A professor named Warner Russel wrote a letter of recommendation and Ian passed the exam.

  Elle read the letter carefully to Ian. A bright smile spread across her face as she spoke happily about it.

  On the other hand, Ian nodded with an uncomfortable expression. Leticia noticed immediately and carefully asked Ian.

  “What’s wrong Ian?

  “What?”


  “You don’t seem happy.”


  At that, Enoch and Elle turned to Ian. Ian was embarrassed for a moment that he’d been pouting. He sighed and struggled to smile.

  “It’s not a big deal.”


  “Why? What is it?”


  There was something not quite right about the way he said it.

  When Elle tried to question him, Enoch answered for Ian.

  “It’s because he’s afraid the letter of recommendation might cause strange rumors.”


  “Strange rumors? What do you mean?”


  Leticia was listening quietly and blinked with a curious look. Enoch rubbed the back of his neck and said.

  “The rumors can be that he got the referral by bribery or cheating.”


  There was a time when someone received a letter of recommendation late that let them pass.

  A few jealous people spread stories about how the student bribed the professor to write the letter of recommendation, and some people believed it.

  “You know that’s all crap, Ian.”


  “Yes, I know.”


  “So you should just do the best you can.”


  Enoch patted the dark-looking Ian on the shoulder and encouraged him to do well. Next to him, Elle also comforts Ian by telling him he got this based on merit.

  Leticia was silently watching the three people, and smiled. Leticia happily watched them caring for and cherishing each other. She cautiously added.

  “I’ll be there to cheer for you, too.”


  “Really?”


  She accompanied him with the hope that he would feel more comfortable, but Ian’s expression was excited because he seemed to like it when she went with him.

  “Of course.”


  Leticia smiled broadly and said,

  “Let’s do our best again!”


  ***

  ‘I wish I could find something I want to do.’


  Leticia visited the square out of habit, and gave a small sigh. She was still in a situation where she could not reach her dreams and goals.

  She felt trapped alone in a huge maze because she didn’t even know how to find her way out.

  Leticia was wandering around like she was lost, when a merchant passed something to her.

  “Take this one, Miss.”


  “Thank you.”


  Leticia thanked the merchant for the unexpected item.

  ‘Another fortune.’


  She slowly opened it.

  [Don’t be impatient. Find what you want to do slowly and good days will surely come.]

  ‘Don’t be impatient…’


  Leticia stopped and read the note again and again for a long time.

  Unlike Enoch, Elle and Ian, who were moving forward step by step, she was becoming increasingly anxious. She felt pathetic about being unable to do anything and felt like she was faltering.

  It was a phrase that seemed to know her situation well.

  ‘They’re good words.’


  Even though it didn’t seem like much, it comforted her a little more than she thought it would. She was feeling more relaxed now.

  It was as if she had a small unknown ally looking out for her.

  ‘I want to say something nice like this too.’


  Most people had something that they wanted to hear the most during difficult times. Knowing her mind well, Leticia suddenly felt that she wanted to be a warm comfort to other people with phrases written on notes.

  “Then what do I want to hear the most?”


  What do other people want to hear the most?

  After walking around the square, Leticia returned to the Achilles mansion.

  On the way, she wondered what words would cheer her up the most.

  ‘What I want to hear the most is…’


  You’re doing well.

  It’s okay to stop for a second.

  “Saying that I’m a person that is worthy of giving and receiving love.”


  Come to think of it, they were all obvious words.

  There’s nothing wrong with being greedy, and being selfish is not a bad thing.

  She forgot that for a while because she had been neglected by her family for so long.

  ‘How should I convey these words?’


  Even after arriving at the Achilles mansion, Leticia was still troubled over it. When she subconsciously walked to the drawing room, she came across Elle.

  “You’re here?”


  “Yes, I just got home.”


  “Would you like a cup of tea?”


  “That would be nice, Elle.”


  Leticia agonized for a long time, even after Elle handed her a cup of tea. Elle, who’d been quietly watching her, curiously asked her.

  “What are you thinking about?”


  “I’m just wondering what I’m good at.”


  Elle gave her a funny look, like what she just said was silly.

  “You’re good at a lot of things, Sister.”


  “What?”


  “You’re especially good at baking tarts and cookies.”


  “That’s true, but…”


  She wasn’t as good as a professional baker, but she was comfortable making some for those closest to her.

