Chapter 1. I was abandoned by my family
‘Tired…’
Leticia led her tired body back to the Achilles’ mansion. She was in a bad mood, and felt especially heavy today.
‘In the end, I couldn’t even sell ten cookies.’
Levion’s constant interference with her work and ruined her goal of presenting her cookies properly today.
He didn’t like the fact that she was living with the Achilles’ family, and he thinks the reason she’s angry at him was because he didn’t help her awaken her ability.
Leticia had been right to be upset, rather than angry, at Levion. He never considered her position or situation.
That was a long time ago though. Now she didn’t feel anything when she saw Levion.
Now it was merely uncomfortable to be around him.
‘He’s also trying to give me money.’
She can still clearly recall the moment when he put down the purse of money on the table.
Leticia did need the money, with that money she wouldn’t have to be a burden on Enoch anymore.
The first thing she felt at the thought of taking the gold coins was unbearable discomfort.
What she needed the most was not money.
The more she thought about it, the more her stomach churned and she clenched her fists.
Leticia wanted a relationship that was not about money, but about mutual respect and care. She had come to know such a relationship while spending time with the Achilles family.
There were days when they argued, but they always quickly made up again.
Leticia had trouble hiding her envy when she saw Elle, Ian and Enoch. She could not help but feel a vain desire to be a natural part of it.
She knew better than anyone that she couldn’t be a real family with them. That’s why Leticia decided to do her best with their current relationship.
So that one day when they parted, there would be no regrets.
‘I don’t want to say goodbye.’
That thought alone made her feel depressed and slower.
How long had she been walking like this?
Leticia stopped suddenly.
“….”
She thought she’d heard something behind her. As Leticia began to walk again, She could faintly hear footsteps following her. Leticia tried to calm down and walk naturally.
‘Who is it?’
The sun was starting to set, but it wasn’t very dark yet. The thought of someone following her gave her goosebumps.
‘What should I do?’
Just as Letica was worrying about what would happen if someone suddenly attacked her from behind, she spotted a familiar face not far away.
Happy to see his face, Leticia quickly made her way towards him.
“Lord Achilles!”
Enoch heard Leticia calling to him, and approached her.
“I was worried that you hadn’t arrived home yet.”
“Did you come to pick me up?”
“Yes, I was feeling too troubled to wait inside.”
“Thank you.”
As Leticia spoke, she glanced behind her while holding Enoch’s sleeve tightly. The sound of someone following her had disappeared.
“What’s wrong?”
“No, nothing.”
As soon as Enoch noticed the signs of anxiety, he wrapped his arm protectively around Leticia’s shoulder and looked around.
Fortunately, there was no sign of danger.
Only then did the relieved Enoch look down kindly at Leticia and ask.
“Come to think of it, how was the reaction to your cookies?”
He said this to cover up the fact that he was still sneaking a peek behind her, but Leticia’s expression got worse.
“Oh, well, uh…”
Leticia looked down at the cookies in her arms and let out a shallow sigh.
Enoch had been quietly watching her, and could guess exactly what had happened.
“How about I go with you tomorrow?”
“No, you must be busy. Don’t do that.”
“But…”
“I’m really fine.”
It would be nice to be with Enoch, but she wanted to get results with her own effort.
Whether the results are good or bad.
“Please trust me, and wait a little longer.”
Enoch closed his mouth as he looked down at the little fingers clasping his sleeve.
There was no way he could follow her if she put it like that.
“As you always say, don’t overdo it.”
“Yes, I won’t. But…”
“….?”
Enoch took the basket of cookies from Leticia’s arms. With his other hand, he held Leticia’s hand.
“Have you been waiting long?”
Leticia asked carefully, because his always warm hands felt cold today.
“I’ve been waiting a long time.”
She thought he would say he didn’t wait long. When he said the opposite, she felt embarrassed.
“It’s windy today.”
As Enoch smiled casually, Leticia shut her mouth. She was at a loss for what to say.
They eventually stopped walking, and Leticia gestured for him to come closer. Dubiously Enoch bent at the waist slowly as Leticia wanted.
When he was about to ask her why, her small white hands gently wrapped around his cheeks. Enoch’s cold cheeks began to warm up a bit.
“Do you feel warmer now?”
It was obvious from the question that she was worried about him
When he saw those round blue eyes looking up at him, Enoch’s greed unintentionally burst out.
“Well…. I don’t know.”
“Really?”
He furrowed his brow slightly as if he was troubled and soon her hands fell down from his cheeks. Just as Enoch was about to say that he would feel better if she hugged him.
The retreating hand suddenly reached behind Enoch’s neck and pulled him closer. With that small amount of force, Enoch was helplessly held against Leticia’s chest. He couldn’t help but notice the immediate smell of warm sunshine.
“Is this warmer?”
Unlike her calm voice, her ears were turning red.
Enoch frowned slightly while he pretended to be calm.
She’s driving me crazy.
