60
No Time for Helplessness
For two days, I didn’t move an inch from the bed.
Well, to be precise, I didn’t move of my own will. But these days, Sebastian’s share in my body was higher than mine, so I was effectively moved around. No matter how limp I was, sinking into helplessness and despair, Sebastian did what he wanted and what needed to be done. So he seduced me at night and had sex, took care of the aftermath neatly, bathed me every day, carried me to the dining room, and stuffed vegetables and protein into my mouth.
During this time, I got to see the famous god of cooking, Mr. Becker.
“I heard you’re moving the mansion.”
Mr. Becker looked to be in his 70s. And next to him stood a girl who couldn’t have been more than fifteen, wearing a white chef’s uniform like Mr. Becker.
“A minor?”
At my question, Mr. Becker gently pushed the child forward a step and introduced her with a confident expression.
“This is my granddaughter. Anya, say hello.”
“I’m Anya Becker. I’m in charge of sous chef at this mansion. Nice to meet you.”
Her greeting was so well-disciplined that I found myself reflexively responding, “Oh, hello.”
“I’m Armin Schnieke. So, um, I’m this house’s, uh…”
Should I say I’m a freeloader? As I hesitated for a moment, Sebastian stuffed a large piece of ham into my mouth and said,
“He’s my fiancé. A man who doesn’t know how to introduce himself properly but is questioning whether our house’s sous chef is a minor. Still, there might be something for you to learn. She’s the most skilled in this mansion at the self-defense you want, and also the most free.”
Anya’s eyes sparkled.
Why do you need self-defense? You have a grandfather who, despite being over seventy, can make SAAD-trained bodyguards not dare to make a sound, right next to you?
As I looked at her quizzically, Anya said,
“I’m going to be a femme fatale.”
What did you say?
As I blinked, not understanding and asking for an explanation, she began a more detailed explanation.
“When I become an adult, I’m going to meet many men and live an intoxicating life.”
I see, you’re under fifteen, right? Do you even know what ‘intoxicating’ means?
I was dumbfounded, but surprisingly, her grandfather Becker was nodding and laughing.
No, old man. You must know what this means, so why are you laughing there?
As I was stunned, Anya continued,
“But if I meet many men, I might meet bad ones too. So I’m building up my physical strength, and I want to acquire skills too.”
And you’re going to learn that from me?
I didn’t know what skills to teach a child not even fifteen years old, and I wondered how to respond. But wait, are they really employing such a young child as a sous chef? Did they hire her? The Sebastian I know is someone who understands that this could be problematic, so why did he do it?
It seemed there was a story behind this.
“Most of the breakfasts you’ve had so far were made by Anya.”
Wow, really?
I looked down at the plates in surprise. The plating was beautiful, and every dish tasted excellent. And this young child made this food?
“You’re amazing.”
In terms of cooking, I wouldn’t even be worth the dirt under this child’s nails. Though young, she deserved to be called a master. At my admiration, Anya slightly raised her chin and replied,
“It’s nothing, if I’m going to make a living from cooking for the rest of my life, I need to be at least this good. I still have a long way to go.”
She’s a determined child. She already has her life plan all figured out. If she’s decided on cooking as her lifelong career and already determined her attitude towards relationships, this child’s life will be quite smooth.
Well.
I glanced at Sebastian. He was cutting and chewing a bit of the ham he had put in my mouth, and when he caught my gaze, he asked with his eyes, “What?”
It’s nothing.
I shook my head. Sebastian didn’t show it, but I could feel that he was quite fond of and cared for Anya. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have hired a minor. Even if she is the granddaughter of that god of cooking.
“I thought Mr. Becker made it.”
“I have to make breakfast for the mansion staff!”
I thought the employer’s breakfast should be given more attention. But then again, Sebastian might have thought that since there are two of us and many staff members, Mr. Becker should prepare their meals. Of course, this is only possible because Anya’s skills are excellent.
Sebastian doesn’t sacrifice himself. But he doesn’t seek special treatment either. He’s a person who tries to find a way for everyone to be happy. And that ‘everyone’ always includes himself.
Was I like that?
Did I include myself in ‘everyone’? There were many times when I was willing to sacrifice myself for everyone’s happiness. Sometimes I even sacrificed my team, equating them with myself.
Was that really the right choice?
Is there even a right or wrong? The reason Sebastian can be like that is probably because he’s a chaebol heir and has that many choices available to him. But on the other hand, would a poor Sebastian have been different? Whether poor or rich, he would always have tried his best to find a way for everyone to be happy. He’s a person who doesn’t spare such efforts.
And I, rather than believing such a method exists and trying to find it, put effort into quickly progressing things by sacrificing myself. We both made efforts. But I regret the direction of my efforts somewhat.
