“Can I borrow the kitchen?”

That day, Livian had gone to check on Ria, whom he was sheltering.

He was taken aback by her request. Ria was hard to read.

She preferred dressing like a man, wielded a wooden sword in an unfamiliar stance in the garden, and yet, at other times, she quietly studied like a proper lady.

Livian had gone beyond confusion and started to find her amusing.

And now, this sudden statement. Wondering what she would do next, he decided to let her have her way.

Having gained his approval, Ria began preparing to bake cookies, something she had always loved doing in her past life. It was a stress reliever for her. Her younger sister in that past life had also loved the cookies she made.

Livian, for some reason, was watching her. Ria wondered if he was just bored.

She skillfully kneaded different types of dough, rolled them into logs, and used magic to cool them. Then, she cut them with a knife and combined different doughs together. They were what one would call box cookies.

Livian was impressed by how deftly she worked. Though she was a marquis’ daughter, he chose not to comment on her cooking skills—he knew she would just dodge the question. She never talked much about herself.

From her odd behavior, he had begun to suspect that, like Lil, she might also have a guardian spirit.

The cookies she baked looked delicious—though there were far too many.

Since she had made too many, Ria told him to take as many as he wanted.

Taking a bite, he found them mildly sweet and delightful.

Since he had the chance, Livian decided to secretly bring some to Lil.

When he arrived at their base riding Merlin, Lil and the divine beasts greeted him as usual. This place was always so soothing, Livian thought.

“I brought some sweets for you today, Lil.”

Hearing that, Lil led him inside.

“What brings you here, Brother?”

“Just a little something. A girl I’m looking after baked some cookies, so I brought them along.”

Livian phrased it in a way that only Ian would understand.

Meanwhile, Lil was carefully brewing tea.

Ian wondered, though he didn’t say it out loud—why was a former marquis’ daughter baking cookies?

The cookies placed on the table were colorful and arranged in intricate geometric patterns. Ian, having never seen such cookies before, was perplexed.

“Box cookies!”

Lil clapped his hands in excitement. Livian was baffled by his reaction.

“You’ve had these before?”

When Livian asked, Lil shook his head.

“No, but Michiru-chan’s big sister used to make them all the time.”

Livian could hardly believe it. Could his theory be correct?

Could Lil’s guardian spirit and Ria’s guardian spirit have been sisters, just like Lil and Ria themselves?

Ria had always denied the existence of guardian spirits, but she was cautious. She wouldn’t easily reveal such secrets to someone she had only recently met.

Before leaving, Livian decided to share this theory with Ian.

Meanwhile, Lil happily munched on the cookies. Livian thought he should bring more next time.

After discussing his theory with Ian, Livian returned to Ria.

When he told her he had given the cookies to Lil, she looked puzzled.

“Lil said Michiru-chan’s big sister used to make these cookies a lot.”

The moment he said that, Ria’s expression changed.

“Michiru-chan is Lil’s guardian spirit, right?”

Ria simply responded, “I see,” and fell silent.

Seeing the sorrow on her face, Livian decided not to press further.

“Hey, Ria. Do you really have no intention of meeting Lil?”

Livian asked her this question every time they met.

For the first time, Ria gave no answer.

Whether this was a good sign or a bad one, he didn’t know. But one thing was certain—her heart had been shaken.

“Oh, by the way, Lil really liked the box cookies. You should make them again.”

With that, he left.

From that day on, box cookies became a staple in Ria’s residence.