I Put all my Stats into Charm - Chapter 68

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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I Put All My Stats Into Charm Episode 068

I went to find the village chief without hesitation.

When I knocked on the door, I heard footsteps from inside, and the village chief came out.

“What brings you here? Do you need something?”

“Do you happen to have any sweet snacks?”

When you’re not feeling good, one way to lift your spirits.

Snacking!

In a restrictive situation like this, there was no better cost-effective way to change your mood than snacking.

“There’s still time until dinner, but I’m feeling a bit peckish. Preferably something sweet…”

“Sweet snacks… wait a moment.”

The village chief went into his room and returned with a wooden tray. On the tray were nuts glazed in honey.

“These are honey cookies. Would these be alright?”

“These should work.”

The honey cookies gave off a sweet aroma just from looking at them.

I hope these can lift Jerome’s mood even a little.

He doesn’t dislike sweet things, does he?

As I returned with such thoughts, I saw Jerome and Calliton having a meeting at the cloister table.

They seemed to be having remaining discussions about tomorrow’s expedition.

Just then, I made eye contact with Calliton.

“Where are you wandering around alone when monsters are appearing? It’s dangerous.”

Jerome also looked at me.

He spoke in his usual calm voice.

“Wandering around alone is dangerous. It would be better to take a knight with you when you go out.”

I smiled contentedly.

Two handsome men worrying about me together. Not bad at all.

I secretly admired their radiant appearances today as well and casually sat down at the table.

“Hehe. Got it. I’ll be careful.”

Then, Calliton’s gaze fell on the honey cookies.

“Honey cookies?”

Would it be too obvious if I said ‘I brought them for Jerome’?

It seemed like the polite thing to do would be to offer Calliton a taste.

I pushed the honey cookies toward both of them.

“I was feeling peckish. Would you like to share them?”

Calliton raised the corner of his mouth in a slanted smile.

“How did you know I like these snacks?”

Actually, I didn’t know.

When Calliton took one of the honey cookies, I also offered them to Jerome.

“Duke, please have some too.”

“I’m fine. I don’t really like sweet things.”

Jerome politely declined the honey cookies and stood up from his seat.

“Since the meeting is over, I’ll excuse myself first. Please rest comfortably, both of you.”

Then he gave a light bow and left.

I stared at the back of Jerome’s head with a bewildered expression.

No, where are you going!

I brought the honey cookies to give to you!

Just like earlier in the forest.

‘Could it be… he’s deliberately avoiding me?’

As I stared anxiously in the direction Jerome had gone like a faithful wife waiting for her husband’s return, Calliton spoke.

“What, you didn’t bring these for me to eat?”

I turned my head to look at him.

Calliton was staring at me with an indifferent expression, without his usual mocking or arrogant smile.

That expression showed a hint of disappointment somewhere.

“Of course I brought them for the Duke to eat. After you already saw me confess to Your Highness by mistake, why would I do something that would cause another misunderstanding?”

“If that’s the case, you should have put a name tag on the honey cookies.”

He snorted briefly, then firmly put down the honey cookie he had taken a bite of.

“I won’t eat it.”

“What? Are you sulking?”

“Sulking? What kind of undignified thing to say.”

For someone who said he wasn’t sulking, didn’t he just turn his head a bit too primly? Even crossing his arms.

His seemingly indifferent face was strangely tinged with dissatisfaction.

Anyone could see it was a sulking face.

“Really won’t eat it?”

Calliton still didn’t give any answer.

He just checked the nutritional state of his fingernails with an indifferent expression.

Was I too harsh?

I thought my behavior could be seen as discriminating between people.

But it couldn’t be helped. Since my target is Jerome, I have to take care of Jerome.

“Then don’t eat it. The person who doesn’t eat loses out.”

I pretended to quietly clear away the plate with the honey cookies while sneaking a glance at Calliton’s expression.

He still didn’t even look in my direction.

This is making me feel strangely guilty.

“…Fine. Next time I’ll bring snacks exclusively for Your Highness. With a name tag too.”

Only then did Calliton look in my direction.

I held out the plate with the honey cookies to him.

