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Qifrey’s known for a while. The girls are notoriously bad at whispering and keeping secrets. In fact, he’s impressed Tetia hasn’t said anything about it yet.
Oh well, at least he managed to figure it out on day one. There wouldn’t have been any flavor anyway. He had been praying, hoping that those eggs would leave any kind of sensation in his mouth. Of course it’s stupid of me to think that, I’ve known that I wouldn’t be able to feel it.
Still, he’s glad he pretended along. He’s given the girls a chance to bond together. He remembers watching their crestfallen faces once he showed no reaction, how they thought they were looking at him inconspicuously while he ate. Qifrey thinks that he’s never been happier to lose those senses if it means his girls gain something from it.
Qifrey ate the eggs Coco made and pretended not to hear them coming up with a plan upstairs. They’d gotten Olly in on it too, and he found that a slight bit amusing. At least I won’t have to worry about them setting something on fire.
Qifrey ate the pasta they made for him, pretending not to notice the stares that he got for the rest of dinner. He had laughed while washing the dishes, lazily scrawling seals as his apprentices wailed about how unfair it was upstairs. He did like the effort they all put in.
Qifrey ate the chili, attempting to stifle his own laughter as Tetia dropped her spoon in shock. He had only wanted to tease them a little. He wasn’t expecting this big of a reaction, and he certainly wasn’t expecting them to double down on it.
Qifrey saw the pie they made and nearly doubled over. He remembered his conversation with Olruggio merely moments ago.
“Y’know, the kids have embarked on a little quest. Spice tolerance and all,” he mentioned in passing. “I’m a bit curious myself.”
“Well, it would appear they’ll hit the cap soon,” Qifrey had returned.
He thought he put on a convincing act. Convincing enough for the children, he supposes, since he heard them celebrating. He’s happy that they’ve come this far together, that they’ve solved these many problems together. Not convincing enough for his best friend, though that was expected. Olly definitely knows, he thinks to himself, amused. I suppose that’s what I get for spilling my heart out to that man.
Qifrey knows Olruggio dropped the matter. The apprentices, no doubt, are celebrating their victory right now. Well, as long as they’re happy. As long as they’re all together, I’ve got nothing to fear, really.
All Qifrey wants is an atelier where it feels like home, like a family lives there. Not just professor, apprentices, and a watchful eye. But a real family. His heart softens at the thought, realizing that his wish may have just come true. My wish from when I was an apprentice in the Great Hall. And it’s all thanks to–
“Qifrey?” Olruggio yawns. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” he murmurs quietly. “Nothing at all. I’m just happy.”
“You can be happy in your dreams, Qif. Just sleep. Goodnight.”
“Good night,” Qifrey whispers back, closing his eye.
–Olruggio and the four girls for making up the rest of the heart I lost that day.