Let's Train Heroine

As they reached the open courtyard, Lucan took in the vibrant colors that filled the space. Just as Maris had mentioned, the flower beds were overflowing with blooming pansies in various shades of purple, yellow, and white. The sight was striking.

In addition to the pansies, there were also violas, cyclamens, and daffodils scattered throughout the courtyard, their colors blending together like an artist\'s palette. The warm breeze carried the sweet scent of flowers.

Maris\'s gaze lingering on the flower beds. "Oh, that bench over there is free," she pointed toward a shaded bench beneath a large oak tree.

"Yes. Let\'s eat there then," Lucan agreed, and the two of them made their way over to the bench.

They sat down, and Maris immediately began unpacking the large lunchbox she had brought with her. Lucan watched as she carefully set out the food, her movements precise and delicate. Despite the fact that it was a holiday, Maris had clearly gone out of her way to prepare an elaborate meal. It was something she did often.

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The courtyard, usually crowded with students during lunch breaks, was almost empty today. Only a few people passed by occasionally, their voices distant. The lack of crowds made the courtyard feel even more serene, and it allowed Lucan and Maris to eat without drawing too much attention.

As Lucan opened the lunchbox, his eyes widened in surprise. "Oh... This is quite a luxurious lunch today," he remarked, glancing over the contents.

The large lunchbox was filled with a mouth-watering assortment of dishes: fragrant pilaf, perfectly roasted beef, crispy tempura, and tender roast chicken. It was a harmonious blend of Western and Japanese cuisine, and each dish looked more elaborate than the next.

"It looks delicious... Truly a feast," Lucan said.

Maris beamed at the compliment. "I had some extra time today since it\'s a holiday. Did you like it?" she asked.

"Of course," Lucan replied, nodding as he picked up a piece of tempura with his chopsticks and took a bite. The flavors were rich and perfectly balanced, just as he expected from her cooking.

Maris leaned in slightly, her eyes glinting with a playful light. "It\'s not worse than any high-class restaurant, right?" she asked innocently, though there was a sharpness to her tone that didn\'t escape Lucan\'s notice.

"...Pardon?" Lucan blinked, momentarily taken aback by her question. He felt as though he had heard something strange, but Maris\'s bright smile didn\'t falter.

The sharpness he sensed wasn\'t his imagination. Maris had likely caught wind of his recent outing with Julia to a fancy restaurantm

"Of course. It\'s not inferior to any high-class restaurant," Lucan quickly added, offering her a reassuring smile in return.

Maris\'s smile widened, though Lucan could tell there was still something simmering beneath the surface. "Good! I also made dessert, so please eat plenty of it!" she said enthusiastically, clapping her hands together.

"That\'s wonderful," Lucan replied, though he couldn\'t shake the feeling that this conversation wasn\'t over.

They continued eating in silence for a while, the only sounds being the rustling of leaves in the wind and the distant chatter of students passing by.

As they finished their meal, Lucan decided to break the silence and steer the conversation in a different direction. "By the way... the other day, I was invited by an old friend to have dinner at a restaurant."

Maris\'s hand, which had been reaching for the dessert box, paused in mid-air. "A restaurant?" she repeated, her voice calm, but Lucan could feel the temperature of the conversation drop slightly.

"Yes, a restaurant," Lucan confirmed, clearing his throat. For obvious reasons, he had avoided bringing this up earlier, but now that the topic had come up, there was no turning back. "It\'s a place with a dress code, so I usually don\'t go there, but... it was quite elegant and delicious."

Maris\'s eyes narrowed slightly, though her expression remained polite. "Really? More so than my cooking?" she asked.

Lucan chuckled, "Haha... It\'s not really something to compare. Your cooking is incredible. But restaurant cuisine is different."

Maris didn\'t respond immediately, her gaze fixed on the dessert box in her lap. "I see..." she muttered, her tone noticeably cooler.

Lucan sighed internally. However he knew how to lift her mood. "How about we go out together next time?" he suggested, his tone light and casual.

Maris\'s eyes widened in surprise, her somber expression instantly replaced by one of joy. "!"

"Of course, if you\'re not interested..." Lucan added, though he barely finished his sentence before Maris suddenly closed the distance between them.

"I want to go!" she exclaimed, her voice bubbling with excitement. She practically glowed with happiness, her earlier gloom completely forgotten.

Lucan couldn\'t help but smile at her reaction. "Wow... Alright then," he said.

"When will we go?" Maris asked eagerly, her eyes shining with anticipation.

Lucan scratched the back of his head, thinking. "After I complete my work here, and her free time," he replied.

"Promise?"

"Yeah, promise," Lucan said with a soft chuckle. He hadn\'t expected her to be so thrilled at the idea.

"Hehe, I\'m looking forward to it. The course meal and dessert... Let\'s have a whimsical course from the chef!" Maris\'s excitement only grew as she imagined their outing.

Lucan raised an eyebrow, confused by her sudden shift in mood. "Yes?"

"Oh, by the way!" Maris clapped her hands together as if she had just remembered something important. "Since there\'s a dress code, we need proper clothes! Lucan-sama, please come shopping for clothes with me!" she said, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

"Ah... Yes, clothes are certainly necessary," Lucan nodded in agreement, though he was already imagining the time and effort it would take to shop for formal attire.

Maris\'s smile widened even further. "Oh, I\'m so excited! Shopping for clothes together after a long time and then having a meal... It\'s going to be the best holiday!" she exclaimed, practically bouncing in her seat.

Lucan watched her with a fond smile.

As he looked down at her, still dressed in her academy uniform, a thought crossed his mind. "Ah..." She don\'t really need to buy a dress; the uniform should be fine. The Royal Academy uniform was a versatile outfit suitable for all occasions, including ceremonies and formal events. Given the academy\'s noble status, the uniform should easily meet the restaurant\'s dress code requirements.

But seeing the joy in Maris\'s eyes, Lucan decided against mentioning it. "....."

Instead, he decided to buy new clothes for Maris and have some fun together, enjoying the holiday as she had envisioned.