Chapter 39
“ M-Master.”
Chris knocked on the parlor door and waited, but no reply came.
With no choice, he carefully turned the doorknob.
As he stepped inside through the softly opening door, he saw Bendia lying awkwardly on the sofa, fast asleep.
She must have dozed off for a moment after being so busy every day preparing for the shop’s opening.
Without hesitation, Chris approached the sleeping Bendia.
Papers were scattered across the table.
He gathered them together, set them aside, and sat on the table.
Resting his chin on his hand, he gazed at Bendia as she slept.
Soft, faint breaths escaped her lips at steady intervals.
Even with the room this bright, sunlight pouring across her face, she slept soundly without a single frown.
Chris half-rose, thinking of drawing the curtains, but sat back down again.
What a pointless thing to do.
Smirking at his own absurdity, he quickly wiped the expression away and reached out.
His hand—scarred but now completely healed—naturally circled her neck with a light grip.
Her skin felt soft against his fingertips. Her throat was so delicate it seemed as if the slightest pressure could snap it.
Tilting his head, Chris muttered,
“Too fragile.”
With just one squeeze, her breath would stop instantly. That was how weak the neck he held in his hand was.
His eyes fixed on Bendia, asleep, unaware that her life lay in someone else’s hand.
His dark pupils quivered faintly.
At that moment—
Chris sensed someone approaching and quickly withdrew his hand.
“What the hell are you doing?”
The instant his hand returned to his side, a grating voice cut in at just the right timing.
Chris turned his head to see Ron leaning crookedly against the open door.
“And you, Sir Ron—w-what brings you here?”
“None of your business. Move. I’ll wake her.”
“N-no, I’ll wake her.”
Ron, who had walked up without Chris noticing, shoved at his shoulder, but Chris caught his hand and refused to budge.
“Let go and get out of the way.”
“No. Y-you should step aside. She’s m-my master.”
Chris shot back, watching Ron’s face twist with displeasure.
Just as a strange tension was about to spark between the two—
“Holy crap! What time is it!”
Bendia bolted upright from sleep, startled.
“Tch. Noon. Hurry up. The carriage is here.”
Ron shook his head, slipping his hand free of Chris’s grip.
“Oh, Chris, did you tidy this up? Thanks.”
Springing to her feet to pack her bag, Bendia spotted the neatly stacked documents on the table and gave Chris a thumbs-up.
After finishing, she straightened her clothes and naturally moved to leave with Ron.
“M-master… didn’t you say you were going to work?”
Chris instinctively grabbed her hand as she started to go. Bendia stopped and turned her gaze on him.
“Hm? I am going to work.”
“B-but then why is he…?”
“Oh. He’s coming with me for now.”
“Ah…”
“I’ll be back.”
She offered an awkward smile as she said goodbye. And Chris understood.
Everything has gone exactly the way Master wanted.
Ever since he’d said those words, her attitude toward him had subtly changed.
The strength left his hand holding hers.
Bendia and Ron left the parlor together.
“Hey. I don’t like that bastard’s eyes. Cut him loose.”
Ron’s voice drifted down the hall, growing fainter.
“Are you insane?”
Then came the sound of Bendia smacking his back.
Left alone in the parlor, Chris lifted his lowered eyes and muttered calmly,
“Filthy.”
The feeling was.
“Are you seriously telling me to do this?”
“Yes. There’s nothing else.”
“Are you out of your mind?”
“Perfectly sane.”
As expected, Bendia didn’t so much as blink, shoving the mascot costume toward him.
Ever since Ron had said he wanted to try working, it had been three days of going to work together.
Honestly, she didn’t need such a difficult, arrogant worker. But since he seemed determined to try something after all his wandering, she couldn’t turn him down.
She had even been the one to comfort him, saying there are late bloomers too.
“You said you hate showing your face. This is the only option.”
“Couldn’t I just look after the kids like the other day? Or do stock-taking like yesterday?”
“Both already have someone assigned. Today, this is really the only thing! Otherwise, at least help out with security.”
Ron pursed his lips stubbornly, as if that was even worse.
In the small office set up in Second, the two of them faced off.
“If you don’t want to, forget it.”
As Bendia pulled back the costume, Ron suddenly grabbed it.
“You’ll do it?”
“…”
“You’ll answer me?”
“…What is this thing.”
“A coconut chip. Cute, right? Believe it or not, it’s custom-made.”
Ron’s face scrunched as if it couldn’t get any worse.
It was a custom-made coconut chip mascot suit, prepared for another tasting event.
They planned to wear it in front of The Line to attract attention for the promotion.
“With the mask on, no one will know. Your face won’t be seen. How could they?”
“…”
Ron went silent again, his eyes flickering like an earthquake. He clearly hated showing his face, but her argument hadn’t really helped.
His willingness to try was good, but if he refused this too, she had no more ways to help him.
“This is something your job needs, right?”
After a long silence, Ron asked.
Was that really the point? Unsure, Bendia still nodded.
“Of course. If you won’t do it, I’ll just find someone else for the event.”
“Where is it.”
“What?”
“The dressing room.”
“Huh? Oh—over there!”
Startled by his unexpected choice, Bendia pointed to the right a beat late.
Ron took the costume and went inside.
A few minutes later, he emerged dressed in it…
Huh? Was it supposed to fit like that?
His long legs made the pants look cropped, exposing his ankles completely.
“Hey. This is way too loose.”
And the headpiece wobbled, swaying without balance.
It had been made to fit the average adult size, but Ron’s head was too small.
“Hold on. Want to take it off?”
Maybe she could pin it, or stuff something inside the headpiece.
Frowning over the unexpected problem, Bendia reached out.
Ron was just starting to remove the mask when—
“Where’s that idiot!”
A furious voice shouted from outside the office.
“Oh no…”
Ron muttered as he pulled the mask halfway off. Just then, the door burst open with a bang.
“You bastard, I’ll—!”
The intruder stopped short mid-yell. And then—
“Pfft!”
“…”
“Pwahahahaha!”
“…”
“Ghhhk, hahahaha!”
The woman laughed so loudly the office shook, staring at Ron in a coconut chip suit with the mask half-off.
She was tall—easily 170cm—with striking red hair and bold features.
Her dress wasn’t flashy but made of fine material, and her cat-like upturned eyes, high nose, and full red lips together made her stunning.
“Huh? Huhh?”
Wide-eyed, Bendia glanced between Ron and the woman now doubled over with laughter.
“…Shit.”
Ron muttered lowly, his face bright red.
“Bwahaha! Where’s a camera, I need a camera!”
The woman, practically bouncing with joy, looked exactly like Ron.