  At Elle’s word, Leticia thought of something and jumped to her feet.

  “Where are you going?”


  “I’m going to the kitchen.”


  “Let’s go together.”


  Leticia immediately went to the kitchen and Elle followed her.

  Contrary to doing something as soon as she arrived in the kitchen, Leticia faltered briefly in front of the flour.

  “I want to give cookies and notes together.”


  It seemed awkward to give it to someone separately. She was wondering if there was another way to give cookies and notes at the same time, when Elle piped up beside her.

  “Why don’t you put a note inside the cookie?”


  “In the cookie?”


  “Yes, is that going to be too weird?”


  While speaking, she glanced at Leticia. Leticia was staring back with a stunned look, then she smiled brightly.

  “That’s a great idea.”


  Leticia thanked Elle and immediately began making the dough. The hand-made dough was spread thinly into the shape of small pancakes so that the size and shape could be even.

  ‘I think I can put in a long note.’


  Leticia tried baking some dough in the oven, but she couldn’t put notes in the first patch because she overbaked them and they broke apart in her hand. The next batch, Leticia took out as soon as she saw the edges were slightly dark, this time she pulled them out at the perfect time. As soon as she folded them down the middle, the half-moon-shaped cookies were complete.

  “How about bending it a little in the middle so it’s easier to break open?”


  “I think that’s a good idea.”


  She thought it was very bland looking, so Leticia did what Elle suggested and gently folded the cookie in the middle.

  “So I break the cookie at the folded part?”


  “Yes, then you’ll get the note.”


  The ingredients didn’t cost as much as she thought, and it was easy to make. So she was going to be able to make more than she thought. It takes a little bit of work, but it definitely wasn’t difficult.

  “Then I’ll have to make several notes.”


  Elle was quietly listening to Leticia say this. Come to think of it, she forgot that she needed as many notes as there were cookies.

  “Yes, I should…”


  She thought it might have been better to make the notes first, but Elle tilted her head towards Leticia.

  “Can I help, too?”


  “I’d appreciate your help.”


  “Then let’s do it together.”


  They immediately returned to the drawing room with a pen and paper. Elle sat beside Leticia and began writing her notes. Elle followed Leticia’s instruction to write positive affirmations, and glanced at what Leticia had written already.

  Leticia was writing one word at a time with a serious expression.

  ‘Hm…’


  While looking at Leticia, Elle looked down at the note she’d written.

  ‘I wish you could have this one.’


  She didn’t know if she could keep it, but she wrote it down anyway.

  ‘It’s not a bad statement, so it’ll be okay.’


  Leticia could feel Elle’s gaze on her as she concluded her current note and started on the next one.

  “What did you write?”


  “It’s a secret.”


  “I’m curious.”


  She poked Elle in the side, but she shook her head in refusal.

  Elle made another suggestion to distract Leticia from her disappointment at being rejected.

  “Why don’t you have Ian and Enoch try the cookies?”


  “Should I?”


  She wanted to know what those closest to her would think before she tried selling them to strangers.

  Acting quickly, Letisha made cookies with the notes in them and showed them to Enoch and Ian. As the two looked at the cookies, Letisha wasn’t quite sure what they were thinking.

  Enoch immediately smiled and said to Leticia.

  “I think it’s a good idea. It’s interesting that there’s a note in the cookies.”


  “The cookie shape is unique, but it’s easy to break in half.”


  Ian also said it was a good idea, and Leticia was feeling more relaxed. She asked them to pick out a cookie and check their notes.

  Enoch had been looking at the cookies for a while before slowly picking one.

  “What does it say?”


  “….”


  Leticia asked what Enoch’s note said with a twinkle in her eyes, but Enoch glanced at Elle instead of answering. It wasn’t Leticia’s handwriting, so he could recognize it at once.

  Even though she knew that glare well, Elle pretended not to know and snuggled up close to Leticia.

  “Mine says:?If you try without hesitation in what you want to do, you will get good results.”


  “Ian picked a good note for this time of year. What about you Lord Achilles?”


  “It’s a secret.”


  “What?”


  She didn’t know what Enoch and Elle were hiding, while saying it was a secret.

  She couldn’t ask anymore because they obviously didn’t want to talk about it, even though it seemed like nothing.

  “Sister, let’s hurry up and go to the square.”


