Although he had been observing the Hero intently at first, as soon as the Maid Supervisor brought in a cart piled high with desserts and began to serve the Hero, the Count's expression couldn't remain calm and became somewhat peculiar.
"I heard from my daughter that you also come from a noble family..."
The analytical gaze had disappeared, replaced by a warm smile tinged with subtlety as the Count spoke deliberately.
The Hero nodded honestly.
Yes, indeed, I am from the Viscount's House.
At the same time, her cheeks puffed up and down.
"Then have you never had desserts before?"
The Count finally could not help but ask directly.
The Hero blinked her Emerald Eyes, conveying her answer through her gaze.
'I've never had anything this delicious.'
The moment she put the delicious dessert into her mouth, the Hero almost forgot she was sitting in front of the noble Border Count.
Now, with her mouth stuffed full of desserts, she had completely relaxed, like a child at a friend's house being kindly treated by the friend's parents, her slender legs swinging happily under the chair.
Or rather, this was indeed the case.
Joy nearly spilled from the Hero's eyes, her bright gaze shifting constantly across the array of desserts.
Seeing this, the Count and the Maid Supervisor exchanged a look, both a bit bemused.
"...Well, it seems we've overthought things."
Completely oblivious to what the two were talking about, the Hero swallowed the dessert that had melted on her tongue like frost and snow, contentedly squinting her eyes.
I've really never eaten anything this delicious.
The Viscount's House would never buy such expensive desserts; it's not that they couldn't afford them, but my brother didn't like them.
Even if he was tired from studying and needed to replenish sugar, he'd prefer to just add sugar to water...
It was only on birthdays that my brother would symbolically cut a piece of cake.
Although the Hero had pocket money and had been to dessert shops, those couldn't compare to the desserts at the Count Mansion, not even to her brother's birthday cake.
It's such a pity that my brother has never tasted such delicious things.
The only thing that could possibly surpass the desserts in front of her might be the Slime King... but unfortunately, that one was not edible.
And as he watched the Hero indulging in desserts, the Count couldn't help but shake his head in self-derision.
The Hero, who had become a close friend of his daughter during her travels and who was highly esteemed by her, had suddenly arrived at the Border, come to the Count Mansion, and her Strength was far beyond what his daughter had initially described.
Despite being a Hero, the speed of her Growth was also a bit too swift.
It's not that he doubted his daughter's enthusiasm for her friend, but the higher one's position, the less one could afford to overlook certain matters.
Therefore, on the surface, they extended a warm welcome to the Hero, but in fact, they had remained vigilant all the time.
As it turns out, they had overthought things.
"Maid Supervisor, go about your work. I'll chat with the child for a while longer and then return."
"Alright, I understand."
The Maid Supervisor responded with a serene smile, bowing slightly like a kindly and ordinary servant, and then turned and left.
The Hero sent a grateful look to the Maid Supervisor who had brought the delicious desserts, watched her leave, and then, with shining eyes, plunged back into the battle with the sweets.
"Hehe, this is truly a wonderful feeling."
As if infected by the Hero's attitude of being immersed in delicacies, the Count chuckled softly, also picking up a small piece of dessert and tasting it.
Watched by the Count's gentle gaze, the Hero tilted her head in confusion, conveying her puzzlement with her eyes.
Since her hands were occupied with desserts, she temporarily couldn't write, which was quite troublesome.
"Although I have hosted many people here, including Nobles and even members of the Royal Family, as well as Legendary and Hall Combat Professionals, I have never had such an occasion to host my daughter's friend."
Having swallowed the dessert, the Count relaxed the curve of his mouth and leaned back against the soft chair, letting out a light sigh.
"After all, she was sent to the Capital when she was young, and we don't spend much time together throughout the year, sometimes not seeing each other at all.
"Sometimes I'm afraid she'll forget my face, her father's, and whether I'll be able to recognize her when she has grown up."
The Hero silently put down the dessert and picked up paper and pen.
'Then why not bring her back? If you have the Strength to establish this garden, then surely she could live well here.'
She turned the piece of paper around to show the Count, giving him a serious look.
Faced with such a direct question, the Count wasn't offended but instead, his smile revealed a trace of bitterness.
"You might also know, her mother... my wife, sacrificed her life in the Arcane Surge to protect me, eight years ago."
The Hero's city hadn't faced an Arcane Surge in decades, but that doesn't mean the Arcane Surge had vanished.
Just eight years ago, a terrible Arcane Surge had Assaulted the Border.
It was the warriors of this Border who guarded the inland peace.
[Did father participate in the battle back then?]
"As you can see, I'm not a Combat Professional, but rather an Arcane Craftsman, you could also say an Engineer.
"I've believed since childhood that material transformation can make civilization stronger than individual Strength."
Looking at the befuddled Hero, the Count shared his heartfelt thoughts.