Teasing

The group naturally moved to the larger table by the window.

The merchant was tactful. He walked to the counter, whispered a few words to the shopkeeper, left a bag of coins, smiled and nodded at Lowell, then turned and left the restaurant without disturbing him any further.

The wooden door closed gently behind him, accompanied by a soft tinkling sound.

Lowell sat down next to Linié, looking at Lupa across from her with a half-smile on her face.

"What, you've come here on a date? What a coincidence, we've been to this place before."

Lupa immediately raised her hand and waved it forcefully.

"Wha... what kind of date!"

Her voice rose slightly, and her pink twin ponytails swayed with her movements.

"Linié and I are partners! Partners! We're just traveling together because we're going the same way!"

Linié sat beside her, her small hands holding a freshly served cup of hot milk beneath the lace-trimmed cuffs of her pink gothic dress. Hearing Lupa's words, she raised her eyelids, glanced at Lupa expressionlessly, then lowered her head again, sipping her milk without saying a word.

Lowell's smile deepened.

"Team up, huh? Seriously."

He shook his head, his tone carrying a lingering sense of "I saw through it all long ago."

"You're just like Sandrone, so arrogant."

He paused, then turned to Linié, who was quietly drinking her milk.

"Linié, I'll take you to meet Columbina another day and teach you how a natural top can win over a tsundere bottom. That kid may seem a bit clueless, but she's incredibly talented in certain areas."

Linié put down the milk glass, the bottom of which made a soft "click" as it touched the wooden tabletop. She turned to look at Lowell, her eyes calm and unwavering.

"Okay, sure."

She nodded, her tone and expression unchanged.

I'll remember that.

"Hello!"

Lupa's face turned even redder, almost matching the color of her hair. She reached out across the table, seemingly to cover Linié's mouth, but then withdrew her hand, finally glaring angrily at Lowell.

"Don't teach Linié strange things!"

Lowell chuckled twice, but didn't reply. He simply picked up the menu on the table and casually flipped through it.

Frieren did not participate in the conversation.

She sat down next to Lowell, a plate of freshly delivered pudding drizzled with amber caramel already placed in front of her. The pudding, served in a small white porcelain bowl, trembled slightly, its surface smooth, emitting a faint aroma of milk and the sweetness of caramel.

She picked up the small silver spoon, carefully scooped up a tiny piece from the very edge, and put it in her mouth.

Its emerald green eyes narrowed slightly, like a satisfied cat.

Then I scooped up another spoonful.

Fern sat on the other side of Frieren, her pale purple eyes glancing at Lupa, whose face was flushed, and then at Linié, who was expressionlessly drinking her milk beside her, a thoughtful expression on her face.

After a while, she spoke softly, her voice steady, carrying only a question.

"Lady Lupa and Linié Line, are they in that kind of relationship?"

The words had barely left his mouth.

Two voices rang out simultaneously from both sides of the table--

"Yes." This is Linié.

Lupa practically jumped up, her hands on the table, leaning forward, her heterochromatic eyes filled with panic and embarrassment, her voice much louder than before. "No way!"

As soon as she finished speaking, she seemed to realize that her overly strong reaction was somewhat incriminating. She froze for a moment, then slowly sat back down, turned her face away, and stared at the few pedestrians on the street outside the window, her ears burning red.

Lowell looked up from behind the menu, glanced at Lupa who looked like she wanted to disappear into the ground, then turned to Fern with an undisguised, mischievous grin on her face.

He held up a finger and waved it in the air, as if imparting some important knowledge.

"Fern, remember this."

His voice was lowered, carrying a hint of persuasion.

"In situations like this, when a girl says 'no,' she usually means 'yes.' It's called shyness, it's called saying one thing but meaning another, it's called trying to cover something up. It's a classic scene, you understand?"

Fern nodded seriously.

"Understood."

She thought for a moment, then added.

"Although I don't quite understand this way of expressing it."

Linié also turned her face, her expressionless voice echoing his words, which were soft and sweet, yet sent chills down Lupa's spine:

"That's right. Lupa has done all sorts of things to Linié a long time ago, but she's never been willing to give Linié a formal title."

She looked out the window, her profile appearing exceptionally fair and delicate in the afternoon sunlight, her tone carrying a barely perceptible hint of resentment, as if she had been abandoned.

"Linié is so pitiful."

"Linié! What nonsense are you spouting?! What kind of thing is this?!"

Lupa whirled around, her cheeks burning hot. She glared at Linié, pointing a finger at her, her voice trembling.

"Linié! You... where did you learn this from?! You can't just say things like that!"

Linié slowly turned her head, her pink twin tails swaying gently with the movement. She looked at Lupa, blinked, and her tone remained calm.

"Lowell taught him."

She paused, as if remembering something, and then added.

"Also, I learned some things from the 'romance novels' I bought when I passed through towns before."

