Episode 8
Lindsay stopped laughing and showed Lionel how to use chopsticks.
“Lionel, hold one stick steady between your thumb and middle finger, and move the other one with your index finger and thumb. Like this… Hey, why’d you drop it?”
Right in the middle of her explanation, Lionel, who had been holding them properly, let his chopsticks slip.
With an annoyed look, Lindsay picked them up, cleaned them with a quick wash spell, and handed them back.
Lionel took them, held them correctly this time, then suddenly said shyly, “You just called my name for the first time.”
Lindsay blinked.
She realized she’d never actually said his name out loud until now.
Seeing this sly fox of a man happy over something as small as being called by his name made her feel a little guilty.
Since they’d signed a contract anyway, she figured she should call him more often from now on.
She nudged the rice bowl with her chin.
“I’ll call you more from now on. For now, eat before it gets cold.”
“I’ll look forward to it.”
Lindsay thought he looked even more fox-like when he smiled with his eyes like that.
But when she saw him actually enjoying the food she made, she felt a strange pride bubble up.
Lionel chewed on the soy-sauce-seasoned beef and onions, then swallowed and let out a low sound of admiration.
“This is delicious. What’s this dish called?”
“Bulgogi rice bowl.”
“What country is it from? I’ve never tasted anything like it.”
“Of course you haven’t. I invented it.”
Well… technically, she just recreated Korean food that didn’t exist in this world.
After regaining memories of her past life, the one thing she missed most wasn’t family or friends—it was Korean food.
Every time she cooked rice, she tried new ways to recreate the spicy, comforting taste she remembered.
Over time, she managed to reproduce about fifty Korean dishes with the spices and ingredients available in the world.
“This milk… It’s horned goat milk, right? But it tastes better than the kind sold in the markets.
Where’d you get it?”
“That’s a secret.”
Truth was, Lindsay owned a farm.
Back at the “house” she lived in before moving to the Roman capital, she raised various animals and kept a field of rare medicinal herbs.
She couldn’t visit every day, but whenever she had time, she’d bring back produce, herbs, and milk—like this goat’s milk.
Lionel didn’t push further.
Instead, he kept asking different questions—why she opened a potion shop, why she chose the capital, and her little stories.
His endless curiosity even started to get on Lindsay’s nerves.
Still, their chat passed the time, and soon lunch was over.
Lindsay rubbed her satisfied belly, then cleared the tableware.
Afterward, she gestured for Lionel to come closer, pointing at the basket of materials.
“Lionel, come here.”
She needed to absorb his mana again.
Lionel came right over without a hint of suspicion.
Lindsay grabbed his hand firmly.
Instead of pulling away, he actually squeezed back, tilting his head curiously.
“From now on, I’m going to absorb the corrupted mana inside you. Obviously, you already know this, but I’ll say it anyway—never absorb someone else’s mana. Especially not corrupted mana, okay?”
Her sudden lecture sounded silly, since anyone who handled magic already knew it.
Normally, another person’s mana couldn’t be controlled—it would go berserk. And absorbing corrupted mana? That was suicide.
But Lionel wasn’t exactly an ordinary mage…
“I have a special constitution. Even if I take in someone else’s mana, I don’t lose control. But I’m saying this so you don’t ever try it with anyone else.”
Her explanation given, Lindsay patted the back of his hand.
“When I absorb it, you might feel… something weird. Just stay still, okay?”
What kind of weird? She wasn’t sure.
In the novel, it said Lionel felt something he couldn’t endure whenever the heroine absorbed his mana.
Did that mean ticklish? Or… something else?
Lindsay shook her head hard to chase away the dirty thought.
The book was rated for all ages—there’s no way it meant that!
“Yes. I’ll behave.”
Lionel nodded with a dazzling smile.
Wow. What a pretty smile.
For a second, Lindsay wondered why the original heroine dumped Lionel for her childhood friend.
Sure, the guy became the Empire’s number one duke, but still—how do you turn down this face? Must’ve been author bias.
She looked at Lionel with quiet pity.
“Alright, I’m starting.”
She closed her eyes and focused on his hand.
From his fingertips, she traced the faintly tainted mana up his arm, to his shoulder, to right beside his heart.
It hadn’t even been a full day since she last absorbed it, and already it was building up again.
No wonder he’d wanted this done daily.
Carefully, Lindsay drew out only the corrupted strands from his massive mana pool.
They obeyed her will and flowed through her hand.
She transformed them instantly into her own pure mana.
That was her unique witch ability.
A witch is born from a laurel fruit, and after one year of growth, each awakens a unique power.
Lindsay’s power was to convert external mana into her own.
That’s why she could safely absorb his corrupted mana without consequence.
“Ha…”
She was deep in concentration when suddenly, she heard a strange sound from in front of her.
“…?”
She opened her eyes—and froze.
Lionel’s cheeks were flushed, his lips parted, his eyes half-lidded.
He looked… indecent. Not pure at all, but sensual, even erotic.
Lindsay panicked and tried to pull her hand back, but Lionel’s grip tightened.
“Haah… Is this… the weird feeling you mentioned?”
“Y-You’re acting weird!”
“It feels good, Lindsay… Do it more.”
“Do what more?! There’s no corrupted mana left!!”
Are you out of your mind?!
She zapped him lightly with a weak electric current spell.
The smell of burnt ozone filled the air, and Lionel’s dazed expression quickly cleared.
Back to normal, he flashed a sly smile.
“Sorry. Guess I got a little excited.”
…Excited?
Lindsay whipped her head toward the cat sprawled on the top of the tower.
Nero flicked his tail and meowed lazily.
[Looks like draining the corrupted mana stimulated his senses, meow.]
She didn’t need that explained! Sure, she’d imagined it, but she never thought the “weird feeling” was actually… pleasure.
Her face burned hot.
She fought to keep her eyes above his waist, then snapped her head away, cheeks flaming.
Muttering an incantation, she triggered the expulsion spell tied to her home’s barrier.
<Out you go!>
Lionel found himself dumped in front of the shop’s wooden sign.
He bent double, laughing hard.
After wiping away a tear, he remembered her flushed, embarrassed face and chuckled again.
“So cute.”
The way she’d tried so hard to hide her red face—it was enough to make any man’s heart stir.
Still smiling, Lionel brushed the dirt off his cloak and looked at the shop’s sign.
His eyes lingered on the carved word: Monahan.
He whispered it softly, savoring how her surname rolled off his tongue.
Combined with her given name, it sounded complete.
Complete.
He wanted a complete relationship with Lindsay Monahan.
For that, he’d need to learn more about witches.
His lavender eyes, glowing in the sunset, deepened to a richer hue.