  “Huh? Do you have something you want to buy?”


  When Leticia looked at her curiously, Elle just pulled on her wrist to try and urge her along.? Elle’s actions seemed indecipherable.

  “We need to see other people’s reactions.”


  “Today?”


  “Of course.”


  “Wait… wait a minute…!”


  Elle took Leticia out, saying that there was no time to hesitate.

  Enoch was staring silently as their figures disappeared in the distance. Once more he looked down at the note he had chosen.

  [Express your feelings honestly to other people.]

  It sounded like it was saying ‘Confess quickly!’ and a laugh slipped out.

  ***

  “It’s going to be great.”


  When they arrived at the square to present the cookies, Leticia began to tremble. Elle immediately recognized that Leticia was nervous and began to rub her back to comfort her.

  “Is this how you felt, Elle?”


  “Hmm?”


  “When we came to show off your wishing bracelet.”


  “I was nervous, but…”


  It was the moment when she finally took a step towards her dream.

  It was hard at first because her dream was a secret. When she told Enoch about her dream, he cheered her on. She was happy and it felt like she was given permission to dream big.

  It was then.

  “Oh, is that you Leticia?”


  “Countess Aster?”


  A bright smile spread over Leticia’s face as she recognized the Countess. When Countess Aster’s gaze drifted to Elle, Leticia introduced them.

  “This is Elle of the Achilles family, who I’m indebted to. Elle, this is Countess Aster, who cared for me as a child.”


  She looked at the two of them with hope that they would get along. The two were looking at each other as if they were observing the other and trying to decide if they were worthy of being around Leticia.

  Countess Aster, who had been staring at Elle for a while, slowly turned her head and asked Leticia.

  “What are you doing here?”


  “I was selling cookies.”


  Leticia smiled broadly and showed her the cookies she’d baked. As the Countess looked at her proud look on her face, she suddenly remembered the cookies that Leticia brought her a long time ago.

  Every time she came to visit the Countess, she brought something with her. One day, she brought small cookies, another time she brought little flowers, and she always brought a smile.

  Countess Aster smiled excitedly and looked down at Leticia’s cookies.

  “It’s a unique shape.”


  “Yes, when you break it in half, you get a note.”


  “Really?”


  With a curious look, the Countess asked Leticia.

  “Can I buy one?”


  “Sure, pick one.”


  Leticia nodded and the countess picked up one of the thickest of the cookies. Perhaps because it was empty inside, it broke easily with just a little bit of effort.

  The moment she checked the note.

  “….”


  “What does it say?”


  She was curious why the Countess’ expression had darkened when she only wrote positive words.

  Countess Aster, on the other hand, read the note over and over again without saying a word.

  [It’s been a hard few days, but don’t blame yourself. You’ve done well.]

  She remembered the sad and heartbreaking memory of losing her child. Her child was a gift from God, but she worried that she’d lost him because she was an inadequate mother.

  She was doing better now, but doubts still lingered in a corner of her mind, and sometimes she suffered alone.

  Looking at this little note, she thought it was time to forgive herself.

  “Can I buy several of these?”


  “What?”


  “I want to give some out at a party.”


  She couldn’t just leave, she wanted to convey this lovely child’s warmth to other people.

  “No, you can just take them.”


  “Leticia.”


  Countess Aster spoke to Leticia with a determined look.

  “If you give something, you get something.”


  “But….”


  “If you have time later, come visit me like you used to.”


  Countess Aster proudly paid and received Leticia’s cookies, then looked at Elle slowly.

  “Your name is Miss Elle Achilles, right?”


  “Yes, that’s right.”


  There was no looking away from the straight stare, but it didn’t feel bad because the Countess’ eyes were full of worry for Leticia.

  “Please take care of Leticia from now on.”


  She hadn’t expected those words, Elle’s eyes opened wide and nodded with a smile.

  “Of course.”


  Leticia once again thanked Countess Aster as she was leaving. Leticia turned towards Elle as the Countess disappeared into the distance.

  “It was only one person, but it didn’t go as badly as I thought.”


  “I told you so, it’s going to be great.”


  Countess Aster bought all of the cookies, so Leticia and Elle quickly returned to the mansion.

  The next day, a letter arrived for Leticia.

  The letter said that a student named Ronan Hillary, whom Leticia had sponsored, had cheated.

  *********************************************************************