Lupa: "...?!"

Her expression froze instantly, her mouth agape as if choked by something, unable to utter a single word. Only the blush on her cheeks quickly spread to her neck.

Lowell finally couldn't help himself. He put down the menu, covered his mouth with his hand, his shoulders trembled slightly, and he chuckled softly. His dark eyes were filled with undisguised mischief and admiration.

"Haha... Linié, you're doing well! You're very talented! Looks like those novels weren't a waste of money."

Lupa was speechless, burying her burning face in her arms and lying face down on the table, only her messy, fiery red hair and bright red ear tips showing. Her leg under the table seemed to kick Linié lightly, but the force was very light, more like a weak protest.

Linié was kicked, but she didn't react much. She simply picked up her milk glass again, took small sips, and calmly watched the clouds drifting outside the window, as if she hadn't said those words just now.

The atmosphere at the table fell silent for a few seconds.

The only sound was the occasional soft clinking of the silver spoon against the porcelain bowl as Frieren ate her pudding in small bites.

Lowell, having laughed enough, looked at Lupa, who was slumped over the table pretending to be dead, and finally stopped, his tone returning to its usual amiable tone.

"Alright, alright, I'm just teasing you."

He tapped the table with his knuckles.

"Lupa, speaking of which, are you just passing through or heading back to the academy?"

Lupa lay there for a few more seconds before slowly raising her head. The blush on her face hadn't completely faded, but her expression had finally returned to normal. She smoothed her slightly messy bangs and cleared her throat.

"Hmm... I'm planning to go back to the academy for a visit."

Nothing special. I just feel like I've been away for quite a while and wanted to go back and visit.

Linié, who was standing next to her, put down her empty milk glass.

She turned her face to look at Lupa, and then suddenly rested her chin gently on the cool wooden tabletop, her small body slumping down as if it had lost its support.

"... Sigh, Lupa misses the rest of the academy. Lupa is tired of Linié."

Her voice came through the tabletop, a little muffled, with a deliberately drawn-out, soft tone, paired with her expressionless yet inexplicably pitiful little face.

"Poor Linié, Lupa is going to abandon Linié."

Lupa: "... Hey!"

Her cheeks, which had just returned to normal color, flushed red again instantly. She looked at Linié, who was slumped on the table like an abandoned kitten, opened her mouth as if to say something, but didn't know how to say it. In the end, she could only helplessly hold her forehead.

"Linié... that's enough! When did I say I was going to abandon you!"

Lowell watched this scene, then raised his hand to cover his mouth again, stifling a laugh, his shoulders shaking even more violently.

"Haha... Linié, you learn so fast! You've got a bright future! You're getting more and more skilled at using this 'pathetic tactic'."

Fern sat to the side, watching the interaction between the two opposite her, then glanced at Frieren, who had finished her pudding and was starting to show interest in other desserts on the menu. A faint, almost unaware look, like "I see," flickered across her pale purple eyes.

She nodded slightly, without saying a word.

The sunlight outside the window shifted slightly, casting warm patches of light on the tabletop through the glass.

There were more pedestrians on the street, and the faint sounds of passing carriages and horses, along with the indistinct clamor of a market in the distance, could be heard.

The restaurant remained quiet, with only their table, exuding a warm, everyday atmosphere tinged with a touch of irony.

Frieren studied the menu for a moment, then raised her finger and poked Lowell's arm.

Lowell.

"Um?"

"I'd like another one of these."

She pointed to a pastry on the menu decorated with berries and cream.

"And this too."

My fingers moved to another muffin drizzled with chocolate sauce.

They all look delicious.

Lowell glanced at the menu, then at her bright, green eyes, and smiled.

"Okay. Perfect timing. Someone's treating, Frieren. Don't be shy, or you'll bankrupt that guy."

He raised his hand and beckoned a waiter.

Lupa watched Frieren order desserts without any hesitation, then glanced at her own untouched water glass and couldn't help but mutter to herself.

"Frieren still has such a good appetite."

Upon hearing this, Frieren turned to look at her, her chin slightly raised, a hint of smugness on her face.

"Hehe~ Because it's delicious."

Her tone was matter-of-fact.

"Besides, elves don't get fat."

"Besides, this meal is free."

Lupa: "Okay..."

She was speechless, so she picked up her water glass and took a sip.

Linié remained lying on the table, only her small eyes visible, quietly watching Lupa's profile, lost in thought.

The new dessert was served quickly.

Frieren picked up her small fork and began intently working on the cream cake adorned with bright red berries.

Lowell leaned back in his chair, watching the sunlight gradually slant westward outside the window, a relaxed expression on his face.

Fern took small sips of her floral tea.

Lupa finally calmed down and began to eat the simple sandwich in front of her; she didn't like overly complicated cooking.

The afternoon flowed by slowly, filled with the aroma of desserts and the occasional hushed conversation.