Let's start over, Your Majesty.

Chapter 168 Punish Me...

“It smells so good, Mrs. Yumilia, your cooking is superb!” Muirna’s eyes lit up as she looked at the table full of delicious food.

"I... I usually just cook for Caesar, my skills are very ordinary. It would be even better if it suits your taste," Yumilia said, blushing.

Then she remembered something and quickly asked, "By the way, Professor, do you have any dietary restrictions?"

After all, most elves are vegetarians, and she herself doesn't have many preferences when it comes to food because of her taste.

“No, I’m happy to try anything that’s delicious,” Muirner said. “However, I’m usually very busy with work, so most of the time I just eat a simple meal. If I had the chance, I would love to have a proper meal.”

"Then please don't be shy today, the most important thing is to enjoy the food!" Yumilia said.

"Then I won't stand on ceremony," Muirner said with a smile.

They sat down and began to eat. Yumilia especially recommended the signature cream of mushroom soup and served a bowl to Muirna.

"This is a specialty dish from our hometown. It's on the sweeter side. Please try it."

The hometown Yumilia mentioned is the small village where they used to live. This dish is also a classic local dish. It is made by stir-frying mushrooms and diced ham, then adding water, light cream, milk, sugar, salt, and flour to simmer. The flavor is mainly sweet and savory, and the texture is soft. It is a dish that both Caesar and Yumilia like very much.

"Thank you." Muirner took it, scooped up a small spoonful, and sipped it.

"Mmm, it's incredibly delicious, and the sweetness is just right. It's even better than what you get in restaurants," she praised.

"Not at all, you flatter me," Yumilia said happily.

Caesar also poured himself a bowl, but after taking a sip, he frowned.

"Yumeria? Did you put the wrong seasoning in? This soup is too salty."

Yumilia scooped up a spoonful and took a sip, her expression changing immediately.

“Okay, it seems so,” she said, embarrassed.

The saltiness has overpowered the natural sweetness of the soup.

"Really? But I think it tastes pretty good, the sweetness of the milk is just right, isn't it?" She casually served herself another bowl.

It's clear that Muirna probably doesn't eat properly most of the time.

Or perhaps her sense of taste isn't very sensitive.

Since she had said so, Yumilia didn't say anything else and instead introduced her to the other dishes.

At the dinner table, Muirna chatted with them warmly, telling them about the interesting things that happened in the Ecology Institute. She seemed to get along particularly well with Yumilia. Both of them were elves, and they were both relatively young at heart. They were also both interested in plants, so their relationship at the dinner table quickly became familiar. They chatted happily like two sisters. Muirna's address changed from the polite "Madam" at the beginning to the affectionate "Little Lia".

"That's why I said that elves also need to put a lot of effort into taking care of themselves. It's not like what other people say, that they can maintain a perfect figure and skin condition without doing anything. Sometimes when they work in the cold outdoors, their lips get cold and chapped, so it's important to carry a few lip balms."

Muirner said as he tore the bread into small pieces and dipped them in the soup.

“That’s perfect, Professor Muirner. My Yumilia has made several really good moisturizing lip balms. I’ll bring you a few next time,” Yumilia said.

“Oh, you mean little Flint, right? The lipstick I’m wearing right now was a gift from her,” Muirna said.

"Ugh?"

Seeing Yumilia's surprised gaze, Caesar said, "Professor Muirna also knows Freya."

“Yes, and they have a very good relationship. She and you, Little Lia, are both very good people,” Muirna said with a smile.

“Oh, I see. Yumilia, she’s never told me anything about you before,” Yumilia said.

Muirner smiled helplessly: "After all, I never go out, so there's no need for anyone to know me."

“No way, Professor Muirna,” Yumilia said earnestly. “I now know you are a very interesting person, and if possible, I would like to chat with you like this in the future, and I hope you can come to my house as a guest often.”

Muirner smiled slightly: "In that case, little Leah, you don't need to use honorifics anymore. Just call me Muirner. I get along very well with Caesar."

Muirner was very approachable and easy to get along with; he could make friends with just a few words, and his friendly demeanor easily left a good impression.

Lunch ended in pleasant conversation, and because of work matters, Muirner got up to leave after resting for a while.

"Then I won't bother you any longer. Thank you for your hospitality today, Little Leah. If you don't mind, I'll definitely come again next time," she said with a smile, her eyes narrowed.

“Yes, you’re welcome to come anytime,” Yumilia said.

“Caesar, go see the professor off,” she said to Caesar again.

Muirner didn't refuse, put on his coat, and went out with Caesar.

Walking down the corridor, Muirner sighed:
"With such a wonderful Yumilia who dotes on you, Xiao Sa, you are truly enviable."

Caesar smiled faintly, "I don't deny that at all; everyone says so."

"However, there are some things you need to explain to Yumilia. It wouldn't be good to make such a good girl sad for you."

