BKSL CH 08

Chapter 8 – Maybe Everyone Here Has Their Own Circumstances?

“Sibel, are you sure you don’t need to rest in your room?”

“Yes, I’m perfectly fine! I feel great,” I replied with a bright smile.

After finishing the laundry and taking a short break, Elga-san checked in on me, worried about how I was holding up.

“I see. Well, if you say so—but don’t push yourself too hard, alright?”

“Yes! Thank you so much.”

If anything, I felt more energized now.

Elga-san seemed concerned since I had come all the way from the royal capital and started working right away, but really, I was fine.

The real reason I almost fainted earlier… was far too embarrassing to explain.

*

After our break, it was time to prepare lunch.
Compared to breakfast and dinner, lunch was much easier.

That’s because most of the knights were out on duty during the day.

Only a few stayed behind—the ones off duty, and the guards protecting the building.

Apparently, Captain Leo was also usually here.
He would rush out immediately whenever monsters appeared, but otherwise, he stayed at headquarters.

So the amount of food we needed to prepare was much smaller.

Today’s lunch was sandwiches.

Fresh lettuce and juicy tomatoes, layered with salty ham, cheese, and eggs.

So simple, yet so delicious!
Whoever invented sandwiches must have been a genius!

*

“Mmm! This is really good!”

“Sibel, you’re a great cook! The lettuce is so crisp!”

As I poured milk into Leo-san’s glass, he smiled at me brightly—his expression so innocent it reminded me of a child.

“Hehe, thank you. But all I did was wash and tear the lettuce.”

“Then you must be excellent at tearing lettuce!”

“Ahaha!”

Oh, Leo-san…

Was that supposed to be a joke?

When I laughed just in case, the other knights joined in.

“He’s right! The lettuce really does taste fresher than usual!”

“Yeah, it’s crispier today!”

…Maybe today’s delivery was especially fresh after all?

*

After the knights finished eating, I sat down with Elga-san to enjoy our own sandwiches and milk.

“Everyone here is so kind, aren’t they?” I said.

“Do you think so?”

“Yes! You, Leo-san, the other dorm mothers… everyone.”

I hadn’t talked much with the other knights yet, but we had all eaten dinner together the night before.

They’d welcomed me warmly and complimented my cooking.

Not a single person said anything mean.

When I thought about it, that alone made this place so much better than my old life.

I didn’t have to marry the crown prince I never wanted to marry.
I was finally free from my stepmother and stepsister, who never liked me.

Now, I had a job caring for the knights I’d always admired—and everyone here appreciated my efforts.

The senior staff were kind, too.

I couldn’t be more grateful.

*

“…Everyone here has their own special circumstances,” Elga-san said quietly.

“Eh?”

Her calm voice caught me off guard.

“I do, too. I was sent here—practically sold off—to pay back the debts my real parents made.”

“By your real parents…?”

“Yes.”

I froze for a moment.

So that’s what Elga-san had been through…

“But I actually prefer this life,” she continued. “Even though most of my pay is sent back home, I’m happier here than I ever was before. Like you said, everyone here is a good person.”

“…You’re right.”

So it wasn’t just me who had suffered before coming here.

Everyone must have their own pain, their own past.

But maybe—just maybe—each of us had found some peace in this place.

Sure, it might be a tough life at times, but looking around, I could tell—no one seemed truly unhappy here.

And I had a feeling that was largely because of Leo-san’s leadership.

He treated everyone equally and cared deeply for them.

“Leo-san really is kind and easy to talk to, isn’t he? But he also carries himself with such grace… I bet he comes from a noble family.”

“…Yes, perhaps,” Elga-san said softly.

When I mentioned Leo-san, she narrowed her eyes slightly, her expression tinged with something… wistful.

…Huh?

Did I say something wrong?

Maybe I was being rude without realizing it.

“Um—Elga-san, you’re very kind and easy to talk to, too! And you’re also really beautiful—”

“…That’s not it,” she interrupted gently.

She gave a faint, complicated smile, then pressed her lips together as if to stop herself from saying more.

I wanted to ask her what she meant—but something in her expression told me not to.

Maybe Leo-san had his own circumstances too…?

***

“…I’ll do my best to fit in here as soon as I can,” I said.

“Just don’t overwork yourself, alright?”

“Yes!”

I clasped my hands tightly on my lap as I said that, and Elga-san looked up and smiled softly.

“You know,” she said, “I feel like ever since you arrived, I’ve been more motivated too.”

“Really?”

“Yes. Maybe it’s because your cooking is so delicious.”

If that were true, it made me so happy.

Thank you so much for reading!

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I’m so grateful to everyone who’s been following along.

The story has only just begun, and I’ll be revealing more of everyone’s pasts and secrets soon (sorry for the teasing hints this time too!).
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