There Is No Lie In This World-Chapter 23: A Spoonful of Heaven

Elune moved like a spring breeze with occasional and unexpected flurry of wind in short bursts. At times, it seemed she had mechanical limbs with screws loose; at other times, she moved like the hands of a clock that didn’t tick, but glided in one smooth, continuous motion. As she oscillated between floating grace and clumsy fawn, I was amazed how someone could have the equal amount of dexterity to be a total klutz and pull off reflex recovery at the same time. She’d drop something for no reason at all but manage to catch it before they hit the ground, and she looked like she was going to trip and fall only to balance herself again like a ballerina.

All in all, there was something charming about the way she moved from task to task, humming faintly as she wiped surfaces that were already spotless and preparing my breakfast.

Luc had left immediately after introducing her, with a simple "She will report to me directly." It was a puzzling statement that left a lingering question whether Elune was assisting me or assisting Luc.

Regardless, it became clear that Elune was fully dedicated - and eagerly so - in serving my every needs, going far beyond what was reasonable.

I sat on the couch while Elune prepared breakfast on a silver tray. Porridge with delicate flower-shaped garnishes, freshly peeled fruit, and tea in a white ceramic cup with a black rim. A porcelain spoon rested beside it asking me to pick it up just to feel its smooth surface.

"You don’t have to go this far," I said, starting to feel a little uncomfortable with all the pampering.

"I must," she replied with a proud smile - proud to be serving royalty.

The breakfast was good. I only touched the porridge - which I normally hated - out of obligation as I didn’t want to undermine Elune’s effort, but once I started I could not stop.

After I set the spoon down and looked up, I saw that Elune was buttering my croissant for me.

"Seriously, I can do it myself."

"Unacceptable. Miss Roen shouldn’t have to endanger her fingers with crispy bread crumbs."

"It’s not like croissant is going to cut my skin..."

"Oh, they could. What’s worse, they might even bite you."

With that, Elune pointed the buttered side of croissant to me and gave it a few squeezes, making it look like a sandworm from Dune opening and closing its mouth.

It was a little too much butter for me, but again, I couldn’t possibly disappoint this dedicated girl who was pulling out all stops to cater to my every needs.

"Please say ah- Miss Roen."

"Right, now that’s going too far. Please, I’ll eat it myself."

But when I saw her pout, a face that she hadn’t show all morning despite all the workload she put on herself, I could only obey and open my mouth and be fed like a child.

"How is it?" Elune asked, not really to hear my honest feedback, but to hear my praise.

It was a perfection though and I did not need to lie. I was completely wrong about the butter too. It was just the right amount to make me smile.

"It’s perfect. Really perfect."

"Thank you, Miss Roen."

She seemed genuinely delighted.

The charming girl then scooped a spoonful of strawberry jam as she held the other half of the croissant that wasn’t melting in my mouth yet.

"Would you like to try with some jam too?"

It wasn’t a question, but a command.

"I’d love to. But that is a bit too much..."

"Please, trust me, Miss Roen. This is the perfect amount."

There was no resisting her. I opened my mouth again then immediately regretted - what am I doing? I’m getting too comfortable with it too quickly!

Elune seemed to have read my mind, giving me an invisible head-pat with her smile.

Again, the jam was good. Too good to be true. If this was a forbidden fruit from the Garden of Eden, I would have eaten it knowingly and just accept the banishment.

"Where do you get all this stuff? The food is just amazing... the croissant, butter, jam..."

"I made them myself."

"You did?!"

"Yes, Miss Roen. I hope it is to your liking."

I thought it was such a waste. She must be the nation’s most treasured patissier instead of making food for someone like me.

"Have you ever considered career change?"

"Oh, no! I’m sorry. Is it that bad?"

Her expression instantly changed, her eyes glistening, as if tears could drop from those beautiful eyes any second.

"No, no! That’s not what I meant!"

I frantically waved my hands.

"Worse than bad?" Even her voice seemed to be trembling now as she clasped her hands in front of her chest.

"Not at all! I just thought..."

Expectant eyes - hoping for words of forgiveness from someone who undeservedly sat on a divine throne.

"If you opened a shop selling these things... people would queue for hours to buy them. I know for certain that I would."

Then her eyes lit up with joy.

She bowed her head - and her entire upper body - multiple times in a flurry of gratitude.

"Thank you, Miss Roen. Thank you so much! I’ve never received such a praise before!"

"Im- impossible... didn’t Luc ever tell you?"

Elune straightened her body, her eyes gazing somewhere distant - wistful.

"She did say once... that they were acceptable."

"Wha-? How cruel..."

"Yes! She is very cruel sometimes!"

Then, suddenly, the air around us froze, and an icy voice pierced the room.

"Who are you calling ’cruel’?"

In a typical Luc’s fashion, she stood just behind Elune, her eyes slightly narrowed.

"Eeek!" poor Elune turned to find Luc, jumped back, and landed on my lap.

Then as if she was a bouncy gym ball, she immediately jumped up again, turned to my side this time, panicking, her head crashing down in an apologetic bow-

"Ouch..."

The clumsy girl ended up headbutting me with full force and we made a loud thud. I felt like my head was spinning and I was seeing the stars before my eyes.

"Are you OK, Miss Roen?!"

Elune yelped, and although my head really hurt, I could only comfort her.

"I... I’m fine... are you OK?"

"Ye... yes." freeweɓnovel.cøm

"Elune."

We both froze as Luc called her name.

"Come with me," she commanded and turned to walk away.

Elune looked at me once, then at Luc’s back, and me once again, sighed, and started to follow Luc.

"S- stop."

I also commanded, but with a fraction of authority in my voice compared to Luc.

"She... she just made a simple mistake. It’s fine... She’s doing a great job here."

I felt obliged to defend her, but also, I meant everything I said.

Luc stood still for a moment, not turning back, and simply said.

"Very well, Miss Roen. I’m glad Elune is of use to you."

With that, she walked off, and Elune looked at me with the eyes of a puppy that had just been rescued.