章 33: I Don’t Want to Be a Heroic Spirit [33]
"Thank you."
As soon as the cone was in her hand, Baobhan Sith couldn't resist nibbling off the little peak of the ice cream. She quickly flicked her tongue around the edges, determined to avoid any drips on her hand.
Today's sun was relentless, blazing a stark white. The never-ending chorus of cicadas made the heat feel even more intense.
Jasmine sat alone under the shade of a tree, her milk-pale legs pressed tightly together, sitting primly with a few plastic bags by her side.
She was dressed in a cool, light blue dress, the short sleeves sheer at the shoulders, decorated with little star-shaped charms around the waist. Her usually shoulder-length gray hair was neatly clipped back, finally revealing her rare and lovely golden eyes, usually hidden by her bangs. Today, Jasmine looked livelier, showing a bit more of the energy someone her age should have.
"Here, Jasmine. This one's for you."
"Oh! Thank you, Baobhan Sith."
Standing beside Jasmine, Baobhan Sith, too, had opted not to wear her usual bright red dress. Though as a Servant, she didn't really feel the heat, her usual attire might have drawn too much attention out in public.
Her outfit today was a white off-shoulder blouse with delicate gray patterns, the neckline dipping down to her collarbone, leaving her smooth shoulders exposed to the sun. The blouse was snug, accentuating her figure, while a black pleated skirt fell just below. The blouse didn't quite reach the waistband, leaving a small strip of her skin bare, and her look struck a balance between elegance and innocence.
Despite her more casual attire, Baobhan Sith's love for heels remained unwavering. Her shoes were primarily white, with the thin stiletto and soles in a striking emerald green.
Jasmine accepted the strawberry cone with both hands, her politeness almost excessive, as though handling something precious.
Baobhan Sith didn't like strawberries themselves but loved strawberry-flavored treats and drinks—whether it was strawberry cookies, milk, or cake.
Jasmine's cone was also strawberry-flavored, simply because she had said, "I'll take the same as you, Sister."
Baobhan Sith couldn't help but wish Jasmine would embrace her own preferences more rather than echoing hers.
"Ah! It's dripping!"
Baobhan Sith frowned as drops of strawberry ice cream trickled down her fingers. Such a waste.
"This weather really does melt ice cream fast."
Without thinking, she licked the melting ice cream off the cone, then switched it to her left hand as she gently lapped the pink droplets that had seeped between her fingers.
Even though she'd cleaned it up, her hands still carried a sweet strawberry scent. Without hesitation, she parted her lips and delicately sucked her fingertips, savoring every hint of sweetness left behind.
Jasmine watched the whole scene, entranced, unable to look away.
So much so that she didn't even notice her own ice cream melting.
"Jasmine! Jasmine! Your cone's melting!"
"Oh no!"
In a flurry of movement, Jasmine's cheeks flushed a deep red as she glanced down. Baobhan Sith crouched in front of her, taking out a tissue to carefully wipe Jasmine's hands.
As for Baobhan Sith's own ice cream? She'd already polished it off.
"Honestly, why do you keep spacing out?"
Even though Baobhan Sith was gently dabbing her hands, Jasmine felt an odd sense of disappointment welling up inside her.
"How many times have you drifted off today? Could it be heatstroke?"
Her sister's concerned words reached her ears just as a cool, soft hand pressed gently to her cheek.
"Hmm, you do feel a little warm?"
Those crystal-clear gray eyes, like flawless glass, reflected only her, filling Jasmine's heart with a happiness that was hard to put into words.
Still crouched down, Baobhan Sith glanced around, her eyes landing on a nearby café.
"Jasmine, there's a café over there that looks air-conditioned. Let's go in for a bit."
Baobhan Sith rose to her feet, brushing her skirt, then extended her hand to Jasmine, taking her free hand in one while picking up the shopping bags with the other.
As they stepped inside, a delicate bell chimed above them, and a refreshing blast of cool air chased away the residual heat from outside, making them feel much more at ease.
It was a popular retreat from the heat, and finding an empty seat proved challenging.
Even though they'd just had ice cream, it felt rude not to order something now that they'd taken a seat inside.
With the recent reward from the Star Vessel incident, Baobhan Sith didn't mind splurging a little.
Looking over the menu the waitress had handed them, she ordered an Earl Gray latte and a large, three-layer chocolate fruit parfait.
Jasmine, however, spent a long time staring at the menu.
With her bangs clipped back, her widened golden eyes were clear to see as she perused each item on the menu.
"Um... I… I don't really need anything…"
With Baobhan Sith and the waitress both looking at her, Jasmine's voice grew softer and softer, almost inaudible.
"...I'll leave it up to you, Sister."
Her head lowered so much she was nearly staring at her lap.
"Leaving it to me, are you? Really…"
Baobhan Sith found herself reminiscing. When she was younger and her parents would take her out to eat, every time they asked what she wanted to order, she'd always reply with a casual "whatever," "you decide," or "I don't mind."
Were her parents just as exasperated with her back then as she was with Jasmine now?
"Your sister is really adorable, you know."
The waitress leaned down slightly to speak, drawing Baobhan Sith's attention.
"Good eye." Baobhan Sith's gray eyes sparkled with pride as she straightened up. "Jasmine is my adorable, most beloved little sister."
At her words, Jasmine pursed her lips, her ears turning bright red.
She reached up, instinctively, to pull on a hood that wasn't there. She'd worn a dress today instead of her usual hoodie, so there was no hood to hide under.
Their order was soon placed. Through the whole process, Baobhan Sith and the waitress bonded over their mutual appreciation of Jasmine, making her want to hide under the table.
After taking their order, the waitress stole a few more glances at Jasmine, as though trying to etch her shy, flustered look into memory.
As the waitress walked off, Baobhan Sith propped her chin on her hand, casting a sly glance at her retreating figure.
In Baobhan Sith's eyes alone, a serpent-like curse spirit coiled tightly around the waitress's neck, chuckling with a revolting hiss.
"Since you have good taste, I'll do you a favor."
Muttering to herself, Baobhan Sith extended her hand without the waitress noticing, crimson, eerie mana pooling in her palm.
Sensing imminent doom, the cursed spirit squirmed violently, its laughter twisting into a shrill scream.
But Baobhan Sith ignored its desperate struggles, dispatching it with a swift, air-bound strike. The curse didn't even last a second before it disintegrated to nothing.
The waitress, a few steps away, paused, her expression shifting as she rubbed her shoulder with a puzzled look. But she quickly shrugged it off, going back to her work without a second thought.
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