Dissatisfied, he released Leticia’s hand that had been hugging Enoch’s neck. Leticia looked a little sheepish and tried to lower her head, as she thought he was rejecting her.
Before she could, Enoch wrapped his hands around Leticia’s cheeks first. The gaze that had been staring into Leticia’s blue eyes finally looked to her lips, which were stained like a blooming bud.
Gradually his head went down, close enough to feel each other’s breath.
She couldn’t stop watching, even during this suffocating time.
The distance between their lips narrowed further, Leticia eventually closed her eyes tightly.
How long have they been standing like this?
Nothing seemed to be happening, until she felt a big hand on her lips. Leticia opened her eyes in confusion. Her gaze intertwined with Enoch’s as he kissed the back of his hand that covered her lips.
The intense gray eyes[1] seemed to be saying to her.
‘As if you wanted to reach me…’
There was only Enoch’s hand between their lips.
What she felt was Enoch’s hand, but something hotter grazed her lips.
Enoch was enjoying watching her without saying a word. He took a step back and waited quietly by her side.
Leticia finally managed to calm down. She wanted to know his intention, so she asked.
“Ha, what did you just do?”
She was so surprised that her voice trembled, but she did stop herself from stuttering.
Her cheeks, which were already heated, were now visibly red in the evening light.
Enoch was smiling, and replied with an innocent face.
“Punishment for playing with me.”
“What?”
When on earth did she play with him?
What kind of punishment was that?
Enoch continued, pleasantly delighted by her glare.
“I think it’s warmer now.”
“Enoch!”
Enoch moved quickly to escape with those last words, and Leticia ran to catch up to him.
She thought about it.
‘I’m a little disappointed.’
Wait, what was she thinking?
Startled, Leticia swatted at Enoch’s arm. He only smiled brightly at her weak blow that felt like a kitten batting at him.
He said that it’s a pity that their fun had to end like this, which made Leticia’s face hot again.
She felt like Enoch was playing with her from start to finish, but she didn’t hate it.
‘Rather.’
It was so nice that it was a big deal.
***
Leticia went to the square the next day without fail, but was unable to concentrate on her work for other reasons this time.
She remembered the evening before. The memory of the two of them sharing warmth alone in the middle of nowhere with no one else passing by came to mind. Enoch’s eyes and expressions as he covered her lips with his hand and kissed her the back of his hand, as if he dared not to touch directly. All these memories kept her awake last night.
His eyes were filled with only her, and it touched something precious inside her.
‘It’s like we’re real lovers.’
As soon as that thought crossed her mind, Leticia slammed the table.
‘Wake up, Leticia.’
Her greed was never ending. She couldn’t even stand the shame of getting ahead of herself.
She barely came to her senses and raised her head.
“Why are you doing that alone? Is that a new way of gaining attention?”
She could see the short blonde hair cut sharp, and Keena’s vivid red eyes blinked slowly at her.
“What are you doing here?”
Why did she only meet people who are uncomfortable to be around lately?
As soon as she recognized Keena, Leticia asked without hiding her discomfort.
“It’s not like I can’t come.”
“But it’s not a place I should come to?”
“There’s no law against it.”
As if she was hurt, Keena pouted her lips. Leticia looked down at the cookies she brought while pretending not to see her.
‘Come to think of it, it would be nice to name this cookie.’
Like the wishing bracelet.
“What should I name it?”
Crossing her arms, Keena responded to Leticia’s mumbling.
“You don’t have to.”
“What?”
“Someone’s already named it.”
An ominous smile spread across Keena’s face.
Hoping it was just her imagination, Leticia asked.
“Who?”
“Well.”
She hoped Keena would answer, but all she did was shrug her shoulders without answering her. Leticia began to become increasingly anxious.
‘Did someone sell the same cookies as me first?’
If that was true, then Leticia was the unfortunate latecomer, but it would only be right to stop selling them. First she needed to find out where and who was selling similar cookies.
She immediately started to sort out what she needed to do, one by one.
“What are you still doing here?”
Leticia sighed as she heard Keena’s voice, which she was not happy to hear at the moment.
She was sick and tired of the Leroy family. She didn’t want to deal with them anymore, so Leticia was trying to find a job she was good at.
“You really don’t know. I feel sorry for you.”
At the cynical laugh of pity, Leticia involuntarily turned her head toward Diana, the owner of the voice.
“What do you mean by that?”
“What do you mean?”
Diana paused, glanced at Leticia’s cooking, and said again.
“The rumour has spread that you’ve been excommunicated because of your ability to cause bad luck.”
“What…?”
“Anyone living in the capital should know by now.”
Leticia thought, even as she listened.
Diana’s words were not finished yet.
“Who would buy cookies from a person who brings bad luck?”
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[1] – Baset: Sorry about any confusion about Enoch’s eye colour. The earlier description was a lot darker, but apparently they are gray. I have a feeling they go darker or ‘stormy’ when he’s feeling emotional.
A big thank you to Amber for the Kofi!
♡＼(￣▽￣)／♡