“So eat them. You said you like these snacks.”

Jerome doesn’t like sweet things anyway. It’s better for someone who likes them to eat them.

Calliton looked back and forth between the honey cookies and me with a displeased expression.

Then he finally picked up one of the honey cookies.

“If you want it that much, I’ll eat it for you.”

Phew.

Keeping nobles happy is this hard, so hard.

As I inwardly breathed a sigh of relief, Calliton, who had eaten one honey cookie, spoke up.

“Wouldn’t it be better to go? It seems your beloved Duke has misunderstood again.”

“Ah.”

Right.

I had forgotten for a moment because of Calliton.

Perhaps his mood had improved thanks to the sweet treat, Calliton returned to his usual relaxed demeanor and gestured with his chin toward the other side.

“Try going to the back of the cloister. He went that way.”

I nodded, then took the honey cookies and moved.

The back of the cloister was the public kitchen. In the kitchen, the Imperial Knights and the northern knights were preparing ingredients for dinner.

Jerome was giving instructions among them.

“Put more meat in the soup. We need to make portions for the villagers too, so make more than usual.”

I quietly went to Jerome’s side.

“Um, is there anything I can help with?”

Jerome turned his head toward me.

Our eyes met briefly, but he quickly looked away.

“There isn’t.”

How firm.

So firm that I lost my words.

At that moment, a knight shouted from behind.

“Excuse me, coming through!”

The moment a knight passed by carrying a large pot.

My body tilted unsteadily, pushed by the knight’s large frame.

“Ah…!”

Just as I was about to fall, Jerome’s arm wrapped around my waist. My body, having lost its balance, was caught against Jerome’s firm chest.

Along with the musky scent brushing past my nose, I could feel warm body heat through his pristine, unwrinkled uniform.

“S-sorry…”

When I lifted my head, my eyes met Jerome’s.

Was it because we were too close? Startled by the distance where our breaths could touch, I held my breath.

It felt like heat was blooming where Jerome’s hand touched my waist. That heat made my whole body tingle and my face grew hot.

Then, I saw Jerome’s eyes.

The blue eyes that met mine were rippling like waves.

Seeing Jerome’s wavering pupils made my mind go blank.

Then, Jerome took a step back.

And spoke in his usual calm voice.

“This place is dangerous, so it would be better if you left.”

Still not recovered from the heat in my head, I stared blankly at Jerome.

Then Jerome spoke to me again.

“…Young lady?”

“Ah…!”

Belatedly regaining my senses, I hastily opened my mouth.

“I-I came because I wanted to help you, Duke!”

“I appreciate the sentiment, but there’s nothing for you to help with here.”

“Still…”

I need to explain what happened earlier.

I felt like I needed to clear up the misunderstandings that were piling up like snowballs as soon as possible.

Jerome watched me hesitating quietly, then spoke again.

“Shall we go out together?”

I nodded and followed Jerome out.

We left the noisy kitchen and walked near the cloister as if taking a stroll.

The sounds of boiling pots and bustling faded away, leaving only the quiet sound of footsteps brushing past our feet.

Was it because of recent events? Or because of what just happened? Now that we were alone, I felt awkward.

Then, Jerome broke the silence by speaking first.

“Do you have something to say to me?”

Had I been acting too obviously?

Caught in my thoughts, I nodded embarrassedly.

And I held out one of the honey pastries I had brought earlier.

“You did say you don’t like sweets, but please try just one.”

Jerome took the honey pastry. But he didn’t bring it to his mouth.

“You… seemed to be in a bad mood since this morning. Still, eating something sweet makes you feel better, even if just for a moment…”

“Do you originally treat everyone this well?”

“Pardon?”

Before I could properly understand Jerome’s words, he held out the honey pastry again.

“His Highness might misunderstand, so you should take this back.”

Right, I came here because I was worried he might think that.

I immediately opened my mouth to correct the misunderstanding.

“There’s nothing to misunderstand. I didn’t bring this for His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince, I brought it for you, Duke.”

“Why would you give this to me…”

I took a deep breath, then said the words I had prepared.

“Because the person I like isn’t His Highness, but you, Duke.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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