Hello, Readers! I am celebrating my birthday with extra chapter updates, so please enjoy this special chapter release of 4 bonus chapters! 🥳

(Lurelia’s Birthday Bonus – Update 3/4 🎉)

♡ To all readers who purchased these chapters before my Birthday: I can’t express this enough – Thank you for your support. (*ˊᗜˋ*)/ᵗᑋᵃᐢᵏ ᵞᵒᵘ*

“You eat it all.”

“Okay, but Boss.”

“What.”

“When’s the party?”

“Are you excited about the party or the food?”

“Both.”

Just then, there was a knock at the door.

At Eclise’s command, Percy entered.

“Lord Lexiard has arrived.”

“Lexiard’s here!”

Rodi quickly gathered her remaining snacks and got down from the sofa.

Watching Rodi run out to see Lexiard, Eclise wore a slightly troubled expression.

“Should I leave this be or put some distance between them.”

Since it couldn’t be called completely safe, they needed to create some distance.

Yet being unable to act coldly toward what seemed like their first friendship stemmed from an unavoidable sense of remaining responsibility.

Percy, who had entered like passing a baton with Rodi, smiled slightly.

“Since all the executives are keeping watch, wouldn’t it be fine to observe for a while?”

“I’m not sure. Tell them to isolate immediately, no matter who it is, if there are any dangerous signs.”

“Yes, I will continue to report.”

Though he gave permission, somehow the anxiety never completely left Eclise’s eyes.

4. Initiation Ceremony

The first-floor banquet hall doors opened wide right at dinner time.

“Woooow.”

Rodi opened her mouth wide with a “wa-” just like when she first came here.

“Rookie, you’ll drool doing that.”

Ekision chuckled while teasing Rodi.

The banquet hall was already filled with excited chatter from the employees.

Whether in uniform or casual clothes, there was no dress code or fancy attire, but everyone looked relaxed.

Meanwhile, Cheiles’s employees were somewhat puzzled by yesterday’s notice.

But that didn’t last long as the staff became excited about the unexpected break.

Since everyone usually had their own designated days off, this was like free time for those who had volunteered for weekend night duty.

Plus, with the head Eclise not attending, they felt even more at ease.

Though executives might attend, at least they wouldn’t have to be on edge watching their every move.

However, the lively atmosphere quickly cooled when Ekision and Lexiard entered the banquet hall with Rodi.

More precisely, it was because of the unfamiliar child and Lexiard standing protectively beside her.

“……”

“……”

“It got quiet.”

“Yeah. Rodi, aren’t you hungry? What would you like to eat?”

Unlike Rodi who was just rolling her eyes around, Lexiard seemed familiar with the situation and spoke with a smile.

Ekision, who had been observing the surroundings, waved his hand with a mischievous smile.

“Come on, why are you all like this? Is it so rare to have new employees? Just enjoy yourselves without minding us. Oh, want to greet the rookie?”

At those words, those who hadn’t heard the news looked surprised or puzzled, but employees who were close to Ekision came forward to greet Rodi.

“Hello, nice to meet you. I’m Deakis. Everyone calls me Kis though. Let’s get along well?”

Deakis extended their thin, white hand to Rodi with a gentle introduction.

“Yes! I’m Rodi. Brodi.”

As Rodi shook hands, another person came to exchange greetings.

“I am Meogly! Greetings to the rookie, I say!”

“I’m Rodi!”

“I shall remember that, I say!”

“Try to understand. He was in the knights’ order before coming here.”

Deakis next to them winked and put an arm around Meogly’s shoulders.

The refreshing smile and wink matched perfectly with his delicate voice and hands.

After Deakis and Meogly exchanged greetings, several other nearby employees approached and chatted with smiles.

Only after quite some time could they finally break free from the people and head toward the table with food.

“Lexiard.”

“Yes?”

“Can you reach this…?”

Rodi asked while stretching her hand over the table.

Even on tiptoes, the table was quite high.

There were some lower tables suitable for Rodi’s height nearby, but most were adjusted for adult height, making it a bit too high to serve food onto plates.

“I’ll get it for you.”

Just as Lexiard was about to move.

“Heheh, this is when you need the great Ekision. What would you like, Lord Lexiard?”

Ekision, who was said to be popular within the guild and had been surrounded by people, quickly approached with an empty plate.

“Please.”

“Don’t mention it.”