She smiled slightly at Caesar:
"I'll cover for you this time, but next time if you have an emergency and need an excuse, you'd better tell me in advance."

Caesar paused, finding it difficult to discern whether Muirna was joking or something else, but he could tell that what she said was the same thing he was thinking.

They went downstairs and walked a few steps around the street. Muirner said, "Alright, let's go back. It's getting cool and windy now."

"Hmm," Caesar nodded, remained silent for a moment, and finally couldn't help but agree.

"professor."

"Ok?"

"You, didn't you come here today for anything else?" Hearing him say that, Muirner chuckled.

"Does it count as seeing your lovely Yumilia?"

Caesar gave a helpless smile.

“Well,” Muirner shrugged, “I also came to tell you something.”

Caesar looked at her and noticed that her emerald green eyes were unusually serious at that moment:

"Xiao Sa, to be honest, I really like you. I enjoy being with you and chatting with you. So, if I lost a friend like you, I might really be sad. So, putting aside all the other annoying things, can we continue to be friends?"

This statement seems to be no different from a confession.

Whether it was a subjective issue or not, Caesar felt that those earnest emerald green eyes were exceptionally sincere, without any other ulterior motives.

He lowered his eyes, then smiled faintly and said, "I like you very much too, Professor. Being such a good friend of yours is something I can brag about everywhere."

Hearing his words, Muirner smiled sweetly, then patted his chest nervously:

"Phew, that's great! To be honest, I feel like I've successfully confessed my feelings. I'm so nervous right now."

"If you, Professor, were to confess your feelings to me, I'd be the one who'd be more nervous, right? I'd become the focus of the entire kingdom afterward," Caesar said with a shrug.

“That makes sense. Anyone would be bothered if an old woman like me confessed to them, right?” Muirna said, pursing her lips.

The two looked at each other and laughed.

"I'll be going now. Goodbye, Xiao Sa. See you next Friday."

After saying goodbye, Muirner walked toward the street corner, where a white sedan was parked.

Watching her departing figure, Caesar's smile gradually faded.
If only her purpose were that simple, but as the kingdom's highest-ranking sorcerer, her thoughts would definitely not be so simple after learning his identity.

A sweet trap?

To be honest, Caesar didn't want to think so badly of anyone, but his past experiences always made him like to consider the worst-case scenario in everything.

But whatever Muirner's intentions may be, at least he could tell that what she said was sincere.

In the evening, Caesar was carrying several large bags of groceries and daily necessities home. In the afternoon, he and Yumilia went out to buy groceries, but on their way back, Yumilia suddenly remembered that she needed to go to Freya's place, so she asked him to come back first.

When he got to the apartment building, he saw the familiar limousine.

And standing in front of the car was that petite and pretty dragon girl.

Ita, with her hands in front of her, looked flustered when she saw him return, and then lowered her head.

"You're back?" Caesar walked up to him.

“Yes, I’m back, Caesar,” Ita said in a very low voice, his head bowed.

"Have you got a meal yet?"

"not yet."

“Come on up, there’s some leftover food at home, I’ll heat it up for you,” he said.

Ita wanted to say something, but she pursed her lips and went upstairs with him alone without saying a word.

Back home, Caesar was unpacking his purchases when he turned around and found Itta standing in the middle of the living room, seemingly doing something.
“Sit down, what are you standing there for?” Caesar said.

"I"

Ita twisted her hands together, and you could feel her overwhelming sense of guilt.

Seeing her guilty yet unsure how to broach the subject, Caesar found it inexplicably amusing.
"Are your injuries serious?" he asked.

"It's almost done."

"What about the family?"

"Everything has been taken care of, but there is still some cleanup work to be done."

"Hmm," Caesar nodded.

He said as he packed his things:
"I volunteered to participate in this matter because I was worried about leaving you to face it alone, but I didn't tell you beforehand."

Ita bit her lower lip and finally spoke, "It's my fault. I've been with Caesar for so long, yet I couldn't even remember his taste. I almost dragged him down and even injured him."

But she could never have imagined that her family, with whom she had always lived, would also be the emperor's people, and of a clearly high status.

But in that situation, she only saw a stranger who stole the sacred object, and in that highly tense state, it was difficult for her to rationally understand anything.

She was also somewhat relieved that she had focused more on Evil Spirit No. 3 at the time, thinking about dealing with the thieves later, which prevented her from making any more mistakes.

"Given the circumstances, there's not much I can explain to you, but aside from that, you did a fantastic job, Ita, you didn't hold me back," Caesar said.
He got up, went to Ita, and ruffled her hair.

"Alright, don't feel too guilty. I'm not seriously injured, the incident has been resolved safely, and everyone is back. It's good that everything is peaceful now."

“But Caesar sacrificed so much for me, and I still did that kind of thing back then, without understanding the situation,” Ita still felt extremely guilty.

With tears welling up in her eyes, she looked up at Caesar and said, "Caesar, why don't you punish me? That way, I'll feel a little better."

(End of this chapter)