Chapter 252: This Love
The name "Continental Magic Association" was thus decided.
Although Kurtz thought the name was too straightforward and even crude, he swallowed all his complaints when he saw Serie's slightly proud expression, as if she had accomplished some great masterpiece. As long as she's happy, it doesn't matter what it's called.
Not all matters in the establishment of the association required Kurtz and Serie's personal involvement. After finalizing the main design and direction, the specific execution work was handed over to the ministers and craftsmen appointed by Emperor Fidel. Of course, to put Fidel's mind at ease, Kurtz also gave him many magic books that he had collected or compiled over the years, so it was a win-win situation.
Having received tangible benefits, Fidel became even more attentive, paying close attention to the construction process of the Magic Association. Even the ministers and craftsmen he appointed dared not be careless in the slightest.
This also gave Kurtz and Serie more time alone, allowing them to truly experience daily life in the capital of El.
Instead of staying in the palace rooms provided by Fidel, they chose a quiet little house in a secluded area of the capital. With white walls and blue roofs, the building is constructed entirely of magical stone mud and wood, exhibiting a typical Eldian architectural style. There is also a small flower bed in the courtyard, filled with colorful flowers.
This is Flamme's masterpiece.
One of the flowers stood out, clearly a very special and rare variety.
In the early morning, Kurtz usually wakes up a little earlier than Serie.
Although the unspoken understanding between the two has now been revealed, Kurtz is not in a hurry to live with Serie. Instead, he maintains this sense of distance while continuously closing the gap.
Quietly opening the door, Kurtz looked at the elf still sleeping peacefully before him. She had shed her usual aloofness and majesty, or perhaps she sensed the approach of a familiar presence and was therefore completely unguarded.
Seeing this scene reminded Kurtz of the first time he met Serie, a memory half-forgotten, almost like a dream.
At this moment, Serie's face appeared exceptionally gentle as she slept, her long golden hair spread out on the pillow like duckweed on the water. Kurtz couldn't resist tapping her round face with one finger.
The touch was so delicate that he couldn't bear to stop until the other person's eyelashes trembled slightly and their golden eyes slowly opened, still showing a hint of drowsiness from just waking up. Only then did he reluctantly stop.
"What are you doing?" Her hazy eyes quickly cleared, with a hint of confusion in them.
Kurtz didn't reply, but leaned down and planted a kiss on her smooth forehead.
As he leaned in, Serie instinctively stiffened slightly, her body tensing in anticipation. She tilted her head up slightly, mentally preparing herself for something more.
But the man simply left a light kiss on her forehead.
She felt a little disappointed, but the feeling quickly dissolved. Instead, Serie stretched out her slender fingers and curiously touched the spot where Kurtz had just kissed her, then touched her own lips, as if comparing the textures. Then she pouted slightly, her expression betraying her dissatisfaction.
"Good morning, Serie," Kurtz said softly with a smile.
"Good morning," Serie replied, her voice still soft from sleep.
Ayla or Flamme usually prepares breakfast.
Serie shows little interest in human food, often taking only a small bite. More often than not, she holds a cup of fruit tea and watches Kurtz enjoy his meal. Kurtz would occasionally offer her some of his favorite snacks, trying to get her to try more.
"This is pretty good, want to try it?"
Serie would usually take a bite from his hand, then comment that it was just so-so, and then stop eating. She still preferred the grilled mushroom skewers that the man made for her; they were their earliest memories together. But Kurtz continued to do it with great enthusiasm, as if feeding her was a delightful thing.
Occasionally, Serie would imitate him. She reached out, offering a piece of food from her plate to Kurtz's mouth, her movements slightly stiff but deliberate. Her eyes carried a hint of barely perceptible expectation.
Kurtz would eat it without hesitation, praising it highly, which made Serie smile with satisfaction.
After breakfast, the two of them, as usual, went to inspect the association's construction site.
On a whim, Serie made extremely demanding requests, which left the craftsman in charge sweating profusely. Kurtz quickly brought Serie's overly fantastical ideas back to reality. They are building a magic association, not the Tower of Babel; there's no need to go overboard.
While strolling through the market in the royal capital, Serie impulsively bought a bag of fruits that looked like chestnuts, with a processing method similar to roasting. She glanced at Kurtz before raising one to her lips.
"Hmm," Serie put it in her mouth and bit into it, but was forced to give up because of the hard shell. "Is this thing really food?"
Kurtz reached over and took the chestnut from her hand, which still bore a faint tooth mark. With a gentle touch, he peeled it open and skillfully placed the soft interior into the elf's mouth.
Serie raised an eyebrow slightly at the sweet and soft texture, then looked back at him.
"Do you like it?" Kurtz asked, watching her.
"It's very sweet, but it's too much trouble to eat," Serie said, analyzing seriously. "I'm very curious who was the first to discover that this thing is edible."
"But what about the taste?" Kurtz pressed, suppressing a laugh.
Serie paused for a moment, glanced at the bag of chestnuts, and nodded very slightly. "...It's alright."
"Then I'll peel it for you to eat."
"Mm." Serie nodded, not refusing his kindness. She watched him as he reached for another chestnut.
Since clarifying their relationship, the two have returned to how they were at the beginning, but with a different flavor.
Do I like Kurtz?
Serie didn't know either.
Because she had never experienced this feeling before, she felt very warm when she was with him, especially when she was in close contact with him. All sorts of complex emotions would suddenly surface, making her feel warm all over.
Kurtz said that this was an expression of love.
If this is love, Serie still doesn't understand.
Why had she never felt such strong emotions during this long period of time, but these emotions only emerged after Kurtz revealed everything?
Elves are a race with very detached emotions. Sometimes, unless you are straightforward and express all your feelings completely, the other party won't understand. Or perhaps decades or centuries later, the other party might suddenly realize that this was what they were thinking back then.
But by then, it was too late.
[End of Chapter]
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