Thanks to that, Lexiard’s black smoke disappeared completely after barely appearing.

They were planning not to bring it up since Rodi seemed to dislike puzzled stares anyway.

Ekision was good at blending in everywhere and was one of the few who treated Lexiard as casually as Eclise did.

Sometimes he made quite a few slip-ups, so Gemvil would always nag him to be more careful, but Ekision never seemed to mind.

“Mm, this is delicious. Want to try this?”

“Yes!”

“I’ll go get something to drink.”

Horas, who had arrived at the banquet hall earlier, went to get juice, relieved at the sight.

Meanwhile, Ekision quickly filled plates with desserts and food, offering them to the two.

“Here, better sit over there to eat. Thanks to the rookie, the employees will feast today.”

“Lord Ekision!”

At that moment, Ekision frowned saying, “Ugh, my ears hurt.”

Through the wide-open banquet hall doors appeared a woman with light pink hair, slightly lighter than Rodi’s.

The woman, wearing a serious expression, rushed to stand before Ekision in one breath.

“Nope, don’t come. I won’t accept it.”

Ekision said while attentively caring for Rodi, even pulling out a chair for her.

“Whyyy!”

Even while saying that, the woman pleaded while maintaining exactly four steps’ distance from Ekision.

“Nope, I’m not interested in you. You’re going to confess again, aren’t you? Dating within Cheiles is forbidden.”

“That’s so mean! Last time you wouldn’t even accept my greeting!”

Rodi watched with interest while holding the fork Lexiard had handed her.

“I apologize, Lord Ekision. Serinea, come here quickly.”

A man with lemon-colored hair who had hurriedly followed rushed to stop the woman.

“No! I want to greet Lord Ekision. Why haven’t you been coming to the east wing lately?”

“I don’t go because I have no business there. Jo, won’t you take her away quickly?”

“I’m sorry.”

The man with lemon-colored hair appeared to be Jo.

Serinea pushed away Jo who was trying to stop her and took another step closer.

“If you come any closer, I won’t accept your greeting.”

“Hng.”

“What’s with the ‘hng’? And I told you I don’t like nobles.”

“If Lord Ekision accepts me, I’ll leave my family!”

“No, just keep being part of that family. This looks delicious too. Rookie, want to try some?”

“Yes.”

Ekision turned around with complete disinterest and focused solely on preparing food for Rodi.

The woman called Serinea stared at Ekision with clear disappointment written all over her face.

Rodi kept looking back and forth between them while gulping down the cake that Ekision had served and Lexiard had cut in half for her.

Though she could feel countless eyes on her, the food in front of her was most important.

And somehow, the conversation between Ekision and the woman called Serinea was interesting too.

“That sister seems close with Ekision.”

“Well…”

“Isn’t Lexiard close with other employees?”

“Well, I’m friends with you, Rodi.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“That’s enough then.”

“Want to try some?”

Rodi noticed that Lexiard wasn’t eating much today either and offered him a small piece of cake.

Lexiard ate the cake without protest.

Horas, who had brought the juice, watched with round eyes, amazed at the sight.

“How is it? Is it good, rookie?”

“Yes. But Ekision, that sister keeps trying to talk to you.”

Ekision turned toward Rodi as if he was done with Serinea.

Although Serinea kept calling out to him from the side, Ekision only spoke to and took care of Rodi.

Ekision didn’t even pretend to listen.

“Just ignore it, she’s always like this.”

Rodi thought carefully before speaking.

No matter how she looked at it, this was…

“Ekision.”

“Hmm?”

“Are you a bad man?”

“…What?”

“Puhah!”

Horas, who was trying to relax in his seat, burst out laughing.

Ekision furrowed his eyebrows, looking wronged.

“Rookie… what are you saying? A bad man? Where did you learn that? I didn’t teach you that.”

“Because you keep ignoring that sister when she’s trying to talk to you.”

“Ha, I’m not Heilo or someone like that, to be misunderstood like this… I’m hurt.”

Ekision buried his face in his hands with a hurt expression.

Was that too harsh?

He taught her letters and even prepared food for her.

Rodi hesitated with the fork in her mouth, then got up from her seat.

Then she carefully tugged at Ekision’s clothes.

“Ekision.”

At that, Ekision peeked through his V-shaped fingers as if he had never been hurt.

“Rookie…”

“Sorry. Are you angry?”