“I see.”
I replied absentmindedly, nodding my head.
It wasn’t surprising.
I’d already been wondering if I’d end up having to escort him to the capital myself.
If Ethan wanted to leave, there was no stopping him.
Given his combat skills—which I’d seen firsthand—and the fact that he might have antibodies to the virus, I didn’t need to step in and act like his protector.
Besides, Ethan had already experienced how dangerous the monsters were.
He seemed to have figured out their weaknesses and how to deal with them, so I wasn’t overly concerned.
“Why are you agreeing so easily?”
Ethan’s voice sounded puzzled.
I looked up at him blankly.
What did he expect me to say?
Ethan read my expression and burst out laughing.
Then he stepped closer to me.
I immediately stepped back.
One of his eyebrows twitched upward in irritation.
Tilting his head to the side, he spoke.
“You said you’d protect me.”
I remembered what I’d said to him before leaving for Brunel—when we were on the roof.
“Don’t risk your life over a call that might not even go through. I’ll protect you, Sir Ethan.”
Right.
I really had said that.
“But you’re the one who just said you’re leaving. I was just respecting your decision.”
Ethan paused.
Then, without a word, he shut his mouth.
He looked a bit dissatisfied.
“Still... are you sure you can leave?”
I pointed at the gate, where the monsters were still pounding relentlessly.
Ethan also looked at the firmly closed gate and fell silent.
No matter how he looked at it, getting out wouldn’t be easy.
“Maybe they’re gathering because they smell people.”
Ethan muttered.
I nodded in agreement.
“That’s entirely possible.”
To be honest, I had no idea.
How could I possibly know what went on inside those monsters’ heads?
The thick stone gate and walls should have kept them from realizing we were inside.
Originally, I’d planned to take care of Nox and head out to the forest to collect more rocks for the catapult whenever I had time.
But with the monsters loitering outside the gate for an entire day, leaving was impossible.
In other words, distracting them with the catapult had become much more difficult.
‘This is exactly why I hung those bells.’
Yesterday, Ethan and I had tried ringing the bells to lure the monsters away again.
But it didn’t work as well as before.
‘I should’ve hung more of them.’
I couldn’t help but feel regret, even though I knew there hadn’t been enough time.
“When their numbers thin out a little, we’ll have to find a way to get out. Until then, would it be all right if I stay here?”
Ethan asked me.
I nodded without hesitation.
At the time, we still believed the monsters would eventually lose interest and scatter.
After wrapping up the conversation with Ethan, I looked up at the sky.
Evening was already approaching.
“I guess I should go make dinner.”
‘Ugh, why do humans have to eat?’
I let out a sigh and grabbed the basket of eggs near the chicken coop.
Now that Nox was awake after two days, I figured it was time to make a proper meal.
Cooking a proper meal—not just something thrown together to survive—was paradoxically one of the most important things for survival.
It was a way of maintaining a sense of humanity.
I knew how crucial little details like that were for mental health in tough situations.
It was the same reason I’d stocked Happy House with high-quality furniture and survival supplies.
No matter how difficult things got, I wanted to keep up some semblance of a normal life here.
And honestly, after eating tomato stew for two days straight, I couldn’t even look at tomatoes anymore.
“Need any help?”
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Ethan asked as he held the door open for me.
What’s with him?
Why’s he acting so considerate all of a sudden?
Was he feeling guilty about imposing on me after declaring he was leaving?
Without hesitation, I handed him the basket of eggs I was holding.
“Thanks.”
Ethan silently picked up the basket and followed behind me.
When we reached the kitchen, I loaded coal into the stove and lit the fire. I set a frying pan on the burner and, once it was hot, added slices of bacon.
The bacon sizzled as the fat melted. I immediately cracked some eggs into the pan, frying them to perfection.
‘I’ve been craving this.’
Crispy bacon and rich, runny fried eggs—the kind of simple meal that always looked so mouthwatering in animated films.
Drawn by the smell, Nox eventually wandered into the kitchen.
I placed a new frying pan on the other burner, dropped in a knob of butter, and let it melt.
Once the butter started bubbling, I laid slices of bread into the pan, grilling them carefully.
At the counter, I cut some cheese into bite-sized pieces and arranged them on a plate.
When the food was ready, I signaled to Ethan with a glance, and he quickly carried the dishes out to the dining hall.
Watching this, Nox quickly grasped his role and began setting the table with utensils.
“This is my first time doing something like this. Don’t I seem pretty good at it?”
I heard Nox’s smooth voice directed at Ethan.
Of course, Ethan immediately scoffed, but Nox didn’t seem to care.
Neither of them complained.
That was unexpected.
I thought nobles would insist on being served properly, even when they were the ones in need. Nobles were nobles, after all.
I had already decided to teach them to handle their own responsibilities while living here.
But seeing them help out without needing to be told was a relief.
I carefully arranged the grilled bread, bacon, and fried eggs on a large plate.
Then, in the pan where I’d cooked the bacon, I fried some tomatoes and mushrooms.
Once they were golden brown, I sprinkled them with basil for extra flavor.
I transferred the vegetables to a plate, added a few greens, and set everything on the counter.
Ethan and Nox came over to carry the remaining dishes.
Meanwhile, I poured water from the jug and grabbed a bottle of wine from the pantry.
Nox’s eyes lit up the moment he saw the wine.
“As expected, Miss Cherry has good taste.”
In Graydon, people tended to react like that as long as there was wine at the table.
Everyone loved their alcohol.
Ethan didn’t seem particularly interested in the wine, but when I poured him a glass, he still thanked me.
After pouring the drinks, I took the seat at the head of the dining table.
Ethan sat on my right, and Nox sat on my left.
I had no idea how the seating arrangement ended up like this.
According to Nox, Ethan had arranged the seats.
Nox looked at the food laid out before him and seemed genuinely moved.
With a soft smile, he looked at me and said,
“I didn’t think I’d ever get to enjoy food like this again. And to be served by Miss Cherry in a place like this—it’s surprising.”
“Having a proper meal is important,” I replied.
“It helps us momentarily forget the grim reality outside... And it also reminds us that we’re still human beings capable of using civilization’s tools.”
At my answer, Nox gazed at me with great interest.
Resting his chin on his interlocked fingers, he asked,
“Miss Cherry, I have a question.”
I paused with my fork in hand and looked at him, giving him a nod to go ahead.
“I’m impressed by this luxurious meal, but what surprises me more is how skilled you are at handling things like this.”
Nox was sharp.
Despite his gentle smile, there was a snake lurking behind those eyes.
Dealing with him meant I couldn’t let my guard down.
“How are you so good at tasks that maids typically handle? And now that I think about it, didn’t you take out a one-million-gold loan before the collapse?
Could it be that the Sinclair family’s circumstances weren’t as well-off as people thought?
Or perhaps Miss Cherry wasn’t raised as delicately as she seems...?”
“......”
After all that rambling, his conclusion was completely off the mark.
Forget calling him sharp. I was taking it back.