“Why?”
I must have been staring at Sebastian too intently because he asked again. Unlike before, this time he used his voice.
“No, I just… thought you’re really amazing.”
“You always see me as amazing.”
“Is that so?”
To my words, Sebastian murmured, “Yes.” Then he neatly cut a bite-sized piece from the untouched part of the sandwich he was eating and put it in my mouth.
“Yes, you always look at me with those eyes, anywhere, anytime, and that’s why I can’t help but keep going.”
“What are you saying.”
“It’s true, that kind of thing.”
As we looked at each other and chuckled, Anya disrupted our mood by asking, “Can I go now if you’re busy?” Her attitude clearly showed that if we were going to flirt like this, we should let busy people go.
When Sebastian nodded, Anya bounced out like a puppy, but held the dining room door and turned back to me.
“Oh, so when do we start the self-defense lessons?”
And before I could even teach Anya self-defense, we ended up having a meeting with Canaris first.
Sebastian was the one who decided the location. Sebastian, who had moved to locations set by Canaris several times before, specified the location this time, saying it was their turn to show trust.
And although he didn’t say anything to me, I guessed that the Security Bureau had set up various things at that location. Judging by how Kouri, Sebastian’s shadow, had been absent several times, I suspected he might have been monitoring and checking the Security Bureau’s setup. Kouri would have carried out this task meticulously, as Sebastian’s life would be in danger the moment someone from Canaris noticed something had been set up during the meeting.
Even though I knew this, I wanted to check the location once myself.
I was planning to give up if Sebastian said no, but he readily agreed and moved with me. Maybe he was happy that I, who had been just lying down, was finally saying I wanted to do something.
So we came to a mansion. The mansion near Lumaier had a very large garden and the building was antique. But as we entered, there was no draft and it was warm. It was definitely being heated. However, there was hardly any furniture.
“It looks like an empty house, but it’s heated?”
“People are coming in and out, bringing furniture and doing stuff. A newlywed home usually needs some work.”
What did you say?
As I turned around with wide eyes, Sebastian calmly asked, “Why, is it too small?” I stared at his face, waiting for him to say he was joking, but he looked around and then asked me with a face full of sincerity,
“Is it strange?”
“No, you said we’re getting engaged.”
“That’s right. I’m glad you remember.”
Sebastian smiled, his eyes narrowing, then suddenly wiped the smile off his face, spread his hands to gesture around the house, and said,
“Here, ten days from now. It’s our engagement ceremony.”
What are you saying, you crazy bastard!
Why does this guy have no reverse gear!
I hoped to find the words ‘joke’ on Sebastian’s face, or at least a ‘j’, but his face was just serious.
Ah, this bastard is serious.
“Ten days? Ten days from now?!”
“Ah, if you’re worried about family, don’t. They’ll come in briefly the day before our engagement ceremony, watch the ceremony, and leave the next day. Don’t worry about security either. Canaris might be scary, but the PMC I hired is scarier.”
After Sebastian gave my phone to the Director, I didn’t have a phone. The incident with Jay happened the next day, and I had been cooped up in bed ever since.
Ah, that’s what they said at the company! Don’t be manipulated by emotions! If I had just gotten my phone back, I could have known about this situation sooner. Now I’m about to be scolded by my adoptive father, who’s a priest, and my older brothers from the orphanage under the church, surrounding me the day before the engagement ceremony.
“Did you talk to my father?”
“‘Talked’ is a bit ambiguous. I asked the person in charge to relay the message.”
“You didn’t even talk to him yourself?!”
As I shouted, Sebastian opened his mouth, saying he had thought about that too.
“It seemed a bit rude for me, a complete stranger, to speak first when you, his son, hadn’t said anything.”
Only at times like this? You only observe such etiquette at times like this?!
My low blood pressure was instantly cured. As I was about to grab the back of my neck, Sebastian said,
“But because you seemed too calm, I thought you might not be able to invite anyone, so I roughly selected and invited all your guests.”
That snapped me to attention.
“Guests? My guests? Who are they?”
I grabbed Sebastian’s collar and asked. Who the hell did you invite? Who did you tell?!
Then Sebastian said, “Ah, you look good,” with a smile and gently touched my cheek.
“Tell me first! Who did you invite?!”
As I shouted, Nakaban, who had been watching us from a few steps behind, perhaps feeling sympathetic, walked up to me and handed me a piece of paper.
“This is the list of invitations sent out under Mr. Schnieke’s name.”
I snatched the paper from Nakaban, throwing off Sebastian’s collar. After reading it all, I screamed.
“Are you crazy! How could you invite people who want to kill me too!”
