The following day at 8 a.m., everyone came to Lara's bakery—the one managed by her husband and daughter—called Yummy Tummy.
Lara smiled warmly. "Thank you, everyone, for coming."
Gelda replied, "It's our pleasure."
Licht added with a grin, "Plus, there are delicious desserts on the line. Of course we would come."
Liebe nodded. "Same here. But I'm also here for formalities… though having a little fun here and there isn't much."
"Well said, Lord," Lara laughed. "This is my husband, Lile Welf, and my daughter, Riruru Welf."
"Hello," Liebe greeted politely.
Elizabeth, Alysa, and Gelda all bowed dramatically and said, "Oh great Lord of Desserts, please teach us your wisdom—your ways! How do you make them like that?"
Lile chuckled. "Experience, I suppose."
Riruru puffed her cheeks. "You guys are funny."
Liebe smirked. "Somehow, I couldn't agree more. But really, how do you make desserts so good?"
"Want to know our secret ingredient?" Riruru asked with a mischievous smile.
"Okay," Liebe said.
"First," Riruru grinned, "give me your autograph."
Liebe blinked. "...What?"
"Autograph first!" Riruru insisted, handing him a pen.
Liebe sighed but smiled. "Looks like you came prepared."
Lara whispered, amused, "She was excited."
Liebe signed it and handed it back. "Well, maybe one day you'll even surpass my foresight."
"Thank you!" Riruru said happily.
"Now, what's the secret?" Liebe asked.
"I won't tell!" Riruru laughed.
"Come on," Liebe groaned, "an idiot like me just gave you an autograph."
Riruru folded her arms. "I'll only tell you the secret if you give me a smooch!"
Liebe's eyes widened. "No way, kid."
"Pleeeease?" she begged.
Liebe scratched his head. "Umm… Lara, what should I do?"
"Of course, Captain," Lara teased.
"What?!" Liebe gasped.
Alysa sighed. "Fine… but just this once, okay?"
Liebe leaned down and gave Riruru a kiss on the cheek.
"Now, Riruru, say thank you," Lara said.
"Thank you, Mr. Captain Liebe," Riruru beamed.
"You're welcome," Liebe said, still embarrassed. "Now, what's the secret?"
"Simple. It's love."
"Huhhhhhhh? It was that easy?!" Liebe groaned.
"Love is a very hard ingredient to use," Riruru said firmly.
"Somehow that doesn't sound right…" Alysa muttered.
"Same," Liebe added.
Licht rolled his eyes. "Can't you guys actually think these things through?"
Riruru tugged on Liebe's sleeve. "Can I please ask you something?"
"Umm, sure," Liebe said, taking another bite of a tart. "Also, this tart tastes amazing."
"Thank you! But please tell me… can I also become a great knight with my string magic?"
"Captain, you don't have to answer that," Lara interrupted quickly. "She's just asking because I didn't make it into the Black Rose Elite."
Liebe looked at Riruru. "Are you sad because Mommy didn't make it into the Black Rose Elite?"
Riruru's eyes lowered. "It's because of Mommy's magic, isn't it?"
Liebe crouched down to her level. "Wanna know my little secret?"
"Yeah," Riruru whispered.
"Did you know your mommy is really strong? Being an Elite isn't about your magic attribute. In our last mission, we only won because of your mommy's string magic. Of course, now we call her gorilla sometimes…" he chuckled, "but listen. Wanna know something? Your attribute doesn't define you. It's okay to have string magic. I'd be lying if I said my dark magic was the best. Sometimes I feel that way too—sometimes I feel my darkness isn't as strong as steel or sun, or as fast as light. But listen—you too can become a great knight. You just need to practice."
"And do your homework and study," Lara added firmly. "Then you can become strong, just as the Captain said."
Liebe smirked. "Umm, should I say something?"
"Yes, Captain," Lara replied.
"Trust me," Liebe said, "what your mommy just said was a lie. How does studying make you strong? I don't understand. I just fall asleep every time I see history books."
"Me too! Me too!" Riruru laughed.
"You see why we sometimes call your mommy gorilla at the base?" Liebe teased.
"I see, I see! So all I have to do is practice!"
Hearing their conversation, it was as if Lara's soul left her body.
"Yeah," Liebe said seriously. "Just take a notebook and think: what can I do with my magic? Write it down. Try it. Experiment. Refine it. Perfect it. Okay?"
"Okay!" Riruru nodded.
"Good girl. Now, promise me something," Liebe said, extending his hand.
"Yes?"
"Promise me you won't ever, ever, ever again think your magic will slow you down. And we'll both become great knights with the attributes we already have. Just like your mommy. Okay?"
"It's a promise!" Riruru said, holding out her pinky.
Liebe hooked his pinky with hers. "In the near future, if you keep practicing, you'll become one of us. We'll all be waiting for you. And if you want to see your progress, join battle tournaments. Then you can see how far you've truly come. So—it's a pink promise."
"Pink promise!" Riruru said proudly.
Liebe stood up. "It's getting late. I have class. The breakfast was amazing—thank you, Lara. And good luck, Riruru."
"Captain, mind if I have a word after your classes?" Lara asked.
"Sure," Liebe said.
Afterwards, Liebe went to the hospital and sat beside Lilith.
Alysa whispered, "Aren't you going to say something?"
"No," Liebe said quietly. "Mother is sleeping. Unfortunately, taking care of an infant is a lot of work. It's best if I keep the food here and leave, since we only have 20 minutes before class."
"Okay," Alysa replied.
"You seem disappointed," Licht noted.
"That's because I am," Liebe admitted. "I expected for six months that it would be just me and Mother. But the reality is, she's busy again—just in different circumstances. And yes, I have a habit of over-expecting. I just wish I could've had mealtime with her to talk… but oh well. Nothing I can do."
Later, after classes, Lara entered Liebe's room and closed the door.
Liebe looked up. "What did you want to talk about?"
Lara broke down into tears. "It's about Riruru…"