and smiled.

“Just now. You seemed to be focusing on the cooking, so I stayed quiet so as not to disturb you.”

“……I had no idea. You startled me.”

“Haha, I suppose I am a bit good at walking around quietly.”

Idris, who finished the setting by placing a glass of water and a fork in front of the smiling Irene, sat down across from her. Irene stared intently at Idris with eyes sparkling with anticipation.

Idris, who was pouring water into his own glass, felt that gaze and tilted his eyebrows slightly as if puzzled while looking at her.

The dinner does not matter, so please notice quickly.

With that meaning, Irene stared at him blatantly to an entry level of burden. Idris, who had the words ‘What is it?’ written on his face, rolled his eyes to look around the surroundings and then let out a small exclamation of ‘Ah.’

“You said you were going out, was it because of the flowers?”

“That is right! Your discernment is truly good. No matter how much I thought about it, ending the birthday with just a pair of cuff links felt lacking, so I prepared even this.”

“……By any chance, is it because of what I said about the flowers I like.”

“Of course. It was a relief that many happened to be blooming by the lakeside.”

Idris, whose expression had momentarily stiffened as if surprised, turned his gaze to stare intently at the vase on the right. Reaching his hand toward the vase, he carefully pushed the pure white porcelain vase that had been placed on the edge a little further inward. As if to ensure it would not fall by any chance.

“It is an undeserved gift. Thank you, Miss Irene.”

Seeing him smile faintly with a brightened expression, Irene also smiled brightly. She felt a bit proud that she seemed to have given a reasonably good gift.

“Ah, Miss Irene. Please eat. The food is getting cold.”

“Yes. Oh, but these corn kernels, did you perhaps pick them all off by hand?”

“No way. If I picked them off one by one, it would become breakfast instead of dinner. I used a fork.”

“Still, it must have been cumbersome.”

“Originally, that much sincerity must go in for the food to become delicious.”

“Ahaha! What is that.”

Irene burst into a clear laugh.

In the evening as the sun gradually set, the sound of chatting voices leaked out for a long time from inside the cabin where a bright light shone. It was a warm and boisterous dinner, just like always.