I've Been Exiled, But I'm Alive and Well

Jed took me to a restaurant that had a relaxed atmosphere. It was a little unexpected since the place where we had lunch was a noisy place.

The waitress showed us to a table for two on the third floor. We could see the city from the window on the side.

“What would you like to order, Elle?”

“Hmm, I’m troubled.”

While looking at the menu, I arrived to the “Chef’s recommendation!” page.

“I will go with this.”

“Then, I will order this too. What about alcohol? You want some?”

I’m not going to get drunk no matter how much I drink anyway. More than anything, I was in the mood for a drink right now. “I will get some, what about you, Jed?” I replied.

“I will have some too. I’m in the mood for a drink.”

“What a coincidence, I feel the same way.”

I smiled bitterly and Jed laughed awkwardly.

When we told the waitress our order, she left and brought the drinks first.

“Good work today, cheers.”

“Thanks for your help, Jed, cheers.”

The sound of clinking glasses echoed in the background, and my body warmed slightly as I sipped the red wine I had ordered.

“Still, I’m glad we were able to find Cosette’s parents.”

I muttered, “Oh…” to Jed, who smiled happily with a glass of wine in his hand.

I should apologize regarding the stuffed animal.

“I said something unnecessary in the toy store. I apologize for that.”

“Something unnecessary?”

“I said a lot about buying the stuffed animal for Cosette.”

“Oh, it’s about that? Don’t mind it. You didn’t say anything wrong.”

He was allowed to have a complaint or two, but I think it’s mature of him not to fuss about it.

Jed put down his wine glass and leaned forward.

“By the way, doesn’t your family worry about you, Elle?”

“… I wonder? My mother died when I was young, and I do have a father and little brother, but…”

These are the people who helped to drive me out of the country. I swallowed the rest of my words.

Now that the charm spell was broken, they might be worried. My father loved me dearly, and my little brother adored me.

Still, there was no option for me to return.

I gulped down a glass of wine and stared straight at Jed.

“What about you, aren’t they worried?”

“I wonder about that. I also don’t have a mother. Father is a busy person, so I grew up mostly being neglected, so I don’t think he worries about me.”

It’s only been in the last few months that the relationship with my family has soured.

But he’s different.

I don’t know what kind of environment he grew up in, but I’m sure he’s been through a lot. And maybe that’s why he has such a partial character.

I frowned, thinking that I had asked the wrong thing.

“There’s no need for you to make such an expression, Elle.”

Jed told me, with a dumbfounded expression on his face.