Chapter 25

"Indeed, that's right. I understand. ——After all, I am convinced that I should not join your camp."

Even in response to her refusal, Lady Natalie remained as calm and expressionless as a doll.

Dears leaned forward, raising an eyebrow, as if to speak on Lady Natalie's behalf.

"Princess Letitia, what did you just say? Did you make a mistake?"

"No, I did not. I merely stated that I have no intention of working with you."

"……Are you serious?"

Dears glared at her, her displeasure evident.

"If you do not choose us, the remaining princess candidates are two ‘mixed-bloods’ and a human from the weak southern region. Wouldn't that be a poor choice no matter how you look at it?"

"I repeat, I have no intention of becoming an ally or an enemy to anyone. And if I were to choose one of the princess candidates, I would never join you as long as you refer to the beastfolk as ‘mixed-bloods.’"

"What's wrong with calling a beast a beast? Or is Princess Letitia so noble and indiscriminately kind that she believes beasts should be treated equally with humans?"

It was a blatant provocation, a deliberate slight.

——The existence of the beastfolk.

With memories from my previous life, I personally have no aversion to them, nor do I intend to mock them.

In fact, I even want to deepen my relationship with them and learn more.

I understand that such feelings are rare among the people of this continent, but that wasn't the issue at hand.

"Nearly half of this country's population is beastfolk. Do you think I, who am to be a queen, even if only a figurehead, can accept a statement that denigrates half of the citizens?"

"……You seem to enjoy idealistic talk."

"Isn't it strange to call this idealistic? I understand that you have a prejudice against the beastfolk. However, if you can't control your disgust in such a formal setting, I would consider you less than a beast, unable to control your own emotions."

"……What did you say?"

Provocation met with provocation.

There was a way to handle it smoothly, but Dears was clearly looking down on me.

If I let it slide, she would only become more arrogant, so I decided to counter.

"Are you saying that we are inferior to those ‘mixed-bloods’?"

"Based solely on your behavior here, that is the case."

"Princess Letitia, you are human, just like us. Yet you favor the ‘mixed-bloods’?"

"Whether someone is human or beastfolk is irrelevant. What matters is their character and actions."

"What have you seen in us to speak so harshly?"

"Your words, your attitude, and the food served here."

At the mention of the food, a middle-aged man who seemed to be the head chef reacted from the wall.

"……Princess Letitia, may I speak?"

"Go ahead."

"Then, allow me to explain. The dishes served today were prepared by me, the head chef of this palace, with great care and a generous use of spices, making them as luxurious as possible. If you have any complaints, it must be that your taste is flawed."

……Are you calling me a bad taster?

Though his words were polite, the last sentence was clearly mocking me.

I noted in my mental file that he was a man of many words.

"It's not a matter of personal preference. As a chef, you should understand. The dishes today, even as noble cuisine, are far too spicy, don't you think?"

"What's wrong with that? The lavish use of spices is the mainstream flavor in Lady Natalie's homeland. While it may be unfamiliar to Princess Letitia, to dismiss it on that basis alone is rather childish, don't you think?"

Who's being childish here?

This chef, with his sharp words and many comments, was really getting on my nerves.

"I have no intention of dismissing it. As proof, I finished all the dishes with a smile."

"Then why are you criticizing the food now?"

"Because I accepted the food and understood its meaning. The overly spiced dishes are not traditional in your homeland but have only been around for the past ten years or so, right?"

"Adopting new trends is a natural part of being a chef."

"Even if the trend is meant to harass others?"

Harassment.

The essence and origin of these overly spiced dishes are rooted in harassment.

While rich, spicy flavors are a trend among the upper class on this continent, today's dishes were even more intense.

This intensity began as a way to harass the beastfolk.

Beastfolk, with their superior senses, especially their keen noses, are more sensitive to spices.

Most beastfolk continue to enjoy traditional dishes rather than adopt the heavily spiced cuisine.

It's just a difference in food culture, but unfortunately, some humans mock them for it.

The leading culprits are the people from the western region of this country, including Dears.

While the country is roughly half human and half beastfolk, the western region is about 90% human.

This country, now united, was once five small kingdoms.

The human population and the temperament of the people vary by region.

Naturally, the western region, with its strong human influence, has a deep-seated prejudice against the beastfolk.

In this country, spices symbolize wealth and prosperity.

The western region's nobles mocked the beastfolk for not liking spices.

They deliberately served overly spiced dishes to the beastfolk, and when the beastfolk refused, they mocked them for not understanding the value of spices.

This childish harassment escalated, leading to the creation of extremely spicy dishes.

……What do they think food is for?

Honestly, are they stupid? Unfortunately, this is the reality of the western region's nobility.

Even in Earth's history, there were customs that 21st-century Japanese would find unbelievable, but this food culture is hard to accept.

"I have no intention of dismissing your entire food culture. However, it is natural for me to have concerns about the choice of such intensely flavored dishes to entertain a guest like me today."

She shifted her gaze from the chef to Lady Natalie.

Even in a social setting, food is often a political tool.

"Lady Natalie, please tell me. Do you genuinely find today's dishes delicious? Did you choose to serve them to me because you thought they were delicious?"

"I……"

She seemed a bit uncomfortable.

Lady Natalie, breaking her usual expressionless demeanor, began to speak.

"Princess Letitia, what are you talking about? Seeking only the taste of food and choosing based on personal preference is the behavior of lowly commoners. Nobles should choose based on the history and origin of the dish."

Dears, speaking quickly, had reduced Lady Natalie to her doll-like state again.

For nobles, food is part of social interaction, so Dears' words were correct.

However, because they were correct, I couldn't accept today's dishes.

The reason they chose the western region's cuisine, which originated from harassment of the beastfolk, instead of the generally accepted noble cuisine of the continent, was a silent statement that Lady Natalie and her people looked down on the beastfolk.

"I cannot accept the dishes chosen based on their history and origin."

Suppressing the urge to sigh, I stood up.

I thanked Lucian, who instinctively pulled out my chair, and turned to Lady Natalie.

"I have no intention of associating further with those who mock the beastfolk. I apologize, but I must take my leave."

"……Good day. I look forward to seeing you again."

Lady Natalie spoke softly.

As I returned the greeting and lifted my head, Dears' low voice reached my ears.

"……You will regret rejecting us. Once Lady Natalie becomes the next queen, it will be too late to come crawling back. Don't expect a good relationship between your country and ours."

"Hasn't it been decided that Lady Natalie will be the next queen?"

"What does that matter? As long as Princess Letitia is human, there's no way she can get along with the ‘mixed-blood’ princess candidates. You will eventually understand the mistake of rejecting our only ally."

Dears sniffed.

……I see, that's why she was so aggressive.

She believed that I, as a human, would be at odds with the beastfolk princess candidates.

Therefore, she saw me as in a weak position, forced to side with Lady Natalie.

I had a hunch, but her words confirmed it.

"I believe that day will never come. After all, the one who chooses the next queen should be His Majesty."

King Glenreid, whom I haven't seen for over ten days.

Surely, His Majesty is aware of Lady Natalie's harsh treatment of the beastfolk.

If he still chooses her, if he has no choice but to choose her…….

The value of maintaining a good relationship with His Majesty and this country is very questionable.

I should meet with His Majesty directly to understand his thoughts on who he will choose as the next queen.

——And that very day, my wish was granted by a summons from King Glenreid.