Bell-mère

Clang!

The hatchet collided with his neck, sending sparks flying with a metallic boom. Then the blade chipped and shattered, flying backward.

"..."

Noah jumped in fright. He touched his completely unscathed neck, then couldn't help roaring at the person across from him, "That was way too dangerous... Hey! What the hell are you doing, Bell-mère?!"

Standing at the entrance to the orange grove was, astonishingly, a pretty young woman.

Her chestnut-red hair was tied into a neat high ponytail. Her sleeves were rolled all the way up, revealing arms as fair and smooth as lotus roots. She carried a basket of oranges, her forehead covered in sweat. She had clearly just finished working.

At that moment, she stood frozen in place, blankly looking up at the glaring Noah.

Clatter.

The basket fell to the ground, and the oranges inside rolled everywhere.

"... No... No... No..."

At a complete loss, she stammered, unable to even say Noah's full name.

For some reason.

The moment Noah saw Bell-mère like this, the anger he had felt over nearly being injured vanished without a trace.

He sighed softly, bent down to pick up an orange that had rolled to his feet, and smiled gently.

"It's me. Long time no see, Bell-mère..."

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Rapid footsteps suddenly rang out. Noah looked up to see that the chestnut-haired girl had already tossed all the farming tools in her hands aside and was charging straight at him.

The momentum was practically that of a beast breaking out of its cage.

Was she really that excited?

Seeing what seemed like tears glimmering in Bell-mère's eyes, Noah felt guilty.

He sighed, straightened up, opened his arms, and broke into a smile, ready to receive an embrace from his childhood friend.

However.

He quickly realized that something seemed